Sundara Kanda · Sarga 6
Amid the Riches of Ravana's City
Shloka 1 (sundara.6.1)
स निकामं विमानेषु विचरन् कामरूपधृक् । विचचार कपिर्लङ्कां लाघवेन समन्वितः ॥ 6.1 ॥
sa nikāmaṃ vimāneṣu vicaran kāmarūpadhṛk | vicacāra kapirlaṅkāṃ lāghavena samanvitaḥ || 6.1 ||
That monkey, who could take any form at will, wandering freely among the mansions, roamed through Lanka once more, endowed with great agility.
Shloka 2 (sundara.6.2)
आससाद च लक्ष्मीवान् राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनम् । प्राकारेणार्कवर्णेन भास्वरेणाभिसंवृतम् ॥ 6.2 ॥
āsasāda ca lakṣmīvān rākṣasendraniveśanam | prākāreṇārkavarṇena bhāsvareṇābhisaṃvṛtam || 6.2 ||
Then the glorious Hanuman approached the mansion of the lord of the rakshasas, surrounded by a shining rampart the colour of the sun.
Shloka 3 (sundara.6.3)
रक्षितं राक्षसैर्भीमैः सिंहैरिव महद् वनम् । समीक्षमाणो भवनं चकाशे कपिकुञ्जरः ॥ 6.3 ॥
rakṣitaṃ rākṣasairbhīmaiḥ siṃhairiva mahad vanam | samīkṣamāṇo bhavanaṃ cakāśe kapikuñjaraḥ || 6.3 ||
Gazing at that mansion, guarded by fearsome rakshasas as a great forest is guarded by lions, the elephant among monkeys shone forth.
Shloka 4 (sundara.6.4)
रूप्यकोपहितैश्चित्रैस्तोरणैर्हेमभूषणैः । विचित्राभिश्च कक्ष्याभिर्द्वारैश्च रुचिरैर्वृतम् ॥ 6.4 ॥
rūpyakopahitaiścitraistoraṇairhemabhūṣaṇaiḥ | vicitrābhiśca kakṣyābhirdvāraiśca rucirairvṛtam || 6.4 ||
It was adorned with wondrous silver-inlaid archways decorated with gold, and enclosed by marvellous inner courtyards and lovely gateways.
Shloka 5 (sundara.6.5)
गजास्थितैर्महामात्रैः शूरैश्च विगतश्रमैः । उपस्थितमसंहार्यैर्हयैः स्यन्दनयायिभिः ॥ 6.5 ॥
gajāsthitairmahāmātraiḥ śūraiśca vigataśramaiḥ | upasthitamasaṃhāryairhayaiḥ syandanayāyibhiḥ || 6.5 ||
It was attended by mahouts seated upon elephants, by tireless heroes, by invincible horses, and by charioteers driving their cars.
Shloka 6 (sundara.6.6)
सिंहव्याघ्रतनुत्राणैर्दान्तकाञ्चनराजतीः । घोषवद्भिर्विचित्रैश्च सदा विचरितं रथैः ॥ 6.6 ॥
siṃhavyāghratanutrāṇairdāntakāñcanarājatīḥ | ghoṣavadbhirvicitraiśca sadā vicaritaṃ rathaiḥ || 6.6 ||
Chariots fitted with coverings of lion and tiger hide, adorned with ivory, gold and silver, and resounding wonderfully, ever moved about that place.
Shloka 7 (sundara.6.7)
बहुरत्नसमाकीर्णं परार्घ्यासनभूषितम् । महारथसमावापं महारथमहासनम् ॥ 6.7 ॥
bahuratnasamākīrṇaṃ parārghyāsanabhūṣitam | mahārathasamāvāpaṃ mahārathamahāsanam || 6.7 ||
It was strewn with abundant jewels, adorned with priceless seats, thronged with mighty chariot-warriors, and furnished with grand thrones.
Shloka 8 (sundara.6.8)
दृश्यैश्च परमोदारैस्तैस्तैश्च मृगपक्षिभिः । विविधैर्बहुसाहस्रैः परिपूर्णं समन्ततः ॥ 6.8 ॥
dṛśyaiśca paramodāraistaistaiśca mṛgapakṣibhiḥ | vividhairbahusāhasraiḥ paripūrṇaṃ samantataḥ || 6.8 ||
It was filled on every side with many thousands of varied, splendid, and delightful beasts and birds of every kind.
Shloka 9 (sundara.6.9)
विनीतैरन्तपालैश्च रक्षोभिश्च सुरक्षितम् । मुख्याभिश्च वरस्त्रीभिः परिपूर्णं समन्ततः ॥ 6.9 ॥
vinītairantapālaiśca rakṣobhiśca surakṣitam | mukhyābhiśca varastrībhiḥ paripūrṇaṃ samantataḥ || 6.9 ||
It was well guarded by disciplined gate-keepers and rakshasa sentries, and filled all around with eminent, excellent women.
Shloka 10 (sundara.6.10)
मुदितप्रमदारत्नं राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनम् । वराभरणसंह्रादैः समुद्रस्वननिःस्वनम् ॥ 6.10 ॥
muditapramadāratnaṃ rākṣasendraniveśanam | varābharaṇasaṃhrādaiḥ samudrasvananiḥsvanam || 6.10 ||
The mansion of the lord of the rakshasas, filled with jewel-like joyous women, resounded like the ocean with the jingling of their fine ornaments.
Shloka 11 (sundara.6.11)
तद् राजगुणसम्पन्नं मुख्यैश्च वरचन्दनैः । महाजनसमाकीर्णं सिंहैरिव महद् वनम् ॥ 6.11 ॥
tad rājaguṇasampannaṃ mukhyaiśca varacandanaiḥ | mahājanasamākīrṇaṃ siṃhairiva mahad vanam || 6.11 ||
Endowed with every kingly excellence and the finest sandalwood, that mansion was crowded with great throngs of people, like a vast forest thronged with lions.
Shloka 12 (sundara.6.12)
भेरीमृदङ्गाभिरुतं शङ्खघोषविनादितम् । नित्यार्चितं पर्वसुतं पूजितं राक्षसैः सदा ॥ 6.12 ॥
bherīmṛdaṅgābhirutaṃ śaṅkhaghoṣavināditam | nityārcitaṃ parvasutaṃ pūjitaṃ rākṣasaiḥ sadā || 6.12 ||
It resounded with kettle-drums and mridangas, echoed with the blast of conches; it was perpetually worshipped, marked by festive occasions, and ever honoured by the rakshasas.
Shloka 13 (sundara.6.13)
समुद्रमिव गम्भीरं समुद्रसमनिःस्वनम् । महात्मनो महद् वेश्म महारत्नपरिच्छदम् ॥ 6.13 ॥
samudramiva gambhīraṃ samudrasamaniḥsvanam | mahātmano mahad veśma mahāratnaparicchadam || 6.13 ||
Deep as the ocean and resounding like the ocean, that great house of the great-souled one was furnished with magnificent jewels.
Shloka 14 (sundara.6.14)
महारत्नसमाकीर्णं ददर्श स महाकपिः । विराजमानं वपुषा गजाश्वरथसंकुलम् ॥ 6.14 ॥
mahāratnasamākīrṇaṃ dadarśa sa mahākapiḥ | virājamānaṃ vapuṣā gajāśvarathasaṃkulam || 6.14 ||
The great monkey saw it strewn with priceless jewels, resplendent in its form, and thronged with elephants, horses and chariots.
Shloka 15 (sundara.6.15)
लंकाभरणमित्येव सोऽमन्यत महाकपिः । चचार हनुमांस्तत्र रावणस्य समीपतः ॥ 6.15 ॥
laṃkābharaṇamityeva so'manyata mahākapiḥ | cacāra hanumāṃstatra rāvaṇasya samīpataḥ || 6.15 ||
“This indeed is the very ornament of Lanka,” thought the great monkey. So Hanuman moved about there, close by Ravana's dwelling.
Shloka 16 (sundara.6.16)
गृहाद् गृहं राक्षसानामुद्यानानि च सर्वशः । वीक्षमाणोऽप्यसंत्रस्तः प्रासादांश्च चचार सः ॥ 6.16 ॥
gṛhād gṛhaṃ rākṣasānāmudyānāni ca sarvaśaḥ | vīkṣamāṇo'pyasaṃtrastaḥ prāsādāṃśca cacāra saḥ || 6.16 ||
Fearlessly he moved from house to house of the rakshasas, surveying every garden and every mansion on every side.
Shloka 17 (sundara.6.17)
अवप्लुत्य महावेगः प्रहस्तस्य निवेशनम् । ततोऽन्यत् पुप्लुवे वेश्म महापार्श्वस्य वीर्यवान् ॥ 6.17 ॥
avaplutya mahāvegaḥ prahastasya niveśanam | tato'nyat pupluve veśma mahāpārśvasya vīryavān || 6.17 ||
With mighty speed he leapt down into Prahasta's dwelling, and from there the valiant one bounded to the house of Mahaparshva.
Shloka 18 (sundara.6.18)
अथ मेघप्रतीकाशं कुम्भकर्णनिवेशनम् । विभीषणस्य च तथा पुप्लुवे स महाकपिः ॥ 6.18 ॥
atha meghapratīkāśaṃ kumbhakarṇaniveśanam | vibhīṣaṇasya ca tathā pupluve sa mahākapiḥ || 6.18 ||
Then the great monkey bounded to the cloud-like mansion of Kumbhakarna, and likewise to that of Vibhishana.
Shloka 19 (sundara.6.19)
महोदरस्य च तथा विरूपाक्षस्य चैव हि । विद्युज्जिह्वस्य भवनं विद्युन्मालेस्तथैव च ॥ 6.19 ॥
mahodarasya ca tathā virūpākṣasya caiva hi | vidyujjihvasya bhavanaṃ vidyunmālestathaiva ca || 6.19 ||
Likewise to the house of Mahodara, and of Virupaksha too, and to the mansion of Vidyujjihva, and of Vidyunmali as well.
Shloka 20 (sundara.6.20)
वज्रदंष्ट्रस्य च तथा पुप्लुवे स महाकपिः । शुकस्य च महावेगः सारणस्य च धीमतः ॥ 6.20 ॥
vajradaṃṣṭrasya ca tathā pupluve sa mahākapiḥ | śukasya ca mahāvegaḥ sāraṇasya ca dhīmataḥ || 6.20 ||
The great, swift monkey likewise bounded to the house of Vajradamshtra, of Shuka, and of the wise Sarana.
Shloka 21 (sundara.6.21)
तथा चेन्द्रजितो वेश्म जगाम हरियूथपः । जम्बुमालेः सुमालेश्च जगाम हरिसत्तमः ॥ 6.21 ॥
tathā cendrajito veśma jagāma hariyūthapaḥ | jambumāleḥ sumāleśca jagāma harisattamaḥ || 6.21 ||
The leader of the monkey host went likewise to the house of Indrajit; the foremost of monkeys went to the houses of Jambumali and Sumali.
Shloka 22 (sundara.6.22)
रश्मिकेतोश्च भवनं सूर्यशत्रोस्तथैव च । वज्रकायस्य च तथा पुप्लुवे स महाकपिः ॥ 6.22 ॥
raśmiketośca bhavanaṃ sūryaśatrostathaiva ca | vajrakāyasya ca tathā pupluve sa mahākapiḥ || 6.22 ||
The great monkey likewise bounded to the mansion of Rashmiketu, and of Suryashatru, and of Vajrakaya.
Shloka 23 (sundara.6.23)
धूम्राक्षस्याथ सम्पातेर्भवनं मारुतात्मजः । विद्युद्रूपस्य भीमस्य घनस्य विघनस्य च ॥ 6.23 ॥
dhūmrākṣasyātha sampāterbhavanaṃ mārutātmajaḥ | vidyudrūpasya bhīmasya ghanasya vighanasya ca || 6.23 ||
The son of the Wind-god went next to the mansions of Dhumraksha and Sampati, of Vidyudrupa, of Bhima, of Ghana, and of Vighana.
Shloka 24 (sundara.6.24)
शुकनाभस्य चक्रस्य शठस्य कपटस्य च । ह्रस्वकर्णस्य दंष्ट्रस्य लोमशस्य च रक्षसः ॥ 6.24 ॥
śukanābhasya cakrasya śaṭhasya kapaṭasya ca | hrasvakarṇasya daṃṣṭrasya lomaśasya ca rakṣasaḥ || 6.24 ||
And of Shukanabha, of Chakra, of Shatha and Kapata, of Hrasvakarna, of Damshtra, and of the rakshasa Lomasha.
Shloka 25 (sundara.6.25)
युद्धोन्मत्तस्य मत्तस्य ध्वजग्रीवस्य सादिनः । विद्युज्जिह्वद्विजिह्वानां तथा हस्तिमुखस्य च ॥ 6.25 ॥
yuddhonmattasya mattasya dhvajagrīvasya sādinaḥ | vidyujjihvadvijihvānāṃ tathā hastimukhasya ca || 6.25 ||
Of Yuddhonmatta, of Matta, of the horseman Dhvajagriva, of Vidyujjihva and Dvijihva, and likewise of Hastimukha.
Shloka 26 (sundara.6.26)
करालस्य पिशाचस्य शोणिताक्षस्य चैव हि । प्लवमानः क्रमेणैव हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥ 6.26 ॥
karālasya piśācasya śoṇitākṣasya caiva hi | plavamānaḥ krameṇaiva hanumān mārutātmajaḥ || 6.26 ||
And of Karala, of Pishacha, of Shonitaksha too — thus, bounding on in order, went Hanuman, son of the Wind-god.
Shloka 27 (sundara.6.27)
तेषु तेषु महार्हेषु भवनेषु महायशाः । तेषामृद्धिमतामृद्धिं ददर्श स महाकपिः ॥ 6.27 ॥
teṣu teṣu mahārheṣu bhavaneṣu mahāyaśāḥ | teṣāmṛddhimatāmṛddhiṃ dadarśa sa mahākapiḥ || 6.27 ||
In each of those splendid mansions, the glorious great monkey beheld the prosperity of those prosperous ones.
Shloka 28 (sundara.6.28)
सर्वेषां समतिक्रम्य भवनानि समन्ततः । आससादाथ लक्ष्मीवान् राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनम् ॥ 6.28 ॥
sarveṣāṃ samatikramya bhavanāni samantataḥ | āsasādātha lakṣmīvān rākṣasendraniveśanam || 6.28 ||
Passing beyond all their mansions on every side, the glorious Hanuman then approached the dwelling of the lord of the rakshasas.
Shloka 29 (sundara.6.29)
रावणस्योपशायिन्यो ददर्श हरिसत्तमः । विचरन् हरिशार्दूलो राक्षसीर्विकृतेक्षणाः ॥ 6.29 ॥
rāvaṇasyopaśāyinyo dadarśa harisattamaḥ | vicaran hariśārdūlo rākṣasīrvikṛtekṣaṇāḥ || 6.29 ||
As he moved about, that tiger among monkeys, foremost of monkeys, saw the rakshasa women who slept near Ravana, their eyes fearsome to behold.
Shloka 30 (sundara.6.30)
शूलमुद्गरहस्तांश्च शक्तितोमरधारिणः । ददर्श विविधान्गुल्मांस्तस्य रक्षःपतेर्गृहे ॥ 6.30 ॥
śūlamudagarahastāṃśca śaktitomaradhāriṇaḥ | dadarśa vividhāngulmāṃstasya rakṣaḥpatergṛhe || 6.30 ||
In the house of that lord of rakshasas he saw various armed sentries, holding tridents and clubs in hand, bearing spears and lances.
Shloka 31 (sundara.6.31)
राक्षसांश्च महाकायान् नानाप्रहरणोद्यतान् । रक्तान् श्वेतान् सितांश्चापि हरींश्चापि महाजवान् ॥ 6.31 ॥
rākṣasāṃśca mahākāyān nānāpraharaṇodyatān | raktān śvetān sitāṃścāpi harīṃścāpi mahājavān || 6.31 ||
He saw huge-bodied rakshasas, poised with weapons of every kind; and horses too — red, white, pale, and tawny, all of tremendous speed.
Shloka 32 (sundara.6.32)
कुलीनान् रूपसम्पन्नान् गजान् परगजारुजान् । शिक्षितान् गजशिक्षायामैरावतसमान् युधि ॥ 6.32 ॥
kulīnān rūpasampannān gajān paragajārujān | śikṣitān gajaśikṣāyāmairāvatasamān yudhi || 6.32 ||
He saw elephants of noble breed, handsome in form, able to crush enemy elephants, well trained in the arts of war, matching Airavata himself in battle.
Shloka 33 (sundara.6.33)
निहन्तॄन् परसैन्यानां गृहे तस्मिन् ददर्श सः । क्षरतश्च यथा मेघान् स्रवतश्च यथा गिरीन् ॥ 6.33 ॥
nihantṝn parasainyānāṃ gṛhe tasmin dadarśa saḥ | kṣarataśca yathā meghān sravataśca yathā girīn || 6.33 ||
In that house he saw elephants that could destroy enemy armies, streaming with musth like rain-clouds, and flowing like mountains with springs.
Shloka 34 (sundara.6.34)
मेघस्तनितनिर्घोषान् दुर्धर्षान् समरे परैः । सहस्रं वाहिनीस्तत्र जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृताः ॥ 6.34 ॥
meghastanitanirghoṣān durdharṣān samare paraiḥ | sahasraṃ vāhinīstatra jāmbūnadapariṣkṛtāḥ || 6.34 ||
Roaring like thunder-clouds, unassailable by foes in battle — and there, a thousand war-divisions adorned with gold.
Shloka 35 (sundara.6.35)
हेमजालैरविच्छिन्नास्तरुणादित्यसंनिभाः । ददर्श राक्षसेन्द्रस्य रावणस्य निवेशने ॥ 6.35 ॥
hemajālairavicchinnāstaruṇādityasaṃnibhāḥ | dadarśa rākṣasendrasya rāvaṇasya niveśane || 6.35 ||
Covered continuously with nets of gold, radiant as the rising sun — such he saw in the dwelling of Ravana, lord of the rakshasas.
Shloka 36 (sundara.6.36)
शिबिका विविधाकाराः स कपिर्मारुतात्मजः । लतागृहाणि चित्राणि चित्रशालागृहाणि च ॥ 6.36 ॥
śibikā vividhākārāḥ sa kapirmārutātmajaḥ | latāgṛhāṇi citrāṇi citraśālāgṛhāṇi ca || 6.36 ||
That monkey, the son of the Wind-god, saw palanquins of every shape, wondrous bowers of creepers, and picture-galleries.
Shloka 37 (sundara.6.37)
क्रीडागृहाणि चान्यानि दारुपर्वतकानि च । कामस्य गृहकं रम्यं दिवागृहकमेव च ॥ 6.37 ॥
krīḍāgṛhāṇi cānyāni dāruparvatakāni ca | kāmasya gṛhakaṃ ramyaṃ divāgṛhakameva ca || 6.37 ||
And other pleasure-houses too, and artificial wooden hillocks; a lovely chamber of love, and likewise a house for day's repose.
Shloka 38 (sundara.6.38)
ददर्श राक्षसेन्द्रस्य रावणस्य निवेशने । स मन्दरसमप्रख्यं मयूरस्थानसंकुलम् ॥ 6.38 ॥
dadarśa rākṣasendrasya rāvaṇasya niveśane | sa mandarasamaprakhyaṃ mayūrasthānasaṃkulam || 6.38 ||
In the dwelling of Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, he saw a building resembling Mount Mandara, thronged with roosts for peacocks.
Shloka 39 (sundara.6.39)
ध्वजयष्टिभिराकीर्णं ददर्श भवनोत्तमम् । अनन्तरत्ननिचयं निधिजालं समन्ततः । धीरनिष्ठितकर्माङ्गं गृहं भूतपतेरिव ॥ 6.39 ॥
dhvajayaṣṭibhirākīrṇaṃ dadarśa bhavanottamam | anantaratnanicayaṃ nidhijālaṃ samantataḥ | dhīraniṣṭhitakarmāṅgaṃ gṛhaṃ bhūtapateriva || 6.39 ||
He saw that supreme mansion, thronged with banner-staffs, its every part heaped all around with endless jewels and treasure, its construction accomplished by patient craftsmen — like the very abode of Kubera, lord of wealth.
Shloka 40 (sundara.6.40)
अर्चिर्भिश्चापि रत्नानां तेजसा रावणस्य च । विरराज च तद् वेश्म रश्मिवानिव रश्मिभिः ॥ 6.40 ॥
arcirbhiścāpi ratnānāṃ tejasā rāvaṇasya ca | virarāja ca tad veśma raśmivāniva raśmibhiḥ || 6.40 ||
That mansion blazed with the radiance of its jewels and with Ravana's own splendour, shining like the sun shines with its rays.
Shloka 41 (sundara.6.41)
जाम्बूनदमयान्येव शयनान्यासनानि च । भाजनानि च शुभ्राणि ददर्श हरियूथपः ॥ 6.41 ॥
jāmbūnadamayānyeva śayanānyāsanāni ca | bhājanāni ca śubhrāṇi dadarśa hariyūthapaḥ || 6.41 ||
The chief of the monkey host saw couches and seats made entirely of gold, and gleaming vessels too.
Shloka 42 (sundara.6.42)
मध्वासवकृतक्लेदं मणिभाजनसंकुलम् । मनोरममसम्बाधं कुबेरभवनं यथा ॥ 6.42 ॥
madhvāsavakṛtakledaṃ maṇibhājanasaṃkulam | manoramamasambādhaṃ kuberabhavanaṃ yathā || 6.42 ||
Moist with honey-wine, crowded with jewelled vessels, delightful and spacious — like the very mansion of Kubera.
Shloka 43 (sundara.6.43)
नूपुराणां च घोषेण काञ्चीनां निःस्वनेन च । मृदङ्गतलनिर्घोषैर्घोषवद्भिर्विनादितम् ॥ 6.43 ॥
nūpurāṇāṃ ca ghoṣeṇa kāñcīnāṃ niḥsvanena ca | mṛdaṅgatalanirghoṣairghoṣavadbhirvināditam || 6.43 ||
It resounded with the jingling of anklets and the tinkling of girdles, and echoed with the deep beat of resonant mridangas.
Shloka 44 (sundara.6.44)
प्रासादसंघातयुतं स्त्रीरत्नशतसंकुलम् । सुव्यूढकक्ष्यं हनुमान् प्रविवेश महागृहम् ॥ 6.44 ॥
prāsādasaṃghātayutaṃ strīratnaśatasaṃkulam | suvyūḍhakakṣyaṃ hanumān praviveśa mahāgṛham || 6.44 ||
Hanuman entered that great mansion, joined with clusters of turrets, thronged with hundreds of jewel-like women, its inner chambers well arranged.