दुर्दर्शमिव घोरं च दुर्विगाह्यं च सर्वशः। ततः पर्वतकूटाभो हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः
It appeared terrible, hard to see, and difficult to penetrate in every way; then Hanuman, son of the wind, resembling a mountain peak—
अब्रवीद् वानरान् घोरान् कान्तारवनकोविदः। गिरिजालावृतान् देशान् मार्गित्वा दक्षिणां दिशम्
That expert in wild forests addressed the monkeys, saying: 'Having searched the regions covered with mountain ranges in the southern direction—'
वयं सर्वे परिश्रान्ता न च पश्याम मैथिलीम्। अस्माच्चापि बिलाद्धंसाः क्रौञ्चाश्च सह सारसैः
'We are all exhausted and do not see Maithili; yet from this cave, swans, cranes, and sarasa birds emerge.'
जलार्द्राश्चक्रवाकाश्च निष्पतन्ति स्म सर्वशः। नूनं सलिलवानत्र कूपो वा यदि वा ह्रदः
Soaked with water, the chakravaka birds were flying out in every direction; surely there is water here, either a well or perhaps a pond.
तथा चेमे बिलद्वारे स्निग्धास्तिष्ठन्ति पादपाः। इत्युक्तास्तद् बिलं सर्वे विविशुस्तिमिरावृतम्
And at the entrance to this cave, lush trees stand; thus spoken, all entered that cave shrouded in darkness.
अचन्द्रसूर्यं हरयो ददृशू रोमहर्षणम्। निशाम्य तस्मात् सिंहांश्च तांस्तांश्च मृगपक्षिणः
The monkeys saw a place without moon or sun, causing their hair to stand on end; and from there, they observed lions and various wild animals and birds.
प्रविष्टा हरिशार्दूला बिलं तिमिरसंवृतम्। न तेषां सज्जते दृष्टिर्न तेजो न पराक्रमः
The tiger-like monkeys entered the cave enveloped in darkness; their sight did not function, nor their radiance or strength.
वायोरिव गतिस्तेषां दृष्टिस्तमसि वर्तते। ते प्रविष्टास्तु वेगेन तद् बिलं कपिकुञ्जराः
Their vision moved in the darkness as the wind moves; those monkey-elephants entered the cave swiftly.
प्रकाशं चाभिरामं च ददृशुर्देशमुत्तमम्। ततस्तस्मिन् बिले भीमे नानापादपसंकुले
They saw a bright and delightful region, excellent in every way; then, within that dreadful cave thick with various trees,
अन्योन्यं सम्परिष्वज्य जग्मुर्योजनमन्तरम्। ते नष्टसंज्ञास्तृषिताः सम्भ्रान्ताः सलिलार्थिनः
Embracing one another, they traveled a yojana's distance; faint, thirsty, and confused, seeking water.
परिपेतुर्बिले तस्मिन् कंचित् कालमतन्द्रिताः। ते कृशा दीनवदनाः परिश्रान्ताः प्लवङ्गमाः
They wandered in that cave for some time, tirelessly; the monkeys became thin, with weary faces, exhausted.
आलोकं ददृशुर्वीरा निराशा जीविते यदा। ततस्तं देशमागम्य सौम्या वितिमिरं वनम्
When the heroes, hopeless about their lives, saw light; then, reaching that place, gentle and free of darkness, a forest appeared.
ददृशुः काञ्चनान् वृक्षान् दीप्तवैश्वानरप्रभान्। सालांस्तालांस्तमालांश्च पुंनागान् वञ्जुलान् धवान्
They saw golden trees shining with the brilliance of blazing fire; sal, palmyra, tamala, punaga, vanjula, and dhava trees.
चम्पकान् नागवृक्षांश्च कर्णिकारांश्च पुष्पितान्। स्तबकैः काञ्चनैश्चित्रै रक्तैः किसलयैस्तथा
Champaka and naga trees, and blossoming karnikara trees; with clusters of golden flowers and varied red shoots.
आपीडैश्च लताभिश्च हेमाभरणभूषितान्। तरुणादित्यसंकाशान् वैदूर्यमयवेदिकान्
With crowns of vines adorned with golden ornaments; resembling the young sun, with platforms made of beryl.
बिभ्राजमानान् वपुषा पादपांश्च हिरण्मयान्। नीलवैदूर्यवर्णाश्च पद्मिनीः पतगैर्वृताः
Radiant in form, trees made of gold; lotuses of sapphire hue, surrounded by birds.
महद्भिः काञ्चनैर्वृक्षैर्वृता बालार्कसंनिभैः। जातरूपमयैर्मत्स्यैर्महद्भिश्चाथ पङ्कजैः
Surrounded by great golden trees, resembling the rising sun; with fish made of pure gold and large lotuses.
नलिनीस्तत्र ददृशुः प्रसन्नसलिलायुताः। काञ्चनानि विमानानि राजतानि तथैव च
There they saw lotus ponds filled with clear water; golden palaces and likewise silver ones.
तपनीयगवाक्षाणि मुक्ताजालावृतानि च। हैमराजतभौमानि वैदूर्यमणिमन्ति च
With windows of gold, covered with nets of pearls; floors of gold and silver, and adorned with beryl gems.
ददृशुस्तत्र हरयो गृहमुख्यानि सर्वशः। पुष्पितान् फलिनो वृक्षान् प्रवालमणिसंनिभान्
There the monkeys saw splendid houses everywhere; blossoming and fruit-laden trees, resembling coral and gems.
काञ्चनभ्रमरांश्चैव मधूनि च समन्ततः। मणिकाञ्चनचित्राणि शयनान्यासनानि च
Golden bees and honey all around; beds and seats decorated with gems and gold.
विविधानि विशालानि ददृशुस्ते समन्ततः। हैमराजतकांस्यानां भाजनानां च राशयः
They saw all around them various and vast heaps of vessels made of gold, silver, and bronze.
अगुरूणां च दिव्यानां चन्दनानां च संचयान्। शुचीन्यभ्यवहाराणि मूलानि च फलानि च
There were also stores of divine aloes and sandalwood, pure foods for eating, as well as roots and fruits.
महार्हाणि च यानानि मधूनि रसवन्ति च। दिव्यानामम्बराणां च महार्हाणां च संचयान्
They saw costly vehicles, sweet honey, and collections of divine and precious garments.
कम्बलानां च चित्राणामजिनानां च संचयान्। तत्र तत्र च विन्यस्तान् दीप्तान् वैश्वानरप्रभान्
There were piles of colorful blankets and animal skins, placed here and there, shining with the brilliance of fire.
ददृशुर्वानराः शुभ्राञ्जातरूपस्य संचयान्। तत्र तत्र विचिन्वन्तो बिले तत्र महाप्रभाः
The monkeys saw bright heaps of refined gold in various places as they searched through the splendid cave.
ददृशुर्वानराः शूराः स्त्रियं कांचिददूरतः। तां च ते ददृशुस्तत्र चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बराम्
The heroic monkeys saw a woman not far away, dressed in bark and black antelope skin.
तापसीं नियताहारां ज्वलन्तीमिव तेजसा। विस्मिता हरयस्तत्र व्यवतिष्ठन्त सर्वशः। पप्रच्छ हनुमांस्तत्र कासि त्वं कस्य वा बिलम्
She was an ascetic, disciplined in her diet, radiant as if blazing with energy; the monkeys, amazed, all stood still there. Hanuman then asked her, 'Who are you, and whose cave is this?'
ततो हनूमान् गिरिसंनिकाशः कृताञ्जलिस्तामभिवाद्य वृद्धाम्। पप्रच्छ का त्वं भवनं बिलं च रत्नानि चेमानि वदस्व कस्य
Then Hanuman, resembling a mountain, greeted the aged woman with joined palms and asked, 'Who are you, whose dwelling and cave is this, and to whom do these jewels belong? Tell us.'
thumb|एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे किष्किन्धाकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥४-
Listen to the fifty-first chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Kiṣkindhā section.