Hanuman's Despair and Resolve

Shloka 1 (sundara.13.1)

विमानात् तु स संक्रम्य प्राकारं हरियूथपः । हनूमान् वेगवानासीद् यथा विद्युद् घनान्तरे ॥ 13.1 ॥

vimānāt tu sa saṃkramya prākāraṃ hariyūthapaḥ | hanūmān vegavānāsīd yathā vidyud ghanāntare || 13.1 ||

Then, leaping down from the aerial chariot onto the rampart, that swift lord of the monkey-host, Hanuman, stood there like lightning amid the clouds.

Shloka 2 (sundara.13.2)

सम्परिक्रम्य हनुमान् रावणस्य निवेशनान् । अदृष्ट्वा जानकीं सीतामब्रवीद् वचनं कपिः ॥ 13.2 ॥

samparikramya hanumān rāvaṇasya niveśanān | adṛṣṭvā jānakīṃ sītāmabravīd vacanaṃ kapiḥ || 13.2 ||

Having gone all around the dwellings of Ravana, and still not having seen Janaki Sita, the monkey Hanuman spoke these words:

Shloka 3 (sundara.13.3)

भूयिष्ठं लोलिता लंका रामस्य चरता प्रियम् । न हि पश्यामि वैदेहीं सीतां सर्वांगशोभनाम् ॥ 13.3 ॥

bhūyiṣṭhaṃ lolitā laṃkā rāmasya caratā priyam | na hi paśyāmi vaidehīṃ sītāṃ sarvāṃgaśobhanām || 13.3 ||

"Nearly the whole of Lanka has now been searched by me, acting for Rama's good — yet I do not see Vaidehi, Sita, lovely in every limb."

Shloka 4 (sundara.13.4)

पल्वलानि तटाकानि सरांसि सरितस्तथा । नद्योऽनूपवनान्ताश्च दुर्गाश्च धरणीधराः ॥ 13.4 ॥

palvalāni taṭākāni sarāṃsi saritastathā | nadyo'nūpavanāntāśca durgāśca dharaṇīdharāḥ || 13.4 ||

"Ponds, tanks, lakes, and rivers too, the marshy edges of the groves, and inaccessible mountains —"

Shloka 5 (sundara.13.5)

लोलिता वसुधा सर्वा न च पश्यामि जानकीम् । इह सम्पातिना सीता रावणस्य निवेशने । आख्याता गृध्रराजेन न च सा दृश्यते न किम् ॥ 13.5 ॥

lolitā vasudhā sarvā na ca paśyāmi jānakīm | iha sampātinā sītā rāvaṇasya niveśane | ākhyātā gṛdhrarājena na ca sā dṛśyate na kim || 13.5 ||

"the whole earth has been searched by me, and still I do not see Janaki. Here, in Ravana's own dwelling, Sampati, king of vultures, declared her to be — and yet is she not to be seen at all?"

Shloka 6 (sundara.13.6)

किं नु सीताथ वैदेही मैथिली जनकात्मजा । उपतिष्ठेत विवशा रावणेन हृता बलात् ॥ 13.6 ॥

kiṃ nu sītātha vaidehī maithilī janakātmajā | upatiṣṭheta vivaśā rāvaṇena hṛtā balāt || 13.6 ||

"Can it be that Sita, Vaidehi, Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, now waits helplessly upon Ravana, having been forcibly abducted by him?"

Shloka 7 (sundara.13.7)

क्षिप्रमुत्पततो मन्ये सीतामादाय रक्षसः । बिभ्यतो रामबाणानामन्तरा पतिता भवेत् ॥ 13.7 ॥

kṣipramutpatato manye sītāmādāya rakṣasaḥ | bibhyato rāmabāṇānāmantarā patitā bhavet || 13.7 ||

"I think that, as the rakshasa flew swiftly off carrying Sita away, fearing Rama's arrows, she may have fallen midway."

Shloka 8 (sundara.13.8)

अथवा ह्रियमाणायाः पथि सिद्धनिषेविते । मन्ये पतितमार्याया हृदयं प्रेक्ष्य सागरम् ॥ 13.8 ॥

athavā hriyamāṇāyāḥ pathi siddhaniṣevite | manye patitamāryāyā hṛdayaṃ prekṣya sāgaram || 13.8 ||

"Or else, as she was being carried off along that path frequented by siddhas, that noble lady's heart may have failed at the sight of the ocean —"

Shloka 9 (sundara.13.9)

रावणस्योरुवेगेन भुजाभ्यां पीडितेन च । तया मन्ये विशालाक्ष्या त्यक्तं जीवितमार्यया ॥ 13.9 ॥

rāvaṇasyoruvegena bhujābhyāṃ pīḍitena ca | tayā manye viśālākṣyā tyaktaṃ jīvitamāryayā || 13.9 ||

"or, gripped tightly in Ravana's two arms amid the great speed of his flight, that wide-eyed noble lady may have given up her life —"

Shloka 10 (sundara.13.10)

उपर्युपरि सा नूनं सागरं क्रमतस्तदा । विचेष्टमाना पतिता समुद्रे जनकात्मजा ॥ 13.10 ॥

uparyupari sā nūnaṃ sāgaraṃ kramatastadā | viceṣṭamānā patitā samudre janakātmajā || 13.10 ||

"or perhaps, while he crossed on and on above the ocean, the daughter of Janaka, struggling, fell down into the sea."

Shloka 11 (sundara.13.11)

आहो क्षुद्रेण चानेन रक्षन्ती शीलमात्मनः । अबन्धुर्भक्षिता सीता रावणेन तपस्विनी ॥ 13.11 ॥

āho kṣudreṇa cānena rakṣantī śīlamātmanaḥ | abandhurbhakṣitā sītā rāvaṇena tapasvinī || 13.11 ||

"Or perhaps that ascetic-like Sita, guarding her own virtue against this vile creature, friendless there, was devoured by Ravana himself,"

Shloka 12 (sundara.13.12)

अथवा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य पत्नीभिरसितेक्षणा । अदुष्टा दुष्टभावाभिर्भक्षिता सा भविष्यति ॥ 13.12 ॥

athavā rākṣasendrasya patnībhirasitekṣaṇā | aduṣṭā duṣṭabhāvābhirbhakṣitā sā bhaviṣyati || 13.12 ||

"or that blameless, dark-eyed woman may have been devoured by the evil-natured wives of the lord of the rakshasas."

Shloka 13 (sundara.13.13)

सम्पूर्णचन्द्रप्रतिमं पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणम् । रामस्य ध्यायती वक्त्रं पञ्चत्वं कृपणा गता ॥ 13.13 ॥

sampūrṇacandrapratimaṃ padmapatranibhekṣaṇam | rāmasya dhyāyatī vaktraṃ pañcatvaṃ kṛpaṇā gatā || 13.13 ||

"Meditating upon Rama's face, like the full moon, its eyes like lotus-petals, that pitiable woman may have passed into the five elements."

Shloka 14 (sundara.13.14)

हा राम लक्ष्मणेत्येवं हायोध्ये चेति मैथिली । विलप्य बहु वैदेही न्यस्तदेहा भविष्यति ॥ 13.14 ॥

hā rāma lakṣmaṇetyevaṃ hāyodhye ceti maithilī | vilapya bahu vaidehī nyastadehā bhaviṣyati || 13.14 ||

"Crying out, 'Alas, Rama! Alas, Lakshmana! Alas, Ayodhya!' — lamenting greatly, Vaidehi may have given up her body."

Shloka 15 (sundara.13.15)

अथवा निहिता मन्ये रावणस्य निवेशने । भृशं लालप्यते बाला पञ्जरस्थेव सारिका ॥ 13.15 ॥

athavā nihitā manye rāvaṇasya niveśane | bhṛśaṃ lālapyate bālā pañjarastheva sārikā || 13.15 ||

"Or I think she has been confined within Ravana's dwelling, and that young woman now laments bitterly, like a mynah-bird shut in a cage."

Shloka 16 (sundara.13.16)

जनकस्य कुले जाता रामपत्नी सुमध्यमा । कथमुत्पलपत्राक्षी रावणस्य वशं व्रजेत् ॥ 13.16 ॥

janakasya kule jātā rāmapatnī sumadhyamā | kathamutpalapatrākṣī rāvaṇasya vaśaṃ vrajet || 13.16 ||

"How could she, born in the line of Janaka, Rama's slender-waisted wife, her eyes like lotus-petals, ever fall under Ravana's power?"

Shloka 17 (sundara.13.17)

विनष्टा वा प्रणष्टा वा मृता वा जनकात्मजा । रामस्य प्रियभार्यस्य न निवेदयितुं क्षमम् ॥ 13.17 ॥

vinaṣṭā vā praṇaṣṭā vā mṛtā vā janakātmajā | rāmasya priyabhāryasya na nivedayituṃ kṣamam || 13.17 ||

"Whether the daughter of Janaka has perished, or is utterly lost, or has died — it is not fitting to report this to Rama, whose dear wife she is."

Shloka 18 (sundara.13.18)

निवेद्यमाने दोषः स्याद् दोषः स्यादनिवेदने । कथं नु खलु कर्तव्यं विषमं प्रतिभाति मे ॥ 13.18 ॥

nivedyamāne doṣaḥ syād doṣaḥ syādanivedane | kathaṃ nu khalu kartavyaṃ viṣamaṃ pratibhāti me || 13.18 ||

"If I report it, there is fault; if I do not report it, there is fault too. How then should I act? The matter appears to me a hard dilemma."

Shloka 19 (sundara.13.19)

अस्मिन् नेवंगते कार्ये प्राप्तकालं क्षमं च किम् । भवेदिति मतिं भूयो हनुमान् प्रविचारयन् ॥ 13.19 ॥

asmin nevaṃgate kārye prāptakālaṃ kṣamaṃ ca kim | bhavediti matiṃ bhūyo hanumān pravicārayan || 13.19 ||

With matters having thus come to such a pass, Hanuman turned his mind again and again to what course, suited to the moment, would be fitting.

Shloka 20 (sundara.13.20)

यदि सीतामदृष्ट्वाहं वानरेन्द्रपुरीमितः । गमिष्यामि ततः को मे पुरुषार्थो भविष्यति ॥ 13.20 ॥

yadi sītāmadṛṣṭvāhaṃ vānarendrapurīmitaḥ | gamiṣyāmi tataḥ ko me puruṣārtho bhaviṣyati || 13.20 ||

"If, not having seen Sita, I go from here to the city of the monkey-king, then what manly achievement shall I have to show?"

Shloka 21 (sundara.13.21)

ममेदं लङ्घनं व्यर्थं सागरस्य भविष्यति । प्रवेशश्चैव लंकायां राक्षसानां च दर्शनम् ॥ 13.21 ॥

mamedaṃ laṅghanaṃ vyarthaṃ sāgarasya bhaviṣyati | praveśaścaiva laṃkāyāṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca darśanam || 13.21 ||

"This leap of mine across the ocean will have been in vain, and so too my entering Lanka and beholding the rakshasas."

Shloka 22 (sundara.13.22)

किं वा वक्ष्यति सुग्रीवो हरयो वापि संगताः । किष्किन्धामनुसम्प्राप्तं तौ वा दशरथात्मजौ ॥ 13.22 ॥

kiṃ vā vakṣyati sugrīvo harayo vāpi saṃgatāḥ | kiṣkindhāmanusamprāptaṃ tau vā daśarathātmajau || 13.22 ||

"Or what will Sugriva say, or the monkeys gathered there, or those two sons of Dasharatha, when I have reached Kishkindha again?"

Shloka 23 (sundara.13.23)

गत्वा तु यदि काकुत्स्थं वक्ष्यामि परुषं वचः । न दृष्टेति मया सीता ततस्त्यक्ष्यति जीवितम् ॥ 13.23 ॥

gatvā tu yadi kākutsthaṃ vakṣyāmi paruṣaṃ vacaḥ | na dṛṣṭeti mayā sītā tatastyakṣyati jīvitam || 13.23 ||

"And if, having gone to him, I speak this harsh word to Kakutstha — 'Sita was not seen by me' — he will thereupon give up his life."

Shloka 24 (sundara.13.24)

परुषं दारुणं तीक्ष्णं क्रूरमिन्द्रियतापनम् । सीतानिमित्तं दुर्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा स न भविष्यति ॥ 13.24 ॥

paruṣaṃ dāruṇaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ krūramindriyatāpanam | sītānimittaṃ durvākyaṃ śrutvā sa na bhaviṣyati || 13.24 ||

"Hearing that harsh, dreadful, sharp, cruel word — this evil news concerning Sita, which torments the very senses — he will not survive."

Shloka 25 (sundara.13.25)

तं तु कृच्छ्रगतं दृष्ट्वा पञ्चत्वगतमानसम् । भृशानुरक्तमेधावी न भविष्यति लक्ष्मणः ॥ 13.25 ॥

taṃ tu kṛcchragataṃ dṛṣṭvā pañcatvagatamānasam | bhṛśānuraktamedhāvī na bhaviṣyati lakṣmaṇaḥ || 13.25 ||

"And seeing him fallen into such distress, his mind set on death, the wise Lakshmana, so deeply devoted to him, will not survive either."

Shloka 26 (sundara.13.26)

विनष्टौ भ्रातरौ श्रुत्वा भरतोऽपि मरिष्यति । भरतं च मृतं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुघ्नो न भविष्यति ॥ 13.26 ॥

vinaṣṭau bhrātarau śrutvā bharato'pi mariṣyati | bharataṃ ca mṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā śatrughno na bhaviṣyati || 13.26 ||

"Hearing that the two brothers have perished, Bharata too will die; and seeing Bharata dead, Shatrughna will not survive."

Shloka 27 (sundara.13.27)

पुत्रान् मृतान् समीक्ष्याथ न भविष्यन्ति मातरः । कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च कैकेयी च न संशयः ॥ 13.27 ॥

putrān mṛtān samīkṣyātha na bhaviṣyanti mātaraḥ | kausalyā ca sumitrā ca kaikeyī ca na saṃśayaḥ || 13.27 ||

"And then, beholding their sons dead, the mothers too will not survive — Kausalya, and Sumitra, and Kaikeyi, without doubt."

Shloka 28 (sundara.13.28)

कृतज्ञः सत्यसंधश्च सुग्रीवः प्लवगाधिपः । रामं तथागतं दृष्ट्वा ततस्त्यक्ष्यति जीवितम् ॥ 13.28 ॥

kṛtajñaḥ satyasaṃdhaśca sugrīvaḥ plavagādhipaḥ | rāmaṃ tathāgataṃ dṛṣṭvā tatastyakṣyati jīvitam || 13.28 ||

"And Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, grateful and true to his word, seeing Rama fallen into such a state, will then give up his life too."

Shloka 29 (sundara.13.29)

दुर्मना व्यथिता दीना निरानन्दा तपस्विनी । पीडिता भर्तृशोकेन रुमा त्यक्ष्यति जीवितम् ॥ 13.29 ॥

durmanā vyathitā dīnā nirānandā tapasvinī | pīḍitā bhartṛśokena rumā tyakṣyati jīvitam || 13.29 ||

"Ruma, grief-stricken, anguished, wretched, joyless, tormented by sorrow for her husband, will give up her life."

Shloka 30 (sundara.13.30)

वालिजेन तु दुःखेन पीडिता शोककर्शिता । पञ्चत्वमागता राज्ञी तारापि न भविष्यति ॥ 13.30 ॥

vālijena tu duḥkhena pīḍitā śokakarśitā | pañcatvamāgatā rājñī tārāpi na bhaviṣyati || 13.30 ||

"And the queen Tara too, tormented already by grief for Vali, wasted by sorrow, will not survive — she too will pass into the five elements."

Shloka 31 (sundara.13.31)

मातापित्रोर्विनाशेन सुग्रीवव्यसनेन च । कुमारोऽप्यंगदस्तस्माद् विजहिष्यति जीवितम् ॥ 13.31 ॥

mātāpitrorvināśena sugrīvavyasanena ca | kumāro'pyaṃgadastasmād vijahiṣyati jīvitam || 13.31 ||

"And by the loss of both his parents, and by Sugriva's calamity, the young Angada too will thereupon abandon his life."

Shloka 32 (sundara.13.32)

भर्तृजेन तु दुःखेन अभिभूता वनौकसः । शिरांस्यभिहनिष्यन्ति तलैर्मुष्टिभिरेव च ॥ 13.32 ॥

bhartṛjena tu duḥkhena abhibhūtā vanaukasaḥ | śirāṃsyabhihaniṣyanti talairmuṣṭibhireva ca || 13.32 ||

"And the forest-dwelling monkeys, overwhelmed by grief for their lord, will strike their own heads with the flats of their hands and with their fists."

Shloka 33 (sundara.13.33)

सान्त्वेनानुप्रदानेन मानेन च यशस्विना । लालिताः कपिनाथेन प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यन्ति वानराः ॥ 13.33 ॥

sāntvenānupradānena mānena ca yaśasvinā | lālitāḥ kapināthena prāṇāṃstyakṣyanti vānarāḥ || 13.33 ||

"The monkeys who were cherished by their glorious lord with kind words, with gifts, and with honour, will give up their lives."

Shloka 34 (sundara.13.34)

न वनेषु न शैलेषु न निरोधेषु वा पुनः । क्रीडामनुभविष्यन्ति समेत्य कपिकुञ्जराः ॥ 13.34 ॥

na vaneṣu na śaileṣu na nirodheṣu vā punaḥ | krīḍāmanubhaviṣyanti sametya kapikuñjarāḥ || 13.34 ||

"Never again, in the forests, on the mountains, or in their retreats, will the foremost of monkeys gather together and enjoy their sport."

Shloka 35 (sundara.13.35)

सपुत्रदाराः सामात्या भर्तृव्यसनपीडिताः । शैलाग्रेभ्यः पतिष्यन्ति समेषु विषमेषु च ॥ 13.35 ॥

saputradārāḥ sāmātyā bhartṛvyasanapīḍitāḥ | śailāgrebhyaḥ patiṣyanti sameṣu viṣameṣu ca || 13.35 ||

"Along with their sons and wives, and their ministers, tormented by the calamity of their lord, they will fling themselves down from mountain-peaks, onto ground level and rough alike."

Shloka 36 (sundara.13.36)

विषमुद्बन्धनं वापि प्रवेशं ज्वलनस्य वा । उपवासमथो शस्त्रं प्रचरिष्यन्ति वानराः ॥ 13.36 ॥

viṣamuda‍bandhanaṃ vāpi praveśaṃ jvalanasya vā | upavāsamatho śastraṃ pracariṣyanti vānarāḥ || 13.36 ||

"The monkeys will resort to poison, or to hanging, or to entering fire, or to fasting, or to the sword."

Shloka 37 (sundara.13.37)

घोरमारोदनं मन्ये गते मयि भविष्यति । इक्ष्वाकुकुलनाशश्च नाशश्चैव वनौकसाम् ॥ 13.37 ॥

ghoramārodanaṃ manye gate mayi bhaviṣyati | ikṣvākukulanāśaśca nāśaścaiva vanaukasām || 13.37 ||

"I think that, once I have gone, there will be terrible weeping, and the destruction of the Ikshvaku line, and the destruction too of the forest-dwellers."

Shloka 38 (sundara.13.38)

सोऽहं नैव गमिष्यामि किष्किन्धां नगरीमितः । नहि शक्ष्याम्यहं द्रष्टुं सुग्रीवं मैथिलीं विना ॥ 13.38 ॥

so'haṃ naiva gamiṣyāmi kiṣkindhāṃ nagarīmitaḥ | nahi śakṣyāmyahaṃ draṣṭuṃ sugrīvaṃ maithilīṃ vinā || 13.38 ||

"So I shall not go from here to the city of Kishkindha at all; for I shall not be able to face Sugriva without the Maithili princess."

Shloka 39 (sundara.13.39)

मय्यगच्छति चेहस्थे धर्मात्मानौ महारथौ । आशया तौ धरिष्येते वानराश्च तरस्विनः ॥ 13.39 ॥

mayyagacchati cehasthe dharmātmānau mahārathau | āśayā tau dhariṣyete vānarāśca tarasvinaḥ || 13.39 ||

"And if I do not go, but remain here, then those two righteous great chariot-warriors, and the swift monkeys too, will sustain themselves on hope."

Shloka 40 (sundara.13.40)

हस्तादानो मुखादानो नियतो वृक्षमूलिकः । वानप्रस्थो भविष्यामि ह्यदृष्ट्वा जनकात्मजाम् ॥ 13.40 ॥

hastādāno mukhādāno niyato vṛkṣamūlikaḥ | vānaprastho bhaviṣyāmi hyadṛṣṭvā janakātmajām || 13.40 ||

"Taking food only by hand, eating only what falls to my mouth, disciplined, dwelling at the foot of a tree — I shall become a forest-hermit, not having seen the daughter of Janaka."

Shloka 41 (sundara.13.41)

सागरानूपजे देशे बहुमूलफलोदके । चितिं कृत्वा प्रवेक्ष्यामि समिद्धमरणीसुतम् ॥ 13.41 ॥

sāgarānūpaje deśe bahumūlaphalodake | citiṃ kṛtvā pravekṣyāmi samiddhamaraṇīsutam || 13.41 ||

"In some marshy region by the ocean, rich in roots, fruit, and water, I shall build a pyre and enter the fire kindled from the fire-sticks."

Shloka 42 (sundara.13.42)

उपविष्टस्य वा सम्यग् लिंगिनं साधयिष्यतः । शरीरं भक्षयिष्यन्ति वायसाः श्वापदानि च ॥ 13.42 ॥

upaviṣṭasya vā samyag liṃginaṃ sādhayiṣyataḥ | śarīraṃ bhakṣayiṣyanti vāyasāḥ śvāpadāni ca || 13.42 ||

"Or, as I sit there properly performing the rites of a renunciate, crows and wild beasts will devour my body."

Shloka 43 (sundara.13.43)

इदमप्यृषिभिर्दृष्टं निर्याणमिति मे मतिः । सम्यगापः प्रवेक्ष्यामि न चेत् पश्यामि जानकीम् ॥ 13.43 ॥

idamapyṛṣibhirdṛṣṭaṃ niryāṇamiti me matiḥ | samyagāpaḥ pravekṣyāmi na cet paśyāmi jānakīm || 13.43 ||

"This too is a passing sanctioned by the sages, in my judgment. I shall duly enter the waters, if I do not see Janaki."

Shloka 44 (sundara.13.44)

सुजातमूला सुभगा कीर्तिमाला यशस्विनी । प्रभग्ना चिररात्राय मम सीतामपश्यतः ॥ 13.44 ॥

sujātamūlā subhagā kīrtimālā yaśasvinī | prabhagnā cirarātrāya mama sītāmapaśyataḥ || 13.44 ||

"That fair garland of fame, well-rooted and glorious, will be broken for a long age to come, for me who has not seen Sita."

Shloka 45 (sundara.13.45)

तापसो वा भविष्यामि नियतो वृक्षमूलिकः । नेतः प्रतिगमिष्यामि तामदृष्ट्वासितेक्षणाम् ॥ 13.45 ॥

tāpaso vā bhaviṣyāmi niyato vṛkṣamūlikaḥ | netaḥ pratigamiṣyāmi tāmadṛṣṭvāsitekṣaṇām || 13.45 ||

"Or I shall become a disciplined ascetic dwelling at the root of a tree; I shall not return from here without having seen that dark-eyed one."

Shloka 46 (sundara.13.46)

यदि तु प्रतिगच्छामि सीतामनधिगम्य ताम् । अंगदः सहितः सर्वैर्वानरैर्न भविष्यति ॥ 13.46 ॥

yadi tu pratigacchāmi sītāmanadhigamya tām | aṃgadaḥ sahitaḥ sarvairvānarairna bhaviṣyati || 13.46 ||

"For if I go back without having found Sita, then Angada, together with all the monkeys, will not survive."

Shloka 47 (sundara.13.47)

विनाशे बहवो दोषा जीवन् प्राप्नोति भद्रकम् । तस्मात् प्राणान् धरिष्यामि ध्रुवो जीवति संगमः ॥ 13.47 ॥

vināśe bahavo doṣā jīvan prāpnoti bhadrakam | tasmāt prāṇān dhariṣyāmi dhruvo jīvati saṃgamaḥ || 13.47 ||

"In destruction there are many faults; one who lives attains good fortune. Therefore I shall preserve my life — for one who lives, reunion is certain."

Shloka 48 (sundara.13.48)

एवं बहुविधं दुःखं मनसा धारयन् बहु । नाध्यगच्छत् तदा पारं शोकस्य कपिकुञ्जरः ॥ 13.48 ॥

evaṃ bahuvidhaṃ duḥkhaṃ manasā dhārayan bahu | nādhyagacchat tadā pāraṃ śokasya kapikuñjaraḥ || 13.48 ||

Bearing thus in his mind so many kinds of grief, that foremost of monkeys could not, at that time, find the far shore of his sorrow.

Shloka 49 (sundara.13.49)

ततो विक्रममासाद्य धैर्यवान् कपिकुञ्जरः । रावणं वा वधिष्यामि दशग्रीवं महाबलम् । काममस्तु हृता सीता प्रत्याचीर्णं भविष्यति ॥ 13.49 ॥

tato vikramamāsādya dhairyavān kapikuñjaraḥ | rāvaṇaṃ vā vadhiṣyāmi daśagrīvaṃ mahābalam | kāmamastu hṛtā sītā pratyācīrṇaṃ bhaviṣyati || 13.49 ||

Then, resorting to valour, that steadfast foremost of monkeys thought: "I shall either slay Ravana, the mighty ten-necked one — let it be that Sita has been abducted; this wrong shall be repaid —"

Shloka 50 (sundara.13.50)

अथवैनं समुत्क्षिप्य उपर्युपरि सागरम् । रामायोपहरिष्यामि पशुं पशुपतेरिव ॥ 13.50 ॥

athavainaṃ samutkṣipya uparyupari sāgaram | rāmāyopahariṣyāmi paśuṃ paśupateriva || 13.50 ||

"or else, lifting him up, I shall carry him over the ocean and deliver him to Rama, as one delivers a beast to the lord of beasts."

Shloka 51 (sundara.13.51)

इति चिन्तासमापन्नः सीतामनधिगम्य ताम् । ध्यानशोकपरीतात्मा चिन्तयामास वानरः ॥ 13.51 ॥

iti cintāsamāpannaḥ sītāmanadhigamya tām | dhyānaśokaparītātmā cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ || 13.51 ||

Thus overcome with anxious thought, not having found Sita, that monkey, his mind gripped by brooding grief, continued to reflect.

Shloka 52 (sundara.13.52)

यावत् सीतां न पश्यामि रामपत्नीं यशस्विनीम् । तावदेतां पुरीं लंकां विचिनोमि पुनः पुनः ॥ 13.52 ॥

yāvat sītāṃ na paśyāmi rāmapatnīṃ yaśasvinīm | tāvadetāṃ purīṃ laṃkāṃ vicinomi punaḥ punaḥ || 13.52 ||

"As long as I have not seen Sita, Rama's glorious wife, so long shall I search this city of Lanka again and again."

Shloka 53 (sundara.13.53)

सम्पातिवचनाच्चापि रामं यद्यानयाम्यहम् । अपश्यन् राघवो भार्यां निर्दहेत् सर्ववानरान् ॥ 13.53 ॥

sampātivacanāccāpi rāmaṃ yadyānayāmyaham | apaśyan rāghavo bhāryāṃ nirdahet sarvavānarān || 13.53 ||

"And also, if, merely on Sampati's word, I bring Rama here, and Raghava does not find his wife, he may burn up all the monkeys in his wrath."

Shloka 54 (sundara.13.54)

इहैव नियताहारो वत्स्यामि नियतेन्द्रियः । न मत्कृते विनश्येयुः सर्वे ते नरवानराः ॥ 13.54 ॥

ihaiva niyatāhāro vatsyāmi niyatendriyaḥ | na matkṛte vinaśyeyuḥ sarve te naravānarāḥ || 13.54 ||

"I shall remain right here, my food and my senses disciplined; let not all those men and monkeys perish on my account."

Shloka 55 (sundara.13.55)

अशोकवनिका चापि महतीयं महाद्रुमा । इमामधिगमिष्यामि नहीयं विचिता मया ॥ 13.55 ॥

aśokavanikā cāpi mahatīyaṃ mahādrumā | imāmadhigamiṣyāmi nahīyaṃ vicitā mayā || 13.55 ||

"And this great Ashoka grove too, with its great trees, remains — I have not yet searched it; I shall go into it now."

Shloka 56 (sundara.13.56)

वसून् रुद्रांस्तथाऽऽदित्यानश्विनौ मरुतोऽपि च । नमस्कृत्वा गमिष्यामि रक्षसां शोकवर्धनः ॥ 13.56 ॥

vasūn rudrāṃstathā''dityānaśvinau maruto'pi ca | namaskṛtvā gamiṣyāmi rakṣasāṃ śokavardhanaḥ || 13.56 ||

"Having bowed to the Vasus, the Rudras, the Adityas, the two Ashvins, and the Maruts too, I shall go — I who am to be the increaser of grief for the rakshasas."

Shloka 57 (sundara.13.57)

जित्वा तु राक्षसान् देवीमिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दिनीम् । सम्प्रदास्यामि रामाय सिद्धीमिव तपस्विने ॥ 13.57 ॥

jitvā tu rākṣasān devīmikṣvākukulanandinīm | sampradāsyāmi rāmāya siddhīmiva tapasvine || 13.57 ||

"Having overcome the rakshasas, I shall deliver the queen, the joy of the Ikshvaku line, to Rama — as one delivers spiritual success itself to an ascetic."

Shloka 58 (sundara.13.58)

स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा चिन्ताविग्रथितेन्द्रियः । उदतिष्ठन् महाबाहुर्हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥ 13.58 ॥

sa muhūrtamiva dhyātvā cintāvigrathitendriyaḥ | udatiṣṭhan mahābāhurhanūmān mārutātmajaḥ || 13.58 ||

Having reflected thus for a moment, his senses knotted up with anxious thought, that mighty-armed Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, rose up.

Shloka 59 (sundara.13.59)

नमोऽस्तु रामाय सलक्ष्मणाय देव्यै च तस्यै जनकात्मजायै । नमोऽस्तु रुद्रेन्द्रयमानिलेभ्यो नमोऽस्तु चन्द्राग्निमरुद्गणेभ्यः ॥ 13.59 ॥

namo'stu rāmāya salakṣmaṇāya devyai ca tasyai janakātmajāyai | namo'stu rudrendrayamānilebhyo namo'stu candrāgnimaruda‍gaṇebhyaḥ || 13.59 ||

"Homage be to Rama, together with Lakshmana, and to that queen, the daughter of Janaka! Homage be to Rudra, Indra, Yama, and the Wind! Homage be to the moon, to fire, and to the hosts of the Maruts!"

Shloka 60 (sundara.13.60)

स तेभ्यस्तु नमस्कृत्वा सुग्रीवाय च मारुतिः । दिशः सर्वाः समालोक्य सोऽशोकवनिकां प्रति ॥ 13.60 ॥

sa tebhyastu namaskṛtvā sugrīvāya ca mārutiḥ | diśaḥ sarvāḥ samālokya so'śokavanikāṃ prati || 13.60 ||

Having bowed to them, and to Sugriva as well, the son of the Wind-god surveyed all the directions, and then turned toward the Ashoka grove.

Shloka 61 (sundara.13.61)

स गत्वा मनसा पूर्वमशोकवनिकां शुभाम् । उत्तरं चिन्तयामास वानरो मारुतात्मजः ॥ 13.61 ॥

sa gatvā manasā pūrvamaśokavanikāṃ śubhām | uttaraṃ cintayāmāsa vānaro mārutātmajaḥ || 13.61 ||

That monkey, son of the Wind-god, having first gone to the lovely Ashoka grove in his mind, began then to consider what should follow.

Shloka 62 (sundara.13.62)

ध्रुवं तु रक्षोबहुला भविष्यति वनाकुला । अशोकवनिका पुण्या सर्वसंस्कारसंस्कृता ॥ 13.62 ॥

dhruvaṃ tu rakṣobahulā bhaviṣyati vanākulā | aśokavanikā puṇyā sarvasaṃskārasaṃskṛtā || 13.62 ||

"Surely this sacred Ashoka grove, adorned in every way, thickly wooded, will certainly be crowded with many rakshasas."

Shloka 63 (sundara.13.63)

रक्षिणश्चात्र विहिता नूनं रक्षन्ति पादपान् । भगवानपि विश्वात्मा नातिक्षोभं प्रवायति ॥ 13.63 ॥

rakṣiṇaścātra vihitā nūnaṃ rakṣanti pādapān | bhagavānapi viśvātmā nātikṣobhaṃ pravāyati || 13.63 ||

"And guards surely have been posted here, guarding the trees; even the blessed one, the soul of the universe, blows here without much disturbance."

Shloka 64 (sundara.13.64)

संक्षिप्तोऽयं मयाऽऽत्मा च रामार्थे रावणस्य च । सिद्धिं दिशन्तु मे सर्वे देवाः सर्षिगणास्त्विह ॥ 13.64 ॥

saṃkṣipto'yaṃ mayā''tmā ca rāmārthe rāvaṇasya ca | siddhiṃ diśantu me sarve devāḥ sarṣigaṇāstviha || 13.64 ||

"I have gathered myself together now, for Rama's sake and against Ravana. May all the gods, together with the hosts of sages, grant me success here!"

Shloka 65 (sundara.13.65)

ब्रह्मा स्वयम्भूर्भगवान् देवाश्चैव तपस्विनः । सिद्धिमग्निश्च वायुश्च पुरुहूतश्च वज्रभृत् ॥ 13.65 ॥

brahmā svayambhūrbhagavān devāścaiva tapasvinaḥ | siddhimagniśca vāyuśca puruhūtaśca vajrabhṛt || 13.65 ||

"May Brahma, the self-existent Lord, and the gods together with the ascetics, grant success! May Fire, and Wind, and Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt,"

Shloka 66 (sundara.13.66)

वरुणः पाशहस्तश्च सोमादित्यौ तथैव च । अश्विनौ च महात्मानौ मरुतः सर्व एव च ॥ 13.66 ॥

varuṇaḥ pāśahastaśca somādityau tathaiva ca | aśvinau ca mahātmānau marutaḥ sarva eva ca || 13.66 ||

"and Varuna, the noose-bearer, and the Moon and the Sun likewise, and the two great-souled Ashvins, and all the Maruts too —"

Shloka 67 (sundara.13.67)

सिद्धिं सर्वाणि भूतानि भूतानां चैव यः प्रभुः । दास्यन्ति मम ये चान्येऽप्यदृष्टाः पथि गोचराः ॥ 13.67 ॥

siddhiṃ sarvāṇi bhūtāni bhūtānāṃ caiva yaḥ prabhuḥ | dāsyanti mama ye cānye'pyadṛṣṭāḥ pathi gocarāḥ || 13.67 ||

"and all beings, and he who is lord of all beings, and whatever other unseen powers roam this path — may they all grant me success!"

Shloka 68 (sundara.13.68)

तदुन्नसं पाण्डुरदन्तमव्रणं शुचिस्मितं पद्मपलाशलोचनम् । द्रक्ष्ये तदार्यावदनं कदा न्वहं प्रसन्नताराधिपतुल्यवर्चसम् ॥ 13.68 ॥

tadunnasaṃ pāṇḍuradantamavraṇaṃ śucismitaṃ padmapalāśalocanam | drakṣye tadāryāvadanaṃ kadā nvahaṃ prasannatārādhipatulyavarcasam || 13.68 ||

"When indeed shall I behold that noble face, high-nosed, white-toothed, unblemished, gently smiling, its eyes like lotus-petals, radiant as the clear lord of the stars?"

Shloka 69 (sundara.13.69)

क्षुद्रेण हीनेन नृशंसमूर्तिना सुदारुणालंकृतवेषधारिणा । बलाभिभूता ह्यबला तपस्विनी कथं नु मे दृष्टिपथेऽद्य सा भवेत् ॥ 13.69 ॥

kṣudreṇa hīnena nṛśaṃsamūrtinā sudāruṇālaṃkṛtaveṣadhāriṇā | balābhibhūtā hyabalā tapasvinī kathaṃ nu me dṛṣṭipathe'dya sā bhavet || 13.69 ||

"Overpowered by the strength of that vile, base, cruel-bodied one, adorned in his dreadful array — how, oh how, might that helpless, ascetic-like woman come today within the range of my sight?"