गिरिमूर्ध्नि स्थितां लंकां पाण्डुरैर्भवनैः शुभैः। ददर्श स कपिः श्रीमान् पुरीमाकाशगामिव
The illustrious monkey saw Lanka perched atop the mountain, with splendid pale buildings, seeming to soar in the sky.
पालितां राक्षसेन्द्रेण निर्मितां विश्वकर्मणा। प्लवमानामिवाकाशे ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः
Hanuman saw the city, protected by the king of rakshasas and built by Vishvakarma, appearing to float in the sky.
वप्रप्राकारजघनां विपुलाम्बुवनाम्बराम्। शतघ्नीशूलकेशान्तामट्टालकावतंसकाम्
He saw its ramparts and walls as its hips, vast water bodies as its garments, its edges lined with weapons and towers as its ornaments.
मनसेव कृतां लंकां निर्मितां विश्वकर्मणा। द्वारमुत्तरमासाद्य चिन्तयामास वानरः
The monkey, reaching the northern gate, considered Lanka, as if constructed by Vishvakarma, made by the mind alone.
कैलासनिलयप्रख्यमालिखन्तमिवाम्बरम्। ध्रियमाणमिवाकाशमुच्छ्रितैर्भवनोत्तमैः
With its lofty mansions, resembling the abode of Kailasa, seeming to paint the sky, as if holding up the heavens.
सम्पूर्णा राक्षसैर्घोरैर्नागैर्भोगवतीमिव। अचिन्त्यां सुकृतां स्पष्टां कुबेराध्युषितां पुरा
Filled with fierce rakshasas, like Bhogavati with serpents, inconceivable, well-built, clear, once inhabited by Kubera.
दंष्ट्राभिर्बहुभिः शूरैः शूलपट्टिशपाणिभिः। रक्षितां राक्षसैर्घोरैर्गुहामाशीविषैरिव
Guarded by many fierce rakshasas, armed with spears and pikes, with fangs, like a cave protected by venomous serpents.
तस्याश्च महतीं गुप्तिं सागरं च निरीक्ष्य सः। रावणं च रिपुं घोरं चिन्तयामास वानरः
Observing its great protection and the ocean, and thinking of Ravana, the dreadful enemy, the monkey pondered.
आगत्यापीह हरयो भविष्यन्ति निरर्थकाः। नहि युद्धेन वै लंका शक्या जेतुं सुरैरपि
Even if the monkeys come here, they will be fruitless; for Lanka cannot be conquered by battle, not even by the gods.
इमां त्वविषमां लंकां दुर्गां रावणपालिताम्। प्राप्यापि सुमहाबाहुः किं करिष्यति राघवः
Even if the mighty-armed Raghava reaches this impassable, fortified Lanka, guarded by Ravana, what could he do?
अवकाशो न साम्नस्तु राक्षसेष्वभिगम्यते। न दानस्य न भेदस्य नैव युद्धस्य दृश्यते
Among the rakshasas, there is no scope for conciliation, nor for gifts, nor for division, nor even for battle.
चतुर्णामेव हि गतिर्वानराणां तरस्विनाम्। वालिपुत्रस्य नीलस्य मम राज्ञश्च धीमतः
Only four swift monkeys have a way: the son of Vali, Nila, myself, and the wise king.
यावज्जानामि वैदेहीं यदि जीवति वा न वा। तत्रैव चिन्तयिष्यामि दृष्ट्वा तां जनकात्मजाम्
Until I know whether Vaidehi lives or not, I will think there, after seeing Janaka's daughter.
ततः स चिन्तयामास मुहूर्तं कपिकुञ्जरः। गिरेः शृङ्गे स्थितस्तस्मिन् रामस्याभ्युदयं ततः
Then, the elephant among monkeys, standing on that mountain peak, pondered for a moment about Rama's success.
अनेन रूपेण मया न शक्या रक्षसां पुरी। प्रवेष्टुं राक्षसैर्गुप्ता क्रूरैर्बलसमन्वितैः
With this form, I cannot enter the city of the rakshasas, guarded by cruel and powerful rakshasas.
महौजसो महावीर्या बलवन्तश्च राक्षसाः। वञ्चनीया मया सर्वे जानकीं परिमार्गता
All the rakshasas, mighty, powerful, and of great energy, must be deceived by me as I search for Janaki.
लक्ष्यालक्ष्येण रूपेण रात्रौ लंकापुरी मया। प्राप्तकालं प्रवेष्टुं मे कृत्यं साधयितुं महत्
With a form visible and invisible, at night, I must enter Lanka at the right time, to accomplish my great task.
तां पुरीं तादृशीं दृष्ट्वा दुराधर्षां सुरासुरैः। हनूमांश्चिन्तयामास विनिःश्वस्य मुहुर्मुहुः
Seeing that city, so formidable, unconquerable by gods and demons, Hanuman pondered, sighing again and again.
केनोपायेन पश्येयं मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम्। अदृष्टो राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना
By what means could I see Maithili, Janaka's daughter, unseen by Ravana, the wicked king of rakshasas?
न विनश्येत् कथं कार्यं रामस्य विदितात्मनः। एकामेकस्तु पश्येयं रहिते जनकात्मजाम्
How could Rama's purpose, who knows himself, not be lost? Alone, I must see Janaka's daughter in secret.
भूताश्चार्था विनश्यन्ति देशकालविरोधिताः। विक्लवं दूतमासाद्य तमः सूर्योदये यथा
Purposes perish when opposed by place and time, encountering a timid messenger, as darkness at sunrise.
अर्थानर्थान्तरे बुद्धिर्निश्चितापि न शोभते। घातयन्तीह कार्याणि दूताः पण्डितमानिनः
Even a decision made with discernment between gain and loss does not shine, if it destroys the intended purpose; messengers who think themselves wise ruin matters here.
न विनश्येत् कथं कार्यं वैक्लव्यं न कथं भवेत्। लङ्घनं च समुद्रस्य कथं नु न भवेद् वृथा
How can the task not be lost, how can faint-heartedness not arise, and how can crossing the ocean not become futile?
मयि दृष्टे तु रक्षोभी रामस्य विदितात्मनः। भवेद् व्यर्थमिदं कार्यं रावणानर्थमिच्छतः
If I am seen by the demons, this mission will become useless for Ravana, who seeks harm, and for Rama, who knows his own self.
नहि शक्यं क्वचित् स्थातुमविज्ञातेन राक्षसैः। अपि राक्षसरूपेण किमुतान्येन केनचित्
It is not possible to remain anywhere without being detected by the demons, even in the form of a demon—how much less in any other form.
वायुरप्यत्र नाज्ञातश्चरेदिति मतिर्मम। नह्यत्राविदितं किंचिद् रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्
Even the wind, in my view, could not move here unnoticed; for nothing is unknown to these demons of terrible deeds.
इहाहं यदि तिष्ठामि स्वेन रूपेण संवृतः। विनाशमुपयास्यामि भर्तुरर्थश्च हास्यति
If I remain here in my own form, concealed, I will meet with destruction, and my master's purpose will be lost.
तदहं स्वेन रूपेण रजन्यां ह्रस्वतां गतः। लंकामभिपतिष्यामि राघवस्यार्थसिद्धये
Therefore, I will enter Lanka at night, having assumed a small form, for the accomplishment of Raghava's purpose.
रावणस्य पुरीं रात्रौ प्रविश्य सुदुरासदाम्। प्रविश्य भवनं सर्वं द्रक्ष्यामि जनकात्मजाम्
Entering Ravana's city at night, which is very difficult to approach, I will enter every palace and see the daughter of Janaka.
इति निश्चित्य हनुमान् सूर्यस्यास्तमयं कपिः। आचकाङ्क्षे तदा वीरो वैदेह्या दर्शनोत्सुकः
Having resolved thus, Hanuman, the monkey, eager to see Vaidehi, then awaited the setting of the sun.