जटायुषस्त्वेवमुक्तो भ्रात्रा सम्पातिना तदा। युवराजो महाप्रज्ञः प्रत्युवाचाङ्गदस्तदा
When Jaṭāyu was thus addressed by his brother Sampāti, then the wise prince Aṅgada replied.
जटायुषो यदि भ्राता श्रुतं ते गदितं मया। आख्याहि यदि जानासि निलयं तस्य रक्षसः
If you have heard what I have told you about Jaṭāyu's brother, then tell us, if you know, the dwelling place of that Rākṣasa.
अदीर्घदर्शिनं तं वै रावणं राक्षसाधमम्। अन्तिके यदि वा दूरे यदि जानासि शंस नः
That short-sighted Rāvaṇa, the worst of Rākṣasas—whether he is near or far, if you know, tell us.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा भ्राता ज्येष्ठो जटायुषः। आत्मानुरूपं वचनं वानरान् सम्प्रहर्षयन्
Then the eldest brother of Jaṭāyu, possessed of great energy, spoke words befitting himself, gladdening the monkeys.
निर्दग्धपक्षो गृध्रोऽहं गतवीर्यः प्लवङ्गमाः। वाङ्मात्रेण तु रामस्य करिष्ये साह्यमुत्तमम्
I am a vulture with wings burned, my strength gone, O monkeys; yet with words alone I will render the highest help to Rāma.
जानामि वारुणाँल्लोकान् विष्णोस्त्रैविक्रमानपि। देवासुरविमर्दांश्च ह्यमृतस्य विमन्थनम्
I know the worlds of Varuṇa, and even the three strides of Viṣṇu; I know the battles of gods and demons, and the churning of the nectar.
रामस्य यदिदं कार्यं कर्तव्यं प्रथमं मया। जरया च हृतं तेजः प्राणाश्च शिथिला मम
Whatever task of Rāma's is to be done, it must first be done by me; but my vigor has been taken by old age, and my life-breaths are weak.
तरुणी रूपसम्पन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता। ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना
A young woman, beautiful in form and adorned with all ornaments, was seen by me being carried away by the wicked Rāvaṇa.
क्रोशन्ती रामरामेति लक्ष्मणेति च भामिनी। भूषणान्यपविध्यन्ती गात्राणि च विधुन्वती
She was crying out, 'Rāma! Rāma!' and 'Lakṣmaṇa!'—that radiant woman, casting off her ornaments and shaking her limbs.
सूर्यप्रभेव शैलाग्रे तस्याः कौशेयमुत्तमम्। असिते राक्षसे भाति यथा वा तडिदम्बुदे
Her fine silk, radiant like sunlight atop a mountain, shines on the dark demon as lightning on a rain cloud.
तां तु सीतामहं मन्ये रामस्य परिकीर्तनात्। श्रूयतां मे कथयतो निलयं तस्य रक्षसः
I believe her to be Sītā, from the mention of Rāma; listen to me as I describe the dwelling of that demon.
पुत्रो विश्रवसः साक्षाद् भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च। अध्यास्ते नगरीं लङ्कां रावणो नाम राक्षसः
Rāvaṇa, the son of Viśravas and brother of Vaiśravaṇa, dwells in the city of Laṅkā.
इतो द्वीपे समुद्रस्य सम्पूर्णे शतयोजने। तस्मिँल्लङ्का पुरी रम्या निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा
On this island in the ocean, a full hundred yojanas away, stands the splendid city of Laṅkā, built by Viśvakarma.
जाम्बूनदमयैर्द्वारैश्चित्रैः काञ्चनवेदिकैः। प्रासादैर्हेमवर्णैश्च महद्भिः सुसमाकृता
It is adorned with gates of jambū-gold, elaborate golden platforms, and grand palaces of golden hue.
प्राकारेणार्कवर्णेन महता च समन्विता। तस्यां वसति वैदेही दीना कौशेयवासिनी
Surrounded by a great wall shining like the sun, there dwells the sorrowful Vaidehī, clad in silk.
रावणान्तःपुरे रुद्धा राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता। जनकस्यात्मजां राज्ञस्तस्यां द्रक्ष्यथ मैथिलीम्
Imprisoned in Rāvaṇa's inner palace, guarded securely by demonesses, you will see the princess of Janaka, the Maithilī, there.
लङ्कायामथ गुप्तायां सागरेण समन्ततः। सम्प्राप्य सागरस्यान्तं सम्पूर्णं शतयोजनम्
In Laṅkā, protected on all sides by the ocean, after reaching the ocean's end, a full hundred yojanas across,
आसाद्य दक्षिणं तीरं ततो द्रक्ष्यथ रावणम्। तत्रैव त्वरिताः क्षिप्रं विक्रमध्वं प्लवङ्गमाः
Upon arriving at the southern shore, you will see Rāvaṇa; there, swiftly and urgently, advance, O monkeys.
ज्ञानेन खलु पश्यामि दृष्ट्वा प्रत्यागमिष्यथ। आद्यः पन्थाः कुलिङ्गानां ये चान्ये धान्यजीविनः
By knowledge, I see that after you go, you will return; the first path is that of the kuliṅga birds and others who live on grain.
द्वितीयो बलिभोजानां ये च वृक्षफलाशनाः। भासास्तृतीयं गच्छन्ति क्रौञ्चाश्च कुररैः सह
The second is for those who eat strong food and those who subsist on tree fruits; bhāsas take the third path, and krauñcas with kuraras.
श्येनाश्चतुर्थं गच्छन्ति गृध्रा गच्छन्ति पञ्चमम्। बलवीर्योपपन्नानां रूपयौवनशालिनाम्
Śyenas take the fourth path, vultures the fifth, for those endowed with strength, vigor, beauty, and youth.
षष्ठस्तु पन्था हंसानां वैनतेयगतिः परा। वैनतेयाच्च नो जन्म सर्वेषां वानरर्षभाः
The sixth path is for swans, the supreme gait of Garuda; from Garuda is our lineage, O foremost monkeys.
गर्हितं तु कृतं कर्म येन स्म पिशिताशिनः। प्रतिकार्यं च मे तस्य वैरं भ्रातृकृतं भवेत्
A blameworthy deed was done, by which we became flesh-eaters; I must repay that enmity, which was caused by my brother.
इहस्थोऽहं प्रपश्यामि रावणं जानकीं तथा। अस्माकमपि सौपर्णं दिव्यं चक्षुर्बलं तथा
Standing here, I see Rāvaṇa and also Jānakī; we too possess the divine vision and strength of Garuda.
तस्मादाहारवीर्येण निसर्गेण च वानराः। आयोजनशतात् साग्राद् वयं पश्याम नित्यशः
Therefore, by nourishment, vigor, and our nature, O monkeys, we always see beyond a hundred yojanas and more.
अस्माकं विहिता वृत्तिर्निसर्गेण च दूरतः। विहिता वृक्षमूले तु वृत्तिश्चरणयोधिनाम्
Our way of life is ordained by nature to see far; for warriors, their livelihood is established at the roots of trees.
उपायो दृश्यतां कश्चिल्लङ्घने लवणाम्भसः। अभिगम्य तु वैदेहीं समृद्धार्था गमिष्यथ
Let some means be found for crossing the salty waters; having reached Vaidehī, you will return accomplished in your purpose.
समुद्रं नेतुमिच्छामि भवद्भिर्वरुणालयम्। प्रदास्याम्युदकं भ्रातुः स्वर्गतस्य महात्मनः
I wish to lead you to the ocean, the abode of Varuṇa; I will offer water for my brother, the great soul who has departed to heaven.
ततो नीत्वा तु तं देशं तीरे नदनदीपतेः। निर्दग्धपक्षं सम्पातिं वानराः सुमहौजसः
Then, having brought him to that place on the shore of the lord of rivers and streams, the mighty monkeys led Sampāti, whose wings had been burned.
तं पुनः प्रापयित्वा च तं देशं पतगेश्वरम्। बभूवुर्वानरा हृष्टाः प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य ते
After returning the king of birds to that place, the monkeys became joyful, having obtained the information.