The Tale of the Crow

Shloka 1 (sundara.67.1)

एवमुक्तस्तु हनुमान् राघवेण महात्मना। सीताया भाषितं सर्वं न्यवेदयत राघवे ॥ 67.1 ॥

evamuktastu hanumān rāghaveṇa mahātmanā| sītāyā bhāṣitaṃ sarvaṃ nyavedayata rāghave || 67.1 ||

Thus addressed by the great-souled Raghava, Hanuman reported to Rama every word that Sita had spoken.

Shloka 2 (sundara.67.2)

इदमुक्तवती देवी जानकी पुरुषर्षभ। पूर्ववृत्तमभिज्ञानं चित्रकूटे यथातथम् ॥ 67.2 ॥

idamuktavatī devī jānakī puruṣarṣabha| pūrvavṛttamabhijñānaṃ citrakūṭe yathātatham || 67.2 ||

"O bull among men, the princess Janaki gave me, as a token of recollection, a detailed account of something that had happened earlier on Mount Chitrakuta:"

Shloka 3 (sundara.67.3)

सुखसुप्ता त्वया सार्धं जानकी पूर्वमुत्थिता। वायसः सहसोत्पत्य विददार स्तनान्तरम् ॥ 67.3 ॥

sukhasuptā tvayā sārdhaṃ jānakī pūrvamutthitā| vāyasaḥ sahasotpatya vidadāra stanāntaram || 67.3 ||

"'Janaki, who lay sleeping happily beside you, once woke before you. A crow suddenly swooped down and tore the flesh between her breasts.'"

Shloka 4 (sundara.67.4)

पर्यायेण च सुप्तस्त्वं देव्यङ्के भरताग्रज। पुनश्च किल पक्षी स देव्या जनयति व्यथा ॥ 67.4 ॥

paryāyeṇa ca suptastvaṃ devyaṅke bharatāgraja| punaśca kila pakṣī sa devyā janayati vyathā || 67.4 ||

"'O elder brother of Bharata, you in turn had fallen asleep in the princess's lap; and that bird again began to torment her.'"

Shloka 5 (sundara.67.5)

ततः पुनरुपागम्य विददार भृशं किल। ततस्त्वं बोधितस्तस्याः शोणितेन समुक्षितः ॥ 67.5 ॥

tataḥ punarupāgamya vidadāra bhṛśaṃ kila| tatastvaṃ bodhitastasyāḥ śoṇitena samukṣitaḥ || 67.5 ||

"'Coming near yet again, it tore at her severely; then, sprinkled with her blood, you were awakened.'"

Shloka 6 (sundara.67.6)

वायसेन च तेनैवं सततं बाध्यमानया। बोधितः किल देव्या त्वं सुखसुप्तः परंतप ॥ 67.6 ॥

vāyasena ca tenaivaṃ satataṃ bādhyamānayā| bodhitaḥ kila devyā tvaṃ sukhasuptaḥ paraṃtapa || 67.6 ||

"'O scorcher of foes, though you lay sleeping happily, you were roused by the princess, who was being ceaselessly tormented by that very crow.'"

Shloka 7 (sundara.67.7)

तां च दृष्ट्वा महाबाहो दारितां च स्तनान्तरे। आशीविष इव क्रुद्धस्ततो वाक्यं त्वमूचिवान् ॥ 67.7 ॥

tāṃ ca dṛṣṭvā mahābāho dāritāṃ ca stanāntare| āśīviṣa iva kruddhastato vākyaṃ tvamūcivān || 67.7 ||

"'Seeing her, O mighty-armed one, with her breast torn open, you, enraged like a venomous serpent, spoke these words:'"

Shloka 8 (sundara.67.8)

नखाग्रैः केन ते भीरु दारितं वै स्तनान्तरम्। कः क्रीडति सरोषेण पञ्चवक्त्रेण भोगिना ॥ 67.8 ॥

nakhāgraiḥ kena te bhīru dāritaṃ vai stanāntaram| kaḥ krīḍati saroṣeṇa pañcavaktreṇa bhoginā || 67.8 ||

"'"O timid one, who has torn the flesh between your breasts with claw-tips? Who dares play so recklessly with an angry five-hooded serpent?"'"

Shloka 9 (sundara.67.9)

निरीक्षमाणः सहसा वायसं समुदैक्षथाः। नखैः सरुधिरैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तामेवाभिमुखं स्थितम् ॥ 67.9 ॥

nirīkṣamāṇaḥ sahasā vāyasaṃ samudaikṣathāḥ| nakhaiḥ sarudhiraistīkṣṇaistāmevābhimukhaṃ sthitam || 67.9 ||

"'Looking around, you suddenly caught sight of the crow standing right before her, its sharp claws stained with blood.'"

Shloka 10 (sundara.67.10)

सुतः किल स शक्रस्य वायसः पततां वरः। धरान्तरगतः शीघ्रं पवनस्य गतौ समः ॥ 67.10 ॥

sutaḥ kila sa śakrasya vāyasaḥ patatāṃ varaḥ| dharāntaragataḥ śīghraṃ pavanasya gatau samaḥ || 67.10 ||

"'That crow — best among birds, the very son of Indra — could range through the earth and rival the wind in swiftness.'"

Shloka 11 (sundara.67.11)

ततस्तस्मिन् महाबाहो कोपसंवर्तितेक्षणः। वायसे त्वं व्यधाः क्रूरां मतिं मतिमतां वर ॥ 67.11 ॥

tatastasmin mahābāho kopasaṃvartitekṣaṇaḥ| vāyase tvaṃ vyadhāḥ krūrāṃ matiṃ matimatāṃ vara || 67.11 ||

"'O mighty-armed one, best of the wise, your eyes rolling with anger, you resolved on a fierce course of action against that crow.'"

Shloka 12 (sundara.67.12)

स दर्भसंस्तराद् गृह्य ब्रह्मास्त्रेण न्ययोजयः। स दीप्त इव कालाग्निर्जज्वालाभिमुखं खगम् ॥ 67.12 ॥

sa darbhasaṃstarād gṛhya brahmāstreṇa nyayojayaḥ| sa dīpta iva kālāgnirjajvālābhimukhaṃ khagam || 67.12 ||

"'Taking a blade of kusha grass from your seat, you charged it with the Brahma missile; blazing like the fire of universal dissolution, it flared straight at the bird.'"

Shloka 13 (sundara.67.13)

स त्वं प्रदीप्तं चिक्षेप दर्भं तं वायसं प्रति। ततस्तु वायसं दीप्तः स दर्भोऽनुजगाम ह ॥ 67.13 ॥

sa tvaṃ pradīptaṃ cikṣepa darbhaṃ taṃ vāyasaṃ prati| tatastu vāyasaṃ dīptaḥ sa darbho'nujagāma ha || 67.13 ||

"'You hurled that flaming blade of grass at the crow, and the blazing blade pursued it relentlessly.'"

Shloka 14 (sundara.67.14)

भीतैश्च सम्परित्यक्तः सुरैः सर्वैश्च वायसः। त्रीँल्लोकान् सम्परिक्रम्य त्रातारं नाधिगच्छति ॥ 67.14 ॥

bhītaiśca samparityaktaḥ suraiḥ sarvaiśca vāyasaḥ| trī~llokān samparikramya trātāraṃ nādhigacchati || 67.14 ||

"'Abandoned even by the frightened gods, the crow circled through all three worlds but found no protector anywhere.'"

Shloka 15 (sundara.67.15)

पुनरप्यागतस्तत्र त्वत्सकाशमरिंदम। त्वं तं निपतितं भूमौ शरण्यः शरणागतम् ॥ 67.15 ॥

punarapyāgatastatra tvatsakāśamariṃdama| tvaṃ taṃ nipatitaṃ bhūmau śaraṇyaḥ śaraṇāgatam || 67.15 ||

"'O destroyer of foes, it came back once more into your presence; and falling to the ground, taking shelter with you —'"

Shloka 16 (sundara.67.16)

वधार्हमपि काकुत्स्थ कृपया परिपालयः। मोघमस्त्रं न शक्यं तु कर्तुमित्येव राघव ॥ 67.16 ॥

vadhārhamapi kākutstha kṛpayā paripālayaḥ| moghamastraṃ na śakyaṃ tu kartumityeva rāghava || 67.16 ||

"'— though it deserved death, you, giver of refuge, protected it out of compassion, O Kakutstha. Yet, since the missile could not be allowed to go in vain,'"

Shloka 17 (sundara.67.17)

भवांस्तस्याक्षि काकस्य हिनस्ति स्म स दक्षिणम्। राम त्वां स नमस्कृत्य राज्ञो दशरथस्य च ॥ 67.17 ॥

bhavāṃstasyākṣi kākasya hinasti sma sa dakṣiṇam| rāma tvāṃ sa namaskṛtya rājño daśarathasya ca || 67.17 ||

"'— you destroyed the crow's right eye instead, O Rama. Then, bowing to you and to King Dasaratha,'"

Shloka 18 (sundara.67.18)

विसृष्टस्तु तदा काकः प्रतिपेदे स्वमालयम्। एवमस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठः सत्त्ववाञ्छीलवानपि ॥ 67.18 ॥

visṛṣṭastu tadā kākaḥ pratipede svamālayam| evamastravidāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sattvavāñchīlavānapi || 67.18 ||

"'— once released, the crow returned to its own abode. Thus, even you — foremost among wielders of missiles, valorous and of good conduct —'"

Shloka 19 (sundara.67.19)

किमर्थमस्त्रं रक्षःसु न योजयसि राघव। न दानवा न गन्धर्वा नासुरा न मरुद्गणाः ॥ 67.19 ॥

kimarthamastraṃ rakṣaḥsu na yojayasi rāghava| na dānavā na gandharvā nāsurā na marudgaṇāḥ || 67.19 ||

"'— why, O Raghava, do you not use your missile against the demons? Neither the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Asuras, nor the hosts of the Maruts —'"

Shloka 20 (sundara.67.20)

तव राम रणे शक्तास्तथा प्रतिसमासितुम्। तव वीर्यवतः कश्चिन्मयि यद्यस्ति सम्भ्रमः ॥ 67.20 ॥

tava rāma raṇe śaktāstathā pratisamāsitum| tava vīryavataḥ kaścinmayi yadyasti sambhramaḥ || 67.20 ||

"'— none, O Rama, are able to stand against you in battle. If you, so mighty, feel any urgency on my account,'"

Shloka 21 (sundara.67.21)

क्षिप्रं सुनिशितैर्बाणैर्हन्यतां युधि रावणः। भ्रातुरादेशमाज्ञाय लक्ष्मणो वा परंतपः ॥ 67.21 ॥

kṣipraṃ suniśitairbāṇairhanyatāṃ yudhi rāvaṇaḥ| bhrāturādeśamājñāya lakṣmaṇo vā paraṃtapaḥ || 67.21 ||

"'— then let Ravana be quickly slain in battle with sharp arrows; or let Lakshmana, scorcher of foes, taking his brother's command,'"

Shloka 22 (sundara.67.22)

स किमर्थं नरवरो न मां रक्षति राघवः। शक्तौ तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ वाय्वग्निसमतेजसौ ॥ 67.22 ॥

sa kimarthaṃ naravaro na māṃ rakṣati rāghavaḥ| śaktau tau puruṣavyāghrau vāyvagnisamatejasau || 67.22 ||

"'— why does that foremost of men not rescue me? Those two tigers among men, equal in splendour to wind and fire, are indeed capable —'"

Shloka 23 (sundara.67.23)

सुराणामपि दुर्धर्षौ किमर्थं मामुपेक्षतः। ममैव दुष्कृतं किंचिन्महदस्ति न संशयः ॥ 67.23 ॥

surāṇāmapi durdharṣau kimarthaṃ māmupekṣataḥ| mamaiva duṣkṛtaṃ kiṃcinmahadasti na saṃśayaḥ || 67.23 ||

"'— unassailable even by the gods; why then do they neglect me? There is no doubt that some great sin of my own is the cause,'"

Shloka 24 (sundara.67.24)

समर्थौ सहितौ यन्मां न रक्षेते परंतपौ। वैदेह्या वचनं श्रुत्वा करुणं साधुभाषितम् ॥ 67.24 ॥

samarthau sahitau yanmāṃ na rakṣete paraṃtapau| vaidehyā vacanaṃ śrutvā karuṇaṃ sādhubhāṣitam || 67.24 ||

"'— for which those two capable scorchers of foes, together, do not rescue me.'" Hearing Vaidehi's pitiful yet gracious words,

Shloka 25 (sundara.67.25)

पुनरप्यहमार्यां तामिदं वचनमब्रुवम्। त्वच्छोकविमुखो रामो देवि सत्येन ते शपे ॥ 67.25 ॥

punarapyahamāryāṃ tāmidaṃ vacanamabruvam| tvacchokavimukho rāmo devi satyena te śape || 67.25 ||

I again spoke these words to that noble lady: "O princess, I swear to you truly — Rama has turned away from everything else in his grief for you.

Shloka 26 (sundara.67.26)

रामे दुःखाभिभूते च लक्ष्मणः परितप्यते। कथंचिद् भवती दृष्टा न कालः परिशोचितुम् ॥ 67.26 ॥

rāme duḥkhābhibhūte ca lakṣmaṇaḥ paritapyate| kathaṃcid bhavatī dṛṣṭā na kālaḥ pariśocitum || 67.26 ||

"Rama is overwhelmed with sorrow, and Lakshmana too suffers because of it. Now that you have somehow been found, this is not the time for grief.

Shloka 27 (sundara.67.27)

अस्मिन् मुहूर्ते दुःखानामन्तं द्रक्ष्यसि भामिनि। तावुभौ नरशार्दूलौ राजपुत्रौ परंतपौ ॥ 67.27 ॥

asmin muhūrte duḥkhānāmantaṃ drakṣyasi bhāmini| tāvubhau naraśārdūlau rājaputrau paraṃtapau || 67.27 ||

"O lovely one, very soon you will see the end of your sorrows. Those two tigers among men, the princes, the scorchers of their foes,

Shloka 28 (sundara.67.28)

त्वद्दर्शनकृतोत्साहौ लङ्कां भस्मीकरिष्यतः। हत्वा च समरे रौद्रं रावणं सहबान्धवम् ॥ 67.28 ॥

tvaddarśanakṛtotsāhau laṅkāṃ bhasmīkariṣyataḥ| hatvā ca samare raudraṃ rāvaṇaṃ sahabāndhavam || 67.28 ||

"eager for the sight of you, will reduce Lanka to ashes; and having slain the terrible Ravana in battle along with his kinsmen,

Shloka 29 (sundara.67.29)

राघवस्त्वां वरारोहे स्वपुरीं नयिता ध्रुवम्। यत् तु रामो विजानीयादभिज्ञानमनिन्दिते ॥ 67.29 ॥

rāghavastvāṃ varārohe svapurīṃ nayitā dhruvam| yat tu rāmo vijānīyādabhijñānamanindite || 67.29 ||

"Raghava will surely take you back, O lovely one, to his own city. Now give some token by which Rama may recognise you

Shloka 30 (sundara.67.30)

प्रीतिसंजननं तस्य प्रदातुं तत् त्वमर्हसि। साभिवीक्ष्य दिशः सर्वा वेण्युद्ग्रथनमुत्तमम् ॥ 67.30 ॥

prītisaṃjananaṃ tasya pradātuṃ tat tvamarhasi| sābhivīkṣya diśaḥ sarvā veṇyudgrathanamuttamam || 67.30 ||

"and which will bring him joy." Surveying all directions, she then untied that excellent jewel bound in her braid,

Shloka 31 (sundara.67.31)

मुक्त्वा वस्त्राद् ददौ मह्यं मणिमेतं महाबल। प्रतिगृह्य मणिं दोर्भ्यां तव हेतो रघुप्रिय ॥ 67.31 ॥

muktvā vastrād dadau mahyaṃ maṇimetaṃ mahābala| pratigṛhya maṇiṃ dorbhyāṃ tava heto raghupriya || 67.31 ||

from the end of her garment, O mighty one, and gave this jewel to me. O beloved of the Raghus, taking that jewel in both hands for your sake,

Shloka 32 (sundara.67.32)

शिरसा सम्प्रणम्यैनामहमागमने त्वरे। गमने च कृतोत्साहमवेक्ष्य वरवर्णिनी ॥ 67.32 ॥

śirasā sampraṇamyaināmahamāgamane tvare| gamane ca kṛtotsāhamavekṣya varavarṇinī || 67.32 ||

I bowed my head to her in salutation and grew eager to return. Seeing me so eager, ready to leave,

Shloka 33 (sundara.67.33)

विवर्धमानं च हि मामुवाच जनकात्मजा। अश्रुपूर्णमुखी दीना बाष्पगद्गदभाषिणी ॥ 67.33 ॥

vivardhamānaṃ ca hi māmuvāca janakātmajā| aśrupūrṇamukhī dīnā bāṣpagadgadabhāṣiṇī || 67.33 ||

and my body already beginning to swell, Janaka's daughter spoke to me — her face full of tears, wretched, her words choked with sobs.

Shloka 34 (sundara.67.34)

हनूमन् सिंहसंकाशौ तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। सुग्रीवं च सहामात्यं सर्वान् ब्रूया अनामयम् ॥ 67.34 ॥

hanūman siṃhasaṃkāśau tāvubhau rāmalakṣmaṇau| sugrīvaṃ ca sahāmātyaṃ sarvān brūyā anāmayam || 67.34 ||

"Hanuman, ask after the welfare of Rama and Lakshmana, those two lion-like brothers, and of Sugriva together with his ministers, and of everyone else.

Shloka 35 (sundara.67.35)

यथा च स महाबाहुर्मां तारयति राघवः। अस्माद्दुःखाम्बुसंरोधात् तत् त्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि ॥ 67.35 ॥

yathā ca sa mahābāhurmāṃ tārayati rāghavaḥ| asmādduḥkhāmbusaṃrodhāt tat tvamākhyātumarhasi || 67.35 ||

"And in whatever way that mighty-armed Raghava may help me cross this flood of sorrow, you ought to tell him that too;

Shloka 36 (sundara.67.36)

इदं च तीव्रं मम शोकवेगं रक्षोभिरेभिः परिभर्त्सनं च। ब्रूयास्तु रामस्य गतः समीपं शिवश्च तेऽध्वास्तु हरिप्रवीर ॥ 67.36 ॥

idaṃ ca tīvraṃ mama śokavegaṃ rakṣobhirebhiḥ paribhartsanaṃ ca| brūyāstu rāmasya gataḥ samīpaṃ śivaśca te'dhvāstu haripravīra || 67.36 ||

"tell him of this fierce surge of my grief, and of the threats of these demonesses, once you have gone into Rama's presence, O best of heroes among monkeys; and may your journey be auspicious."

Shloka 37 (sundara.67.37)

एतत् तवार्या नृप संयता सा सीता वचः प्राह विषादपूर्वम्। एतच्च बुद्ध्वा गदितं यथा त्वं श्रद्धत्स्व सीतां कुशलां समग्राम् ॥ 67.37 ॥

etat tavāryā nṛpa saṃyatā sā sītā vacaḥ prāha viṣādapūrvam| etacca buddhvā gaditaṃ yathā tvaṃ śraddhatsva sītāṃ kuśalāṃ samagrām || 67.37 ||

"O lion among kings, this is what your noble, restrained Sita spoke, overcome with sorrow. Understanding what has been said in this way, believe that Sita is entirely well."