Hanuman's Warning to Ravana

Shloka 1 (sundara.51.1)

तम् समीक्ष्य महासत्त्वम् सत्त्ववान् हारि सत्तमः । वाक्यम् अर्थवत् अव्यग्रः तम् उवाच दश आननम् ॥ 51.1 ॥

tam samīkṣya mahāsattvam sattvavān hāri sattamaḥ | vākyam arthavat avyagraḥ tam uvāca daśa ānanam || 51.1 ||

Seeing that mighty Ravana, the courageous, best of monkeys spoke to him, without agitation, the following meaningful words.

Shloka 2 (sundara.51.2)

अहम् सुग्रीव संदेशात् इह प्राप्तः तव आलयम् । राक्षस इन्द्र हरि ईशः त्वाम् भ्राता कुशलम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 51.2 ॥

aham sugrīva saṃdeśāt iha prāptaḥ tava ālayam | rākṣasa indra hari īśaḥ tvām bhrātā kuśalam abravīt || 51.2 ||

"O lord of demons, I have come here to your abode at the message of Sugriva. Sugriva, lord of monkeys, your brother, has enquired after your welfare."

Shloka 3 (sundara.51.3)

भ्रातुः शृणु समादेशम् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । धर्म अर्थ उपहितम् वाक्यम् इह च अमुत्र च क्षमम् ॥ 51.3 ॥

bhrātuḥ śṛṇu samādeśam sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ | dharma artha upahitam vākyam iha ca amutra ca kṣamam || 51.3 ||

"Hear this fraternal message of the high-souled Sugriva — words founded on righteousness and advantage, wholesome both in this world and the next."

Shloka 4 (sundara.51.4)

राजा दशरथो नाम रथ कुन्जर वाजिमान् । पिता इव बन्धुः लोकस्य सुर ईश्वर सम द्युतिः ॥ 51.4 ॥

rājā daśaratho nāma ratha kunjara vājimān | pitā iva bandhuḥ lokasya sura īśvara sama dyutiḥ || 51.4 ||

"There was a king named Dasharatha, possessing chariots, elephants and horses — like a father to his people, and splendid as Indra, the lord of gods."

Shloka 5 (sundara.51.5)

ज्येष्ठः तस्य महाबाहुः पुत्रः प्रिय करः प्रभुः । पितुः निदेशान् निष्क्रान्तः प्रविष्टो दण्डका वनम् ॥ 51.5 ॥

jyeṣṭhaḥ tasya mahābāhuḥ putraḥ priya karaḥ prabhuḥ | pituḥ nideśān niṣkrāntaḥ praviṣṭo daṇḍakā vanam || 51.5 ||

"His eldest son, mighty-armed, a bestower of joy on all, our lord — at his father's command, went forth and entered the Dandaka forest,"

Shloka 6 (sundara.51.6)

लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा सीतया च अपि भार्यया । रामो नाम महातेजा धर्म्यम् पन्थानम् आश्रितः ॥ 51.6 ॥

lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā sītayā ca api bhāryayā | rāmo nāma mahātejā dharmyam panthānam āśritaḥ || 51.6 ||

"together with his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita; he is named Rama, of great splendour, and he holds fast to the path of righteousness."

Shloka 7 (sundara.51.7)

तस्य भार्या वने नष्टा सीता पतिम् अनुव्रता । वैदेहस्य सुता राज्ञो जनकस्य महात्मनः ॥ 51.7 ॥

tasya bhāryā vane naṣṭā sītā patim anuvratā | vaidehasya sutā rājño janakasya mahātmanaḥ || 51.7 ||

"His wife Sita, devoted to her husband, was lost in the forest — she is the daughter of the great king Janaka, lord of Videha."

Shloka 8 (sundara.51.8)

स मार्गमाणः ताम् देवीम् राज पुत्रः सह अनुजः । ऋश्यमूकम् अनुप्राप्तः सुग्रीवेण च सम्गतः ॥ 51.8 ॥

sa mārgamāṇaḥ tām devīm rāja putraḥ saha anujaḥ | ṛśyamūkam anuprāptaḥ sugrīveṇa ca samgataḥ || 51.8 ||

"That prince, searching for that lady together with his younger brother, reached Mount Rishyamuka and there met Sugriva."

Shloka 9 (sundara.51.9)

तस्य तेन प्रतिज्ञातम् सीतायाः परिमार्गणम् । सुग्रीवस्य अपि रामेण हरि राज्यम् निवेदितम् ॥ 51.9 ॥

tasya tena pratijñātam sītāyāḥ parimārgaṇam | sugrīvasya api rāmeṇa hari rājyam niveditam || 51.9 ||

"Sugriva promised him the search for Sita, and Rama, in turn, promised Sugriva the kingdom of the monkeys."

Shloka 10 (sundara.51.10)

ततः तेन मृधे हत्वा राज पुत्रेण वालिनम् । सुग्रीवः स्थापितो राज्ये हरि ऋक्षाणाम् गण ईश्वरः ॥ 51.10 ॥

tataḥ tena mṛdhe hatvā rāja putreṇa vālinam | sugrīvaḥ sthāpito rājye hari ṛkṣāṇām gaṇa īśvaraḥ || 51.10 ||

"Thereafter, that prince, having slain Vali in combat, installed Sugriva on the throne as lord of the troops of monkeys and bears."

Shloka 11 (sundara.51.11)

त्वया विज्ञातपूर्वश्च वाली वानरपुङ्गवः । रामेण निहतः संख्ये शरेणैकेन वानरः ॥ 51.11 ॥

tvayā vijñātapūrvaśca vālī vānarapuṅgavaḥ | rāmeṇa nihataḥ saṃkhye śareṇaikena vānaraḥ || 51.11 ||

"Vali, the foremost of monkeys, was already known to you — that monkey was slain by Rama in battle with a single arrow."

Shloka 12 (sundara.51.12)

स सीता मार्गणे व्यग्रः सुग्रीवः सत्य सम्गरः । हरीन् सम्प्रेषयामास दिशः सर्वा हरि ईश्वरः ॥ 51.12 ॥

sa sītā mārgaṇe vyagraḥ sugrīvaḥ satya samgaraḥ | harīn sampreṣayāmāsa diśaḥ sarvā hari īśvaraḥ || 51.12 ||

"That lord of monkeys, Sugriva, true to his pledge, intent on the search for Sita, has sent monkeys out to every quarter."

Shloka 13 (sundara.51.13)

ताम् हरीणाम् सहस्राणि शतानि नियुतानि च । दिक्षु सर्वासु मार्गन्ते अधः च उपरि च अम्बरे ॥ 51.13 ॥

tām harīṇām sahasrāṇi śatāni niyutāni ca | dikṣu sarvāsu mārgante adhaḥ ca upari ca ambare || 51.13 ||

"Hundreds, thousands and hundreds of thousands of those monkeys are searching for her in every direction, both below and above in the sky."

Shloka 14 (sundara.51.14)

वैनतेय समाः केचित् केचित् तत्र अनिल उपमाः । असम्ग गतयः शीघ्रा हरि वीरा महाबलाः ॥ 51.14 ॥

vainateya samāḥ kecit kecit tatra anila upamāḥ | asamga gatayaḥ śīghrā hari vīrā mahābalāḥ || 51.14 ||

"Among them some are equal to Garuda, and some are like the wind — swift, unimpeded in their movement, mighty monkey-heroes."

Shloka 15 (sundara.51.15)

अहम् तु हनुमान् नाम मारुतस्य औरसः सुतः । सीतायाः तु कृते तूर्णम् शत योजनम् आयतम् ॥ 51.15 ॥

aham tu hanumān nāma mārutasya aurasaḥ sutaḥ | sītāyāḥ tu kṛte tūrṇam śata yojanam āyatam || 51.15 ||

"I am Hanuman, the very son of the Wind-god; for Sita's sake alone, having swiftly crossed the ocean, a hundred yojanas wide,"

Shloka 16 (sundara.51.16)

समुद्रम् लन्घयित्वा एव ताम् दिदृक्षुः इह आगतः । भ्रमता च मया दृष्टा गृहे ते जनकात्मजा ॥ 51.16 ॥

samudram langhayitvā eva tām didṛkṣuḥ iha āgataḥ | bhramatā ca mayā dṛṣṭā gṛhe te janakātmajā || 51.16 ||

"wishing to see her, I came here. And while wandering about, I saw Janaka's daughter in your house."

Shloka 17 (sundara.51.17)

तत् भवान् दृष्ट धर्म अर्थः तपः कृत परिग्रहः । पर दारान् महाप्राज्ञ न उपरोद्धुम् त्वम् अर्हसि ॥ 51.17 ॥

tat bhavān dṛṣṭa dharma arthaḥ tapaḥ kṛta parigrahaḥ | para dārān mahāprājña na uparoddhum tvam arhasi || 51.17 ||

"You have known righteousness and wealth, and have practised austerities; therefore, O wise one, you ought not to hold another's wife by force."

Shloka 18 (sundara.51.18)

न हि धर्म विरुद्धेषु बह्व् अपायेषु कर्मसु । मूल घातिषु सज्जन्ते बुद्धिमन्तो भवत् विधाः ॥ 51.18 ॥

na hi dharma viruddheṣu bahv apāyeṣu karmasu | mūla ghātiṣu sajjante buddhimanto bhavat vidhāḥ || 51.18 ||

"For intellectuals like you do not become engrossed in acts that are contrary to righteousness, fraught with many dangers, and ruinous at the very root."

Shloka 19 (sundara.51.19)

कः च लक्ष्मण मुक्तानाम् राम कोप अनुवर्तिनाम् । शराणाम् अग्रतः स्थातुम् शक्तो देव असुरेष्व् अपि ॥ 51.19 ॥

kaḥ ca lakṣmaṇa muktānām rāma kopa anuvartinām | śarāṇām agrataḥ sthātum śakto deva asureṣv api || 51.19 ||

"Who, even among gods and demons, is capable of standing before the arrows loosed by Lakshmana, following in the wake of Rama's fury?"

Shloka 20 (sundara.51.20)

न च अपि त्रिषु लोकेषु राजन् विद्येत कश्चन । राघवस्य व्यलीकम् यः कृत्वा सुखम् अवाप्नुयात् ॥ 51.20 ॥

na ca api triṣu lokeṣu rājan vidyeta kaścana | rāghavasya vyalīkam yaḥ kṛtvā sukham avāpnuyāt || 51.20 ||

"Nor, O king, is anyone known in the three worlds who, having wronged Raghava, could attain happiness."

Shloka 21 (sundara.51.21)

तत् त्रिकाल हितम् वाक्यम् धर्म्यम् अर्थ अनुबन्धि च । मन्यस्व नर देवाय जानकी प्रतिदीयताम् ॥ 51.21 ॥

tat trikāla hitam vākyam dharmyam artha anubandhi ca | manyasva nara devāya jānakī pratidīyatām || 51.21 ||

"Therefore accept these words, wholesome for all three times, righteous and conducive to prosperity — let Janaki be restored to Rama, lord of men."

Shloka 22 (sundara.51.22)

दृष्टा हि इयम् मया देवी लब्धम् यत् इह दुर्लभम् । उत्तरम् कर्म यत् शेषम् निमित्तम् तत्र राघवः ॥ 51.22 ॥

dṛṣṭā hi iyam mayā devī labdham yat iha durlabham | uttaram karma yat śeṣam nimittam tatra rāghavaḥ || 51.22 ||

"I have indeed beheld this princess — what was hard to attain here has now been attained; the remaining task is for Rama to decide."

Shloka 23 (sundara.51.23)

लक्षिता इयम् मया सीता तथा शोक परायणा । गृह्य याम् न अभिजानासि पन्च आस्याम् इव पन्नगीम् ॥ 51.23 ॥

lakṣitā iyam mayā sītā tathā śoka parāyaṇā | gṛhya yām na abhijānāsi panca āsyām iva pannagīm || 51.23 ||

"I have thus seen Sita, given wholly over to grief — you hold her captive, like a five-hooded serpent, without recognizing what she is."

Shloka 24 (sundara.51.24)

न इयम् जरयितुम् शक्या सासुरैः अमरैः अपि । विष संसृष्टम् अत्यर्थम् भुक्तम् अन्नम् इव ओजसा ॥ 51.24 ॥

na iyam jarayitum śakyā sāsuraiḥ amaraiḥ api | viṣa saṃsṛṣṭam atyartham bhuktam annam iva ojasā || 51.24 ||

"She cannot be devoured even by gods and demons together with all their might — like food mixed with excessive poison, which cannot be digested however strong one may be."

Shloka 25 (sundara.51.25)

तपः सम्ताप लब्धः ते यो अयम् धर्म परिग्रहः । न स नाशयितुम् न्याय्य आत्म प्राण परिग्रहः ॥ 51.25 ॥

tapaḥ samtāpa labdhaḥ te yo ayam dharma parigrahaḥ | na sa nāśayitum nyāyya ātma prāṇa parigrahaḥ || 51.25 ||

"It is not right to destroy this store of merit, gained through austerity and hardship, nor this power to preserve your own life, both earned by your penance."

Shloka 26 (sundara.51.26)

अवध्यताम् तपोभिः याम् भवान् समनुपश्यति । आत्मनः सासुरैः देवैः हेतुः तत्र अपि अयम् महान् ॥ 51.26 ॥

avadhyatām tapobhiḥ yām bhavān samanupaśyati | ātmanaḥ sāsuraiḥ devaiḥ hetuḥ tatra api ayam mahān || 51.26 ||

"You may perceive yourself, through your austerities, to be immune from death at the hands of gods and demons — but even in that matter, there lies this great reason."

Shloka 27 (sundara.51.27)

सुग्रीवो न हि देवो अयम् न असुरो न च मानुषः । न दानवो न गन्धर्वो न यक्षो न च पन्नगः ॥ 51.27 ॥

sugrīvo na hi devo ayam na asuro na ca mānuṣaḥ | na dānavo na gandharvo na yakṣo na ca pannagaḥ || 51.27 ||

"This Sugriva is indeed neither a god, nor an asura, nor a human; neither a danava, nor a gandharva, nor a yaksha, nor a serpent."

Shloka 28 (sundara.51.28)

तस्मात् प्राण परित्राणम् कथम् राजन् करिष्यसि । न तु धर्म उपसम्हारम् अधर्म फल सम्हितम् ॥ 51.28 ॥

tasmāt prāṇa paritrāṇam katham rājan kariṣyasi | na tu dharma upasamhāram adharma phala samhitam || 51.28 ||

"Therefore, O king, how will you save your life from him? For the fruit of righteousness never accompanies the fruit of unrighteousness."

Shloka 29 (sundara.51.29)

तत् एव फलम् अन्वेति धर्मः च अधर्म नाशनः । प्राप्तम् धर्म फलम् तावत् भवता न अत्र संशयः ॥ 51.29 ॥

tat eva phalam anveti dharmaḥ ca adharma nāśanaḥ | prāptam dharma phalam tāvat bhavatā na atra saṃśayaḥ || 51.29 ||

"That fruit of unrighteousness alone follows one without fail, and righteousness is the destroyer of unrighteousness. You have already obtained the fruit of righteousness till now — of this there is no doubt."

Shloka 30 (sundara.51.30)

फलम् अस्य अपि अधर्मस्य क्षिप्रम् एव प्रपत्स्यसे । जन स्थान वधम् बुद्ध्वा बुद्ध्वा वालि वधम् तथा ॥ 51.30 ॥

phalam asya api adharmasya kṣipram eva prapatsyase | jana sthāna vadham buddhvā buddhvā vāli vadham tathā || 51.30 ||

"Very soon you will obtain the fruit of this unrighteousness as well. Consider the slaughter at Janasthana, and consider too the killing of Vali,"

Shloka 31 (sundara.51.31)

राम सुग्रीव सख्यम् च बुध्यस्व हितम् आत्मनः । कामम् खल्व् अहम् अपि एकः सवाजि रथ कुन्जराम् ॥ 51.31 ॥

rāma sugrīva sakhyam ca budhyasva hitam ātmanaḥ | kāmam khalv aham api ekaḥ savāji ratha kunjarām || 51.31 ||

"and, recognizing the friendship between Rama and Sugriva, understand what is truly good for you. Undoubtedly I, even alone,"

Shloka 32 (sundara.51.32)

लन्काम् नाशयितुम् शक्तः तस्य एष तु विनिश्चयः । रामेण हि प्रतिज्ञातम् हरि ऋक्ष गण सम्निधौ ॥ 51.32 ॥

lankām nāśayitum śaktaḥ tasya eṣa tu viniścayaḥ | rāmeṇa hi pratijñātam hari ṛkṣa gaṇa samnidhau || 51.32 ||

"am capable of destroying this Lanka along with its horses, chariots and elephants — but that is not his (Rama's) resolve. For Rama has indeed vowed, in the presence of the host of monkeys and bears,"

Shloka 33 (sundara.51.33)

उत्सादनम् अमित्राणाम् सीता यैः तु प्रधर्षिता । अपकुर्वन् हि रामस्य साक्षात् अपि पुरम् दरः ॥ 51.33 ॥

utsādanam amitrāṇām sītā yaiḥ tu pradharṣitā | apakurvan hi rāmasya sākṣāt api puram daraḥ || 51.33 ||

"the utter destruction of those enemies by whom Sita was outraged. Having done harm to Rama, even Indra himself, in person,"

Shloka 34 (sundara.51.34)

न सुखम् प्राप्नुयात् अन्यः किम् पुनः त्वत् विधो जनः । याम् सीता इति अभिजानासि या इयम् तिष्ठति ते वशे ॥ 51.34 ॥

na sukham prāpnuyāt anyaḥ kim punaḥ tvat vidho janaḥ | yām sītā iti abhijānāsi yā iyam tiṣṭhati te vaśe || 51.34 ||

"could not attain happiness — how much less then another like you? Her whom you recognize as Sita, who now sits in your power,"

Shloka 35 (sundara.51.35)

काल रात्री इति ताम् विद्धि सर्व लन्का विनाशिनीम् । तत् अलम् काल पाशेन सीता विग्रह रूपिणा ॥ 51.35 ॥

kāla rātrī iti tām viddhi sarva lankā vināśinīm | tat alam kāla pāśena sītā vigraha rūpiṇā || 51.35 ||

"know her to be none other than Kalaratri herself, the destroyer of all Lanka. So have done with this noose of death, in the form of Sita,"

Shloka 36 (sundara.51.36)

स्वयम् स्कन्ध अवसक्तेन क्षमम् आत्मनि चिन्त्यताम् । सीतायाः तेजसा दग्धाम् राम कोप प्रपीडिताम् ॥ 51.36 ॥

svayam skandha avasaktena kṣamam ātmani cintyatām | sītāyāḥ tejasā dagdhām rāma kopa prapīḍitām || 51.36 ||

"which you have yourself fastened around your own neck — think now of your own well-being. See this city, burning already with Sita's fiery power,"

Shloka 37 (sundara.51.37)

दह्यमनाम् इमाम् पश्य पुरीम् साट्ट प्रतोलिकाम् । स्वानि मित्राणि मन्त्रींश्च ज्ञातीन् भ्रातृन् सुतान् हितान् ॥ 51.37 ॥

dahyamanām imām paśya purīm sāṭṭa pratolikām | svāni mitrāṇi mantrīṃśca jñātīn bhrātṛn sutān hitān || 51.37 ||

"afflicted by Rama's wrath, blazing with its markets and thoroughfares. Do not bring to ruin your own friends, counsellors,"

Shloka 38 (sundara.51.38)

भोगान् दारांश्च लङ्काम् च मा विनाशमुपानय । सत्यम् राक्षसराजेन्द्र शृणुष्व वचनम् मम ॥ 51.38 ॥

bhogān dārāṃśca laṅkām ca mā vināśamupānaya | satyam rākṣasarājendra śṛṇuṣva vacanam mama || 51.38 ||

"kinsmen, brothers, sons, well-wishers, pleasures, wives, and this Lanka itself. O lord of demons, truthfully hear my words,"

Shloka 39 (sundara.51.39)

रामदासस्य दूतस्य वानरस्य विशेषतः । सर्वान् लोकान् सुसम्हृत्य सभूतान् सचराचरान् ॥ 51.39 ॥

rāmadāsasya dūtasya vānarasya viśeṣataḥ | sarvān lokān susamhṛtya sabhūtān sacarācarān || 51.39 ||

"coming as they do from the lips of a servant and messenger of Rama, and particularly of a mere monkey. The renowned Rama is capable of"

Shloka 40 (sundara.51.40)

पुनरेव तथा स्रष्टुम् शक्तो रामो महायशाः । देवासुरनरेन्द्रेषु यक्षरक्षोगणेषु च ॥ 51.40 ॥

punareva tathā sraṣṭum śakto rāmo mahāyaśāḥ | devāsuranarendreṣu yakṣarakṣogaṇeṣu ca || 51.40 ||

"utterly destroying all the worlds together with their elements and all moving and unmoving things, and creating them anew just as before — among gods, demons, foremost of men,"

Shloka 41 (sundara.51.41)

विद्याधरेषु सर्वेषु गन्धर्वेषूरगेषु च । सिद्धेषु किन्नरेन्द्रेषु पतत्रिषु च सर्वतः ॥ 51.41 ॥

vidyādhareṣu sarveṣu gandharveṣūrageṣu ca | siddheṣu kinnarendreṣu patatriṣu ca sarvataḥ || 51.41 ||

"among hosts of yakshas and rakshasas, among all vidyadharas, among gandharvas and nagas,"

Shloka 42 (sundara.51.42)

सर्वभूतेषु सर्वत्र सर्वकालेषु नास्ति सः । योरामम् प्रतियुध्येत विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमम् ॥ 51.42 ॥

sarvabhūteṣu sarvatra sarvakāleṣu nāsti saḥ | yorāmam pratiyudhyeta viṣṇutulyaparākramam || 51.42 ||

"among siddhas, among the foremost kinnaras, among birds — everywhere, among all beings, at all times — there is none"

Shloka 43 (sundara.51.43)

सर्वलोकेश्वरस्यैवम् कृत्वा विप्रियमुत्तमम् । रामस्य राजसिम्हस्य दुर्लभम् तव जीवितम् ॥ 51.43 ॥

sarvalokeśvarasyaivam kṛtvā vipriyamuttamam | rāmasya rājasimhasya durlabham tava jīvitam || 51.43 ||

"who could withstand Rama, equal in prowess to Vishnu, in battle. Having thus done this grave wrong to Rama, lord of all the worlds,"

Shloka 44 (sundara.51.44)

देवाश्च दैत्याश्च निशाचरेन्द्र । गन्धर्वविद्याधरनागयक्षाः । रामस्य लोकत्रयनायकस्य । स्थातुम् न शक्ताः समरेषु सर्वे ॥ 51.44 ॥

devāśca daityāśca niśācarendra | gandharvavidyādharanāgayakṣāḥ | rāmasya lokatrayanāyakasya | sthātum na śaktāḥ samareṣu sarve || 51.44 ||

"the lion among kings, your survival will become hard indeed to attain. O lord of night-wanderers! Neither gods nor demons, gandharvas, vidyadharas, nagas, nor yakshas,"

Shloka 45 (sundara.51.45)

ब्रह्म स्वयमुभूश्च तुराननो वा । रुद्रस्त्रिणेत्रस्त्रिपुरान्तको वा । इन्द्रो महेन्द्रः सुरनायको वा । त्रातुम् न शक्ता युधि रामवध्यम् ॥ 51.45 ॥

brahma svayamubhūśca turānano vā | rudrastriṇetrastripurāntako vā | indro mahendraḥ suranāyako vā | trātum na śaktā yudhi rāmavadhyam || 51.45 ||

"all of them together are unable to stand in battle before Rama, lord of the three worlds. Neither self-existing four-faced Brahma, nor three-eyed Rudra, destroyer of Tripura,"

Shloka 46 (sundara.51.46)

स सौष्ठव उपेतम् अदीन वादिनः । कपेः निशम्य अप्रतिमो अप्रियम् वचः । दश आननः कोप विवृत्त लोचनः । समादिशत् तस्य वधम् महाकपेः ॥ 51.46 ॥

sa sauṣṭhava upetam adīna vādinaḥ | kapeḥ niśamya apratimo apriyam vacaḥ | daśa ānanaḥ kopa vivṛtta locanaḥ | samādiśat tasya vadham mahākapeḥ || 51.46 ||

"nor Indra Mahendra himself, lord of the celestials, is able to save one condemned to death by Rama in battle. Hearing these unpleasant words, spoken with such skill and fearlessness by the monkey, that peerless ten-headed Ravana, his eyes rolling with fury, ordered the death of that great monkey."