शैलाभं मेघनिर्घोषमूर्जितं प्लवगेश्वरम्। सोमसूर्यनिभैः सार्धं वानरैर्वानरोत्तम
O best of monkeys, summon the mighty Vinata, whose roar is like thunderclouds, resembling a mountain, together with monkeys shining like the moon and sun.
देशकालनयैर्युक्तो विज्ञः कार्यविनिश्चये। वृतः शतसहस्रेण वानराणां तरस्विनाम्
He is skilled in discerning time, place, and strategy, and in deciding tasks; let him be accompanied by a hundred thousand swift monkeys.
अधिगच्छ दिशं पूर्वां सशैलवनकाननाम्। तत्र सीतां च वैदेहीं निलयं रावणस्य च
Go to the eastern quarter, with its mountains, forests, and groves; there, seek Sita, daughter of Videha, and the dwelling of Ravana.
मार्गध्वं गिरिदुर्गेषु वनेषु च नदीषु च। नदीं भागीरथीं रम्यां सरयूं कौशिकीं तथा
Search in the mountain strongholds, in the forests, and along the rivers; the lovely Bhagirathi, the Sarayu, and also the Kaushiki.
कालिन्दीं यमुनां रम्यां यामुनं च महागिरिम्। सरस्वतीं च सिन्धुं च शोणं मणिनिभोदकम्
The beautiful Kalindi, the Yamuna, the great mountain of Yamuna, the Sarasvati, the Sindhu, and the Shona with water shining like jewels.
महीं कालमहीं चापि शैलकाननशोभिताम्। ब्रह्ममालान् विदेहांश्च मालवान् काशिकोसलान्
The land of Kalinga, and also the land adorned with mountains and forests; Brahmamala, Videha, Malava, Kashi, and Kosala.
मागधांश्च महाग्रामान् पुण्ड्रांस्त्वङ्गांस्तथैव च। भूमिं च कोशकाराणां भूमिं च रजताकराम्
The great villages of Magadha, and likewise the Pundras and Angas; the land of the weavers and the land rich in silver mines.
सर्वं च तद् विचेतव्यं मार्गयद्भिस्ततस्ततः। रामस्य दयितां भार्यां सीतां दशरथस्नुषाम्
All of that must be thoroughly searched by those seeking in every direction for Sita, the beloved wife of Rama, the daughter-in-law of Dasharatha.
समुद्रमवगाढांश्च पर्वतान् पत्तनानि च। मन्दरस्य च ये कोटिं संश्रिताः केचिदालयाः
Also, the mountains that descend into the ocean, the cities, and those dwellings that are established on the peaks of Mandara.
कर्णप्रावरणाश्चैव तथा चाप्योष्ठकर्णकाः। घोरलोहमुखाश्चैव जवनाश्चैकपादकाः
Those who cover their ears, those with lips as ears, those with terrifying iron mouths, the swift-footed, and the one-footed people.
अक्षया बलवन्तश्च तथैव पुरुषादकाः। किरातास्तीक्ष्णचूडाश्च हेमाभाः प्रियदर्शनाः
The inexhaustible and powerful ones, and also the man-eaters; the Kiratas with sharp crests, golden in appearance and pleasing to behold.
आममीनाशनाश्चापि किराता द्वीपवासिनः। अन्तर्जलचरा घोरा नरव्याघ्रा इति स्मृताः
The Kiratas who eat raw fish, the island-dwellers, the fierce water-dwellers known as human tigers.
एतेषामाश्रयाः सर्वे विचेयाः काननौकसः। गिरिभिर्ये च गम्यन्ते प्लवनेन प्लवेन च
All the forest-dwellers who take refuge among these, and those who are reached by mountains, by swimming, or by boats, must be searched.
यत्नवन्तो यवद्वीपं सप्तराजोपशोभितम्। सुवर्णरूप्यकद्वीपं सुवर्णाकरमण्डितम्
With effort, search as far as Yavadvipa, adorned by seven kings, the island of gold and silver, decorated with gold mines.
यवद्वीपमतिक्रम्य शिशिरो नाम पर्वतः। दिवं स्पृशति शृङ्गेण देवदानवसेवितः
Beyond Yavadvipa stands the mountain called Shishira, whose peak touches the sky, attended by gods and danavas.
एतेषां गिरिदुर्गेषु प्रपातेषु वनेषु च। मार्गध्वं सहिताः सर्वे रामपत्नीं यशस्विनीम्
In all the mountain strongholds, precipices, and forests among these, all of you together must search for Rama’s illustrious wife.
ततो रक्तजलं प्राप्य शोणाख्यं शीघ्रवाहिनम्। गत्वा पारं समुद्रस्य सिद्धचारणसेवितम्
Then, reaching the river Shona with red waters, swift-flowing, and crossing to the far shore of the ocean frequented by siddhas and charanas.
तस्य तीर्थेषु रम्येषु विचित्रेषु वनेषु च। रावणः सह वैदेह्या मार्गितव्यस्ततस्ततः
On its beautiful fords and in its wondrous forests, Ravana together with Vaidehi must be sought everywhere.
पर्वतप्रभवा नद्यः सुभीमबहुनिष्कुटाः। मार्गितव्या दरीमन्तः पर्वताश्च वनानि च
The rivers arising from mountains, with their many dreadful ravines, must be searched, as well as the caves within the mountains and the forests.
ततः समुद्रद्वीपांश्च सुभीमान् द्रष्टुमर्हथ। ऊर्मिमन्तं महारौद्रं क्रोशन्तमनिलोद्धतम्
After that, you must behold the islands of the ocean, terrifying, wavy, exceedingly fierce, roaring, and agitated by the wind.
तत्रासुरा महाकायाश्छायां गृह्णन्ति नित्यशः। ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञाता दीर्घकालं बुभुक्षिताः
There, great-bodied asuras constantly seize shadows, permitted by Brahma, long famished.
तं कालमेघप्रतिमं महोरगनिषेवितम्। अभिगम्य महानादं तीर्थेनैव महोदधिम्
Approaching that ocean, vast and roaring, resembling a dark rain cloud and frequented by great serpents, you will reach the sacred waters.
ततो रक्तजलं भीमं लोहितं नाम सागरम्। गत्वा प्रेक्ष्यथ तां चैव बृहतीं कूटशाल्मलीम्
Then, having gone to the dreadful ocean called Lohita, whose waters are red as blood, you will see the great and towering Kuta-Shalmali tree.
तत्र शैलनिभा भीमा मन्देहा नाम राक्षसाः। शैलशृङ्गेषु लम्बन्ते नानारूपा भयावहाः
There, terrifying demons known as Mandehas, resembling mountains, hang from the mountain peaks in various fearsome forms.
ते पतन्ति जले नित्यं सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति। अभितप्ताः स्म सूर्येण लम्बन्ते स्म पुनः पुनः
They fall into the water every day as the sun rises, scorched by the sun, and again and again they hang suspended.
निहता ब्रह्मतेजोभिरहन्यहनि राक्षसाः। ततः पाण्डुरमेघाभं क्षीरोदं नाम सागरम्
These demons are destroyed day after day by the radiance of Brahma; then you will see the ocean called Kshiroda, white as pale clouds.
गत्वा द्रक्ष्यथ दुर्धर्षा मुक्ताहारमिवोर्मिभिः। तस्य मध्ये महान् श्वेतो ऋषभो नाम पर्वतः
Having reached it, you will see the formidable ocean, adorned with waves like a garland of pearls; in its midst stands the great white mountain called Rishabha.
दिव्यगन्धैः कुसुमितैराचितैश्च नगैर्वृतः। सरश्च राजतैः पद्मैर्ज्वलितैर्हेमकेसरैः
It is surrounded by mountains covered with divine, fragrant blossoms, and there is a lake filled with radiant lotuses with golden filaments.
नाम्ना सुदर्शनं नाम राजहंसैः समाकुलम्। विबुधाश्चारणा यक्षाः किंनराश्चाप्सरोगणाः
That lake, called Sudarshana, is crowded with royal swans; gods, celestial bards, yakshas, kinnaras, and groups of apsaras gather there.
हृष्टाः समधिगच्छन्ति नलिनीं तां रिरंसवः। क्षीरोदं समतिक्रम्य तदा द्रक्ष्यथ वानराः
Joyful, they come to that lotus-filled lake, desiring its beauty; after crossing the Kshiroda ocean, O vanaras, you will then see—