Hanuman Rouses the Vanaras to War

Shloka 1 (sundara.59.1)

एतदाख्याय तत् सर्वं हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः। भूयः समुपचक्राम वचनं वक्तुमुत्तरम् ॥ 59.1 ॥

etadākhyāya tat sarvaṃ hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ| bhūyaḥ samupacakrāma vacanaṃ vaktumuttaram || 59.1 ||

Having related all this, Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, proceeded further to speak these words.

Shloka 2 (sundara.59.2)

सफलो राघवोद्योगः सुग्रीवस्य च सम्भ्रमः। शीलमासाद्य सीताया मम च प्रीणितं मनः ॥ 59.2 ॥

saphalo rāghavodyogaḥ sugrīvasya ca sambhramaḥ| śīlamāsādya sītāyā mama ca prīṇitaṃ manaḥ || 59.2 ||

"Raghava's effort, and Sugriva's eager exertion, have borne fruit; and having witnessed Sita's virtuous character, my own mind too has been gladdened.

Shloka 3 (sundara.59.3)

आर्यायाः सदृशं शीलं सीतायाः प्लवगर्षभाः। तपसा धारयेल्लोकान् क्रुद्धा वा निर्दहेदपि ॥ 59.3 ॥

āryāyāḥ sadṛśaṃ śīlaṃ sītāyāḥ plavagarṣabhāḥ| tapasā dhārayellokān kruddhā vā nirdahedapi || 59.3 ||

"O bulls among monkeys, Sita's character is worthy of that noble lady; by her ascetic power she could sustain the worlds, or, if enraged, could even burn them to ashes.

Shloka 4 (sundara.59.4)

सर्वथातिप्रकृष्टोऽसौ रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। यस्य तां स्पृशतो गात्रं तपसा न विनाशितम् ॥ 59.4 ॥

sarvathātiprakṛṣṭo'sau rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ| yasya tāṃ spṛśato gātraṃ tapasā na vināśitam || 59.4 ||

"In every way that lord of demons, Ravana, is exceedingly fortunate — since, having touched her body, he was not destroyed by her ascetic power.

Shloka 5 (sundara.59.5)

न तदग्निशिखा कुर्यात् संस्पृष्टा पाणिना सती। जनकस्य सुता कुर्याद् यत् क्रोधकलुषीकृता ॥ 59.5 ॥

na tadagniśikhā kuryāt saṃspṛṣṭā pāṇinā satī| janakasya sutā kuryād yat krodhakaluṣīkṛtā || 59.5 ||

"Not even a flame of fire, touched by the hand, could do what Janaka's daughter, roused to fury, could do.

Shloka 6 (sundara.59.6)

जाम्बवत्प्रमुखान् सर्वाननुज्ञाप्य महाकपीन्। अस्मिन् नेवंगते कार्ये भवतां च निवेदिते। न्याय्यं स्म सह वैदेह्या द्रष्टुं तौ पार्थिवात्मजौ ॥ 59.6 ॥

jāmbavatpramukhān sarvānanujñāpya mahākapīn| asmin nevaṃgate kārye bhavatāṃ ca nivedite| nyāyyaṃ sma saha vaidehyā draṣṭuṃ tau pārthivātmajau || 59.6 ||

"This matter having thus come to pass, and having been reported to you, it is now right, after taking leave of all the great monkeys headed by Jambavan, that we go see those two princes with news of Vaidehi.

Shloka 7 (sundara.59.7)

अहमेकोऽपि पर्याप्तः सराक्षसगणां पुरीम्। तां लङ्कां तरसा हन्तुं रावणं च महाबलम् ॥ 59.7 ॥

ahameko'pi paryāptaḥ sarākṣasagaṇāṃ purīm| tāṃ laṅkāṃ tarasā hantuṃ rāvaṇaṃ ca mahābalam || 59.7 ||

"I alone am sufficient to destroy swiftly that city of Lanka together with its hosts of demons, and the mighty Ravana as well.

Shloka 8 (sundara.59.8)

किं पुनः सहितो वीरैर्बलवद्भिः कृतात्मभिः। कृतास्त्रैः प्लवगैः शक्तैर्भवद्भिर्विजयैषिभिः ॥ 59.8 ॥

kiṃ punaḥ sahito vīrairbalavadbhiḥ kṛtātmabhiḥ| kṛtāstraiḥ plavagaiḥ śaktairbhavadbhirvijayaiṣibhiḥ || 59.8 ||

"How much more, then, when accompanied by heroes such as you — strong, disciplined in spirit, skilled in weapons, mighty leapers, seeking victory?

Shloka 9 (sundara.59.9)

अहं तु रावणं युद्धे ससैन्यं सपुरःसरम्। सहपुत्रं वधिष्यामि सहोदरयुतं युधि ॥ 59.9 ॥

ahaṃ tu rāvaṇaṃ yuddhe sasainyaṃ sapuraḥsaram| sahaputraṃ vadhiṣyāmi sahodarayutaṃ yudhi || 59.9 ||

"I myself, in battle, shall slay Ravana, together with his army, his vanguard, his sons, and his brothers.

Shloka 10 (sundara.59.10)

ब्राह्ममस्त्रं च रौद्रं च वायव्यं वारुणं तथा। यदि शक्रजितोऽस्त्राणि दुर्निरीक्ष्याणि संयुगे। तान्यहं निहनिष्यामि विधमिष्यामि राक्षसान् ॥ 59.10 ॥

brāhmamastraṃ ca raudraṃ ca vāyavyaṃ vāruṇaṃ tathā| yadi śakrajito'strāṇi durnirīkṣyāṇi saṃyuge| tānyahaṃ nihaniṣyāmi vidhamiṣyāmi rākṣasān || 59.10 ||

"The weapon of Brahma, and that of Rudra, and of Vayu, and of Varuna as well — even the weapons of Indrajit, hard to withstand in battle — all these shall I destroy, and I shall shatter the demons.

Shloka 11 (sundara.59.11)

भवतामभ्यनुज्ञातो विक्रमो मे रुणद्धि तम्। मयातुला विसृष्टा हि शैलवृष्टिर्निरन्तरा ॥ 59.11 ॥

bhavatāmabhyanujñāto vikramo me ruṇaddhi tam| mayātulā visṛṣṭā hi śailavṛṣṭirnirantarā || 59.11 ||

"My valor, once sanctioned by you, shall check him. For an unmatched, unceasing rain of boulders, hurled by me,

Shloka 12 (sundara.59.12)

देवानपि रणे हन्यात् किं पुनस्तान् निशाचरान्। भवतामननुज्ञातो विक्रमो मे रुणद्धि माम् ॥ 59.12 ॥

devānapi raṇe hanyāt kiṃ punastān niśācarān| bhavatāmananujñāto vikramo me ruṇaddhi mām || 59.12 ||

"—could slay even the gods in battle; how much more, then, those night-wanderers? Yet my valor, unsanctioned by you, restrains itself in me.

Shloka 13 (sundara.59.13)

सागरोऽप्यतियाद् वेलां मन्दरः प्रचलेदपि। न जाम्बवन्तं समरे कम्पयेदरिवाहिनी ॥ 59.13 ॥

sāgaro'pyatiyād velāṃ mandaraḥ pracaledapi| na jāmbavantaṃ samare kampayedarivāhinī || 59.13 ||

"The ocean might overflow its shore, Mount Mandara might tremble from its place, but no army of foes could shake Jambavan in battle.

Shloka 14 (sundara.59.14)

सर्वराक्षससङ्घानां राक्षसा ये च पूर्वजाः। अलमेकोऽपि नाशाय वीरो वालिसुतः कपिः ॥ 59.14 ॥

sarvarākṣasasaṅghānāṃ rākṣasā ye ca pūrvajāḥ| alameko'pi nāśāya vīro vālisutaḥ kapiḥ || 59.14 ||

"That heroic monkey, Vali's son, alone is sufficient to destroy all the hosts of demons, and even those demons who were their forebears.

Shloka 15 (sundara.59.15)

प्लवगस्योरुवेगेन नीलस्य च महात्मनः। मन्दरोऽप्यवशीर्येत किं पुनर्युधि राक्षसाः ॥ 59.15 ॥

plavagasyoruvegena nīlasya ca mahātmanaḥ| mandaro'pyavaśīryeta kiṃ punaryudhi rākṣasāḥ || 59.15 ||

"By the mighty force of the thighs of the great-souled monkey Neela — even Mount Mandara could be shattered; how much more, then, the demons in battle?

Shloka 16 (sundara.59.16)

सदेवासुरयक्षेषु गन्धर्वोरगपक्षिषु। मैन्दस्य प्रतियोद्धारं शंसत द्विविदस्य वा ॥ 59.16 ॥

sadevāsurayakṣeṣu gandharvoragapakṣiṣu| maindasya pratiyoddhāraṃ śaṃsata dvividasya vā || 59.16 ||

"Among gods, demons, yakshas, gandharvas, serpents, or birds — tell me of any opponent fit to fight Mainda, or Dvivida.

Shloka 17 (sundara.59.17)

अश्विपुत्रौ महावेगावेतौ प्लवगसत्तमौ। एतयोः प्रतियोद्धारं न पश्यामि रणाजिरे ॥ 59.17 ॥

aśviputrau mahāvegāvetau plavagasattamau| etayoḥ pratiyoddhāraṃ na paśyāmi raṇājire || 59.17 ||

"These two sons of the Ashvins, of tremendous speed, are foremost among monkeys; on the field of battle, I see no one fit to oppose these two.

Shloka 18 (sundara.59.18)

मयैव निहता लङ्का दग्धा भस्मीकृता पुरी। राजमार्गेषु सर्वेषु नाम विश्रावितं मया ॥ 59.18 ॥

mayaiva nihatā laṅkā dagdhā bhasmīkṛtā purī| rājamārgeṣu sarveṣu nāma viśrāvitaṃ mayā || 59.18 ||

"By me alone was Lanka struck down, the city burnt and reduced to ashes; and in all its royal highways my name was proclaimed by me:

Shloka 19 (sundara.59.19)

जयत्यतिबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः। राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः ॥ 59.19 ॥

jayatyatibalo rāmo lakṣmaṇaśca mahābalaḥ| rājā jayati sugrīvo rāghaveṇābhipālitaḥ || 59.19 ||

"'Victory to the exceedingly mighty Rama, and to the mighty Lakshmana! Victory to King Sugriva, protected by Raghava!

Shloka 20 (sundara.59.20)

अहं कोसलराजस्य दासः पवनसम्भवः। हनूमानिति सर्वत्र नाम विश्रावितं मया ॥ 59.20 ॥

ahaṃ kosalarājasya dāsaḥ pavanasambhavaḥ| hanūmāniti sarvatra nāma viśrāvitaṃ mayā || 59.20 ||

"'I am the servant of the king of Kosala, born of the Wind — Hanuman!'" — thus was my name proclaimed by me everywhere.

Shloka 21 (sundara.59.21)

अशोकवनिकामध्ये रावणस्य दुरात्मनः। अधस्ताच्छिंशपामूले साध्वी करुणमास्थिता ॥ 59.21 ॥

aśokavanikāmadhye rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ| adhastācchiṃśapāmūle sādhvī karuṇamāsthitā || 59.21 ||

In the midst of the Ashoka grove of the evil-minded Ravana, beneath a shimshapa tree, that virtuous lady remained, in a pitiable state,

Shloka 22 (sundara.59.22)

राक्षसीभिः परिवृता शोकसंतापकर्शिता। मेघरेखापरिवृता चन्द्ररेखेव निष्प्रभा ॥ 59.22 ॥

rākṣasībhiḥ parivṛtā śokasaṃtāpakarśitā| megharekhāparivṛtā candrarekheva niṣprabhā || 59.22 ||

— surrounded by demonesses, wasted by grief and anguish, lusterless like a crescent moon wrapped in a streak of cloud,

Shloka 23 (sundara.59.23)

अचिन्तयन्ती वैदेही रावणं बलदर्पितम्। पतिव्रता च सुश्रोणी अवष्टब्धा च जानकी ॥ 59.23 ॥

acintayantī vaidehī rāvaṇaṃ baladarpitam| pativratā ca suśroṇī avaṣṭabdhā ca jānakī || 59.23 ||

— Vaidehi, giving no thought to Ravana, proud of his might; that devoted wife, of lovely form, Janaki, remained firm,

Shloka 24 (sundara.59.24)

अनुरक्ता हि वैदेही रामे सर्वात्मना शुभा। अनन्यचित्ता रामेण पौलोमीव पुरन्दरे ॥ 59.24 ॥

anuraktā hi vaidehī rāme sarvātmanā śubhā| ananyacittā rāmeṇa paulomīva purandare || 59.24 ||

— for Vaidehi, that auspicious one, is devoted to Rama with her whole being, her mind fixed on none but Rama, as Paulomi is fixed on Purandara.

Shloka 25 (sundara.59.25)

तदेकवासःसंवीता रजोध्वस्ता तथैव च। सा मया राक्षसीमध्ये तर्ज्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ 59.25 ॥

tadekavāsaḥsaṃvītā rajodhvastā tathaiva ca| sā mayā rākṣasīmadhye tarjyamānā muhurmuhuḥ || 59.25 ||

Clad still in that same single garment, and likewise soiled with dust, she was seen by me amid the demonesses, threatened again and again,

Shloka 26 (sundara.59.26)

राक्षसीभिर्विरूपाभिर्दृष्टा हि प्रमदावने। एकवेणीधरा दीना भर्तृचिन्तापरायणा ॥ 59.26 ॥

rākṣasībhirvirūpābhirdṛṣṭā hi pramadāvane| ekaveṇīdharā dīnā bhartṛcintāparāyaṇā || 59.26 ||

— seen amid hideous demonesses in that pleasure grove, wretched, wearing a single braid, wholly absorbed in thought of her husband,

Shloka 27 (sundara.59.27)

अधःशय्या विवर्णाङ्गी पद्मिनीव हिमोदये। रावणाद् विनिवृत्तार्था मर्तव्यकृतनिश्चया ॥ 59.27 ॥

adhaḥśayyā vivarṇāṅgī padminīva himodaye| rāvaṇād vinivṛttārthā martavyakṛtaniścayā || 59.27 ||

— her bed upon the ground, her limbs pale like a lotus-plant at the rise of frost, her heart turned away from Ravana, resolved upon death.

Shloka 28 (sundara.59.28)

कथंचिन्मृगशावाक्षी विश्वासमुपपादिता। ततः सम्भाषिता चैव सर्वमर्थं प्रकाशिता ॥ 59.28 ॥

kathaṃcinmṛgaśāvākṣī viśvāsamupapāditā| tataḥ sambhāṣitā caiva sarvamarthaṃ prakāśitā || 59.28 ||

With some difficulty, that fawn-eyed one was made to trust me; then she was spoken with, and the whole matter was disclosed to her.

Shloka 29 (sundara.59.29)

रामसुग्रीवसख्यं च श्रुत्वा प्रीतिमुपागता। नियतः समुदाचारो भक्तिर्भर्तरि चोत्तमा ॥ 59.29 ॥

rāmasugrīvasakhyaṃ ca śrutvā prītimupāgatā| niyataḥ samudācāro bhaktirbhartari cottamā || 59.29 ||

Hearing of the friendship between Rama and Sugriva, she was filled with joy — her conduct ever restrained, her devotion to her husband supreme.

Shloka 30 (sundara.59.30)

यन्न हन्ति दशग्रीवं स महात्मा दशाननः। निमित्तमात्रं रामस्तु वधे तस्य भविष्यति ॥ 59.30 ॥

yanna hanti daśagrīvaṃ sa mahātmā daśānanaḥ| nimittamātraṃ rāmastu vadhe tasya bhaviṣyati || 59.30 ||

That great-souled ten-faced one — the reason he has not yet been slain is only this: Rama alone shall be the very instrument of his death.

Shloka 31 (sundara.59.31)

सा प्रकृत्यैव तन्वङ्गी तद्वियोगाच्च कर्शिता। प्रतिपत्पाठशीलस्य विद्येव तनुतां गता ॥ 59.31 ॥

sā prakṛtyaiva tanvaṅgī tadviyogācca karśitā| pratipatpāṭhaśīlasya vidyeva tanutāṃ gatā || 59.31 ||

She, slender-limbed by nature, and further wasted by separation from him, has grown thin, like the learning of one who studies but a verse a day.

Shloka 32 (sundara.59.32)

एवमास्ते महाभागा सीता शोकपरायणा। यदत्र प्रतिकर्तव्यं तत् सर्वमुपकल्प्यताम् ॥ 59.32 ॥

evamāste mahābhāgā sītā śokaparāyaṇā| yadatra pratikartavyaṃ tat sarvamupakalpyatām || 59.32 ||

Thus does the most fortunate Sita remain, given over wholly to grief. Whatever must be done in this matter — let all of it now be arranged.