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.'
गत्वा सुमहदध्वानमादित्यस् प्रभां ततः। दृष्टवन्तः स्म तत्रैवभवनं दिव्यमन्तरा
After traversing a vast distance, we beheld the radiance of the sun, and there, we saw a celestial dwelling.
गयस् किल दैत्यस् तदा सद्वेश्म राघव। तत्रप्रभावती नाम तपोऽतप्यत तापसी
It is said that Gaya, a Daitya, once had that splendid house, O Raghava; and there, a woman ascetic named Prabhavati practiced austerities.
तया दत्तानि भोज्यानिपानानिविविधानि च। भुकत्वा लब्धबलाः सन्तस्तयोक्तेन पथा ततः
She gave us various foods and drinks; having eaten and regained strength, we proceeded by the path she indicated.
निर्याय तस्मादुद्देशात्पश्यामो लवणाम्भसः। समीपे सह्यमलयौ दर्दुरं च महागिरिम्
Departing from that place, we saw, near the salty waters, the Sahya and Malaya mountains, and the great mountain Dardura.
ततो मलयमारुह्य पश्यन्तो वरुणालयम्। कविषण्णा व्यथिताः खिन्ना निराशा जीविते भृशम्
Then, ascending Malaya, we gazed upon Varuna's abode, and, disheartened and weary, we lost hope for our lives.
अनेकशतविस्तीर्णं योजनानां महोदधिम्। तिमिनक्रझषावासं चिन्तयन्तः सुदुःखिताः
Contemplating the vast ocean, stretching hundreds of yojanas, inhabited by whales, crocodiles, and fish, we were deeply troubled.
तत्रानशनसंकल्पं कृत्वाऽऽसीना वयं तदा। ततः कथान्ते गृध्रस्य जटायोरभवत्कथा
There, having resolved to fast, we sat; and at the end of our conversation, a tale about the vulture Jatayu arose.
ततः पर्वतशृङ्गाभं घोररूपं भयावहम्। पक्षिणं दृष्टवन्तः स्म वैनतियेमिवापरम्
Then, we saw a bird, terrifying in form, resembling a mountain peak, awe-inspiring and fearsome, like another Garuda.
सोऽस्मानतर्कयद्भोक्तुमथाभ्येत्य वचोऽब्रवीत्। भोः क एष मम भ्रातुर्जटायोः कुरुते कथाम्
He approached us, intending to devour, and spoke: 'Who is it that speaks of my brother Jatayu?'
संपातिर्नाम तस्याहं ज्येष्ठो भ्राता खगाधिपः। अन्योन्यस्पर्धया रूढावावामदित्यसत्पदम्
I am Sampati, his elder brother, lord of birds; through mutual rivalry, we soared and reached the sun's realm.
ततो दग्धाविमौ पक्षौ न दग्धौ तु जटायुषः। तस्मान्मे चिरदृष्टः स भ्राता गृध्रपतः प्रियः
Then, my wings were burned, but Jatayu's were not; thus, my dear brother, the king of vultures, has not been seen for a long time.
निर्दग्धपक्षः पतितो ह्यहमस्मिन्महागिरौ। `द्रष्टुं वीरं न शक्नोमि भ्रातरं वै जटायुषम्
With my wings burned, I fell upon this great mountain; I am unable to see my heroic brother Jatayu.
तस्यैवं वदतोऽस्माभिर्हतो भ्राता निवेदितः। व्यसनं भवतश्चेदं संक्षेपाद्वै निवेदितम्
As he spoke thus, we informed him that his brother had been slain; we briefly conveyed his misfortune.
स सम्पातिस्तदा राजञ्श्रुत्वासुमहदप्रियम्। विषण्णचेताः पप्रच्छ पुनरस्मानरिंदम
Then Sampati, O King, hearing that grievous news, his heart afflicted, questioned us again, O destroyer of foes.
कः सरामः कथं सीता जटायुश्च कथं हतः। इच्छामि सर्वमेवैतच्छ्रोतुं प्लवगसत्तमाः
Who is Rama? How was Sita taken? And how was Jatayu slain? I wish to hear all this, O foremost among monkeys.
तस्याहं सर्वमेवैतद्भवतो व्यसनागमम्। प्रायोपवेशने चैवहेतुं विस्तरशोऽब्रुवम्
I told him everything about your misfortune, and explained in detail the reason for our vow to fast unto death.
सोऽस्मानाश्वासयामास वाक्येनानेन पक्षिराट्। रावणो विदितो मह्यं लङ्का चास्य महापुरी
The king of birds comforted us with these words: 'I know Ravana, and Lanka, his great city.'
दृष्टापारे समुद्रस्य त्रिकूटगिरिकन्दरे। भवित्री तत्र वैदेही न रमेऽस्त्यत्रविचारणा
I have seen, across the ocean, in the cave of Trikuta mountain, Vaidehi will be found there; there is no doubt about it.
इतितस्य वचः श्रुत्वा वयमुत्थाय सत्वराः। सागरक्रमणे मन्त्रं मन्त्रयामः परंतप
Hearing these words, we rose quickly and deliberated on a plan for crossing the ocean, O scorcher of foes.
नाध्यवास्यद्यदा कश्चित्सागरस्य विलङ्घनम्। ततः पितरमाविश्य पुप्लुवेऽहंमहार्णवम्। शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं निहत्य जलराक्षसीम्
When no one was able to undertake the crossing of the ocean, then, entering my father, I leapt into the great sea, a hundred yojanas wide, defeating the water-demons.