Hanuman's Grief and Renewed Search

Shloka 1 (sundara.12.1)

स तस्य मध्ये भवनस्य संस्थितो लतागृहांश्चित्रगृहान् निशागृहान् । जगाम सीतां प्रतिदर्शनोत्सुको न चैव तां पश्यति चारुदर्शनाम् ॥ 12.1 ॥

sa tasya madhye bhavanasya saṃsthito latāgṛhāṃścitragṛhān niśāgṛhān | jagāma sītāṃ pratidarśanotsuko na caiva tāṃ paśyati cārudarśanām || 12.1 ||

Stationed there in the midst of that mansion, he went, eager for the sight of Sita, through the bowers of creepers, the picture-galleries, and the night-chambers; yet nowhere did he see that lovely-eyed one.

Shloka 2 (sundara.12.2)

स चिन्तयामास ततो महाकपिः प्रियामपश्यन् रघुनन्दनस्य ताम् । ध्रुवं नु सीता म्रियते यथा न मे विचिन्वतो दर्शनमेति मैथिली ॥ 12.2 ॥

sa cintayāmāsa tato mahākapiḥ priyāmapaśyan raghunandanasya tām | dhruvaṃ nu sītā mriyate yathā na me vicinvato darśanameti maithilī || 12.2 ||

Then that great monkey, not finding the beloved of Raghu's descendant, thought to himself: "Surely Sita must be dying — for search as I might, no sight of the princess of Mithila comes to me."

Shloka 3 (sundara.12.3)

सा राक्षसानां प्रवरेण जानकी स्वशीलसंरक्षणतत्परा सती । अनेन नूनं प्रति दुष्टकर्मणा हता भवेदार्यपथे परे स्थिता ॥ 12.3 ॥

sā rākṣasānāṃ pravareṇa jānakī svaśīlasaṃrakṣaṇatatparā satī | anena nūnaṃ prati duṣṭakarmaṇā hatā bhavedāryapathe pare sthitā || 12.3 ||

That Janaki, ever intent on guarding her own virtue, chaste as she was — surely she, standing firm upon the noble path, must have been slain by this wicked-deeded one.

Shloka 4 (sundara.12.4)

विरूपरूपा विकृता विवर्चसो महानना दीर्घविरूपदर्शनाः । समीक्ष्य ता राक्षसराजयोषितो भयाद् विनष्टा जनकेश्वरात्मजा ॥ 12.4 ॥

virūparūpā vikṛtā vivarcaso mahānanā dīrghavirūpadarśanāḥ | samīkṣya tā rākṣasarājayoṣito bhayād vinaṣṭā janakeśvarātmajā || 12.4 ||

Having beheld those wives of the rakshasa king — misshapen, deformed, lustreless, huge-faced, long and hideous to look upon — the daughter of King Janaka must have perished from sheer terror.

Shloka 5 (sundara.12.5)

सीतामदृष्ट्वा ह्यनवाप्य पौरुषं विहृत्य कालं सह वानरैश्चिरम् । न मेऽस्ति सुग्रीवसमीपगा गतिः सुतीक्ष्णदण्डो बलवांश्च वानरः ॥ 12.5 ॥

sītāmadṛṣṭvā hyanavāpya pauruṣaṃ vihṛtya kālaṃ saha vānaraiściram | na me'sti sugrīvasamīpagā gatiḥ sutīkṣṇadaṇḍo balavāṃśca vānaraḥ || 12.5 ||

Not having found Sita, my manly effort unfulfilled, and having spent so long a time here among the monkeys — I have no way left of returning to Sugriva's presence, for he is a powerful monkey of very severe punishment.

Shloka 6 (sundara.12.6)

दृष्टमन्तःपुरं सर्वं दृष्टा रावणयोषितः । न सीता दृश्यते साध्वी वृथा जातो मम श्रमः ॥ 12.6 ॥

dṛṣṭamantaḥpuraṃ sarvaṃ dṛṣṭā rāvaṇayoṣitaḥ | na sītā dṛśyate sādhvī vṛthā jāto mama śramaḥ || 12.6 ||

The whole inner apartment has been seen, Ravana's wives have been seen — yet the virtuous Sita is nowhere seen. My whole effort has gone in vain.

Shloka 7 (sundara.12.7)

किं नु मां वानराः सर्वे गतं वक्ष्यन्ति संगताः । गत्वा तत्र त्वया वीर किं कृतं तद् वदस्व नः ॥ 12.7 ॥

kiṃ nu māṃ vānarāḥ sarve gataṃ vakṣyanti saṃgatāḥ | gatvā tatra tvayā vīra kiṃ kṛtaṃ tad vadasva naḥ || 12.7 ||

What indeed will all the assembled monkeys say to me when I return? 'You went there, O hero — now tell us, what was accomplished?' — so will they ask.

Shloka 8 (sundara.12.8)

अदृष्ट्वा किं प्रवक्ष्यामि तामहं जनकात्मजाम् । ध्रुवं प्रायमुपासिष्ये कालस्य व्यतिवर्तने ॥ 12.8 ॥

adṛṣṭvā kiṃ pravakṣyāmi tāmahaṃ janakātmajām | dhruvaṃ prāyamupāsiṣye kālasya vyativartane || 12.8 ||

Not having seen the daughter of Janaka, what shall I say to them? Surely, as time slips away, I shall have no choice but to resort to fasting unto death.

Shloka 9 (sundara.12.9)

किं वा वक्ष्यति वृद्धश्च जाम्बवानंगदश्च सः । गतं पारं समुद्रस्य वानराश्च समागताः ॥ 12.9 ॥

kiṃ vā vakṣyati vṛddhaśca jāmbavānaṃgadaśca saḥ | gataṃ pāraṃ samudrasya vānarāśca samāgatāḥ || 12.9 ||

Or what will the aged Jambavan say, and Angada, and all the monkeys gathered there who crossed to the far shore of the ocean?

Shloka 10 (sundara.12.10)

अनिर्वेदः श्रियो मूलमनिर्वेदः परं सुखम् । भूयस्तत्र विचेष्यामि न यत्र विचयः कृतः ॥ 12.10 ॥

anirvedaḥ śriyo mūlamanirvedaḥ paraṃ sukham | bhūyastatra viceṣyāmi na yatra vicayaḥ kṛtaḥ || 12.10 ||

Freedom from despair is the root of fortune; freedom from despair is the highest happiness. I shall search again wherever the search has not yet been made.

Shloka 11 (sundara.12.11)

अनिर्वेदो हि सततं सर्वार्थेषु प्रवर्तकः । करोति सफलं जन्तोः कर्म यच्च करोति सः ॥ 12.11 ॥

anirvedo hi satataṃ sarvārtheṣu pravartakaḥ | karoti saphalaṃ jantoḥ karma yacca karoti saḥ || 12.11 ||

For freedom from despair is always the driving force behind every undertaking; it makes fruitful whatever action a creature performs.

Shloka 12 (sundara.12.12)

तस्मादनिर्वेदकरं यत्नं चेष्टेऽहमुत्तमम् । अदृष्टांश्च विचेष्यामि देशान् रावणपालितान् ॥ 12.12 ॥

tasmādanirvedakaraṃ yatnaṃ ceṣṭe'hamuttamam | adṛṣṭāṃśca viceṣyāmi deśān rāvaṇapālitān || 12.12 ||

Therefore I shall make the utmost effort, keeping despair at bay, and shall search through those places under Ravana's rule that I have not yet seen.

Shloka 13 (sundara.12.13)

आपानशाला विचितास्तथा पुष्पगृहाणि च । चित्रशालाश्च विचिता भूयः क्रीडागृहाणि च ॥ 12.13 ॥

āpānaśālā vicitāstathā puṣpagṛhāṇi ca | citraśālāśca vicitā bhūyaḥ krīḍāgṛhāṇi ca || 12.13 ||

The drinking-halls have been searched, and so have the flower-bowers; the picture-galleries have been searched — now the pleasure-houses remain.

Shloka 14 (sundara.12.14)

निष्कुटान्तररथ्याश्च विमानानि च सर्वशः । इति संचिन्त्य भूयोऽपि विचेतुमुपचक्रमे ॥ 12.14 ॥

niṣkuṭāntararathyāśca vimānāni ca sarvaśaḥ | iti saṃcintya bhūyo'pi vicetumupacakrame || 12.14 ||

And the garden-passages within, and the aerial chariots, every part of them — thinking thus, he set out once more to search.

Shloka 15 (sundara.12.15)

भूमीगृहांश्चैत्यगृहान् गृहातिगृहकानपि । उत्पतन् निपतंश्चापि तिष्ठन् गच्छन् पुनः क्वचित् ॥ 12.15 ॥

bhūmīgṛhāṃścaityagṛhān gṛhātigṛhakānapi | utpatan nipataṃścāpi tiṣṭhan gacchan punaḥ kvacit || 12.15 ||

Underground chambers, shrine-houses, and even the small inner rooms nested within houses — now leaping up, now dropping down, now standing still, now moving on again,

Shloka 16 (sundara.12.16)

अपवृण्वंश्च द्वाराणि कपाटान्यवघट्टयन् । प्रविशन् निष्पतंश्चापि प्रपतन्नुत्पतन्निव ॥ 12.16 ॥

apavṛṇvaṃśca dvārāṇi kapāṭānyavaghaṭṭayan | praviśan niṣpataṃścāpi prapatannutpatanniva || 12.16 ||

opening doors and pushing back door-panels, entering and darting out again, as if now falling, now leaping up —

Shloka 17 (sundara.12.17)

सर्वमप्यवकाशं स विचचार महाकपिः । चतुरंगुलमात्रोऽपि नावकाशः स विद्यते । रावणान्तःपुरे तस्मिन् यं कपिर्न जगाम सः ॥ 12.17 ॥

sarvamapyavakāśaṃ sa vicacāra mahākapiḥ | caturaṃgulamātro'pi nāvakāśaḥ sa vidyate | rāvaṇāntaḥpure tasmin yaṃ kapirna jagāma saḥ || 12.17 ||

that great monkey searched through every possible space; not even a space of four fingers' breadth remained, in the whole of Ravana's inner apartments, to which that monkey had not gone.

Shloka 18 (sundara.12.18)

प्राकारान्तरवीथ्यश्च वेदिकाश्चैत्यसंश्रयाः । श्वभ्राश्च पुष्करिण्यश्च सर्वं तेनावलोकितम् ॥ 12.18 ॥

prākārāntaravīthyaśca vedikāścaityasaṃśrayāḥ | śvabhrāśca puṣkariṇyaśca sarvaṃ tenāvalokitam || 12.18 ||

The lanes between the ramparts, the platforms attached to the shrines, the pits, and the lotus-pools — all of it was surveyed by him.

Shloka 19 (sundara.12.19)

राक्षस्यो विविधाकारा विरूपा विकृतास्तथा । दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु सा जनकात्मजा ॥ 12.19 ॥

rākṣasyo vividhākārā virūpā vikṛtāstathā | dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu sā janakātmajā || 12.19 ||

Rakshasa women of many forms, misshapen and deformed, were seen there by Hanuman — but not that daughter of Janaka.

Shloka 20 (sundara.12.20)

रूपेणाप्रतिमा लोके परा विद्याधरस्त्रियः । दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु राघवनन्दिनी ॥ 12.20 ॥

rūpeṇāpratimā loke parā vidyādharastriyaḥ | dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu rāghavanandinī || 12.20 ||

Vidyadhara women too, of a beauty unmatched in the world, were seen there by Hanuman — but not she who was the joy of the house of Raghu.

Shloka 21 (sundara.12.21)

नागकन्या वरारोहाः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाः । दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु सा जनकात्मजा ॥ 12.21 ॥

nāgakanyā varārohāḥ pūrṇacandranibhānanāḥ | dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu sā janakātmajā || 12.21 ||

Naga maidens too, of lovely form, their faces like the full moon, were seen there by Hanuman — but not that daughter of Janaka.

Shloka 22 (sundara.12.22)

प्रमथ्य राक्षसेन्द्रेण नागकन्या बलाद्धृताः । दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न सा जनकनन्दिनी ॥ 12.22 ॥

pramathya rākṣasendreṇa nāgakanyā balāda‍dhṛtāḥ | dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na sā janakanandinī || 12.22 ||

Naga maidens too, seized and carried off by force by the lord of the rakshasas, were seen there by Hanuman — but not that daughter of Janaka.

Shloka 23 (sundara.12.23)

सोऽपश्यंस्तां महाबाहुः पश्यंश्चान्या वरस्त्रियः । विषसाद महाबाहुर्हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥ 12.23 ॥

so'paśyaṃstāṃ mahābāhuḥ paśyaṃścānyā varastriyaḥ | viṣasāda mahābāhurhanūmān mārutātmajaḥ || 12.23 ||

Not seeing her, though seeing other lovely women, that mighty-armed Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, fell into despair.

Shloka 24 (sundara.12.24)

उद्योगं वानरेन्द्राणां प्लवनं सागरस्य च । व्यर्थं वीक्ष्यानिलसुतश्चिन्तां पुनरुपागतः ॥ 12.24 ॥

udyogaṃ vānarendrāṇāṃ plavanaṃ sāgarasya ca | vyarthaṃ vīkṣyānilasutaścintāṃ punarupāgataḥ || 12.24 ||

Seeing the great effort of the monkey chiefs, and the leaping across the ocean, going to waste, the son of the Wind-god fell once more into anxious thought.

Shloka 25 (sundara.12.25)

अवतीर्य विमानाच्च हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । चिन्तामुपजगामाथ शोकोपहतचेतनः ॥ 12.25 ॥

avatīrya vimānācca hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ | cintāmupajagāmātha śokopahatacetanaḥ || 12.25 ||

And descending from the aerial palace, Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, his mind overwhelmed by grief, sank once more into deep anxiety.