मेरुमन्दरसंकाशैरुल्लिखद्भिरिवाम्बरम्। कूटागारैः शुभागारैः सर्वतः समलंकृतम्
Adorned on all sides with splendid pavilions, resembling Mount Meru and Mandara, as if touching the sky.
ज्वलनार्कप्रतीकाशैः सुकृतं विश्वकर्मणा। हेमसोपानयुक्तं च चारुप्रवरवेदिकम्
Made by Viśvakarman, shining like fire and the sun, equipped with golden stairways and beautiful, excellent altars.
जालवातायनैर्युक्तं काञ्चनैः स्फाटिकैरपि। इन्द्रनीलमहानीलमणिप्रवरवेदिकम्
Fitted with latticed windows, made of gold and crystal, with altars of sapphire and great blue gems.
विद्रुमेण विचित्रेण मणिभिश्च महाधनैः। निस्तुलाभिश्च मुक्ताभिस्तलेनाभिविराजितम्
Radiant with wondrous coral, precious jewels of great value, and incomparable pearls, shining everywhere like the palm of a hand.
चन्दनेन च रक्तेन तपनीयनिभेन च। सुपुण्यगन्धिना युक्तमादित्यतरुणोपमम्
Perfumed with red sandalwood and golden-hued incense, fragrant with auspicious scents, it shone like the young sun.
कूटागारैर्वराकारैर्विविधैः समलंकृतम्। विमानं पुष्पकं दिव्यमारुरोह महाकपिः। तत्रस्थः सर्वतो गन्धं पानभक्ष्यान्नसम्भवम्
Adorned with various splendid pavilions of excellent form, the great monkey ascended the celestial Puṣpaka chariot; standing there, he perceived everywhere the fragrance arising from drink, food, and offerings.
दिव्यं सम्मूर्च्छितं जिघ्रन् रूपवन्तमिवानिलम्। स गन्धस्तं महासत्त्वं बन्धुर्बन्धुमिवोत्तमम्
He inhaled that divine, blended fragrance, like a beautiful breeze; that scent, possessing great power, was like a dear friend meeting another.
इत एहीत्युवाचेव तत्र यत्र स रावणः। ततस्तां प्रस्थितः शालां ददर्श महतीं शिवाम्
He said, 'Come this way,' and went to the place where Rāvaṇa was; then, setting out, he saw a great and auspicious hall.
रावणस्य महाकान्तां कान्तामिव वरस्त्रियम्। मणिसोपानविकृतां हेमजालविराजिताम्
It belonged to Rāvaṇa and was as splendid as a beloved woman; adorned with steps of jewels and shining with lattices of gold.
स्फाटिकैरावृततलां दन्तान्तरितरूपिकाम्। मुक्तावज्रप्रवालैश्च रूप्यचामीकरैरपि
Its floor was covered with crystal, resembling the spaces between teeth; decorated with pearls, diamonds, coral, silver, and gold.
विभूषितां मणिस्तम्भैः सुबहुस्तम्भभूषिताम्। समैर्ऋजुभिरत्युच्चैः समन्तात् सुविभूषितैः
It was embellished with many jewel pillars, richly adorned with numerous columns, all equal, straight, and very tall, beautifully decorated all around.
स्तम्भैः पक्षैरिवात्युच्चैर्दिवं सम्प्रस्थितामिव। महत्या कुथयाऽऽस्तीर्णां पृथिवीलक्षणाङ्कया
With pillars rising high like wings, as if ascending to the heavens; spread with a great carpet, marked with the signs of the earth.
पृथिवीमिव विस्तीर्णां सराष्ट्रगृहशालिनीम्। नादितां मत्तविहगैर्दिव्यगन्धाधिवासिताम्
Expansive like the earth itself, filled with houses and districts; resounding with intoxicated birds, perfumed with divine fragrances.
परर्घ्यास्तरणोपेतां रक्षोऽधिपनिषेविताम्। धूम्रामगुरुधूपेन विमलां हंसपाण्डुराम्
Furnished with costly coverings, served by the lord of the rākṣasas; pure and white as a swan, scented with smoky agarwood incense.
पत्रपुष्पोपहारेण कल्माषीमिव सुप्रभाम्। मनसो मोदजननीं वर्णस्यापि प्रसाधिनीम्
With offerings of leaves and flowers, radiant yet mottled; delighting the mind and pleasing the senses with its colors.
तां शोकनाशिनीं दिव्यां श्रियः संजननीमिव। इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थैस्तु पञ्च पञ्चभिरुत्तमैः
That divine hall, dispelling sorrow and generating prosperity, satisfied the five senses with their five highest objects.
तर्पयामास मातेव तदा रावणपालिता। स्वर्गोऽयं देवलोकोऽयमिन्द्रस्यापि पुरी भवेत्। सिद्धिर्वेयं परा हि स्यादित्यमन्यत मारुतिः
Then, protected by Rāvaṇa, it nourished them like a mother; 'This is heaven, the world of the gods, perhaps even Indra's city, or the highest attainment,' thought Hanumān.
प्रध्यायत इवापश्यत् प्रदीपांस्तत्र काञ्चनान्। धूर्तानिव महाधूर्तैर्देवनेन पराजितान्
He looked as if pondering, and saw golden lamps there; like tricksters defeated by greater tricksters in a game.
दीपानां च प्रकाशेन तेजसा रावणस्य च। अर्चिर्भिर्भूषणानां च प्रदीप्तेत्यभ्यमन्यत
By the brilliance of the lamps, the radiance of Rāvaṇa, and the gleaming ornaments, he thought the hall was ablaze.
ततोऽपश्यत् कुथासीनं नानावर्णाम्बरस्रजम्। सहस्रं वरनारीणां नानावेषबिभूषितम्
Then he saw, seated on carpets, a thousand noble women, adorned with various colored garments and garlands, decorated in diverse attire.
परिवृत्तेऽर्धरात्रे तु पाननिद्रावशंगतम्। क्रीडित्वोपरतं रात्रौ प्रसुप्तं बलवत् तदा
At midnight, when half the night had passed, they were overcome by drink and sleep; having ceased their games, they lay asleep, strong in slumber.
तत् प्रसुप्तं विरुरुचे निःशब्दान्तरभूषितम्। निःशब्दहंसभ्रमरं यथा पद्मवनं महत्
That sleeping group shone, adorned in silence; silent as swans and bees in a great lotus pond.
तासां संवृतदान्तानि मीलिताक्षीणि मारुतिः। अपश्यत् पद्मगन्धीनि वदनानि सुयोषिताम्
Hanumān saw their mouths, fragrant as lotuses, with closed teeth and shut eyes, belonging to those beautiful women.
प्रबुद्धानीव पद्मानि तासां भूत्वा क्षपाक्षये। पुनः संवृतपत्राणि रात्राविव बभुस्तदा
As the night ended, their faces appeared like blooming lotuses; then, as petals closed again, they became as in the night.
इमानि मुखपद्मानि नियतं मत्तषट्पदाः। अम्बुजानीव फुल्लानि प्रार्थयन्ति पुनः पुनः
These lotus-like faces are surely sought again and again by intoxicated bees, just as they desire blooming lotuses.
इति वामन्यत श्रीमानुपपत्त्या महाकपिः। मेने हि गुणतस्तानि समानि सलिलोद्भवैः
Thus, the illustrious great monkey, by reasoning, considered them to be equal in qualities to those born of the waters.
सा तस्य शुशुभे शाला ताभिः स्त्रीभिर्विराजिता। शरदीव प्रसन्ना द्यौस्ताराभिरभिशोभिता
That hall, adorned by those women, shone for him like the clear autumn sky beautified by stars.
स च ताभिः परिवृतः शुशुभे राक्षसाधिपः। यथा ह्युडुपतिः श्रीमांस्ताराभिरिव संवृतः
Surrounded by them, the lord of the rākṣasas shone like the radiant lord of the stars encircled by stars.
याश्च्यवन्तेऽम्बरात् ताराः पुण्यशेषसमावृताः। इमास्ताः संगताः कृत्स्ना इति मेने हरिस्तदा
Hanuman then thought: 'These here, gathered together, are like the stars that fall from the sky, surrounded by the remnants of merit.'
ताराणामिव सुव्यक्तं महतीनां शुभार्चिषाम्। प्रभावर्णप्रसादाश्च विरेजुस्तत्र योषिताम्
Just as the light, color, and radiance of great, auspicious stars are clearly seen, so too did the luster and beauty of those women shine there.