चतुर्भागे समुद्रस्य चक्रवान् नाम पर्वतः। तत्र चक्रं सहस्रारं निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा
At a quarter of the ocean stands a mountain called Cakravān, where a thousand-spoked wheel was fashioned by Viśvakarman.
तत्र पञ्चजनं हत्वा हयग्रीवं च दानवम्। आजहार ततश्चक्रं शङ्खं च पुरुषोत्तमः
There, after slaying the demon Pañcajana and Hayagrīva, the Supreme Person took the wheel and the conch.
तस्य सानुषु रम्येषु विशालासु गुहासु च। रावणः सह वैदेह्या मार्गितव्यस्ततस्ततः
On its delightful slopes and in its vast caves, Rāvaṇa together with Sītā must be sought out in every direction.
योजनानि चतुःषष्टिर्वराहो नाम पर्वतः। सुवर्णशृङ्गः सुमहानगाधे वरुणालये
Sixty-four yojanas further stands a great mountain named Varāha, with golden peaks, immense, and deep within the domain of Varuṇa.
तत्र प्राग्ज्योतिषं नाम जातरूपमयं पुरम्। यस्मिन् वसति दुष्टात्मा नरको नाम दानवः
There is a city called Prāgjyotiṣa, made entirely of gold, where the evil-minded demon Naraka resides.
तत्र सानुषु रम्येषु विशालासु गुहासु च। रावणः सह वैदेह्या मार्गितव्यस्ततस्ततः
On its pleasant slopes and in its vast caves, Rāvaṇa together with Sītā must be searched for in every direction.
तमतिक्रम्य शैलेन्द्रं काञ्चनान्तरदर्शनम्। पर्वतः सर्वसौवर्णो धाराप्रस्रवणायुतः
Beyond that lordly mountain, which displays golden interiors, is a mountain entirely of gold, with countless streams cascading down.
तं गजाश्च वराहाश्च सिंहा व्याघ्राश्च सर्वतः। अभिगर्जन्ति सततं तेन शब्देन दर्पिताः
There, elephants, boars, lions, and tigers roar on all sides, constantly exulting in their own sound.
यस्मिन् हरिहयः श्रीमान् महेन्द्रः पाकशासनः। अभिषिक्तः सुरै राजा मेघो नाम स पर्वतः
On that mountain, the illustrious Indra, lord of the gods and slayer of Vṛtra, was anointed king by the gods; that mountain is called Megha.
तमतिक्रम्य शैलेन्द्रं महेन्द्रपरिपालितम्। षष्टिं गिरिसहस्राणि काञ्चनानि गमिष्यथ
Beyond that lordly mountain, protected by Mahendra, you will come to sixty thousand golden mountains.
तरुणादित्यवर्णानि भ्राजमानानि सर्वतः। जातरूपमयैर्वृक्षैः शोभितानि सुपुष्पितैः
Radiant on all sides with the color of the rising sun, they are adorned with blossoming trees made entirely of gold.
तेषां मध्ये स्थितो राजा मेरुरुत्तमपर्वतः। आदित्येन प्रसन्नेन शैलो दत्तवरः पुरा
In the midst of them stands king Meru, the supreme mountain, who long ago received a boon from the gracious Sun.
तेनैवमुक्तः शैलेन्द्रः सर्व एव त्वदाश्रयाः। मत्प्रसादाद् भविष्यन्ति दिवा रात्रौ च काञ्चनाः
Thus addressed by the Sun, the lord of mountains was told: 'All who depend on you will, by my grace, be golden both by day and by night.'
त्वयि ये चापि वत्स्यन्ति देवगन्धर्वदानवाः। ते भविष्यन्ति भक्ताश्च प्रभया काञ्चनप्रभाः
And those gods, gandharvas, and demons who dwell upon you will become devoted and radiant with a golden glow.
विश्वेदेवाश्च वसवो मरुतश्च दिवौकसः। आगत्य पश्चिमां संध्यां मेरुमुत्तमपर्वतम्
The Viśvedevas, Vasus, Maruts, and the celestial beings, having come to the western twilight, approach Meru, the supreme mountain.
योजनानां सहस्राणि दश तानि दिवाकरः। मुहूर्तार्धेन तं शीघ्रमभियाति शिलोच्चयम्
The sun swiftly traverses those ten thousand yojanas to that mountain peak in half a muhūrta.
शृङ्गे तस्य महद्दिव्यं भवनं सूर्यसंनिभम्। प्रासादगणसम्बाधं विहितं विश्वकर्मणा
On its summit is a great and divine palace, radiant like the sun, crowded with mansions, constructed by Viśvakarman.
शोभितं तरुभिश्चित्रैर्नानापक्षिसमाकुलैः। निकेतं पाशहस्तस्य वरुणस्य महात्मनः
Adorned with various trees, teeming with many kinds of birds, is the splendid abode of the great-souled Varuṇa, who holds the noose.
अन्तरा मेरुमस्तं च तालो दशशिरा महान्। जातरूपमयः श्रीमान् भ्राजते चित्रवेदिकः
Between Mount Meru and the setting place stands a great palm tree with ten trunks, resplendent, made of pure gold, with a wondrously decorated platform.
तेषु सर्वेषु दुर्गेषु सरस्सु च सरित्सु च। रावणः सह वैदेह्या मार्गितव्यस्ततस्ततः
In all those fortresses, lakes, and rivers, Rāvaṇa together with Vaidehī must be searched for, here and there.
यत्र तिष्ठति धर्मज्ञस्तपसा स्वेन भावितः। मेरुसावर्णिरित्येष ख्यातो वै ब्रह्मणा समः
There dwells the knower of righteousness, purified by his own austerity, renowned as Merusāvarṇi, equal to Brahmā.
प्रष्टव्यो मेरुसावर्णिर्महर्षिः सूर्यसंनिभः। प्रणम्य शिरसा भूमौ प्रवृत्तिं मैथिलीं प्रति
You should respectfully ask Merusāvarṇi, the great sage radiant like the sun, bowing your heads to the ground, for news concerning Maithilī.
एतावज्जीवलोकस्य भास्करो रजनीक्षये। कृत्वा वितिमिरं सर्वमस्तं गच्छति पर्वतम्
Up to this point, the sun, at the end of the night, after dispelling all darkness, sets upon the mountain at the boundary of the world of living beings.
एतावद् वानरैः शक्यं गन्तुं वानरपुङ्गवाः। अभास्करममर्यादं न जानीमस्ततः परम्
Up to this place, O foremost of monkeys, it is possible for you to go; beyond this, which is sunless and without bounds, we do not know.
अवगम्य तु वैदेहीं निलयं रावणस्य च। अस्तं पर्वतमासाद्य पूर्णे मासे निवर्तत
Having ascertained the whereabouts of Vaidehī and the dwelling of Rāvaṇa, and reaching the setting mountain, return within a full month.
ऊर्ध्वं मासान्न वस्तव्यं वसन् वध्यो भवेन्मम। सहैव शूरो युष्माभिः श्वशुरो मे गमिष्यति
Beyond a month you must not stay; if you remain, you will incur my punishment. Along with you, my valiant father-in-law will also depart.
श्रोतव्यं सर्वमेतस्य भवद्भिर्दिष्टकारिभिः। गुरुरेष महाबाहुः श्वशुरो मे महाबलः
All this must be listened to by you, who act as instructed; this mighty-armed one is your teacher, my father-in-law of great strength.
भवन्तश्चापि विक्रान्ताः प्रमाणं सर्व एव हि। प्रमाणमेनं संस्थाप्य पश्यध्वं पश्चिमां दिशम्
And you too are all valiant and reliable in every way; having established him as your measure, look towards the western direction.
दृष्टायां तु नरेन्द्रस्य पत्न्याममिततेजसः। कृतकृत्या भविष्यामः कृतस्य प्रतिकर्मणा
When the wife of the king of immeasurable splendor has been found, we shall have accomplished our task by fulfilling what was undertaken.
अतोऽन्यदपि यत्कार्यं कार्यस्यास्य प्रियं भवेत्। सम्प्रधार्य भवद्भिश्च देशकालार्थसंहितम्
If there is any other action that would be pleasing for this task, you should consider it, taking into account place, time, and purpose.