Hanuman Enters the City of Lanka

Shloka 1 (sundara.4.1)

स निर्जत्य पुरीम् लण्का श्रेष्ठाम् ताम् कामरूपिणीम् । विक्रमेण महातेजा हनुमान् कपिसत्तमः ॥ 4.1 ॥

sa nirjatya purīm laṇkā śreṣṭhām tām kāmarūpiṇīm | vikrameṇa mahātejā hanumān kapisattamaḥ || 4.1 ||

Having conquered by his valour that excellent city of Lanka, capable of assuming any form it desired, the greatly radiant Hanuman, foremost among monkeys...

Shloka 2 (sundara.4.2)

अद्वारेण महावीर्यः प्राकारमवपुप्लुवे । निशि लङ्कां महासत्त्वो विवेश कपिकुञ्जरः ॥ 4.2 ॥

advāreṇa mahāvīryaḥ prākāramavapupluve | niśi laṅkāṃ mahāsattvo viveśa kapikuñjaraḥ || 4.2 ||

...at a spot that was not a gate, that mighty one leapt over the rampart, and by night that powerful elephant among monkeys entered Lanka.

Shloka 3 (sundara.4.3)

प्रविश्य नगरीम् लङ्काम् कपिराजहितम्करः । चक्रेणाऽथ पदम् सव्यम् शत्रूणाम् स तु मूर्धनि ॥ 4.3 ॥

praviśya nagarīm laṅkām kapirājahitamkaraḥ | cakreṇā'tha padam savyam śatrūṇām sa tu mūrdhani || 4.3 ||

Entering the city of Lanka, desiring the good of the king of the monkeys, he set his left foot upon the very heads of his enemies.

Shloka 4 (sundara.4.4)

प्रविष्टः सत्त्वसंपन्नो विशायाम् मारुतात्मजः । स महापथमास्थाय मुक्तापुष्पविराजितम् ॥ 4.4 ॥

praviṣṭaḥ sattvasaṃpanno viśāyām mārutātmajaḥ | sa mahāpathamāsthāya muktāpuṣpavirājitam || 4.4 ||

That son of the wind-god, filled with strength, having entered the city by night, took to the great royal road, resplendent with scattered pearls and flowers.

Shloka 5 (sundara.4.5)

ततस्तु ताम् पुरीम् लङ्काम् रम्यामभिययौ कपिः । हसित उद्घुष्ट निनदैः तूर्य घोष पुरः सरैः ॥ 4.5 ॥

tatastu tām purīm laṅkām ramyāmabhiyayau kapiḥ | hasita udghuṣṭa ninadaiḥ tūrya ghoṣa puraḥ saraiḥ || 4.5 ||

Then that monkey advanced into the beautiful city of Lanka, resounding at its gateways with laughter and shouting, and with the blare of musical instruments.

Shloka 6 (sundara.4.6)

वज्र अन्कुश निकाशैः च वज्र जाल विभूषितैः । गृह मेधैः पुरी रम्या बभासे द्यौः इव अम्बुदैः ॥ 4.6 ॥

vajra ankuśa nikāśaiḥ ca vajra jāla vibhūṣitaiḥ | gṛha medhaiḥ purī ramyā babhāse dyauḥ iva ambudaiḥ || 4.6 ||

With lattice-work set like diamonds and hooks, strong as thunderbolts, the beautiful city, its mansions like banks of cloud, shone like the sky filled with clouds.

Shloka 7 (sundara.4.7)

प्रजज्वाल तदा लन्का रक्षः गण गृहैः शुभैः । सित अभ्र सदृशैः चित्रैः पद्म स्वस्तिक संस्थितैः ॥ 4.7 ॥

prajajvāla tadā lankā rakṣaḥ gaṇa gṛhaiḥ śubhaiḥ | sita abhra sadṛśaiḥ citraiḥ padma svastika saṃsthitaiḥ || 4.7 ||

Then Lanka blazed with the splendid dwellings of the rakshasas, marvellous structures resembling white clouds, built in the shapes of lotus and svastika.

Shloka 8 (sundara.4.8)

वर्धमान गृहैः च अपि सर्वतः सुविभाषितैः । ताम् चित्र माल्य आभरणाम् कपि राज हितम् करः ॥ 4.8 ॥

vardhamāna gṛhaiḥ ca api sarvataḥ suvibhāṣitaiḥ | tām citra mālya ābharaṇām kapi rāja hitam karaḥ || 4.8 ||

And, with ever-prospering mansions on every side, well adorned all about, and hung with wondrous garlands and ornaments -- that benefactor of the monkey-king...

Shloka 9 (sundara.4.9)

राघव अर्थम् चरन् श्रीमान् ददर्श च ननन्द च । भवनाद्भवनं गच्छ्न् ददर्श पवनात्मजः ॥ 4.9 ॥

rāghava artham caran śrīmān dadarśa ca nananda ca | bhavanādbhavanaṃ gacchn dadarśa pavanātmajaḥ || 4.9 ||

...moving about for the sake of Raghava, that glorious one saw it and rejoiced; and going from mansion to mansion, the son of the wind-god gazed about him.

Shloka 10 (sundara.4.10)

विविधाकृतिरूपाणि भवनानि ततस्ततः । शुश्राव मधुरम् गीतम् त्रि स्थान स्वर भूषितम् ॥ 4.10 ॥

vividhākṛtirūpāṇi bhavanāni tatastataḥ | śuśrāva madhuram gītam tri sthāna svara bhūṣitam || 4.10 ||

Here and there he saw mansions of various shapes and forms, and heard sweet song, graced with notes rising through the three registers of music.

Shloka 11 (sundara.4.11)

स्त्रीणाम् मद समृद्धानाम् दिवि च अप्सरसाम् इव । शुश्राव कान्ची निनदम् नूपुराणाम् च निह्स्वनम् ॥ 4.11 ॥

strīṇām mada samṛddhānām divi ca apsarasām iva | śuśrāva kāncī ninadam nūpurāṇām ca nihsvanam || 4.11 ||

-- song of women brimming with passion, like the Apsaras of heaven; and he heard the tinkling of their girdles and the soft ring of their anklets.

Shloka 12 (sundara.4.12)

सोपान निनदामः चैव भवनेषु महात्मनम् । आस्फोटित निनादामः च क्ष्वेडितामः च ततः ततः ॥ 4.12 ॥

sopāna ninadāmaḥ caiva bhavaneṣu mahātmanam | āsphoṭita ninādāmaḥ ca kṣveḍitāmaḥ ca tataḥ tataḥ || 4.12 ||

And everywhere, in the mansions of the great, he heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs, the clapping of arms, and roars of exultation.

Shloka 13 (sundara.4.13)

शुश्राव जपताम् तत्र मन्त्रन् रक्षोगृहेषु वै । स्वाध्याय निरतामः चैव यातु धानान् ददर्श सः ॥ 4.13 ॥

śuśrāva japatām tatra mantran rakṣogṛheṣu vai | svādhyāya niratāmaḥ caiva yātu dhānān dadarśa saḥ || 4.13 ||

There he heard sacred verses being chanted in the houses of the rakshasas, and he saw those rakshasas engaged in the recitation of scripture.

Shloka 14 (sundara.4.14)

रावण स्तव सम्युक्तान् गर्जतः राक्षसान् अपि । राज मार्गम् समावृत्य स्थितम् रक्षः बलम् महत् ॥ 4.14 ॥

rāvaṇa stava samyuktān garjataḥ rākṣasān api | rāja mārgam samāvṛtya sthitam rakṣaḥ balam mahat || 4.14 ||

He also saw rakshasas roaring, joined together in praise of Ravana, and a great host of the guard standing arrayed, ringing the royal highway.

Shloka 15 (sundara.4.15)

ददर्श मध्यमे गुल्मे राक्षसस्य चरान् बहून् । दीक्षितान् जटिलान् मुण्डान् गः अजिन अम्बर वाससः ॥ 4.15 ॥

dadarśa madhyame gulme rākṣasasya carān bahūn | dīkṣitān jaṭilān muṇḍān gaḥ ajina ambara vāsasaḥ || 4.15 ||

In the central guard-post he saw many of Ravana's spies -- some initiated into vows, some with matted locks, some shaven-headed, clad in cowhide and bark-garments.

Shloka 16 (sundara.4.16)

दर्भ मुष्टि प्रहरणान् अग्नि कुण्ड आयुधामः तथा । कूट मुद्गर पाणीमः च दण्ड आयुध धरान् अपि ॥ 4.16 ॥

darbha muṣṭi praharaṇān agni kuṇḍa āyudhāmaḥ tathā | kūṭa mudgara pāṇīmaḥ ca daṇḍa āyudha dharān api || 4.16 ||

-- bearing bundles of kusha-grass as their weapons, and fire-pots as well; some with hammers and maces in hand, others carrying staffs.

Shloka 17 (sundara.4.17)

एक अक्ष अनेक कर्णामः च चलल् लम्ब पयः धरान् । करालान् भुग्न वक्त्रामः च विकटान् वामनामः तथा ॥ 4.17 ॥

eka akṣa aneka karṇāmaḥ ca calal lamba payaḥ dharān | karālān bhugna vaktrāmaḥ ca vikaṭān vāmanāmaḥ tathā || 4.17 ||

-- some one-eyed, some many-eared, their bellies swaying and pendulous; fearsome ones with twisted mouths, grotesque of form, and dwarfs as well.

Shloka 18 (sundara.4.18)

धन्विनः खड्गिनः चैव शतघ्नी मुसल आयुधान् । परिघ उत्तम हस्तामः च विचित्र कवच उज्ज्वलान् ॥ 4.18 ॥

dhanvinaḥ khaḍginaḥ caiva śataghnī musala āyudhān | parigha uttama hastāmaḥ ca vicitra kavaca ujjvalān || 4.18 ||

-- bowmen and swordsmen, wielders of cudgels and pestles, bearers of great iron maces, blazing in strange and wondrous armour.

Shloka 19 (sundara.4.19)

नातिस्थूलान् नातिकृशान् नातिदीर्घ अतिह्रस्वकान् । नातिगौरान्नातिकृष्णान्नातिकुब्जान्न वामनान् ॥ 4.19 ॥

nātisthūlān nātikṛśān nātidīrgha atihrasvakān | nātigaurānnātikṛṣṇānnātikubjānna vāmanān || 4.19 ||

Neither too stout nor too lean, neither too tall nor too short, neither too fair nor too dark, neither hunchbacked nor dwarfish --

Shloka 20 (sundara.4.20)

विरूपान् बहु रूपामः च सुरूपामः च सुवर्चसः । ध्वजीन् पताकिनश्चैव ददर्श विविधायुधान् ॥ 4.20 ॥

virūpān bahu rūpāmaḥ ca surūpāmaḥ ca suvarcasaḥ | dhvajīn patākinaścaiva dadarśa vividhāyudhān || 4.20 ||

-- of misshapen form and of many forms, and some of handsome and radiant appearance as well -- he saw them bearing standards and banners, and every manner of weapon.

Shloka 21 (sundara.4.21)

शक्ति वृक्ष आयुधामः चैव पट्टिश अशनि धारिणः । क्षेपणी पाश हस्तामः च ददर्श स महा कपिः ॥ 4.21 ॥

śakti vṛkṣa āyudhāmaḥ caiva paṭṭiśa aśani dhāriṇaḥ | kṣepaṇī pāśa hastāmaḥ ca dadarśa sa mahā kapiḥ || 4.21 ||

-- bearing spears and even tree-trunks for weapons, wielders of pattisha-blades and thunderbolt-clubs, with slings and nooses in their hands -- all this that great monkey beheld.

Shloka 22 (sundara.4.22)

स्रग्विणः त्व् अनुलिप्तामः च वर आभरण भूषितान् । नानावेषसमायुक्तान्यथास्वैरगतान् बहून् ॥ 4.22 ॥

sragviṇaḥ tv anuliptāmaḥ ca vara ābharaṇa bhūṣitān | nānāveṣasamāyuktānyathāsvairagatān bahūn || 4.22 ||

-- those garlanded and anointed with sandal-paste, adorned with fine ornaments, arrayed in a great variety of guises, roaming about freely in large numbers.

Shloka 23 (sundara.4.23)

तीक्ष्ण शूल धरामः चैव वज्रिणः च महा बलान् । शत साहस्रम् अव्यग्रम् आरक्षम् मध्यमम् कपिः ॥ 4.23 ॥

tīkṣṇa śūla dharāmaḥ caiva vajriṇaḥ ca mahā balān | śata sāhasram avyagram ārakṣam madhyamam kapiḥ || 4.23 ||

-- those wielding sharp tridents, and men of thunderbolt-like might and great strength -- a hundred thousand strong, that vigilant central guard, the monkey beheld.

Shloka 24 (sundara.4.24)

रक्षोधिपतिनिर्दिष्टम् ददर्शान्तःपुराग्रतः । स तदा तद्गृहम् दृष्ट्वा महाहाटकतोरणम् ॥ 4.24 ॥

rakṣodhipatinirdiṣṭam dadarśāntaḥpurāgrataḥ | sa tadā tadgṛham dṛṣṭvā mahāhāṭakatoraṇam || 4.24 ||

-- stationed there by the command of the lord of the rakshasas, Hanuman saw it drawn up before the inner palace. Then, having beheld that mansion with its great golden archway --

Shloka 25 (sundara.4.25)

राक्षसेन्द्रस्य विख्यातमद्रिमूर्ध्नि प्रतिष्ठितम् । पुण्डरीकावतंसाभिः परिखाभिरलम्कृतम् ॥ 4.25 ॥

rākṣasendrasya vikhyātamadrimūrdhni pratiṣṭhitam | puṇḍarīkāvataṃsābhiḥ parikhābhiralamkṛtam || 4.25 ||

-- that renowned mansion of the lord of the rakshasas, set upon the summit of a hill, adorned with moats bright with white lotuses --

Shloka 26 (sundara.4.26)

प्राकार आवृतम् अत्यन्तम् ददर्श स महा कपिः । त्रिविष्टप निभम् दिव्यम् दिव्य नाद विनादितम् ॥ 4.26 ॥

prākāra āvṛtam atyantam dadarśa sa mahā kapiḥ | triviṣṭapa nibham divyam divya nāda vināditam || 4.26 ||

-- entirely encircled by a rampart, that great monkey beheld; a divine abode, resembling the world of the gods, resounding with heavenly music --

Shloka 27 (sundara.4.27)

वाजि हेषित सम्घुष्टम् नादितम् भूषणैः तथा । रथैः यानैः विमानैः च तथा गज हयैः शुभैः ॥ 4.27 ॥

vāji heṣita samghuṣṭam nāditam bhūṣaṇaiḥ tathā | rathaiḥ yānaiḥ vimānaiḥ ca tathā gaja hayaiḥ śubhaiḥ || 4.27 ||

-- resounding also with the neighing of horses and the jingling of ornaments, with chariots, carriages and aerial cars, and with auspicious elephants and steeds --

Shloka 28 (sundara.4.28)

वारणैः च चतुः दन्तैः श्वेत अभ्र निचय उपमैः । भूषितम् रुचिर द्वारम् मत्तैः च मृग पक्षिभिः ॥ 4.28 ॥

vāraṇaiḥ ca catuḥ dantaiḥ śveta abhra nicaya upamaiḥ | bhūṣitam rucira dvāram mattaiḥ ca mṛga pakṣibhiḥ || 4.28 ||

-- with four-tusked elephants resembling banks of white cloud, and that mansion, its lovely gateway thronged with beasts and birds astir --

Shloka 29 (sundara.4.29)

रक्षितं सुमहावीर्यैर्यातुधानैः सहस्रशः । राक्षस अधिपतेः गुप्तम् आविवेश गृहम् कपिः ॥ 4.29 ॥

rakṣitaṃ sumahāvīryairyātudhānaiḥ sahasraśaḥ | rākṣasa adhipateḥ guptam āviveśa gṛham kapiḥ || 4.29 ||

-- guarded by many thousands of rakshasas of surpassing valour, that monkey entered the secluded dwelling of the lord of the rakshasas.

Shloka 30 (sundara.4.30)

सहेमजाम्बूनदचक्रवाळम् । महार्ह मुक्तामणिभूषितान्तम् । परार्थ्यकालागुरुचन्दनाक्तं । स रावणान्तःपुरमाविवेश ॥ 4.30 ॥

sahemajāmbūnadacakravāḷam | mahārha muktāmaṇibhūṣitāntam | parārthyakālāgurucandanāktaṃ | sa rāvaṇāntaḥpuramāviveśa || 4.30 ||

With a courtyard wrought in gold and jambunada-gold, its inner chambers adorned with precious pearls and gems, anointed with priceless black aloe-wood and sandal -- he entered the inner apartments of Ravana.