चारयन्तस्ततश्चक्षुर्दृष्टवन्तो महद् बिलम्। लतापादपसंछन्नं तिमिरेण समावृतम्
Then, as we cast our eyes about, we saw a great cave, concealed by creepers and trees, shrouded in darkness.
अस्माद्धंसा जलक्लिन्नाः पक्षैः सलिलरेणुभिः। कुरराः सारसाश्चैव निष्पतन्ति पतत्त्रिणः
From that place, swans with wings wet from water, along with cranes and herons, were flying out, their feathers sprinkled with droplets.
साध्वत्र प्रविशामेति मया तूक्ताः प्लवङ्गमाः। तेषामपि हि सर्वेषामनुमानमुपागतम्
'It is safe to enter here,' I said to the monkeys; for all of them had come to the same conclusion.
अस्मिन् निपतिताः सर्वेऽप्यथ कार्यत्वरान्विताः। ततो गाढं निपतिता गृह्य हस्तैः परस्परम्
All of us, intent on our task, entered there; then, holding each other's hands tightly, we descended deeply.
इदं प्रविष्टाः सहसा बिलं तिमिरसंवृतम्। एतन्नः कार्यमेतेन कृत्येन वयमागताः
We suddenly entered this cave, enveloped in darkness; it is for this purpose that we have come here.
त्वां चैवोपगताः सर्वे परिद्यूना बुभुक्षिताः। आतिथ्यधर्मदत्तानि मूलानि च फलानि च
And now, all of us, distressed and hungry, have come to you; you have given us roots and fruits in accordance with the law of hospitality.
अस्माभिरुपयुक्तानि बुभुक्षापरिपीडितैः। यत् त्वया रक्षिताः सर्वे म्रियमाणा बुभुक्षया
We, tormented by hunger, have eaten them; it is by you that all of us, dying of hunger, have been preserved.
ब्रूहि प्रत्युपकारार्थं किं ते कुर्वन्तु वानराः। एवमुक्ता तु सर्वज्ञा वानरैस्तैः स्वयंप्रभा
Tell us, for the sake of requital, what the monkeys may do for you; thus addressed by the monkeys, Svayamprabhā, who knows all, replied.
प्रत्युवाच ततः सर्वानिदं वानरयूथपान्। सर्वेषां परितुष्टास्मि वानराणां तरस्विनाम्
Then she spoke these words to all the monkey chiefs: 'I am fully satisfied with all these energetic monkeys.'
चरन्त्या मम धर्मेण न कार्यमिह केनचित्। एवमुक्तः शुभं वाक्यं तापस्या धर्मसंहितम्
'As I live by my own dharma, I have no business here with anyone.' Thus addressed with these auspicious, righteous words by the ascetic lady—
उवाच हनुमान् वाक्यं तामनिन्दितलोचनाम्। शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नाः स्मः सर्वे वै धर्मचारिणीम्
Hanumān spoke to her, whose eyes were above reproach: 'We have all sought refuge with you, O righteous one.'
यः कृतः समयोऽस्मासु सुग्रीवेण महात्मना। स तु कालो व्यतिक्रान्तो बिले च परिवर्तताम्
'The time agreed upon with the great-souled Sugrīva has now passed; let us return from the cave.'
सा त्वमस्माद् बिलादस्मानुत्तारयितुमर्हसि। तस्मात् सुग्रीववचनादतिक्रान्तान् गतायुषः
'Therefore, you ought to deliver us from this cave, for, by Sugrīva's command, we have exceeded the allotted time and our lives are at risk.'
त्रातुमर्हसि नः सर्वान् सुग्रीवभयशङ्कितान्। महच्च कार्यमस्माभिः कर्तव्यं धर्मचारिणि
'You should save us all, who are fearful of Sugrīva's wrath; and, O righteous one, we have a great task yet to accomplish.'
तच्चापि न कृतं कार्यमस्माभिरिह वासिभिः। एवमुक्ता हनुमता तापसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्
'And that task has not yet been done by us, who dwell here.' Thus addressed by Hanumān, the ascetic woman spoke these words.
जीवता दुष्करं मन्ये प्रविष्टेन निवर्तितुम्। तपसः सुप्रभावेण नियमोपार्जितेन च
I think it is difficult for one who has entered to return alive, except by the great power of asceticism and the discipline acquired through vows.
सर्वानेव बिलादस्मात् तारयिष्यामि वानरान्। निमीलयत चक्षूंषि सर्वे वानरपुङ्गवाः
I will lead all the monkeys out of this cave; all you foremost monkeys, close your eyes.
नहि निष्क्रमितुं शक्यमनिमीलितलोचनैः। ततो निमीलिताः सर्वे सुकुमाराङ्गुलैः करैः
It is not possible to exit with eyes open; then all of them closed their eyes with their delicate-fingered hands.
सहसा पिदधुर्दृष्टिं हृष्टा गमनकांक्षया। वानरास्तु महात्मानो हस्तरुद्धमुखास्तदा
Eager for departure, the delighted monkeys quickly covered their sight; at that time, those great-souled monkeys covered their mouths with their hands.
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण बिलादुत्तारितास्तया। उवाच सर्वांस्तांस्तत्र तापसी धर्मचारिणी
In the span of a blink, she brought them out of the cave; then the ascetic, devoted to righteousness, spoke to them all there.
निःसृतान् विषमात् तस्मात् समाश्वास्येदमब्रवीत्। एष विन्ध्यो गिरिः श्रीमान् नानाद्रुमलतायुतः
Comforting those who had emerged from that peril, she said: 'Here is the glorious Vindhya mountain, adorned with various trees and creepers.'
एष प्रस्रवणः शैलः सागरोऽयं महोदधिः। स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु गमिष्यामि भवनं वानरर्षभाः। इत्युक्त्वा तद् बिलं श्रीमत् प्रविवेश स्वयंप्रभा
'Here is Prasravana mountain, and this is the great ocean, the mighty sea. Farewell to you, bulls among monkeys, I will return to my abode.' Having said this, the illustrious Svayamprabha entered that cave.
thumb|त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे किष्किन्धाकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥४-
Listen to the fifty-third sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa.
ततस्ते ददृशुर्घोरं सागरं वरुणालयम्। अपारमभिगर्जन्तं घोरैरूर्मिभिराकुलम्
Then they saw the dreadful ocean, the abode of Varuṇa, boundless, roaring, and agitated with terrible waves.
मयस्य मायाविहितं गिरिदुर्गं विचिन्वताम्। तेषां मासो व्यतिक्रान्तो यो राज्ञा समयः कृतः
While searching the mountain fortress created by Maya's magic, the month set by the king passed for them.
विन्ध्यस्य तु गिरेः पादे सम्प्रपुष्पितपादपे। उपविश्य महात्मानश्चिन्तामापेदिरे तदा
At the foot of the Vindhya mountain, where the trees were in full bloom, those great souls sat down and fell into anxiety.
ततः पुष्पातिभाराग्राँल्लताशतसमावृतान्। द्रुमान् वासन्तिकान् दृष्ट्वा बभूवुर्भयशङ्किताः
Then, seeing the springtime trees, heavy with blossoms and covered with hundreds of creepers, they became filled with fear.
ते वसन्तमनुप्राप्तं प्रतिवेद्य परस्परम्। नष्टसंदेशकालार्था निपेतुर्धरणीतले
Informing each other that spring had arrived, and having lost the time for their message, they fell to the ground.
ततस्तान् कपिवृद्धांश्च शिष्टांश्चैव वनौकसः। वाचा मधुरयाऽऽभाष्य यथावदनुमान्य च
Then, addressing the elder and distinguished monkeys with gentle words, and having properly obtained their approval,
स तु सिंहवृषस्कन्धः पीनायतभुजः कपिः। युवराजो महाप्राज्ञ अङ्गदो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
That monkey, with the shoulders of a lion and bull, with strong, long arms, the wise prince Aṅgada, spoke these words: