तां देवीं दीनवदनामदीनां भर्तृतेजसा। रक्षितां स्वेन शीलेन सीतामसितलोचनाम्
That goddess, with a sorrowful face yet undaunted, protected by her own virtue, Sita with dark eyes, radiant by her husband's glory.
तां दृष्ट्वा हनुमान् सीतां मृगशावनिभेक्षणाम्। मृगकन्यामिव त्रस्तां वीक्षमाणां समन्ततः
Hanuman, seeing Sita with eyes like those of a deer, frightened like a young doe, looking all around—
दहन्तीमिव निःश्वासैर्वृक्षान् पल्लवधारिणः। संघातमिव शोकानां दुःखस्योर्मिमिवोत्थिताम्
As if burning the leafy trees with her sighs, as if a mass of sorrows, as if a wave of suffering had arisen—
तां क्षमां सुविभक्तांगीं विनाभरणशोभिनीम्। प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे मारुतिः प्रेक्ष्य मैथिलीम्
Seeing her, whose limbs were well-formed, whose beauty was undiminished without ornaments, Maruti felt incomparable joy upon beholding the princess of Mithila.
हर्षजानि च सोऽश्रूणि तां दृष्ट्वा मदिरेक्षणाम्। मुमोच हनुमांस्तत्र नमश्चक्रे च राघवम्
Hanuman shed tears of joy upon seeing her with intoxicating eyes, and there he offered his salutations to Rama.
नमस्कृत्वाथ रामाय लक्ष्मणाय च वीर्यवान्। सीतादर्शनसंहृष्टो हनुमान् संवृतोऽभवत्
Then, having bowed to Rama and to Lakshmana, the mighty Hanuman, delighted at seeing Sita, concealed himself.
thumb|अष्टादशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे सुन्दरकाण्डे अष्टादशः सर्गः ॥५-
Hear now the eighteenth chapter. In the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, eighteenth chapter.
तथा विप्रेक्षमाणस्य वनं पुष्पितपादपम्। विचिन्वतश्च वैदेहीं किञ्चिच्छेषा निशाभवत्
As he was observing the forest with blossoming trees and searching for Vaidehi, the night was nearly spent.
षडंगवेदविदुषां क्रतुप्रवरयाजिनाम्। शुश्राव ब्रह्मघोषान् स विरात्रे ब्रह्मरक्षसाम्
He heard the chanting of the Vedas and the sounds of sacrificial rites performed by those learned in the six branches of the Veda, by Brahmarākṣasas, during the night.
अथ मंगलवादित्रैः शब्दैः श्रोत्रमनोहरैः। प्राबोध्यत महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवो महाबलः
Then, with auspicious musical instruments and sounds delightful to the ear, the mighty ten-headed Ravana was awakened.
विबुध्य तु महाभागो राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्। स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरो वैदेहीमन्वचिन्तयत्
Awakened, the illustrious and powerful king of the Rakshasas, wearing drooping garlands and garments, began to think of Vaidehi.
भृशं नियुक्तस्तस्यां च मदनेन मदोत्कटः। न तु तं राक्षसः कामं शशाकात्मनि गूहितुम्
Intensely driven by passion for her, overwhelmed by desire, the Rakshasa could not conceal his longing within himself.
स सर्वाभरणैर्युक्तो बिभ्रच्छ्रियमनुत्तमाम्। तां नगैर्विविधैर्जुष्टां सर्वपुष्पफलोपगैः
Adorned with all ornaments, bearing unsurpassed splendor, he entered that grove filled with various trees bearing all kinds of flowers and fruits.
वृतां पुष्करिणीभिश्च नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम्। सदा मत्तैश्च विहगैर्विचित्रां परमाद्भुतैः
Surrounded by lotus ponds, adorned with diverse flowers, always filled with intoxicated and wondrous birds.
ईहामृगैश्च विविधैर्वृतां दृष्टिमनोहरैः। वीथीः सम्प्रेक्षमाणश्च मणिकाञ्चनतोरणाम्
Encircled by various delightful animals, captivating to the eye, he gazed at avenues with jeweled and golden arches.
नानामृगगणाकीर्णां फलैः प्रपतितैर्वृताम्। अशोकवनिकामेव प्राविशत् संततद्रुमाम्
Crowded with groups of various animals, strewn with fallen fruits, he entered the Ashoka grove, dense with trees.
अंगनाः शतमात्रं तु तं व्रजन्तमनुव्रजन्। महेन्द्रमिव पौलस्त्यं देवगन्धर्वयोषितः
A hundred women followed him as he walked, like divine Gandharva maidens following Mahendra, the descendant of Pulastya.
दीपिकाः काञ्चनीः काश्चिज्जगृहुस्तत्र योषितः। वालव्यजनहस्ताश्च तालवृन्तानि चापराः
Some women there took golden lamps, others held fly-whisks made of hair, and some carried palm fans.
काञ्चनैश्चैव भृंगारैर्जह्रुः सलिलमग्रतः। मण्डलाग्रा बृसीश्चैव गृह्यान्याः पृष्ठतो ययुः
Others took water in golden vessels ahead, while some, holding circular fans, followed behind.
काचिद् रत्नमयीं पात्रीं पूर्णां पानस्य भ्राजतीम्। दक्षिणा दक्षिणेनैव तदा जग्राह पाणिना
One woman took up, with her right hand, a radiant drinking vessel made of gems, filled to the brim.
राजहंसप्रतीकाशं छत्रं पूर्णशशिप्रभम्। सौवर्णदण्डमपरा गृहीत्वा पृष्ठतो ययौ
Another, holding behind him a parasol gleaming like the full moon, with a golden handle and resembling a royal swan, followed.
निद्रामदपरीताक्ष्यो रावणस्योत्तमस्त्रियः। अनुजग्मुः पतिं वीरं घनं विद्युल्लता इव
Rāvaṇa’s finest women, their eyes unclouded by sleep or intoxication, followed their heroic lord like lightning trailing a cloud.
व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः समामृदितवर्णकाः। समागलितकेशान्ताः सस्वेदवदनास्तथा
Their necklaces and armlets were askew, their complexions dulled, their hair disheveled, and their faces moist with sweat.
घूर्णन्त्यो मदशेषेण निद्रया च शुभाननाः। स्वेदक्लिष्टांगकुसुमाः समाल्याकुलमूर्धजाः
Swaying from intoxication and drowsiness, their lovely faces glistened with sweat, their garlands wilted, and their hair was tangled with flowers.
स च कामपराधीनः पतिस्तासां महाबलः। सीतासक्तमना मन्दो मन्दाञ्चितगतिर्बभौ
Their mighty lord, enslaved by desire, his mind fixed on Sītā, moved slowly and appeared dull.
ततः काञ्चीनिनादं च नूपुराणां च निःस्वनम्। शुश्राव परमस्त्रीणां कपिर्मारुतनन्दनः
Hanumān, son of the wind, heard the jingling of girdles and the tinkling of anklets from those noble women.
तं चाप्रतिमकर्माणमचिन्त्यबलपौरुषम्। द्वारदेशमनुप्राप्तं ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः
Hanumān saw him—of incomparable deeds and unimaginable strength—approaching the doorway.
दीपिकाभिरनेकाभिः समन्तादवभासितम्। गन्धतैलावसिक्ताभिर्ध्रियमाणाभिरग्रतः
He was surrounded on all sides by many lamps, held in front by women whose bodies were anointed with fragrant oils.
कामदर्पमदैर्युक्तं जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम्। समक्षमिव कंदर्पमपविद्धशरासनम्
His eyes were wide, coppery, and sidelong from passion, pride, and intoxication; he looked like Kāmadeva himself, his bow cast aside.
मथितामृतफेनाभमरजोवस्त्रमुत्तमम्। सपुष्पमवकर्षन्तं विमुक्तं सक्तमंगदे
He wore a fine upper garment, white as churned nectar-foam, adorned with flowers, loosened and caught on his armlet.