राक्षसीभिः परिवृतावैदेही शोककशिंता। सेव्यमाना त्रिजटया तत्रैव न्यवसत्तदा
Surrounded by rākṣasīs, Vaidehī, tormented by grief and anxiety, was attended by Trijaṭā and remained there at that time.
राघवः सहसौमित्रिः सुग्रीवेणाभिपालितः। वसनमाल्यवतः पृष्ठे ददर्श विमलं नभः
Rāghava, with Saumitri, guarded by Sugrīva, saw the clear sky from the slopes of Mount Mālyavat.
सदृष्ट्वाविमले व्योम्नि निर्मलं शसलक्षणम्। ग्रहनक्षत्रताराभिरनुयान्तममित्रहा
Seeing the spotless moon in the clear sky, followed by planets, stars, and constellations, the destroyer of foes gazed upward.
कुमुदोत्पलपद्मानां गन्धमादाय वायुना। महीधरस्थः शीतेन सहसाप्रतिबोधितः
The wind, carrying the fragrance of lotuses, blue lilies, and red lotuses, suddenly awakened him with its coolness as he stood upon the mountain.
प्रभाते लक्ष्मणं वीरमभ्यभाषत दुर्मनाः। सीतां संस्मृत् यधर्मात्मा रुद्धां राक्षसवेश्मनि
At dawn, troubled in mind, he spoke to the heroic Lakshmana, remembering Sita, the virtuous one, held captive in the house of the rakshasa.
गच्छ लक्ष्मण जानीहि किष्किंदायां कपीश्वरम्। प्रमत्तं ग्राम्यधर्मेषु कृतघ्नं स्वार्थपण्डितम्
Go, Lakshmana, and find the lord of the monkeys in Kishkindha—he who is careless in worldly duties, ungrateful, and clever only for his own gain.
योसौ कुलाधमो मूढो मया राज्येऽभिषेचितः। सर्ववानरगोपुच्छा यमृक्षाश्च भजन्ति वै
That base and foolish one of his lineage, whom I installed in the kingdom, is served by all the monkeys, the tail-bearing ones, and the bears as well.
यदर्थं निहतो बाली मया रघुकुलोद्वह। त्वया सहमहाबाहो किष्किन्धोपवने तदा
For whose sake Bali was slain by me, O best of the Raghu line, together with you, mighty-armed one, in the outskirts of Kishkindha at that time—
कृतघ्नं तमहं मन्ये वानरापशदं भुवि। यो मामेवंगतो मूढो न जानीतेऽद्य लक्ष्मण
I consider him ungrateful, a disgrace among monkeys on earth, who, in his delusion, does not recognize me in this situation, O Lakshmana.
असौ मन्ये न जानीते समयप्रतिपालनम्। कृतोपकारं मां नूनमवमत्याल्पया धिया
I think he does not understand the keeping of agreements; surely, with his small mind, he disregards me, his benefactor.
यदितावदनुद्युक्तः शेते कामसुखात्मकः। नेतव्यो वालिमार्गेण सर्वभूतगतिं त्वया
If he, still unprepared, lies indulging in pleasures, you must make him follow the path of Vali, along with all living beings.
अथापि घटतेऽस्माकमर्ते वानरपुङ्गवः। तमादायैव काकुत्स्थ त्वरावान्भव माचिरम्
But if, for our sake, the foremost of monkeys is striving, then, O descendant of Kakutstha, bring him here quickly without delay.
इत्युक्तो लक्ष्मणो भ्रात्रा गुरुवाक्यहिते रतः। प्रतस्थे रुचिरं गृह्य समार्गणगुणं धनुः
Thus addressed by his brother, who was devoted to the words of elders, Lakshmana set out, taking his splendid bow fitted with arrows.
किष्किन्धाद्वारमासाद्यप्रविवेशानिवारितः। सक्रोध इतितं मत्वाराजा प्रत्युद्ययौ हरिः
Reaching the gate of Kishkindha, he entered unhindered; the monkey king, understanding his intent and anger, came out to meet him.
तं सदारोविनीतात्मा सुग्रीवः प्लवगाधिपः। पूजया प्रतिजग्राह प्रीयमाणस्तदर्हया
Sugriva, the lord of monkeys, humble in spirit and with his wife, received him with honor, delighted and as was proper.
तमब्रवीद्रामवचः सौमित्रिरकुतोभयः। स तत्सर्वमशेषेण श्रुत्वा प्रह्वः कृताञ्जलिः
Saumitri, fearless, spoke Rama’s words to him; hearing all of it in full, he bowed with joined palms.
सभृत्यदारो राजेन्द्रसुग्रीवो वानराधिपः। इदमाह वचः प्रीतो लक्ष्मणं नरकुञ्जरम्
The monkey king Sugriva, with his attendants and wife, pleased, spoke these words to Lakshmana, the elephant among men.
नास्मि लक्ष्मण दुर्मेधा नाकृतज्ञो न निर्घृणः। श्रूयतां यः प्रयत्नो मे सीतापर्येषणे कृतः
Lakshmana, I am not evil-minded, ungrateful, or hard-hearted; listen to the effort I have made in searching for Sita.
दिशः प्रस्थापिताः सर्वेविनीता हरयो मया। सर्वेषां च कृतः कालो मासेऽभ्यागमने पुनः
All the disciplined monkeys have been sent out by me in every direction, and a time of one month has been set for all to return.
यैरियं सवना साद्रिः सपुरा सागराम्बरा। विचेतव्या मही वीर सग्रामनगराकरा
By them, this earth—together with its forests, mountains, cities, and the ocean’s expanse—must be searched, O hero, including villages, towns, and mines.
स मासः पञ्चरात्रेण पूर्णो भवितुमर्हति। ततः श्रोष्यसि रामेण सहितः सुमहत्प्रियम्
That month should be completed within five nights; then you will hear, together with Rama, exceedingly good news.
इत्युक्तो लक्ष्मणत्तेन कवानरेनद्रेण धीमता। त्यक्त्वारोषमदीनात्मा सुग्रीवं प्रत्यपूजयत्
Thus addressed by that wise monkey king, Lakshmana, his anger abandoned and his spirit undepressed, honored Sugriva in return.
सरामं सहसुग्रीवो माल्यवत्पुष्ठमास्थितम्। भिगम्योदयं तस्य कार्यस्य प्रत्यवेदयत्
Sugriva, together with Saramā, stationed himself on the flourishing peak of Mālyavat, and after approaching, reported the progress of the task.
इत्येवंवानरेनद्रास्ते समाजन्मुः सहस्रशः। दिशस्तिस्रो विचित्याथ न तु ये दक्षिणां गताः
Thus, thousands of monkeys assembled there, having searched three directions, except for those who had gone to the south.
आचख्युस्तत्र रामाय महीं सागरमेखलाम्। विचितां न तु वैदेह्या दर्शनं रावणस् वा
They reported to Rāma that the earth girdled by the ocean had been searched, but neither Sītā was seen nor Rāvaṇa.
गतास्तु दक्षिणामाशां ये वै वानरपुङ्गवाः। आशावांस्तेषु काकुत्स्थः प्राणानार्तोऽभ्यधारयत्
But as for those foremost monkeys who had gone to the southern quarter, Kākutstha, afflicted for his life, held on to hope in them.
द्विमासोपरमे काले व्यतीते प्लवगास्ततः। सुग्रीवमभिगम्येदं त्वरिता वाक्यमब्रुवन्
After two full months had passed, those monkeys quickly approached Sugriva and spoke these words.
रक्षितंवालिना यत्तत्स्फीतं मधुवनं महत्। त्वया च प्लवगश्रेष्ठ तद्भुङ्क्ते पवनात्मजः
That great and abundant Madhuvana, once guarded by Vāli and by you, O best of monkeys, is now being enjoyed by the son of the wind.
वालिपुत्रोऽङ्गदश्चैव ये चान्ये प्लवगर्षभाः। विचेतुं दक्षिणामाशां राजन्प्रस्थापितास्त्वया
Angada, son of Vāli, and the other foremost monkeys whom you, O king, had sent to search the southern quarter—
तेषामपनयं श्रुत्वा मेने सकृतकृत्यताम्। कृतार्थानां हि भृत्यानामेतद्भवति चेष्टितम्
Hearing of their transgression, he considered them to have accomplished their task; for such is the conduct of servants who have succeeded.