Hanuman Beholds the City of Lanka

Shloka 1 (sundara.2.1)

स सागरमनाधृष्यमतिक्रम्य महाबलः । त्रिकूटशिखरे लङ्कां स्थितां स्वस्थो ददर्श ह ॥ 2.1 ॥

sa sāgaramanādhṛṣyamatikramya mahābalaḥ | trikūṭaśikhare laṅkāṃ sthitāṃ svastho dadarśa ha || 2.1 ||

That mighty Hanuman, having crossed the invincible ocean, beheld, quite at ease, Lanka standing upon the peak of Mount Trikuta.

Shloka 2 (sundara.2.2)

ततः पादपमुक्तेन पुष्पवर्षेण वीर्यवान् । अभिवृष्टः स्थितस्तत्र बभौ पुष्पमयो यथा ॥ 2.2 ॥

tataḥ pādapamuktena puṣpavarṣeṇa vīryavān | abhivṛṣṭaḥ sthitastatra babhau puṣpamayo yathā || 2.2 ||

Then that mighty one, showered by a rain of flowers released by the trees, stood there shining as though his very body were made of flowers.

Shloka 3 (sundara.2.3)

योजनानां शतं श्रीमांस्तीर्त्वाप्युत्तमविक्रमः । अनिःस्वसन् कपिस्तत्र न ग्लानिमधिगच्छति ॥ 2.3 ॥

yojanānāṃ śataṃ śrīmāṃstīrtvāpyuttamavikramaḥ | aniḥsvasan kapistatra na glānimadhigacchati || 2.3 ||

That glorious monkey, of matchless valour, though he had crossed a hundred yojanas, did not even pant there, nor did he feel the least fatigue.

Shloka 4 (sundara.2.4)

शतान्यहं योजनानां क्रमेयं सुबहुन्यपि । किं पुनः सागरस्यान्तं संख्यातं शतयोजनम् ॥ 2.4 ॥

śatānyahaṃ yojanānāṃ krameyaṃ subahunyapi | kiṃ punaḥ sāgarasyāntaṃ saṃkhyātaṃ śatayojanam || 2.4 ||

"I could cross many hundreds of yojanas besides -- what then to speak of the end of this ocean, reckoned at a mere hundred yojanas?"

Shloka 5 (sundara.2.5)

स तु वीर्यवतां श्रेष्ठः प्लवतामपि चोत्तमः । जगाम वेगवान् लङ्कां लङ्घयित्वा महोदधिम् ॥ 2.5 ॥

sa tu vīryavatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ plavatāmapi cottamaḥ | jagāma vegavān laṅkāṃ laṅghayitvā mahodadhim || 2.5 ||

That foremost among the mighty, and the best also among those who can leap, sped on with great speed toward Lanka, having crossed the great ocean.

Shloka 6 (sundara.2.6)

शाद्वलानि च नीलानि गन्धवन्ति वनानि च । गण्डवन्ति च मध्येन जगाम नगवन्ति च ॥ 2.6 ॥

śādvalāni ca nīlāni gandhavanti vanāni ca | gaṇḍavanti ca madhyena jagāma nagavanti ca || 2.6 ||

He passed through the midst of dark-green, fragrant meadows and forests, and through regions abounding in great boulders and hills.

Shloka 7 (sundara.2.7)

शैलांश्च तरुसंचन्नान् वनराजीश्च पुष्पिताः । अभिचक्राम तेजस्वी हनुमान् प्लवगर्षभः ॥ 2.7 ॥

śailāṃśca tarusaṃcannān vanarājīśca puṣpitāḥ | abhicakrāma tejasvī hanumān plavagarṣabhaḥ || 2.7 ||

That radiant Hanuman, foremost of monkeys, passed over hills covered with trees, and over blossoming rows of forest.

Shloka 8 (sundara.2.8)

स तस्मिन्नचले तिष्ठन्वनान्युपवनानि च । स नगाग्रे च तां लङ्कां ददर्श पवनात्मजः ॥ 2.8 ॥

sa tasminnacale tiṣṭhanvanānyupavanāni ca | sa nagāgre ca tāṃ laṅkāṃ dadarśa pavanātmajaḥ || 2.8 ||

Standing on that mountain, that son of the wind beheld the forests and groves, and, upon the mountain-top, that city of Lanka.

Shloka 9 (sundara.2.9)

सरळान् कर्णिकारांश्च खर्जूरांश्च सुपुष्पितान् । प्रियाळान्मुचुळिन्दांश्च कुटजान् केतकानपि ॥ 2.9 ॥

saraḷān karṇikārāṃśca kharjūrāṃśca supuṣpitān | priyāḷānmucuḷindāṃśca kuṭajān ketakānapi || 2.9 ||

He saw sarala and karnikara trees, date-palms in full bloom, priyala and muchulinda trees, kutaja and ketaki blossoms,

Shloka 10 (sundara.2.10)

प्रियङ्गून् गन्धपूर्णांश्च नीपान् सप्तच्छदांस्तथा । असनान् कोविदारांश्च करवीरांश्च पुष्पितान् ॥ 2.10 ॥

priyaṅgūn gandhapūrṇāṃśca nīpān saptacchadāṃstathā | asanān kovidārāṃśca karavīrāṃśca puṣpitān || 2.10 ||

-- priyangu trees, and kadamba trees filled with fragrance, and saptacchada trees as well, asana, kovidara, and karavira trees in full flower --

Shloka 11 (sundara.2.11)

पुष्पभारनिबद्धांश्च तथा मुकुळितानपि । पादपान् विहगाकीर्णान् पवनाधूतमस्तकान् ॥ 2.11 ॥

puṣpabhāranibaddhāṃśca tathā mukuḷitānapi | pādapān vihagākīrṇān pavanādhūtamastakān || 2.11 ||

-- trees weighed down by the burden of their blossoms, others still in bud, thronged with birds, their crowns swaying in the wind --

Shloka 12 (sundara.2.12)

हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णान्वापीः पद्मोत्मलायुताः । आक्रीडान् विविधान् रम्यान्विविधांश्च जलाशयान् ॥ 2.12 ॥

haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇānvāpīḥ padmotmalāyutāḥ | ākrīḍān vividhān ramyānvividhāṃśca jalāśayān || 2.12 ||

-- wells filled with lotuses and lilies, lovely and varied pleasure-groves, and diverse ponds thronged with swans and karandava ducks --

Shloka 13 (sundara.2.13)

संततान् विविधैर्वऋकैः सर्वर्तुफलपुष्पितैः । उद्यानानि च रम्याणि ददर्श कपिकुञ्जरः ॥ 2.13 ॥

saṃtatān vividhairvaṛkaiḥ sarvartuphalapuṣpitaiḥ | udyānāni ca ramyāṇi dadarśa kapikuñjaraḥ || 2.13 ||

-- and beautiful gardens, spread with all manner of trees bearing fruit and flower in every season -- all this that elephant among monkeys beheld.

Shloka 14 (sundara.2.14)

समासाद्य च लक्ष्मीवन् लङ्कां रावणपालिताम् । परिखाभिः सपद्माभिः सोत्पलाभिरलंकृताम् ॥ 2.14 ॥

samāsādya ca lakṣmīvan laṅkāṃ rāvaṇapālitām | parikhābhiḥ sapadmābhiḥ sotpalābhiralaṃkṛtām || 2.14 ||

Then that glorious one drew near to Lanka, ruled by Ravana, adorned with moats filled with lotuses and water-lilies,

Shloka 15 (sundara.2.15)

सीतापहरणार्थेन रावणेन सुरक्षिताम् । समन्ताद्विचरद्भिश्च राक्षसैरुग्रधन्विभिः ॥ 2.15 ॥

sītāpaharaṇārthena rāvaṇena surakṣitām | samantādvicaradbhiśca rākṣasairugradhanvibhiḥ || 2.15 ||

-- well guarded, ever since Sita's abduction, by Ravana himself, and by rakshasas of fierce bow patrolling on every side,

Shloka 16 (sundara.2.16)

काञ्चनेनावृतां रम्यां प्राकारेण महापुरीम् । गृहैश्च ग्रहसंकाशैः शारदाम्बुदसन्निभैः ॥ 2.16 ॥

kāñcanenāvṛtāṃ ramyāṃ prākāreṇa mahāpurīm | gṛhaiśca grahasaṃkāśaiḥ śāradāmbudasannibhaiḥ || 2.16 ||

-- surrounded by a rampart of gold, that beautiful great city, filled with houses like mountains, resembling the clouds of autumn,

Shloka 17 (sundara.2.17)

पाण्डुराभिः प्रतोळीभिरुच्चाभिरभिसंवृताम् । अट्टालकशताकीर्णां पताकाध्वजमालिनीम् ॥ 2.17 ॥

pāṇḍurābhiḥ pratoḷībhiruccābhirabhisaṃvṛtām | aṭṭālakaśatākīrṇāṃ patākādhvajamālinīm || 2.17 ||

-- encircled by broad, elevated, white-washed avenues, thronged with a hundred watch-towers, garlanded with banners and pennants,

Shloka 18 (sundara.2.18)

तोरणैः काञ्चनैर्दिव्यैर्लतापङ्किविचित्रितैः । ददर्श हनुमान् लङ्कां दिवि देवपुरीं यथा ॥ 2.18 ॥

toraṇaiḥ kāñcanairdivyairlatāpaṅkivicitritaiḥ | dadarśa hanumān laṅkāṃ divi devapurīṃ yathā || 2.18 ||

-- with divine golden archways adorned with rows of sculpted creepers -- Hanuman beheld that Lanka as though it were the very city of the gods in heaven.

Shloka 19 (sundara.2.19)

गिरिमूर्ध्नि स्थितां लङ्कां पाण्डुरैर्भवनैः शुभैः । ददर्श स कपिश्रेष्ठः पुरमाकाशगं यथा ॥ 2.19 ॥

girimūrdhni sthitāṃ laṅkāṃ pāṇḍurairbhavanaiḥ śubhaiḥ | dadarśa sa kapiśreṣṭhaḥ puramākāśagaṃ yathā || 2.19 ||

That foremost of monkeys saw Lanka, set upon the mountain's summit, with its splendid white mansions, as though it were a city afloat in the sky.

Shloka 20 (sundara.2.20)

पालितां राक्षसेन्द्रेण निर्मितां विश्वकर्मणा । प्लवमानामिवाकाशे ददर्श हनुमान् पुरीम् ॥ 2.20 ॥

pālitāṃ rākṣasendreṇa nirmitāṃ viśvakarmaṇā | plavamānāmivākāśe dadarśa hanumān purīm || 2.20 ||

Hanuman saw that city, ruled by the lord of the rakshasas, built by Vishvakarma, as though it floated upon the sky.

Shloka 21 (sundara.2.21)

पप्रप्राकारजघनां विपुलाम्बुनवाम्बराम् । शतघ्नीशूलकेशान्तामट्टालकवतंसकाम् ॥ 2.21 ॥

papraprākārajaghanāṃ vipulāmbunavāmbarām | śataghnīśūlakeśāntāmaṭṭālakavataṃsakām || 2.21 ||

-- with its ramparts and buttress-walls for hips and loins, its vast, fresh waters for raiment, its catapults and spears for tresses, its watch-towers for earrings,

Shloka 22 (sundara.2.22)

मन्सेव कृतां लङ्कां निर्मितां विश्वकर्मणा । द्वारमुत्तरमासाद्य चिन्तयामास वानरः ॥ 2.22 ॥

manseva kṛtāṃ laṅkāṃ nirmitāṃ viśvakarmaṇā | dvāramuttaramāsādya cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ || 2.22 ||

-- Lanka, built by Vishvakarma, seemed fashioned by thought alone. And reaching the northern gate, that monkey began to reflect:

Shloka 23 (sundara.2.23)

कैलासशिखरप्रख्यामालिख्स्न्तीमिवाम्बरम् । डीयमानामिवाकाशमुच्छ्रितैर्भवनोत्तमैः ॥ 2.23 ॥

kailāsaśikharaprakhyāmālikhsntīmivāmbaram | ḍīyamānāmivākāśamucchritairbhavanottamaiḥ || 2.23 ||

-- resembling the peak of Kailasa, seeming to graze the very sky, as though about to take flight into the heavens with its towering, foremost mansions,

Shloka 24 (sundara.2.24)

संपूर्णां राक्षसैर्घोरैर्नागैर्भोगवतीमिव । अचिन्त्यां सुकृतां स्पष्टां कुबेराध्युषितां पुरा ॥ 2.24 ॥

saṃpūrṇāṃ rākṣasairghorairnāgairbhogavatīmiva | acintyāṃ sukṛtāṃ spaṣṭāṃ kuberādhyuṣitāṃ purā || 2.24 ||

-- thronged with terrible rakshasas and serpents, like Bhogavati itself; unfathomable, well-built, resplendent, once the abode of Kubera,

Shloka 25 (sundara.2.25)

दंष्ट्रिभिर्बहुभिः शूरैः शूलपट्टिसपाणिभिः । रक्षितां राक्षसैर्घोरैर्गुहामाशीविषैरिव ॥ 2.25 ॥

daṃṣṭribhirbahubhiḥ śūraiḥ śūlapaṭṭisapāṇibhiḥ | rakṣitāṃ rākṣasairghorairguhāmāśīviṣairiva || 2.25 ||

-- guarded by many valiant, fanged rakshasas, spears and pattisha-blades in hand, terrible as a cave alive with venomous serpents,

Shloka 26 (sundara.2.26)

तस्याश्च महतीं गुप्तिं सागरं च निरीक्ष्य सः । रावणं च रिपुं घोरं चिन्तयामास वानरः ॥ 2.26 ॥

tasyāśca mahatīṃ guptiṃ sāgaraṃ ca nirīkṣya saḥ | rāvaṇaṃ ca ripuṃ ghoraṃ cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ || 2.26 ||

-- seeing that city's great defences, and the ocean, and Ravana, that terrible foe, that monkey began to reflect thus:

Shloka 27 (sundara.2.27)

आगत्यापीह हरयो भविष्यन्ति निररथकाः । न हि युद्धेन व लङ्का शक्या जेतुं सुरैरपि ॥ 2.27 ॥

āgatyāpīha harayo bhaviṣyanti nirarathakāḥ | na hi yuddhena va laṅkā śakyā jetuṃ surairapi || 2.27 ||

"Even were the vanaras to come here, they would achieve nothing; not even the gods themselves could conquer Lanka in battle."

Shloka 28 (sundara.2.28)

इमां तु विषमां दुर्गां लङ्कां रावणपालिताम् । प्राप्यापि स महाबाहुः किम् करिष्यति राघवः ॥ 2.28 ॥

imāṃ tu viṣamāṃ durgāṃ laṅkāṃ rāvaṇapālitām | prāpyāpi sa mahābāhuḥ kim kariṣyati rāghavaḥ || 2.28 ||

"Even should he, the mighty-armed Raghava, reach this treacherous and impenetrable Lanka, ruled by Ravana, what indeed could he do?"

Shloka 29 (sundara.2.29)

अवकाशो न सान्त्वस्य रक्षसेष्वभिगम्यते । न दानस्य न भेदस्य नैव युद्धस्य दृश्यते ॥ 2.29 ॥

avakāśo na sāntvasya rakṣaseṣvabhigamyate | na dānasya na bhedasya naiva yuddhasya dṛśyate || 2.29 ||

"No opening is to be found among the rakshasas for conciliation, nor for gifts, nor for sowing discord, nor even, it seems, for open war."

Shloka 30 (sundara.2.30)

चतुर्णामेव हि गतिर्वानराणां महात्मनाम् । वालिपुत्रस्य नीलस्य मम राज्ञश्च धीमतः ॥ 2.30 ॥

caturṇāmeva hi gatirvānarāṇāṃ mahātmanām | vāliputrasya nīlasya mama rājñaśca dhīmataḥ || 2.30 ||

"Only four great-souled vanaras have the power to reach here -- Vali's son Angada, Nila, I myself, and the wise king Sugriva."

Shloka 31 (sundara.2.31)

यावज्जानामि वैदेहीं यदि जीवति वा न वा । तत्रैव चिन्तयिष्यामि दृष्ट्वा तां जनकात्मजाम् ॥ 2.31 ॥

yāvajjānāmi vaidehīṃ yadi jīvati vā na vā | tatraiva cintayiṣyāmi dṛṣṭvā tāṃ janakātmajām || 2.31 ||

"As for whether Vaidehi is alive or not -- I shall know only once I see that daughter of Janaka; only then will I decide what more to do."

Shloka 32 (sundara.2.32)

ततः स चिन्तयामास मुहूर्तं कपिकुञ्जरः । गिरिशृङ्गे स्थितस्तस्मिन् रामस्याभ्युदये रतः ॥ 2.32 ॥

tataḥ sa cintayāmāsa muhūrtaṃ kapikuñjaraḥ | giriśṛṅge sthitastasmin rāmasyābhyudaye rataḥ || 2.32 ||

Then that elephant among monkeys, standing upon that mountain peak, intent upon Rama's welfare, reflected for a moment.

Shloka 33 (sundara.2.33)

अनेन रूपेण मया न शक्या रक्षसां पुरी । प्रवेष्टुं राक्षसैर्गुप्ता क्रूरैर्बलसमन्वितैः ॥ 2.33 ॥

anena rūpeṇa mayā na śakyā rakṣasāṃ purī | praveṣṭuṃ rākṣasairguptā krūrairbalasamanvitaiḥ || 2.33 ||

"In this present form of mine, I cannot enter the city of the rakshasas, guarded as it is by cruel and mighty rakshasas."

Shloka 34 (sundara.2.34)

उग्रौजसो महावीर्या बलवन्तश्च राक्षसाः । वञ्चनीया मया सर्वे जानकीं परिमार्गता ॥ 2.34 ॥

ugraujaso mahāvīryā balavantaśca rākṣasāḥ | vañcanīyā mayā sarve jānakīṃ parimārgatā || 2.34 ||

"All these rakshasas, of fierce vigour and great might and strength, must be eluded by me as I go about searching for Janaki."

Shloka 35 (sundara.2.35)

लक्ष्यालक्ष्येण रूपेण रात्रौ लङ्का पुरी मया । प्रवेष्टुं प्राप्तकालं मे कृत्यं साधयितुं महत् ॥ 2.35 ॥

lakṣyālakṣyeṇa rūpeṇa rātrau laṅkā purī mayā | praveṣṭuṃ prāptakālaṃ me kṛtyaṃ sādhayituṃ mahat || 2.35 ||

"The right time for me to enter the city of Lanka is at night, in a form barely visible, so as to accomplish this great task of mine."

Shloka 36 (sundara.2.36)

तां पुरीं तादृशीं दृष्ट्वा दुराधर्शां सुरासुरैः । हनुमान् चिन्तयामास विनिश्चित्य मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ 2.36 ॥

tāṃ purīṃ tādṛśīṃ dṛṣṭvā durādharśāṃ surāsuraiḥ | hanumān cintayāmāsa viniścitya muhurmuhuḥ || 2.36 ||

Seeing that city, so hard to overpower even by gods and demons, Hanuman pondered again and again, weighing his course.

Shloka 37 (sundara.2.37)

केनोपायेन पशेयं मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम् । अदृष्टो राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना ॥ 2.37 ॥

kenopāyena paśeyaṃ maithilīṃ janakātmajām | adṛṣṭo rākṣasendreṇa rāvaṇena durātmanā || 2.37 ||

"By what means may I see Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, without being seen by that wicked Ravana, lord of the rakshasas?"

Shloka 38 (sundara.2.38)

न विनश्येत्कथं कार्यं रामस्य विदितात्मनः । एकामेकश्च पश्येयं रहिते जनकात्मजाम् ॥ 2.38 ॥

na vinaśyetkathaṃ kāryaṃ rāmasya viditātmanaḥ | ekāmekaśca paśyeyaṃ rahite janakātmajām || 2.38 ||

"How shall the task of Rama, who knows his own true purpose, not come to ruin? How may I alone see the daughter of Janaka, alone, where none may observe us?"

Shloka 39 (sundara.2.39)

भूताश्चार्था विपद्यन्ते देशकालविरोधिताः । विक्लबं दूतमासाद्य तमः सूर्योदये यथा ॥ 2.39 ॥

bhūtāścārthā vipadyante deśakālavirodhitāḥ | viklabaṃ dūtamāsādya tamaḥ sūryodaye yathā || 2.39 ||

"Tasks well in hand come to grief when set against the right place and time, and entrusted to a faint-hearted messenger -- as darkness perishes at sunrise."

Shloka 40 (sundara.2.40)

अर्थानर्थान्तरे बुद्धिर्निश्चितापि न शोभते । घातयन्ति हि कार्याणि दूताः पण्डितमानिनः ॥ 2.40 ॥

arthānarthāntare buddhirniścitāpi na śobhate | ghātayanti hi kāryāṇi dūtāḥ paṇḍitamāninaḥ || 2.40 ||

"Even a resolved mind does not shine well when wavering between gain and loss; messengers proud of their own cleverness end up ruining the very tasks entrusted to them."

Shloka 41 (sundara.2.41)

न विनश्येत्कथं कार्यं वैक्लब्यम् न कथं भवेत् । लङ्घनं च समुद्रस्य कथं नु न वृथा भवेत् ॥ 2.41 ॥

na vinaśyetkathaṃ kāryaṃ vaiklabyam na kathaṃ bhavet | laṅghanaṃ ca samudrasya kathaṃ nu na vṛthā bhavet || 2.41 ||

"How shall this task not fail? How shall my mind not falter? And how shall this crossing of the ocean not go in vain?"

Shloka 42 (sundara.2.42)

मयि दृष्टे तु रक्षोभी रामस्य विदितात्मनः । भवेद्व्यर्थमिदं कार्यं रावणानर्थमिच्छतः ॥ 2.42 ॥

mayi dṛṣṭe tu rakṣobhī rāmasya viditātmanaḥ | bhavedvyarthamidaṃ kāryaṃ rāvaṇānarthamicchataḥ || 2.42 ||

"If I am seen by the rakshasas, this very task of Rama, of famed resolve, who desires the destruction of Ravana, will come to nothing."

Shloka 43 (sundara.2.43)

न हि शक्यं क्वचित् स्थातुमविज्ञातेन राक्षसैः । अपि राक्षसरूपेण किमुतान्येन केनचित् ॥ 2.43 ॥

na hi śakyaṃ kvacit sthātumavijñātena rākṣasaiḥ | api rākṣasarūpeṇa kimutānyena kenacit || 2.43 ||

"It is indeed not possible to remain anywhere here unrecognised by the rakshasas, even in the form of a rakshasa -- what then to say of any other form?"

Shloka 44 (sundara.2.44)

वायुरप्यत्र नाज्ञातश्चरेदिति मतिर्मम । न ह्यस्त्यविदितं किंचिद्राक्षसानां बलीयसाम् ॥ 2.44 ॥

vāyurapyatra nājñātaścarediti matirmama | na hyastyaviditaṃ kiṃcidrākṣasānāṃ balīyasām || 2.44 ||

"This is my thought: even the wind cannot move here unnoticed; there is nothing whatsoever unknown to these mighty rakshasas."

Shloka 45 (sundara.2.45)

इहाहं यदि तिष्ठामि स्वेन रूपेण संवृतः । विनाशमुपयास्यामि भर्तुरर्थश्च हीयते ॥ 2.45 ॥

ihāhaṃ yadi tiṣṭhāmi svena rūpeṇa saṃvṛtaḥ | vināśamupayāsyāmi bharturarthaśca hīyate || 2.45 ||

"If I remain here in my own true form, I shall meet with destruction, and the Lord's purpose too will be undone."

Shloka 46 (sundara.2.46)

तदहं स्वेन रूपेण रजन्यां ह्रस्वतां गतः । लङ्कामभिपतिष्यामि राघवस्यार्थसिद्धये ॥ 2.46 ॥

tadahaṃ svena rūpeṇa rajanyāṃ hrasvatāṃ gataḥ | laṅkāmabhipatiṣyāmi rāghavasyārthasiddhaye || 2.46 ||

"Therefore, keeping my own true form but made small, I shall descend upon Lanka by night, for the success of Raghava's purpose."

Shloka 47 (sundara.2.47)

रावणस्य पुरीं रात्रौ प्रविश्य सुदुरासदाम् । विचिन्वन् भवनं स्र्वं द्रक्ष्यामि जनकात्मजाम् ॥ 2.47 ॥

rāvaṇasya purīṃ rātrau praviśya sudurāsadām | vicinvan bhavanaṃ srvaṃ drakṣyāmi janakātmajām || 2.47 ||

"Entering by night the well-nigh unapproachable city of Ravana, and searching through every mansion, I shall find the daughter of Janaka."

Shloka 48 (sundara.2.48)

इति संचिन्त्य हनुमान् सूर्यस्यास्तमयं कपिः । आचकांक्षे ततो वीरो वैदेह्या द्रशनोतुसकः ॥ 2.48 ॥

iti saṃcintya hanumān sūryasyāstamayaṃ kapiḥ | ācakāṃkṣe tato vīro vaidehyā draśanotusakaḥ || 2.48 ||

Having thus reflected, Hanuman, that courageous monkey, eager to catch sight of Vaidehi, then longed for the setting of the sun.

Shloka 49 (sundara.2.49)

सूर्ये चास्तं गते रात्रौ देहं संक्षिप्य मारुतिः । वृषदंशकमात्रः सन् बभूवाद्भुतदर्शनः ॥ 2.49 ॥

sūrye cāstaṃ gate rātrau dehaṃ saṃkṣipya mārutiḥ | vṛṣadaṃśakamātraḥ san babhūvādbhutadarśanaḥ || 2.49 ||

And when the sun had set, at night, the son of Maruta contracted his body, and, becoming no larger than a cat, presented a wondrous sight.

Shloka 50 (sundara.2.50)

प्रदोषकाले हनुमांस्तूर्णमुत्प्लुत्य वीर्यवान् । प्रविवेश पुरीं रम्यां सुविभक्तमहापथाम् ॥ 2.50 ॥

pradoṣakāle hanumāṃstūrṇamutplutya vīryavān | praviveśa purīṃ ramyāṃ suvibhaktamahāpathām || 2.50 ||

Then, at the hour of dusk, the mighty Hanuman swiftly leapt up and entered that lovely city, with its well-ordered great avenues.

Shloka 51 (sundara.2.51)

प्रासादमालाविततां स्तम्भैः काञ्चनराजतैः । शातकुम्भमयैर्जालैर्गन्धर्वनगरोपमाम् ॥ 2.51 ॥

prāsādamālāvitatāṃ stambhaiḥ kāñcanarājataiḥ | śātakumbhamayairjālairgandharvanagaropamām || 2.51 ||

He saw it lined with rows of mansions, their pillars of gold and silver, its lattices of refined gold -- resembling a city of the Gandharvas,

Shloka 52 (sundara.2.52)

सप्तभौमाष्टभौमैश्च स ददर्श महापुरीम् । तलैः स्फतिकसंकीर्णैः कार्तस्वरविभूषितैः ॥ 2.52 ॥

saptabhaumāṣṭabhaumaiśca sa dadarśa mahāpurīm | talaiḥ sphatikasaṃkīrṇaiḥ kārtasvaravibhūṣitaiḥ || 2.52 ||

-- that great city, with its seven- and eight-storeyed buildings, their upper terraces inlaid with crystal and adorned with gold.

Shloka 53 (sundara.2.53)

वैडूर्यमणिचित्रैश्च मुक्ताजालविभूषितैः । तलैः शुशुभिरे तानि भवनान्यत्र रक्षसाम् ॥ 2.53 ॥

vaiḍūryamaṇicitraiśca muktājālavibhūṣitaiḥ | talaiḥ śuśubhire tāni bhavanānyatra rakṣasām || 2.53 ||

There, in that city, the mansions of the rakshasas shone with terraces painted with cat's-eye gems and emeralds, and adorned with nets of pearls.

Shloka 54 (sundara.2.54)

काञ्चनानि च चित्राणि तोरणानि च रक्षसाम् । लङ्कामुद्द्योतयामासुः सर्वतः समलंकृताम् ॥ 2.54 ॥

kāñcanāni ca citrāṇi toraṇāni ca rakṣasām | laṅkāmuddyotayāmāsuḥ sarvataḥ samalaṃkṛtām || 2.54 ||

Golden archways of many wondrous hues lit up that fully adorned Lanka on every side.

Shloka 55 (sundara.2.55)

अचिन्त्यामद्भुताकारां दृष्ट्वा लङ्कां महाकपिः । आसीद्विष्ण्डो हृष्टश्च वैदेह्या दर्शनोत्सुकः ॥ 2.55 ॥

acintyāmadbhutākārāṃ dṛṣṭvā laṅkāṃ mahākapiḥ | āsīdviṣṇḍo hṛṣṭaśca vaidehyā darśanotsukaḥ || 2.55 ||

Seeing that unimaginable, wondrous-formed Lanka, the great monkey became at once downcast, and yet joyful too, eager as he was to find Vaidehi.

Shloka 56 (sundara.2.56)

स पाण्डुराविद्धविमानमालिनीं । महार्हजाम्बूनदजालतोरणाम् । यशस्विनीं रावणबाहुपालितां । क्षपाचरैर्भिमबलैः समावृताम् ॥ 2.56 ॥

sa pāṇḍurāviddhavimānamālinīṃ | mahārhajāmbūnadajālatoraṇām | yaśasvinīṃ rāvaṇabāhupālitāṃ | kṣapācarairbhimabalaiḥ samāvṛtām || 2.56 ||

He beheld that renowned city, garlanded with rows of white, close-set mansions, its archways of precious jambunada-gold, encompassed by rakshasas of terrible might, protected by the arm of Ravana.

Shloka 57 (sundara.2.57)

चन्द्रोऽपि साचिव्यमिवास्य कुर्वं । स्तारागणैर्मध्यगतो विराजन् । ज्योत्स्नावितानेन वितत्य लोक । मुत्तिष्ठते नैकसहस्ररश्मिः ॥ 2.57 ॥

candro'pi sācivyamivāsya kurvaṃ | stārāgaṇairmadhyagato virājan | jyotsnāvitānena vitatya loka | muttiṣṭhate naikasahasraraśmiḥ || 2.57 ||

And the moon too rose up, as if to lend him aid, with its many thousand rays, shining amidst its host of stars, spreading its canopy of moonlight over all the earth.

Shloka 58 (sundara.2.58)

शङ्खप्रभं क्षीरमृणालवर्ण । मुद्गच्छमानं व्यवभासमानम् । ददर्श चन्द्रं स हरिप्रवीरः । प्लोप्लूयमानं सरसीव हंसम् ॥ 2.58 ॥

śaṅkhaprabhaṃ kṣīramṛṇālavarṇa | mudgacchamānaṃ vyavabhāsamānam | dadarśa candraṃ sa haripravīraḥ | ploplūyamānaṃ sarasīva haṃsam || 2.58 ||

That foremost of monkeys beheld the moon rising, glowing with the sheen of a conch, the hue of milk or a lotus-fibre, like a swan gliding upon a lake.