न स शक्यस्तुलयितुं व्यसनैः पुरुषर्षभः। अहं तस्यानुभावज्ञा शक्रस्येव पुलोमजा
That best among men cannot be equated with adversity; I know his greatness, as Pulomajā knows Indra's.
शरजालांशुमान् शूरः कपे रामदिवाकरः। शत्रुरक्षोमयं तोयमुपशोषं नयिष्यति
O monkey, Rāma, radiant like the sun and heroic, will dry up the ocean of rākṣasa enemies with his arrows.
इति संजल्पमानां तां रामार्थे शोककर्शिताम्। अश्रुसम्पूर्णवदनामुवाच हनुमान् कपिः
As she spoke thus, distressed for Rāma and worn by sorrow, her face filled with tears, Hanumān the monkey addressed her.
श्रुत्वैव च वचो मह्यं क्षिप्रमेष्यति राघवः। चमूं प्रकर्षन् महतीं हर्यृक्षगणसंकुलाम्
As soon as he hears my words, Rāghava will swiftly come, leading a great army teeming with troops of monkeys and bears.
अथवा मोचयिष्यामि त्वामद्यैव सराक्षसात्। अस्माद् दुःखादुपारोह मम पृष्ठमनिन्दिते
Or else, I will free you today itself from these Rākṣasas; ascend onto my back, O faultless one, and escape this sorrow.
त्वां तु पृष्ठगतां कृत्वा संतरिष्यामि सागरम्। शक्तिरस्ति हि मे वोढुं लङ्कामपि सरावणाम्
Placing you upon my back, I will cross the ocean; for I have the power even to carry Lanka together with Rāvaṇa.
अहं प्रस्रवणस्थाय राघवायाद्य मैथिलि। प्रापयिष्यामि शक्राय हव्यं हुतमिवानलः
Today, O Maithilī, I will deliver you, standing at Prasravaṇa, to Rāghava, just as fire delivers the oblation to Indra.
द्रक्ष्यस्यद्यैव वैदेहि राघवं सहलक्ष्मणम्। व्यवसायसमायुक्तं विष्णुं दैत्यवधे यथा
Today itself, O Vaidehī, you will see Rāghava with Lakṣmaṇa, resolute in purpose, like Viṣṇu intent on slaying the Daityas.
त्वद्दर्शनकृतोत्साहमाश्रमस्थं महाबलम्। पुरंदरमिवासीनं नगराजस्य मूर्धनि
You will see the mighty one, filled with zeal from seeing you, dwelling in the hermitage, seated like Indra upon the summit of the lord of mountains.
पृष्ठमारोह मे देवि मा विकाङ्क्षस्व शोभने। योगमन्विच्छ रामेण शशाङ्केनेव रोहिणी
Climb onto my back, O lady, do not hesitate, O beautiful one; seek union with Rāma, as Rohiṇī with the moon.
कथयन्तीव शशिना संगमिष्यसि रोहिणी। मत्पृष्ठमधिरोह त्वं तराकाशं महार्णवम्
As if conversing with the moon, Rohiṇī will unite; you, ascend my back and cross the vast ocean of stars.
नहि मे सम्प्रयातस्य त्वामितो नयतोऽङ्गने। अनुगन्तुं गतिं शक्ताः सर्वे लङ्कानिवासिनः
No one among the inhabitants of Lanka, O lady, would be able to follow my path as I depart from here carrying you.
यथैवाहमिह प्राप्तस्तथैवाहमसंशयम्। यास्यामि पश्य वैदेहि त्वामुद्यम्य विहायसम्
Just as I arrived here, so without doubt I will return; see, O Vaidehī, as I carry you through the sky.
मैथिली तु हरिश्रेष्ठाच्छ्रुत्वा वचनमद्भुतम्। हर्षविस्मितसर्वाङ्गी हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत्
But Maithilī, hearing these wondrous words from the best of monkeys, with her whole body amazed and delighted, then spoke to Hanūman.
हनूमन् दूरमध्वानं कथं मां नेतुमिच्छसि। तदेव खलु ते मन्ये कपित्वं हरियूथप
Hanūman, how do you wish to carry me such a long distance? Surely this is your monkey-nature, O leader of the monkeys.
कथं चाल्पशरीरस्त्वं मामितो नेतुमिच्छसि। सकाशं मानवेन्द्रस्य भर्तुर्मे प्लवगर्षभ
How, with such a small body, do you wish to take me from here to my lord, the king of men, O best of monkeys?
सीतायास्तु वचः श्रुत्वा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः। चिन्तयामास लक्ष्मीवान् नवं परिभवं कृतम्
Hearing Sītā’s words, Hanūman, son of the wind, reflected, feeling that a new slight had been made against him.
न मे जानाति सत्त्वं वा प्रभावं वासितेक्षणा। तस्मात् पश्यतु वैदेही यद् रूपं मम कामतः
She does not know my true nature or my power, O wide-eyed one; therefore, let Vaidehī see the form I wish.
इति संचिन्त्य हनुमांस्तदा प्लवगसत्तमः। दर्शयामास सीतायाः स्वरूपमरिमर्दनः
Thinking thus, Hanūman, the best of monkeys and destroyer of foes, then revealed his true form to Sītā.
स तस्मात् पादपाद् धीमानाप्लुत्य प्लवगर्षभः। ततो वर्धितुमारेभे सीताप्रत्ययकारणात्
Leaping up from that tree, the wise and foremost monkey began to increase his size, to give Sītā confidence.
हरिः पर्वतसंकाशस्ताम्रवक्त्रो महाबलः। वज्रदंष्ट्रनखो भीमो वैदेहीमिदमब्रवीत्
The monkey, resembling a mountain, with coppery face, great strength, terrible with diamond-like fangs and claws, spoke these words to Vaidehī.
सपर्वतवनोद्देशां साट्टप्राकारतोरणाम्। लङ्कामिमां सनाथां वा नयितुं शक्तिरस्ति मे
I have the power to lead this Lanka, with its mountains, forests, and fortified gates, and with its guardians, wherever I wish.
तदवस्थाप्यतां बुद्धिरलं देवि विकाङ्क्षया। विशोकं कुरु वैदेहि राघवं सहलक्ष्मणम्
Therefore, let your mind be steady, O lady, and do not long anxiously; make Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa free from sorrow, O Vaidehi.
तं दृष्ट्वाचलसंकाशमुवाच जनकात्मजा। पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षी मारुतस्यौरसं सुतम्
Seeing him, like a mountain, the daughter of Janaka, whose eyes are wide as lotus petals, spoke to the son born of the wind.
तव सत्त्वं बलं चैव विजानामि महाकपे। वायोरिव गतिश्चापि तेजश्चाग्नेरिवाद्भुतम्
I know your courage and strength, O great monkey; your speed is like the wind, and your brilliance is as wondrous as fire.
प्राकृतोऽन्यः कथं चेमां भूमिमागन्तुमर्हति। उदधेरप्रमेयस्य पारं वानरयूथप
How could any ordinary being reach this land, O leader of monkeys, or cross the boundless ocean?
जानामि गमने शक्तिं नयने चापि ते मम। अवश्यं सम्प्रधार्याशु कार्यसिद्धिरिवात्मनः
I know your ability to travel and to guide me; surely, swift accomplishment of the task is certain for you.
अयुक्तं तु कपिश्रेष्ठ मया गन्तुं त्वया सह। वायुवेगसवेगस्य वेगो मां मोहयेत् तव
But it is not proper, O foremost monkey, for me to go with you; the speed of your movement, equal to the wind, would bewilder me.
अहमाकाशमासक्ता उपर्युपरि सागरम्। प्रपतेयं हि ते पृष्ठाद् भूयो वेगेन गच्छतः
Suspended in the sky, above the ocean, I would surely fall from your back as you swiftly move.
पतिता सागरे चाहं तिमिनक्रझषाकुले। भवेयमाशु विवशा यादसामन्नमुत्तमम्
Falling into the ocean, teeming with sharks and crocodiles, I would quickly become helpless, the finest food for aquatic creatures.