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.
thumb|एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे किष्किन्धाकाण्डे एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः ॥४-
Let the fifty-ninth chapter be heard.
ततस्तदमृतास्वादं गृध्रराजेन भाषितम्। निशम्य वदता हृष्टास्ते वचः प्लवगर्षभाः
Then, having listened to the speech of the king of vultures, which tasted like nectar, those foremost monkeys spoke joyfully.
जाम्बवान् वानरश्रेष्ठः सह सर्वैः प्लवङ्गमैः। भूतलात् सहसोत्थाय गृध्रराजानमब्रवीत्
Jāmbavān, the best of monkeys, together with all the vanaras, quickly rose from the ground and addressed the king of vultures.
क्व सीता केन वा दृष्टा को वा हरति मैथिलीम्। तदाख्यातु भवान् सर्वं गतिर्भव वनौकसाम्
Where is Sītā? By whom was she seen? Who has carried away Maithilī? Please tell us everything, and be the guide for the dwellers of the forest.
को दाशरथिबाणानां वज्रवेगनिपातिनाम्। स्वयं लक्ष्मणमुक्तानां न चिन्तयति विक्रमम्
Who does not consider the prowess of the arrows of the son of Daśaratha, which strike with the speed of thunderbolts, released by Lakṣmaṇa himself?
स हरीन् प्रतिसम्मुक्तान् सीताश्रुतिसमाहितान्। पुनराश्वासयन् प्रीत इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
He, comforting the monkeys who had been released and were intent upon the news of Sītā, spoke these words with pleasure.
श्रूयतामिह वैदेह्या यथा मे हरणं श्रुतम्। येन चापि ममाख्यातं यत्र चायतलोचना
Listen here to how I heard of the abduction of Vaidehī, and by whom it was told to me, and where the wide-eyed one is.
अहमस्मिन् गिरौ दुर्गे बहुयोजनमायते। चिरान्निपतितो वृद्धः क्षीणप्राणपराक्रमः
I, old and fallen for a long time on this mountain fortress, which stretches for many yojanas, have lost my strength and vitality.
तं मामेवंगतं पुत्रः सुपार्श्वो नाम नामतः। आहारेण यथाकालं बिभर्ति पततां वरः
My son, named Supārśva, best among those who fly, sustains me with food at the proper times, though I am in this condition.
तीक्ष्णकामास्तु गन्धर्वास्तीक्ष्णकोपा भुजङ्गमाः। मृगाणां तु भयं तीक्ष्णं ततस्तीक्ष्णक्षुधा वयम्
The Gandharvas are fierce in their desires, the serpents fierce in their wrath, and the fear among animals is fierce; therefore, our hunger is fierce.