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.
ततः सुषेणप्रमुखाः प्लवङ्गाः सुग्रीववाक्यं निपुणं निशम्य। आमन्त्र्य सर्वे प्लवगाधिपं ते जग्मुर्दिशं तां वरुणाभिगुप्ताम्
Then the monkeys, led by Suṣeṇa, having attentively heard Sugrīva’s careful words, saluted the lord of monkeys and set out for that region protected by Varuṇa.
thumb|त्रिचत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे किष्किन्धाकाण्डे त्रिचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥४-
Let the forty-third chapter be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa.
ततः संदिश्य सुग्रीवः श्वशुरं पश्चिमां दिशम्। वीरं शतबलिं नाम वानरं वानरेश्वरः
Then Sugrīva, having instructed his father-in-law, sent the heroic monkey named Śatabali towards the western direction.
उवाच राजा सर्वज्ञः सर्ववानरसत्तमः। वाक्यमात्महितं चैव रामस्य च हितं तदा
The king, all-knowing and foremost among all monkeys, spoke words beneficial to himself and to Rāma at that time.
वृतः शतसहस्रेण त्वद्विधानां वनौकसाम्। वैवस्वतसुतैः सार्धं प्रविष्टः सर्वमन्त्रिभिः
Accompanied by a hundred thousand forest-dwelling monkeys like yourself, and together with the sons of Vaivasvata, he entered with all his ministers.
दिशं ह्युदीचीं विक्रान्तां हिमशैलावतंसिकाम्। सर्वतः परिमार्गध्वं रामपत्नीं यशस्विनीम्
Search in every direction the mighty northern quarter, adorned with the Himalayan mountains, for Rama's illustrious wife.
अस्मिन् कार्ये विनिर्वृत्ते कृते दाशरथेः प्रिये। ऋणान्मुक्ता भविष्यामः कृतार्थार्थविदां वराः
When this task is accomplished and the beloved of Dasharatha's son is found, we shall be freed from our debts and be foremost among those who fulfill their purpose.
कृतं हि प्रियमस्माकं राघवेण महात्मना। तस्य चेत्प्रतिकारोऽस्ति सफलं जीवितं भवेत्
For the great-souled Raghava has done us a great favor; if we can repay him, our lives will have borne fruit.
अर्थिनः कार्यनिर्वृत्तिमकर्तुरपि यश्चरेत्। तस्य स्यात् सफलं जन्म किं पुनः पूर्वकारिणः
If one fulfills the wish of a supplicant, even if that person has done nothing for him, his birth is fruitful—how much more so when repaying a previous benefactor.
एतां बुद्धिं समास्थाय दृश्यते जानकी यथा। तथा भवद्भिः कर्तव्यमस्मत्प्रियहितैषिभिः
Holding firmly to this resolve, you who seek what is dear and beneficial to us must act so that Janaki may be found.
अयं हि सर्वभूतानां मान्यस्तु नरसत्तमः। अस्मासु च गतः प्रीतिं रामः परपुरंजयः
For Rama, the conqueror of enemy cities, is honored by all beings and has won our affection.
इमानि बहुदुर्गाणि नद्यः शैलान्तराणि च। भवन्तः परिमार्गन्तु बुद्धिविक्रमसम्पदा
You must search through these many difficult regions—rivers and mountain ranges—using your intelligence, courage, and resources.
तत्र म्लेच्छान् पुलिन्दांश्च शूरसेनांस्तथैव च। प्रस्थलान् भरतांश्चैव कुरूंश्च सह मद्रकैः
There, examine the lands of the Mlecchas, Pulindas, Shurasenas, Prasthalas, Bharatas, Kurus, and Madrakas.
काम्बोजयवनांश्चैव शकानां पत्तनानि च। अन्वीक्ष्य दरदांश्चैव हिमवन्तं विचिन्वथ
Investigate also the Kambojas, Yavanas, and the cities of the Shakas; after that, search the Daradas and the Himalaya.
लोध्रपद्मकषण्डेषु देवदारुवनेषु च। रावणः सह वैदेह्या मार्गितव्यस्ततस्ततः
In the groves of lodhra and padmaka trees, and in the forests of deodar, Ravana together with Vaidehi must be sought everywhere.
ततः सोमाश्रमं गत्वा देवगन्धर्वसेवितम्। कालं नाम महासानुं पर्वतं तं गमिष्यथ
Then, reaching the hermitage of Soma, frequented by gods and gandharvas, you shall go to the great mountain called Kala.
महत्सु तस्य शैलेषु पर्वतेषु गुहासु च। विचिन्वत महाभागां रामपत्नीमनिन्दिताम्
On the vast slopes and in the caves of that mountain, search for Rama's blameless wife, O noble ones.
तमतिक्रम्य शैलेन्द्रं हेमगर्भं महागिरिम्। ततः सुदर्शनं नाम पर्वतं गन्तुमर्हथ
Passing beyond that lord of mountains, the great golden-peaked mountain, you should then proceed to the mountain called Sudarshana.
ततो देवसखो नाम पर्वतः पतगालयः। नानापक्षिसमाकीर्णो विविधद्रुमभूषितः
After that is the mountain named Devasakha, the abode of birds, crowded with many kinds of birds and adorned with various trees.
तस्य काननषण्डेषु निर्झरेषु गुहासु च। रावणः सह वैदेह्या मार्गितव्यस्ततस्ततः
In the groves, waterfalls, and caves of that mountain, Ravana together with Vaidehi must be sought everywhere.