सा तं हरिवरं दृष्ट्वा लंका रावणपालिता। स्वयमेवोत्थिता तत्र विकृताननदर्शना
Lankā, ruled by Rāvaṇa, seeing that foremost of monkeys, herself rose up there, displaying a terrifying face.
पुरस्तात् तस्य वीरस्य वायुसूनोरतिष्ठत। मुञ्चमाना महानादमब्रवीत् पवनात्मजम्
She stood before that heroic son of the wind, making a great roar, and spoke to Hanumān.
कस्त्वं केन च कार्येण इह प्राप्तो वनालय। कथयस्वेह यत् तत्त्वं यावत् प्राणा धरन्ति ते
"Who are you, and for what purpose have you come here, O forest-dweller? Speak the truth here while your breath still remains."
न शक्यं खल्वियं लंका प्रवेष्टुं वानर त्वया। रक्षिता रावणबलैरभिगुप्ता समन्ततः
"O monkey, it is not possible for you to enter this Lankā, guarded on all sides and protected by Rāvaṇa's forces."
अथ तामब्रवीद् वीरो हनुमानग्रतः स्थिताम्। कथयिष्यामि तत् तत्त्वं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसे
Then the heroic Hanumān spoke to her, standing before him: "I will tell you the truth about what you ask me."
का त्वं विरूपनयना पुरद्वारेऽवतिष्ठसे। किमर्थं चापि मां क्रोधान्निर्भर्त्सयसि दारुणे
"Who are you, with deformed eyes, standing at the city gate? And why do you, in anger, harshly rebuke me?"
हनुमद्वचनं श्रुत्वा लंका सा कामरूपिणी। उवाच वचनं क्रुद्धा परुषं पवनात्मजम्
Hearing Hanumān's words, Lankā, who could assume any form at will, angrily spoke harsh words to the son of the wind.
अहं राक्षसराजस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः। आज्ञाप्रतीक्षा दुर्धर्षा रक्षामि नगरीमिमाम्
"I am the invincible guardian of this city, awaiting the command of the great Rāvaṇa, king of the Rākṣasas."
न शक्यं मामवज्ञाय प्रवेष्टुं नगरीमिमाम्। अद्य प्राणैः परित्यक्तः स्वप्स्यसे निहतो मया
"It is not possible to enter this city, disregarding me; today, slain by me, you will sleep, your life abandoned."
अहं हि नगरी लंका स्वयमेव प्लवङ्गम। सर्वतः परिरक्षामि अतस्ते कथितं मया
"I myself am the city of Lankā, O monkey; I guard it on all sides—thus I have told you."
लंकाया वचनं श्रुत्वा हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः। यत्नवान् स हरिश्रेष्ठः स्थितः शैल इवापरः
Hearing Lankā's words, Hanumān, son of the wind, that best of monkeys, stood firm like another mountain.
स तां स्त्रीरूपविकृतां दृष्ट्वा वानरपुङ्गवः। आबभाषेऽथ मेधावी सत्त्ववान् प्लवगर्षभः
Seeing her, deformed in the guise of a woman, the wise and steadfast bull among monkeys then spoke.
द्रक्ष्यामि नगरीं लंकां साट्टप्राकारतोरणाम्। इत्यर्थमिह सम्प्राप्तः परं कौतूहलं हि मे
"I have come here with the desire to see the city of Lankā, with its ramparts, walls, and gateways; for I have great curiosity."
वनान्युपवनानीह लंकायाः काननानि च। सर्वतो गृहमुख्यानि द्रष्टुमागमनं हि मे
"I have come to see all the forests, groves, gardens, and principal houses of Lankā from every side."
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा लंका सा कामरूपिणी। भूय एव पुनर्वाक्यं बभाषे परुषाक्षरम्
Hearing his words, Lankā, who could assume any form at will, again spoke harsh words.
मामनिर्जित्य दुर्बुद्धे राक्षसेश्वरपालिताम्। न शक्यं ह्यद्य ते द्रष्टुं पुरीयं वानराधम
O lowest of monkeys, today you cannot see this city, protected by the lord of the Rākṣasas, without first defeating me, wicked-minded as I am.
ततः स हरिशार्दूलस्तामुवाच निशाचरीम्। दृष्ट्वा पुरीमिमां भद्रे पुनर्यास्ये यथागतम्
Then that tiger among monkeys spoke to the night-wandering woman: 'Having seen this city, O good lady, I shall return the way I came.'
ततः कृत्वा महानादं सा वै लंका भयंकरम्। तलेन वानरश्रेष्ठं ताडयामास वेगिता
Then that terrifying guardian of Laṅkā, making a great roar, struck the best of monkeys with her palm, moving swiftly.
ततः स हरिशार्दूलो लंकया ताडितो भृशम्। ननाद सुमहानादं वीर्यवान् मारुतात्मजः
Then that tiger among monkeys, son of the wind-god, mighty and valiant, being struck forcefully by Laṅkā, let out a great roar.
ततः संवर्तयामास वामहस्तस्य सोऽङ्गुलीः। मुष्टिनाभिजघानैनां हनुमान् क्रोधर्मूच्छितः
Then Hanumān, filled with anger, curled the fingers of his left hand and struck her with his fist.
स्त्री चेति मन्यमानेन नातिक्रोधः स्वयं कृतः। सा तु तेन प्रहारेण विह्वलाङ्गी निशाचरी। पपात सहसा भूमौ विकृताननदर्शना
Thinking, 'She is a woman,' he did not become excessively angry; but struck by him, that night-wanderer, her limbs reeling, fell suddenly to the ground, her face distorted.
ततस्तु हनुमान् वीरस्तां दृष्ट्वा विनिपातिताम्। कृपां चकार तेजस्वी मन्यमानः स्त्रियं च ताम्
Then the heroic Hanumān, seeing her fallen, felt compassion, considering her to be a woman.
ततो वै भृशमुद्विग्ना लंका सा गद्गदाक्षरम्। उवाचागर्वितं वाक्यं हनुमन्तं प्लवङ्गमम्
Then Laṅkā, greatly agitated, spoke with faltering words, uttering proud speech to Hanumān, the monkey-leaper.
प्रसीद सुमहाबाहो त्रायस्व हरिसत्तम। समये सौम्य तिष्ठन्ति सत्त्ववन्तो महाबलाः
'Be gracious, O mighty-armed one, protect me, best of monkeys. The strong and virtuous always keep to their bounds, gentle one.'
अहं तु नगरी लंका स्वयमेव प्लवङ्गम। निर्जिताहं त्वया वीर विक्रमेण महाबल
'I am the city of Laṅkā herself, O monkey. I have been conquered by you, O hero, by your great valor and might.'
इदं च तथ्यं शृणु मे ब्रुवन्त्या वै हरीश्वर। स्वयं स्वयम्भुवा दत्तं वरदानं यथा मम
'And now, O lord of monkeys, hear this truth as I speak: a boon was granted to me by the Self-born himself.'
यदा त्वां वानरः कश्चिद् विक्रमाद् वशमानयेत्। तदा त्वया हि विज्ञेयं रक्षसां भयमागतम्
'Whenever any monkey, by his prowess, brings you under his control, then you should know that danger has come for the Rākṣasas.'
स हि मे समयः सौम्य प्राप्तोऽद्य तव दर्शनात्। स्वयम्भूविहितः सत्यो न तस्यास्ति व्यतिक्रमः
'That very condition, gentle one, has now been fulfilled by your coming. Established by the Self-born, it is true and cannot be violated.'
सीतानिमित्तं राज्ञस्तु रावणस्य दुरात्मनः। रक्षसां चैव सर्वेषां विनाशः समुपागतः
'Because of Sītā, and because of the evil-minded king Rāvaṇa, the destruction of all the Rākṣasas has now arrived.'
तत् प्रविश्य हरिश्रेष्ठ पुरीं रावणपालिताम्। विधत्स्व सर्वकार्याणि यानि यानीह वाञ्छसि
Therefore, O best of monkeys, enter the city guarded by Rāvaṇa and accomplish all the tasks you desire here.