Hanuman's Description of Lanka

Shloka 1 (yuddha.3.1)

सुग्रीवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा हेतुमत् परमार्थवत्। प्रतिजग्राह काकुत्स्थो हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत् ॥ 3.1 ॥

sugrīvasya vacaḥ śrutvā hetumat paramārthavat | pratijagrāha kākutstho hanūmantamathābravīt || 3.1 ||

Having heard Sugriva's words -- reasoned and full of true meaning -- Kakutstha accepted them, and then spoke to Hanuman.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.3.2)

तपसा सेतुबन्धेन सागरोच्छोषणेन च। सर्वथापि समर्थोऽस्मि सागरस्यास्य लङ्घने ॥ 3.2 ॥

tapasā setubandhena sāgarocchoṣaṇena ca | sarvathāpi samartho'smi sāgarasyāsya laṅghane || 3.2 ||

By austerity, by building a bridge, or by drying up the sea -- I am, in every way, capable of crossing this ocean.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.3.3)

कति दुर्गाणि दुर्गाया लङ्कायास्तद् ब्रवीष्व मे। ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत् सर्वं दर्शनादिव वानर ॥ 3.3 ॥

kati durgāṇi durgāyā laṅkāyāstad bravīṣva me | jñātumicchāmi tat sarvaṃ darśanādiva vānara || 3.3 ||

Tell me, O monkey, how many strongholds that impregnable Lanka possesses; I wish to know all of it as though I were seeing it with my own eyes.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.3.4)

बलस्य परिमाणं च द्वारदुर्गक्रियामपि। गुप्तिकर्म च लङ्काया रक्षसां सदनानि च ॥ 3.4 ॥

balasya parimāṇaṃ ca dvāradurgakriyāmapi | guptikarma ca laṅkāyā rakṣasāṃ sadanāni ca || 3.4 ||

The extent of its forces, the fortification of its gates, the manner in which Lanka is guarded, and the dwellings of the rakshasas --

Shloka 5 (yuddha.3.5)

यथासुखं यथावच्च लङ्कायामसि दृष्टवान्। सर्वमाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन सर्वथा कुशलो ह्यसि ॥ 3.5 ॥

yathāsukhaṃ yathāvacca laṅkāyāmasi dṛṣṭavān | sarvamācakṣva tattvena sarvathā kuśalo hyasi || 3.5 ||

-- whatever you saw in Lanka at your ease, and exactly as it was, tell me all of it truthfully, for you are skilled indeed in every way.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.3.6)

श्रुत्वा रामस्य वचनं हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः। वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठो रामं पुनरथाब्रवीत् ॥ 3.6 ॥

śrutvā rāmasya vacanaṃ hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ | vākyaṃ vākyavidāṃ śreṣṭho rāmaṃ punarathābravīt || 3.6 ||

Hearing Rama's words, Hanuman, son of the Wind-god and foremost among those skilled in speech, spoke these words again to Rama.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.3.7)

श्रूयतां सर्वमाख्यास्ये दुर्गकर्म विधानतः। गुप्ता पुरी यथा लङ्का रक्षिता च यथा बलैः ॥ 3.7 ॥

śrūyatāṃ sarvamākhyāsye durgakarma vidhānataḥ | guptā purī yathā laṅkā rakṣitā ca yathā balaiḥ || 3.7 ||

Listen, I shall tell you everything -- how the city of Lanka is fortified by the methods of defense-works, and how it is guarded by its troops.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.3.8)

राक्षसाश्च यथा स्निग्धा रावणस्य च तेजसा। परां समृद्धिं लङ्कायाः सागरस्य च भीमताम् ॥ 3.8 ॥

rākṣasāśca yathā snigdhā rāvaṇasya ca tejasā | parāṃ samṛddhiṃ laṅkāyāḥ sāgarasya ca bhīmatām || 3.8 ||

How the rakshasas are devoted, through Ravana's own splendor; Lanka's supreme prosperity, and the fearsomeness of the ocean --

Shloka 9 (yuddha.3.9)

विभागं च बलौघस्य निर्देशं वाहनस्य च। एवमुक्त्वा कपिश्रेष्ठः कथयामास तत्त्वतः ॥ 3.9 ॥

vibhāgaṃ ca balaughasya nirdeśaṃ vāhanasya ca | evamuktvā kapiśreṣṭhaḥ kathayāmāsa tattvataḥ || 3.9 ||

-- the division of the mass of his forces, and the disposition of his mounts. Having said this, Hanuman, foremost of monkeys, then related it all exactly as it was.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.3.10)

हृष्टप्रमुदिता लङ्का मत्तद्विपसमाकुला। महती रथसम्पूर्णा रक्षोगणनिषेविता ॥ 3.10 ॥

hṛṣṭapramuditā laṅkā mattadvipasamākulā | mahatī rathasampūrṇā rakṣogaṇaniṣevitā || 3.10 ||

The great city of Lanka is joyous and exultant, thronging with elephants in rut, full of chariots, and inhabited by hosts of rakshasas.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.3.11)

दृढबद्धकपाटानि महापरिघवन्ति च। चत्वारि विपुलान्यस्या द्वाराणि सुमहान्ति च ॥ 3.11 ॥

dṛḍhabaddhakapāṭāni mahāparighavanti ca | catvāri vipulānyasyā dvārāṇi sumahānti ca || 3.11 ||

It has four vast and mighty gates, fitted with firmly-bolted doors and great iron bars.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.3.12)

तत्रेषूपलयन्त्राणि बलवन्ति महान्ति च। आगतं प्रतिसैन्यं तैस्तत्र प्रतिनिवार्यते ॥ 3.12 ॥

tatreṣūpalayantrāṇi balavanti mahānti ca | āgataṃ pratisainyaṃ taistatra pratinivāryate || 3.12 ||

There, powerful and mighty engines for hurling stones and darts are set up, by which any approaching enemy force is repelled right there.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.3.13)

द्वारेषु संस्कृता भीमाः कालायसमयाः शिताः। शतशो रचिता वीरैः शतघ्न्यो रक्षसां गणैः ॥ 3.13 ॥

dvāreṣu saṃskṛtā bhīmāḥ kālāyasamayāḥ śitāḥ | śataśo racitā vīraiḥ śataghnyo rakṣasāṃ gaṇaiḥ || 3.13 ||

At the gates stand terrible, sharp-edged Shataghnis, forged of dark iron, set in readiness by hundreds by the hosts of rakshasa warriors.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.3.14)

सौवर्णस्तु महांस्तस्याः प्राकारो दुष्प्रधर्षणः। मणिविद्रुमवैदूर्यमुक्ताविरचितान्तरः ॥ 3.14 ॥

sauvarṇastu mahāṃstasyāḥ prākāro duṣpradharṣaṇaḥ | maṇividrumavaidūryamuktāvirachitāntaraḥ || 3.14 ||

A great rampart of gold, hard to overpower, encircles that city, inlaid at intervals with gems, coral, cat's-eye and pearls.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.3.15)

सर्वतश्च महाभीमाः शीततोया महाशुभाः। अगाधा ग्राहवत्यश्च परिखा मीनसेविताः ॥ 3.15 ॥

sarvataśca mahābhīmāḥ śītatoyā mahāśubhāḥ | agādhā grāhavatyaśca parikhā mīnasevitāḥ || 3.15 ||

All around are exceedingly fearsome, most beautiful moats, filled with cold water, unfathomably deep, infested with crocodiles and teeming with fish.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.3.16)

द्वारेषु तासां चत्वारः संक्रमाः परमायताः। यन्त्रैरुपेता बहुभिर्महद्भिर्गृहपङ्क्तिभिः ॥ 3.16 ॥

dvāreṣu tāsāṃ catvāraḥ saṃkramāḥ paramāyatāḥ | yantrairupetā bahubhirmahadbhirgṛhapaṅktibhiḥ || 3.16 ||

At the gates of those moats are four very extensive causeways, equipped with numerous engines and lined with great rows of buildings.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.3.17)

त्रायन्ते संक्रमास्तत्र परसैन्यागते सति। यन्त्रैस्तैरवकीर्यन्ते परिखासु समन्ततः ॥ 3.17 ॥

trāyante saṃkramāstatra parasainyāgate sati | yantraistairavakīryante parikhāsu samantataḥ || 3.17 ||

When an enemy force approaches, those causeways are defended by those very engines, and the attackers are hurled by them into the moats on every side.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.3.18)

एकस्त्वकम्प्यो बलवान् संक्रमः सुमहादृढः। काञ्चनैर्बहुभिः स्तम्भैर्वेदिकाभिश्च शोभितः ॥ 3.18 ॥

ekastvakampyo balavān saṃkramaḥ sumahādṛḍhaḥ | kāñcanairbahubhiḥ stambhairvedikābhiśca śobhitaḥ || 3.18 ||

One causeway alone is unshakable, mighty and exceedingly firm, adorned with numerous golden pillars and platforms.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.3.19)

स्वयं प्रकृतिमापन्नो युयुत्सू राम रावणः। उत्थितश्चाप्रमत्तश्च बलानामनुदर्शने ॥ 3.19 ॥

svayaṃ prakṛtimāpanno yuyutsū rāma rāvaṇaḥ | utthitaścāpramattaśca balānāmanudarśane || 3.19 ||

O Rama, Ravana himself, eager for war and possessed of all the resources of state, remains ever alert and vigilant in personally reviewing his forces.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.3.20)

लङ्का पुनर्निरालम्बा देवदुर्गा भयावहा। नादेयं पार्वतं वान्यं कृत्रिमं च चतुर्विधम् ॥ 3.20 ॥

laṅkā punarnirālambā devadurgā bhayāvahā | nādeyaṃ pārvataṃ vānyaṃ kṛtrimaṃ ca caturvidham || 3.20 ||

Lanka, moreover, is unassailable, a terror-inspiring citadel fit for the gods, defended fourfold -- by water, by mountain, by forest, and by artificial fortification.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.3.21)

स्थिता पारे समुद्रस्य दूरपारस्य राघव। नौपथश्चापि नास्त्यत्र निरुद्देशश्च सर्वतः ॥ 3.21 ॥

sthitā pāre samudrasya dūrapārasya rāghava | naupathaścāpi nāstyatra niruddeśaśca sarvataḥ || 3.21 ||

O Raghava, it lies on the far shore of that ocean whose further bank is remote; there is no route for ships there, and on every side the way is unknown.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.3.22)

शैलाग्रे रचिता दुर्गा सा पूर्देवपुरोपमा। वाजिवारणसम्पूर्णा लङ्का परमदुर्जया ॥ 3.22 ॥

śailāgre racitā durgā sā pūrdevapuropamā | vājivāraṇasampūrṇā laṅkā paramadurjayā || 3.22 ||

That citadel, built upon a mountain-peak, resembles the very city of the gods; Lanka is filled with horses and elephants, and is extremely hard to conquer.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.3.23)

परिखाश्च शतघ्न्यश्च यन्त्राणि विविधानि च। शोभयन्ति पुरीं लङ्कां रावणस्य दुरात्मनः ॥ 3.23 ॥

parikhāśca śataghnyaśca yantrāṇi vividhāni ca | śobhayanti purīṃ laṅkāṃ rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ || 3.23 ||

Moats, Shataghnis, and engines of every kind adorn the city of Lanka, belonging to the evil-minded Ravana.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.3.24)

अयुतं रक्षसामत्र पूर्वद्वारं समाश्रितम्। शूलहस्ता दुराधर्षाः सर्वे खड्गाग्रयोधिनः ॥ 3.24 ॥

ayutaṃ rakṣasāmatra pūrvadvāraṃ samāśritam | śūlahastā durādharṣāḥ sarve khaḍgāgrayodhinaḥ || 3.24 ||

Here, ten thousand rakshasas guard the eastern gate, all bearing spears in hand, formidable, and skilled in fighting with the sword's edge.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.3.25)

नियुतं रक्षसामत्र दक्षिणद्वारमाश्रितम्। चतुरङ्गेण सैन्येन योधास्तत्राप्यनुत्तमाः ॥ 3.25 ॥

niyutaṃ rakṣasāmatra dakṣiṇadvāramāśritam | caturaṅgeṇa sainyena yodhāstatrāpyanuttamāḥ || 3.25 ||

Here, a hundred thousand rakshasas guard the southern gate, together with a fourfold army; there too the warriors are unsurpassed.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.3.26)

प्रयुतं रक्षसामत्र पश्चिमद्वारमाश्रितम्। चर्मखड्गधराः सर्वे तथा सर्वास्त्रकोविदाः ॥ 3.26 ॥

prayutaṃ rakṣasāmatra paścimadvāramāśritam | carmakhaḍgadharāḥ sarve tathā sarvāstrakovidāḥ || 3.26 ||

Here, a million rakshasas guard the western gate, all bearing shields and swords, and skilled in every weapon.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.3.27)

न्यर्बुदं रक्षसामत्र उत्तरद्वारमाश्रितम्। रथिनश्चाश्ववाहाश्च कुलपुत्राः सुपूजिताः ॥ 3.27 ॥

nyarbudaṃ rakṣasāmatra uttaradvāramāśritam | rathinaścāśvavāhāśca kulaputrāḥ supūjitāḥ || 3.27 ||

Here, a hundred million rakshasas guard the northern gate -- charioteers and horsemen, sons of noble families, held in high honor.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.3.28)

शतशोऽथ सहस्राणि मध्यमं स्कन्धमाश्रिताः। यातुधाना दुराधर्षाः साग्रकोटिश्च रक्षसाम् ॥ 3.28 ॥

śataśo'tha sahasrāṇi madhyamaṃ skandhamāśritāḥ | yātudhānā durādharṣāḥ sāgrakoṭiśca rakṣasām || 3.28 ||

Besides these, hundreds of thousands of formidable rakshasas are stationed at the central division -- their total number exceeding a full crore.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.3.29)

ते मया संक्रमा भग्नाः परिखाश्चावपूरिताः। दग्धा च नगरी लङ्का प्राकाराश्चावसादिताः। बलैकदेशः क्षपितो राक्षसानां महात्मनाम् ॥ 3.29 ॥

te mayā saṃkramā bhagnāḥ parikhāścāvapūritāḥ | dagdhā ca nagarī laṅkā prākārāścāvasāditāḥ | balaikadeśaḥ kṣapito rākṣasānāṃ mahātmanām || 3.29 ||

Those causeways were broken by me, and the moats filled in; the city of Lanka was set ablaze, and its ramparts brought down; a portion of the army of those mighty rakshasas was also destroyed.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.3.30)

येन केन तु मार्गेण तराम वरुणालयम्। हतेति नगरी लङ्का वानरैरुपधार्यताम् ॥ 3.30 ॥

yena kena tu mārgeṇa tarāma varuṇālayam | hateti nagarī laṅkā vānarairupadhāryatām || 3.30 ||

By whatever means, let us cross this ocean; then let it be taken as certain, by the monkeys, that the city of Lanka is as good as destroyed.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.3.31)

अङ्गदो द्विविदो मैन्दो जाम्बवान् पनसो नलः। नीलः सेनापतिश्चैव बलशेषेण किं तव ॥ 3.31 ॥

aṅgado dvivido maindo jāmbavān panaso nalaḥ | nīlaḥ senāpatiścaiva balaśeṣeṇa kiṃ tava || 3.31 ||

Angada, Dvivida, Mainda, Jambavan, Panasa, Nala, and Nila the commander-in-chief -- these alone suffice; what need have you of the rest of the army?

Shloka 32 (yuddha.3.32)

प्लवमाना हि गत्वा तां रावणस्य महापुरीम्। सपर्वतवनां भित्त्वा सखातां च सतोरणाम्। सप्राकारां सभवनामानयिष्यन्ति राघव ॥ 3.32 ॥

plavamānā hi gatvā tāṃ rāvaṇasya mahāpurīm | saparvatavanāṃ bhittvā sakhātāṃ ca satoraṇām | saprākārāṃ sabhavanāmānayiṣyanti rāghava || 3.32 ||

O Raghava, leaping their way to that great city of Ravana, and breaching it -- with its mountains and groves, its moats and archways, its ramparts and mansions -- they will bring her back to you.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.3.33)

एवमाज्ञापय क्षिप्रं बलानां सर्वसंग्रहम्। मुहूर्तेन तु युक्तेन प्रस्थानमभिरोचय ॥ 3.33 ॥

evamājñāpaya kṣipraṃ balānāṃ sarvasaṃgraham | muhūrtena tu yuktena prasthānamabhirocaya || 3.33 ||

So give the order swiftly for the full mustering of the forces, and resolve upon setting out at the auspicious hour.