Hanuman Enters the Ashoka Grove

Shloka 1 (sundara.14.1)

स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा मनसा चाधिगम्य ताम् । अवप्लुतो महातेजाः प्राकारं तस्य वेश्मनः ॥ 14.1 ॥

sa muhūrtamiva dhyātvā manasā cādhigamya tām | avapluto mahātejāḥ prākāraṃ tasya veśmanaḥ || 14.1 ||

Having reflected thus for a moment, and having resolved upon it in his mind, that greatly radiant one leapt over the rampart of that dwelling.

Shloka 2 (sundara.14.2)

स तु संहृष्टसर्वांगः प्राकारस्थो महाकपिः । पुष्पिताग्रान् वसन्तादौ ददर्श विविधान् द्रुमान् ॥ 14.2 ॥

sa tu saṃhṛṣṭasarvāṃgaḥ prākārastho mahākapiḥ | puṣpitāgrān vasantādau dadarśa vividhān drumān || 14.2 ||

That great monkey, every limb thrilled with joy, standing there on the rampart, beheld various trees with blossoming crowns, as at the very start of spring.

Shloka 3 (sundara.14.3)

सालानशोकान् भव्यांश्च चम्पकांश्च सुपुष्पितान् । उद्दालकान् नागवृक्षांश्चूतान् कपिमुखानपि ॥ 14.3 ॥

sālānaśokān bhavyāṃśca campakāṃśca supuṣpitān | uddālakān nāgavṛkṣāṃścūtān kapimukhānapi || 14.3 ||

Sala trees, ashoka trees, lovely champaka trees richly in bloom, uddalaka trees, naga trees, mango trees, and kapimukha trees too —

Shloka 4 (sundara.14.4)

तथाऽऽम्रवणसम्पन्नाँल्लताशतसमन्वितान् । ज्यामुक्त इव नाराचः पुप्लुवे वृक्षवाटिकाम् ॥ 14.4 ॥

tathā''mravaṇasampannā~llatāśatasamanvitān | jyāmukta iva nārācaḥ pupluve vṛkṣavāṭikām || 14.4 ||

and mango-groves, thick with hundreds of creepers — like an arrow loosed from the bowstring, he sprang through that grove of trees.

Shloka 5 (sundara.14.5)

स प्रविश्य विचित्रां तां विहगैरभिनादिताम् । राजतैः काञ्चनैश्चैव पादपैः सर्वतो वृताम् ॥ 14.5 ॥

sa praviśya vicitrāṃ tāṃ vihagairabhināditām | rājataiḥ kāñcanaiścaiva pādapaiḥ sarvato vṛtām || 14.5 ||

Entering that wondrous grove, resounding with birds, surrounded on every side by trees seeming of silver and of gold,

Shloka 6 (sundara.14.6)

विहगैर्मृगसङ्घैश्च विचित्रां चित्रकाननाम् । उदितादित्यसंकाशां ददर्श हनुमान् बली ॥ 14.6 ॥

vihagairmṛgasaṅghaiśca vicitrāṃ citrakānanām | uditādityasaṃkāśāṃ dadarśa hanumān balī || 14.6 ||

strong Hanuman beheld that wondrous, picturesque grove, full of birds and herds of deer, radiant as the risen sun.

Shloka 7 (sundara.14.7)

वृतां नानाविधैर्वृक्षैः पुष्पोपगफलोपगैः । कोकिलैर्भृङ्गराजैश्च मत्तैर्नित्यनिषेविताम् ॥ 14.7 ॥

vṛtāṃ nānāvidhairvṛkṣaiḥ puṣpopagaphalopagaiḥ | kokilairbhṛṅgarājaiśca mattairnityaniṣevitām || 14.7 ||

It was surrounded by trees of many kinds, bearing flowers and bearing fruit, and was ever frequented by intoxicated cuckoos and by kings of bees.

Shloka 8 (sundara.14.8)

प्रहृष्टमनुजां काले मृगपक्षिमदाकुलाम् । मत्तबर्हिणसंघुष्टां नानाद्विजगणायुताम् ॥ 14.8 ॥

prahṛṣṭamanujāṃ kāle mṛgapakṣimadākulām | mattabarhiṇasaṃghuṣṭāṃ nānādvijagaṇāyutām || 14.8 ||

In its season it gladdened the heart, thronged with deer and birds intoxicated with joy, resounding with the cries of frenzied peacocks, and filled with flocks of birds of every kind.

Shloka 9 (sundara.14.9)

मार्गमाणो वरारोहां राजपुत्रीमनिन्दिताम् । सुखप्रसुप्तान् विहगान् बोधयामास वानरः ॥ 14.9 ॥

mārgamāṇo varārohāṃ rājaputrīmaninditām | sukhaprasuptān vihagān bodhayāmāsa vānaraḥ || 14.9 ||

Searching for that lovely, blameless princess, the monkey woke the birds that lay happily asleep.

Shloka 10 (sundara.14.10)

उत्पतद्भिर्द्विजगणैः पक्षैर्वातैः समाहताः । अनेकवर्णा विविधा मुमुचुः पुष्पवृष्टयः ॥ 14.10 ॥

utpatadbhirdvijagaṇaiḥ pakṣairvātaiḥ samāhatāḥ | anekavarṇā vividhā mumucuḥ puṣpavṛṣṭayaḥ || 14.10 ||

Struck by the wind from the wings of the flocks of birds flying up, showers of blossoms of many colours and many kinds rained down.

Shloka 11 (sundara.14.11)

पुष्पावकीर्णः शुशुभे हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । अशोकवनिकामध्ये यथा पुष्पमयो गिरिः ॥ 14.11 ॥

puṣpāvakīrṇaḥ śuśubhe hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ | aśokavanikāmadhye yathā puṣpamayo giriḥ || 14.11 ||

Covered all over with flowers, Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, shone in the midst of the Ashoka grove like a mountain made entirely of blossoms.

Shloka 12 (sundara.14.12)

दिशः सर्वाभिधावन्तं वृक्षखण्डगतं कपिम् । दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि वसन्त इति मेनिरे ॥ 14.12 ॥

diśaḥ sarvābhidhāvantaṃ vṛkṣakhaṇḍagataṃ kapim | dṛṣṭvā sarvāṇi bhūtāni vasanta iti menire || 14.12 ||

Seeing that monkey, amid the clumps of trees, racing off in every direction, all the creatures there took him for spring itself.

Shloka 13 (sundara.14.13)

वृक्षेभ्यः पतितैः पुष्पैरवकीर्णाः पृथग्विधैः । रराज वसुधा तत्र प्रमदेव विभूषिता ॥ 14.13 ॥

vṛkṣebhyaḥ patitaiḥ puṣpairavakīrṇāḥ pṛthagvidhaiḥ | rarāja vasudhā tatra pramadeva vibhūṣitā || 14.13 ||

Strewn with flowers of every kind fallen from the trees, the ground there shone like a young woman richly adorned.

Shloka 14 (sundara.14.14)

तरस्विना ते तरवस्तरसा बहु कम्पिताः । कुसुमानि विचित्राणि ससृजुः कपिना तदा ॥ 14.14 ॥

tarasvinā te taravastarasā bahu kampitāḥ | kusumāni vicitrāṇi sasṛjuḥ kapinā tadā || 14.14 ||

Those trees, violently shaken again and again by that swift monkey, then shed their wondrous blossoms in abundance.

Shloka 15 (sundara.14.15)

निर्धूतपत्रशिखराः शीर्णपुष्पफलद्रुमाः । निक्षिप्तवस्त्राभरणा धूर्ता इव पराजिताः ॥ 14.15 ॥

nirdhūtapatraśikharāḥ śīrṇapuṣpaphaladrumāḥ | nikṣiptavastrābharaṇā dhūrtā iva parājitāḥ || 14.15 ||

Their crowning leaves shaken off, their flowers and fruit scattered, the trees looked like cheats defeated at dice, their garments and ornaments flung away.

Shloka 16 (sundara.14.16)

हनूमता वेगवता कम्पितास्ते नगोत्तमाः । पुष्पपत्रफलान्याशु मुमुचुः फलशालिनः ॥ 14.16 ॥

hanūmatā vegavatā kampitāste nagottamāḥ | puṣpapatraphalānyāśu mumucuḥ phalaśālinaḥ || 14.16 ||

Shaken by swift Hanuman, those best of trees, laden with fruit, at once let fall their flowers, leaves, and fruit.

Shloka 17 (sundara.14.17)

विहंगसङ्घैर्हीनास्ते स्कन्धमात्राश्रया द्रुमाः । बभूवुरगमाः सर्वे मारुतेन विनिर्धुताः ॥ 14.17 ॥

vihaṃgasaṅghairhīnāste skandhamātrāśrayā drumāḥ | babhūvuragamāḥ sarve mārutena vinirdhutāḥ || 14.17 ||

Deserted now by their flocks of birds, those trees, shaken thoroughly by the Wind-god's son, stood motionless, their bare trunks alone remaining.

Shloka 18 (sundara.14.18)

विधूतकेशी युवतिर्यथा मृदितवर्णका । निपीतशुभदन्तोष्ठी नखैर्दन्तैश्च विक्षता ॥ 14.18 ॥

vidhūtakeśī yuvatiryathā mṛditavarṇakā | nipītaśubhadantoṣṭhī nakhairdantaiśca vikṣatā || 14.18 ||

The grove now looked like a young woman with her hair disheveled, her make-up rubbed away, her fair lips and teeth kissed pale, her body scratched by nails and teeth —

Shloka 19 (sundara.14.19)

तथा लांगूलहस्तैस्तु चरणाभ्यां च मर्दिता । तथैवाशोकवनिका प्रभग्नवनपादपा ॥ 14.19 ॥

tathā lāṃgūlahastaistu caraṇābhyāṃ ca marditā | tathaivāśokavanikā prabhagnavanapādapā || 14.19 ||

so, trampled by tail and hands and feet, the Ashoka grove now stood with its forest trees all broken.

Shloka 20 (sundara.14.20)

महालतानां दामानि व्यधमत् तरसा कपिः । यथा प्रावृषि वेगेन मेघजालानि मारुतः ॥ 14.20 ॥

mahālatānāṃ dāmāni vyadhamat tarasā kapiḥ | yathā prāvṛṣi vegena meghajālāni mārutaḥ || 14.20 ||

The monkey scattered the garlands of great creepers by his force, as the wind in the rainy season scatters the masses of clouds by its force.

Shloka 21 (sundara.14.21)

स तत्र मणिभूमीश्च राजतीश्च मनोरमाः । तथा काञ्चनभूमीश्च विचरन् ददृशे कपिः ॥ 14.21 ॥

sa tatra maṇibhūmīśca rājatīśca manoramāḥ | tathā kāñcanabhūmīśca vicaran dadṛśe kapiḥ || 14.21 ||

Roaming there, the monkey saw floors of jewels, and lovely floors of silver, and floors of gold as well.

Shloka 22 (sundara.14.22)

वापीश्च विविधाकाराः पूर्णाः परमवारिणा । महार्हैर्मणिसोपानैरुपपन्नास्ततस्ततः ॥ 14.22 ॥

vāpīśca vividhākārāḥ pūrṇāḥ paramavāriṇā | mahārhairmaṇisopānairupapannāstatastataḥ || 14.22 ||

and stepwells of various shapes, filled with the finest water, fitted here and there with priceless steps of jewels,

Shloka 23 (sundara.14.23)

मुक्ताप्रवालसिकताः स्फाटिकान्तरकुट्टिमाः । काञ्चनैस्तरुभिश्चित्रैस्तीरजैरुपशोभिताः ॥ 14.23 ॥

muktāpravālasikatāḥ sphāṭikāntarakuṭṭimāḥ | kāñcanaistarubhiścitraistīrajairupaśobhitāḥ || 14.23 ||

their sands of pearl and coral, their floors inlaid with crystal, adorned with wondrous golden trees growing along their banks,

Shloka 24 (sundara.14.24)

बुद्धपद्मोत्पलवनाश्चक्रवाकोपशोभिताः । नत्यूहरुतसंघुष्टा हंससारसनादिताः ॥ 14.24 ॥

buddhapadmotpalavanāścakravākopaśobhitāḥ | natyūharutasaṃghuṣṭā haṃsasārasanāditāḥ || 14.24 ||

graced with thickets of full-blown lotuses and water-lilies, beautified by ruddy geese, resounding with the cries of moorhens, and echoing with the calls of swans and cranes.

Shloka 25 (sundara.14.25)

दीर्घाभिर्द्रुमयुक्ताभिः सरिद्भिश्च समन्ततः । अमृतोपमतोयाभिः शिवाभिरुपसंस्कृताः ॥ 14.25 ॥

dīrghābhirdrumayuktābhiḥ saridbhiśca samantataḥ | amṛtopamatoyābhiḥ śivābhirupasaṃskṛtāḥ || 14.25 ||

Those pools were adorned all around with long rivers lined with trees, auspicious, their waters like ambrosia,

Shloka 26 (sundara.14.26)

लताशतैरवतताः संतानकुसुमावृताः । नानागुल्मावृतवनाः करवीरकृतान्तराः ॥ 14.26 ॥

latāśatairavatatāḥ saṃtānakusumāvṛtāḥ | nānāgulmāvṛtavanāḥ karavīrakṛtāntarāḥ || 14.26 ||

overspread with hundreds of creepers, covered with santanaka blossoms, their groves thick with various shrubs, their spaces filled in with oleander.

Shloka 27 (sundara.14.27)

ततोऽम्बुधरसंकाशं प्रवृद्धशिखरं गिरिम् । विचित्रकूटं कूटैश्च सर्वतः परिवारितम् ॥ 14.27 ॥

tato'mbudharasaṃkāśaṃ pravṛddhaśikharaṃ girim | vicitrakūṭaṃ kūṭaiśca sarvataḥ parivāritam || 14.27 ||

Then he beheld a mountain, resembling a rain-cloud, its peak towering high, wondrous of summit, surrounded on every side by other peaks,

Shloka 28 (sundara.14.28)

शिलागृहैरवततं नानावृक्षसमावृतम् । ददर्श कपिशार्दूलो रम्यं जगति पर्वतम् ॥ 14.28 ॥

śilāgṛhairavatataṃ nānāvṛkṣasamāvṛtam | dadarśa kapiśārdūlo ramyaṃ jagati parvatam || 14.28 ||

spread with chambers of rock, covered with trees of every kind — the tiger among monkeys saw that mountain, lovely as any in the world.

Shloka 29 (sundara.14.29)

ददर्श च नगात् तस्मान्नदीं निपतितां कपिः । अंकादिव समुत्पत्य प्रियस्य पतितां प्रियाम् ॥ 14.29 ॥

dadarśa ca nagāt tasmānnadīṃ nipatitāṃ kapiḥ | aṃkādiva samutpatya priyasya patitāṃ priyām || 14.29 ||

And the monkey saw a river falling from that mountain, like a beloved woman who has leapt up and fallen away from her lover's lap.

Shloka 30 (sundara.14.30)

जले निपतिताग्रैश्च पादपैरुपशोभिताम् । वार्यमाणामिव क्रुद्धां प्रमदां प्रियबन्धुभिः ॥ 14.30 ॥

jale nipatitāgraiśca pādapairupaśobhitām | vāryamāṇāmiva kruddhāṃ pramadāṃ priyabandhubhiḥ || 14.30 ||

It was adorned by trees whose tips had fallen into the water, like a woman in anger, held back by her loving kinsfolk.

Shloka 31 (sundara.14.31)

पुनरावृत्ततोयां च ददर्श स महाकपिः । प्रसन्नामिव कान्तस्य कान्तां पुनरुपस्थिताम् ॥ 14.31 ॥

punarāvṛttatoyāṃ ca dadarśa sa mahākapiḥ | prasannāmiva kāntasya kāntāṃ punarupasthitām || 14.31 ||

And that great monkey saw its waters turning back again, like a beloved woman, now appeased, returning once more to her lover.

Shloka 32 (sundara.14.32)

तस्यादूरात् स पद्मिन्यो नानाद्विजगणायुताः । ददर्श कपिशार्दूलो हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥ 14.32 ॥

tasyādūrāt sa padminyo nānādvijagaṇāyutāḥ | dadarśa kapiśārdūlo hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ || 14.32 ||

Not far from it, Hanuman, tiger among monkeys, son of the Wind-god, saw lotus-ponds thronged with birds of many kinds.

Shloka 33 (sundara.14.33)

कृत्रिमां दीर्घिकां चापि पूर्णां शीतेन वारिणा । मणिप्रवरसोपानां मुक्तासिकतशोभिताम् ॥ 14.33 ॥

kṛtrimāṃ dīrghikāṃ cāpi pūrṇāṃ śītena vāriṇā | maṇipravarasopānāṃ muktāsikataśobhitām || 14.33 ||

and also an artificial pool, filled with cool water, its steps of the finest jewels, its sands beautified with pearls,

Shloka 34 (sundara.14.34)

विविधैर्मृगसङ्घैश्च विचित्रां चित्रकाननाम् । प्रासादैः सुमहद्भिश्च निर्मितैर्विश्वकर्मणा ॥ 14.34 ॥

vividhairmṛgasaṅghaiśca vicitrāṃ citrakānanām | prāsādaiḥ sumahadbhiśca nirmitairviśvakarmaṇā || 14.34 ||

wondrous with various herds of deer, its groves picturesque, surrounded by great palaces built by Vishvakarma himself,

Shloka 35 (sundara.14.35)

काननैः कृत्रिमैश्चापि सर्वतः समलंकृताम् । ये केचित् पादपास्तत्र पुष्पोपगफलोपगाः ॥ 14.35 ॥

kānanaiḥ kṛtrimaiścāpi sarvataḥ samalaṃkṛtām | ye kecit pādapāstatra puṣpopagaphalopagāḥ || 14.35 ||

adorned on every side with artificial groves as well. Whatever trees stood there, bearing flowers, bearing fruit —

Shloka 36 (sundara.14.36)

सच्छत्राः सवितर्दीकाः सर्वे सौवर्णवेदिकाः । लताप्रतानैर्बहुभिः पर्णैश्च बहुभिर्वृताम् ॥ 14.36 ॥

sacchatrāḥ savitardīkāḥ sarve sauvarṇavedikāḥ | latāpratānairbahubhiḥ parṇaiśca bahubhirvṛtām || 14.36 ||

all had canopies over them and platforms of gold beneath, and were covered with the spreading tendrils of many creepers and the leaves of many plants.

Shloka 37 (sundara.14.37)

काञ्चनीं शिंशपामेकां ददर्श स महाकपिः । वृतां हेममयीभिस्तु वेदिकाभिः समन्ततः ॥ 14.37 ॥

kāñcanīṃ śiṃśapāmekāṃ dadarśa sa mahākapiḥ | vṛtāṃ hemamayībhistu vedikābhiḥ samantataḥ || 14.37 ||

And that great monkey saw a single golden shimshapa tree, surrounded all about by platforms made of gold.

Shloka 38 (sundara.14.38)

सोऽपश्यद् भूमिभागांश्च नगप्रस्रवणानि च । सुवर्णवृक्षानपरान् ददर्श शिखिसंनिभान् ॥ 14.38 ॥

so'paśyad bhūmibhāgāṃśca nagaprasravaṇāni ca | suvarṇavṛkṣānaparān dadarśa śikhisaṃnibhān || 14.38 ||

He saw stretches of ground, and the mountain's springs, and other trees of gold that looked like flames of fire.

Shloka 39 (sundara.14.39)

तेषां द्रुमाणां प्रभया मेरोरिव महाकपिः । अमन्यत तदा वीरः काञ्चनोऽस्मीति सर्वतः ॥ 14.39 ॥

teṣāṃ drumāṇāṃ prabhayā meroriva mahākapiḥ | amanyata tadā vīraḥ kāñcano'smīti sarvataḥ || 14.39 ||

By the radiance of those trees, that heroic great monkey then thought, as if standing on Meru itself, that he himself had turned golden all over.

Shloka 40 (sundara.14.40)

तान् काञ्चनान् वृक्षगणान् मारुतेन प्रकम्पितान् । किङ्किणीशतनिर्घोषान् दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमागमत् ॥ 14.40 ॥

tān kāñcanān vṛkṣagaṇān mārutena prakampitān | kiṅkiṇīśatanirghoṣān dṛṣṭvā vismayamāgamat || 14.40 ||

Seeing those clusters of golden trees, shaken by the wind, ringing with the sound of hundreds of little bells, he was struck with wonder.

Shloka 41 (sundara.14.41)

सुपुष्पिताग्रान् रुचिरांस्तरुणाङ्कुरपल्लवान् । तामारुह्य महावेगः शिंशपां पर्णसंवृताम् ॥ 14.41 ॥

supuṣpitāgrān rucirāṃstaruṇāṅkurapallavān | tāmāruhya mahāvegaḥ śiṃśapāṃ parṇasaṃvṛtām || 14.41 ||

That monkey of great speed climbed up that shimshapa tree, thick with leaves, its crown richly flowered, with tender shoots and lovely young sprouts —

Shloka 42 (sundara.14.42)

इतो द्रक्ष्यामि वैदेहीं रामदर्शनलालसाम् । इतश्चेतश्च दुःखार्तां सम्पतन्तीं यदृच्छया ॥ 14.42 ॥

ito drakṣyāmi vaidehīṃ rāmadarśanalālasām | itaścetaśca duḥkhārtāṃ sampatantīṃ yadṛcchayā || 14.42 ||

thinking, "From here I shall see Vaidehi, longing for the sight of Rama, wandering here and there in her grief, as chance may bring her."

Shloka 43 (sundara.14.43)

अशोकवनिका चेयं दृढं रम्या दुरात्मनः । चन्दनैश्चम्पकैश्चापि बकुलैश्च विभूषिता ॥ 14.43 ॥

aśokavanikā ceyaṃ dṛḍhaṃ ramyā durātmanaḥ | candanaiścampakaiścāpi bakulaiśca vibhūṣitā || 14.43 ||

"This Ashoka grove of that vile-souled one is indeed truly lovely, adorned with sandal trees, and with champaka and bakula trees too."

Shloka 44 (sundara.14.44)

इयं च नलिनी रम्या द्विजसङ्घनिषेविता । इमां सा राजमहिषी नूनमेष्यति जानकी ॥ 14.44 ॥

iyaṃ ca nalinī ramyā dvijasaṅghaniṣevitā | imāṃ sā rājamahiṣī nūnameṣyati jānakī || 14.44 ||

"And this lovely lotus-pool, frequented by flocks of birds — surely that queen, Janaki, will come here."

Shloka 45 (sundara.14.45)

सा रामा राजमहिषी राघवस्य प्रिया सती । वनसंचारकुशला ध्रुवमेष्यति जानकी ॥ 14.45 ॥

sā rāmā rājamahiṣī rāghavasya priyā satī | vanasaṃcārakuśalā dhruvameṣyati jānakī || 14.45 ||

"That lovely queen, Raghava's dear and virtuous wife, skilled in wandering the forest — surely Janaki will come."

Shloka 46 (sundara.14.46)

अथवा मृगशावाक्षी वनस्यास्य विचक्षणा । वनमेष्यति साद्येह रामचिन्तासुकर्शिता ॥ 14.46 ॥

athavā mṛgaśāvākṣī vanasyāsya vicakṣaṇā | vanameṣyati sādyeha rāmacintāsukarśitā || 14.46 ||

"Or that fawn-eyed one, well acquainted with this forest, wasted away by anxious thought of Rama, will surely come to this grove today."

Shloka 47 (sundara.14.47)

रामशोकाभिसंतप्ता सा देवी वामलोचना । वनवासरता नित्यमेष्यते वनचारिणी ॥ 14.47 ॥

rāmaśokābhisaṃtaptā sā devī vāmalocanā | vanavāsaratā nityameṣyate vanacāriṇī || 14.47 ||

"That lovely-eyed queen, tormented by grief for Rama, ever fond of dwelling in the forest — she will come here, wandering the woods as she does."

Shloka 48 (sundara.14.48)

वनेचराणां सततं नूनं स्पृहयते पुरा । रामस्य दयिता चार्या जनकस्य सुता सती ॥ 14.48 ॥

vanecarāṇāṃ satataṃ nūnaṃ spṛhayate purā | rāmasya dayitā cāryā janakasya sutā satī || 14.48 ||

"Even before this, surely, that virtuous, noble daughter of Janaka, Rama's beloved, has always felt drawn to the forest-dwelling creatures."

Shloka 49 (sundara.14.49)

संध्याकालमनाः श्यामा ध्रुवमेष्यति जानकी । नदीं चेमां शुभजलां संध्यार्थे वरवर्णिनी ॥ 14.49 ॥

saṃdhyākālamanāḥ śyāmā dhruvameṣyati jānakī | nadīṃ cemāṃ śubhajalāṃ saṃdhyārthe varavarṇinī || 14.49 ||

"That dark-haired, fair-complexioned Janaki, her mind set upon the evening hour, will surely come to this river of pure water for her evening rites."

Shloka 50 (sundara.14.50)

तस्याश्चाप्यनुरूपेयमशोकवनिका शुभा । शुभायाः पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य पत्नी रामस्य सम्मता ॥ 14.50 ॥

tasyāścāpyanurūpeyamaśokavanikā śubhā | śubhāyāḥ pārthivendrasya patnī rāmasya sammatā || 14.50 ||

"And this lovely Ashoka grove, too, is well suited to her — she, the auspicious one, the wife held dear by Rama, lord among kings."

Shloka 51 (sundara.14.51)

यदि जीवति सा देवी ताराधिपनिभानना । आगमिष्यति सावश्यमिमां शीतजलां नदीम् ॥ 14.51 ॥

yadi jīvati sā devī tārādhipanibhānanā | āgamiṣyati sāvaśyamimāṃ śītajalāṃ nadīm || 14.51 ||

"If that queen still lives, her face like the lord of the stars, she will surely come to this river of cool water."

Shloka 52 (sundara.14.52)

एवं तु मत्वा हनुमान् महात्मा प्रतीक्षमाणो मनुजेन्द्रपत्नीम् । अवेक्षमाणश्च ददर्श सर्वं सुपुष्पिते पर्णघने निलीनः ॥ 14.52 ॥

evaṃ tu matvā hanumān mahātmā pratīkṣamāṇo manujendrapatnīm | avekṣamāṇaśca dadarśa sarvaṃ supuṣpite parṇaghane nilīnaḥ || 14.52 ||

Thinking thus, the great-souled Hanuman, waiting for the wife of that lord among men, concealed himself in the dense, flower-laden foliage, and, keeping watch, observed everything.