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.
स तद्रामाय मेधावी शशंस प्लवगर्षभः। रामश्चाप्यनुमानेन मेने दृष्टां तु मैथिलीम्
That wise chief of monkeys reported this to Rāma, and Rāma, by inference, believed that Sītā had indeed been found.
हनुमत्प्रमुखाश्चापि विश्रान्तास्ते प्लवङ्गमाः। अभिजग्मुर्हरीन्द्रं तं रामलक्ष्मणसन्निधौ
Then those monkeys, led by Hanuman, having rested, approached the lord of monkeys in the presence of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
गतिं च मुखवर्णं च दृष्ट्वारामो हनूमतः। अगमत्प्रत्ययं भूयो दृष्टा सीतेति भारत
Seeing Hanuman's gait and the expression on his face, Rāma, O Bhārata, became convinced once more that Sītā had been found.
हनूमत्प्रमुखास्ते तु वानराः पूर्णमानसाः। प्रणेमुर्विधिवद्रामं सुग्रीवं लक्ष्मणं तथा
Those monkeys, led by Hanuman, their hearts full, bowed properly to Rāma, Sugriva, and also to Lakṣmaṇa.
तानुवाचानतान्रामः प्रगृह्य सशरं धनुः। अपि मां जीवयिष्यध्वमपि वः कृतकृत्यता
Rāma, grasping his bow with arrows, addressed those who had bowed to him: 'Will you let me live? Have you accomplished your task?'
अपि राज्यमयोध्यायां कारयिष्याम्यहं पुनः। निहत्यसमरे शत्रूनाहृत्यजनकात्मजाम्
'Shall I restore the kingdom in Ayodhyā once more, after slaying the enemies in battle and bringing back the daughter of Janaka?'
अमोक्षयित्वावैदेहीमहत्वा च रणे रिपून्। हृतदारोऽवधूतश्चनाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे
'Unless I free Vaidehī and defeat the enemies in battle, how can I, bereft of my wife and dishonored, endure to live?'
इत्युक्तवचनं रामं प्रत्युवाचानिलात्मजः। प्रियमाख्यामि ते राम दृष्टा सा जानकी मया
When Rāma had spoken thus, the son of the wind replied: 'I bring you good news, Rāma—Sītā has been seen by me.'
विचित्य दक्षिणामाशां सपर्वतवनाकराम्। श्रान्ताः काले व्यतीते स्म दृष्टवन्तो महागुहां
'Having searched the southern quarter with its mountains, forests, and caves, we, exhausted after much time had passed, discovered a great cavern.'
प्रविशामो वयं तां तु बहुयोजनमायताम्। अन्धकारां सुविपिनां गहनां कीटसेविताम्
'We entered that cavern, vast in extent, dark, dense with forests, and inhabited by insects.'