निरीक्षमाणश्च ततस्ताः स्त्रियः स महाकपिः। जगाम महतीं शंकां धर्मसाध्वसशंकितः
Then, as he observed those women, the great monkey was seized by great anxiety, troubled by fear of wrongdoing.
परदारावरोधस्य प्रसुप्तस्य निरीक्षणम्। इदं खलु ममात्यर्थं धर्मलोपं करिष्यति
To gaze upon the sleeping women of another's harem—this, indeed, will cause me a grave breach of righteousness.
न हि मे परदाराणां दृष्टिर्विषयवर्तिनी। अयं चात्र मया दृष्टः परदारपरिग्रहः
For my sight has never dwelt on the wives of others with desire; yet here, I have witnessed the possession of another's wives.
तस्य प्रादुरभूच्चिन्ता पुनरन्या मनस्विनः। निश्चितैकान्तचित्तस्य कार्यनिश्चयदर्शिनी
Then another thought arose in the mind of that resolute one, whose heart was firmly set and who discerned the right course of action.
कामं दृष्टा मया सर्वा विश्वस्ता रावणस्त्रियः। न तु मे मनसा किंचिद् वैकृत्यमुपपद्यते
Indeed, I have seen all of Ravana's women, who are unguarded, but not even in my mind does any distortion arise.
मनो हि हेतुः सर्वेषामिन्द्रियाणां प्रवर्तने। शुभाशुभास्ववस्थासु तच्च मे सुव्यवस्थितम्
For the mind is the cause of all the senses' activity, in both auspicious and inauspicious states—and mine is well-disciplined.
नान्यत्र हि मया शक्या वैदेही परिमार्गितुम्। स्त्रियो हि स्त्रीषु दृश्यन्ते सदा सम्परिमार्गणे
Nowhere else can I search for Vaidehi; for when seeking, women are always seen among women.
यस्य सत्त्वस्य या योनिस्तस्यां तत् परिमार्गते। न शक्यं प्रमदा नष्टा मृगीषु परिमार्गितुम्
One searches for a being in the womb from which it arises; it is not possible to search for a lost woman among deer.
तदिदं मार्गितं तावच्छुद्धेन मनसा मया। रावणान्तःपुरं सर्वं दृश्यते न च जानकी
Thus, with a pure mind, I have searched this entire inner palace of Ravana, but Janaki is nowhere to be seen.
देवगन्धर्वकन्याश्च नागकन्याश्च वीर्यवान्। अवेक्षमाणो हनुमान् नैवापश्यत जानकीम्
Hanuman, the mighty one, looked upon the daughters of gods, Gandharvas, and Nagas, but did not see Janaki.
तामपश्यन् कपिस्तत्र पश्यंश्चान्या वरस्त्रियः। अपक्रम्य तदा वीरः प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे
There, the monkey did not see her, though he saw other noble women; then, withdrawing, the hero prepared to depart.
स भूयः सर्वतः श्रीमान् मारुतिर्यत्नमाश्रितः। आपानभूमिमुत्सृज्य तां विचेतुं प्रचक्रमे
Then, the illustrious son of the wind, striving in every way, left the drinking hall and began to search elsewhere.
thumb|द्वादशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे सुन्दरकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः ॥५-
Listen now to the twelfth canto.
स तस्य मध्ये भवनस्य संस्थितो लतागृहांश्चित्रगृहान् निशागृहान्। जगाम सीतां प्रतिदर्शनोत्सुको न चैव तां पश्यति चारुदर्शनाम्
Standing in the midst of that palace, he went through the vine-houses, painted chambers, and night-halls, eager to see Sita, but could not find her of lovely appearance.
स चिन्तयामास ततो महाकपिः प्रियामपश्यन् रघुनन्दनस्य ताम्। ध्रुवं न सीता ध्रियते यथा न मे विचिन्वतो दर्शनमेति मैथिली
Then the great monkey, not seeing the beloved of the descendant of Raghu, thought: Surely Sita is not here, for though I search everywhere, Maithili does not appear before me.
सा राक्षसानां प्रवरेण जानकी स्वशीलसंरक्षणतत्परा सती। अनेन नूनं प्रति दुष्टकर्मणा हता भवेदार्यपथे परे स्थिता
Janaki, devoted to preserving her own virtue, must have been slain by this wicked one, the foremost among the Rakshasas, for she stood firm on the noble path.
विरूपरूपा विकृता विवर्चसो महानना दीर्घविरूपदर्शनाः। समीक्ष्य ता राक्षसराजयोषितो भयाद् विनष्टा जनकेश्वरात्मजा
Seeing those wives of the king of the Rakshasas—hideous, deformed, monstrous in appearance, with great faces and dreadful forms—the daughter of Janaka must have perished out of fear.
सीतामदृष्ट्वा ह्यनवाप्य पौरुषं विहृत्य कालं सह वानरैश्चिरम्। न मेऽस्ति सुग्रीवसमीपगा गतिः सुतीक्ष्णदण्डो बलवांश्च वानरः
Not having found Sita, nor accomplished my task, and having spent much time with the monkeys in vain, I have no way to return to Sugriva; the monkey king is strict and powerful.
दृष्टमन्तःपुरं सर्वं दृष्टा रावणयोषितः। न सीता दृश्यते साध्वी वृथा जातो मम श्रमः
I have seen the entire inner palace and the wives of Ravana, but the virtuous Sita is not seen; my effort has been in vain.
किं नु मां वानराः सर्वे गतं वक्ष्यन्ति संगताः। गत्वा तत्र त्वया वीर किं कृतं तद् वदस्व नः
What will all the gathered monkeys say about me when I return, O hero? Go there and tell us what you have done.
अदृष्ट्वा किं प्रवक्ष्यामि तामहं जनकात्मजाम्। ध्रुवं प्रायमुपासिष्ये कालस्य व्यतिवर्तने
How can I speak to them without having seen Janaka’s daughter? Surely, I will undertake a fast unto death as time passes.
किं वा वक्ष्यति वृद्धश्च जाम्बवानंगदश्च सः। गतं पारं समुद्रस्य वानराश्च समागताः
What will the elder Jāmbavān and Aṅgada say, and the assembled monkeys, when I have crossed the ocean and returned?
अनिर्वेदः श्रियो मूलमनिर्वेदः परं सुखम्। भूयस्तत्र विचेष्यामि न यत्र विचयः कृतः
Perseverance is the root of prosperity; perseverance is the highest happiness. I will search again in places not yet explored.
अनिर्वेदो हि सततं सर्वार्थेषु प्रवर्तकः। करोति सफलं जन्तोः कर्म यच्च करोति सः
Indeed, perseverance always brings success in all endeavors; it makes a person’s actions fruitful, whatever they may be.
आपानशाला विचितास्तथा पुष्पगृहाणि च। चित्रशालाश्च विचिता भूयः क्रीडागृहाणि च
He saw splendid drinking halls, flower houses, and decorated chambers, as well as delightful playhouses.
निष्कुटान्तररथ्याश्च विमानानि च सर्वशः। इति संचिन्त्य भूयोऽपि विचेतुमुपचक्रमे
He saw inner courtyards, narrow lanes, and all the mansions; thus, reflecting further, he began to search again.
भूमीगृहांश्चैत्यगृहान् गृहातिगृहकानपि। उत्पतन् निपतंश्चापि तिष्ठन् गच्छन् पुनः क्वचित्
He explored houses on the ground, shrines, and even outbuildings, flying up and down, standing, going, and sometimes pausing.
अपवृण्वंश्च द्वाराणि कपाटान्यवघट्टयन्। प्रविशन् निष्पतंश्चापि प्रपतन्नुत्पतन्निव
He opened doors, pushed aside panels, entered and exited, sometimes falling, sometimes leaping as if flying.
सर्वमप्यवकाशं स विचचार महाकपिः। चतुरंगुलमात्रोऽपि नावकाशः स विद्यते। रावणान्तःपुरे तस्मिन् यं कपिर्न जगाम सः
That great monkey searched every space; not even a span of four fingers was left in Rāvaṇa’s inner palace where the monkey did not go.
प्राकारान्तरवीथ्यश्च वेदिकाश्चैत्यसंश्रयाः। श्वभ्राश्च पुष्करिण्यश्च सर्वं तेनावलोकितम्
He observed inner courtyards, passageways, raised platforms, shrines, wells, and lotus ponds—he saw everything.