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.
न च शक्ष्ये त्वया सार्धं गन्तुं शत्रुविनाशन। कलत्रवति संदेहस्त्वयि स्यादप्यसंशयम्
Nor am I able to go with you, O destroyer of enemies; there would certainly be doubt about you, since you have a wife.
ह्रियमाणां तु मां दृष्ट्वा राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः। अनुगच्छेयुरादिष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना
Seeing me being carried away, the fierce and mighty rākṣasas, commanded by the wicked Rāvaṇa, would pursue us.
तैस्त्वं परिवृतः शूरैः शूलमुद्गरपाणिभिः। भवेस्त्वं संशयं प्राप्तो मया वीर कलत्रवान्
Surrounded by those warriors, armed with spears and maces, you would be in danger, O hero, because you have a wife with you.
सायुधा बहवो व्योम्नि राक्षसास्त्वं निरायुधः। कथं शक्ष्यसि संयातुं मां चैव परिरक्षितुम्
Many rākṣasas, armed, would be in the sky, while you are unarmed; how could you fight and protect me at the same time?
युध्यमानस्य रक्षोभिस्ततस्तैः क्रूरकर्मभिः। प्रपतेयं हि ते पृष्ठाद् भयार्ता कपिसत्तम
While you are fighting those rākṣasas, cruel in their actions, I would fall from your back, terrified, O best of monkeys.
अथ रक्षांसि भीमानि महान्ति बलवन्ति च। कथंचित् साम्पराये त्वां जयेयुः कपिसत्तम
Or, O best of monkeys, those fierce, mighty rākṣasas might somehow defeat you in battle.
अथवा युध्यमानस्य पतेयं विमुखस्य ते। पतितां च गृहीत्वा मां नयेयुः पापराक्षसाः
Or, while you are fighting and turn away, I might fall; then the wicked rākṣasas would seize me and take me away.
मां वा हरेयुस्त्वद्धस्ताद् विशसेयुरथापि वा। अनवस्थौ हि दृश्येते युद्धे जयपराजयौ
Either they would snatch me from your hand or kill me; for in battle, both victory and defeat are seen as uncertain.
अहं वापि विपद्येयं रक्षोभिरभितर्जिता। त्वत्प्रयत्नो हरिश्रेष्ठ भवेन्निष्फल एव तु
Or I might perish, threatened by the rākṣasas; your effort, O best of monkeys, would be entirely fruitless.
कामं त्वमपि पर्याप्तो निहन्तुं सर्वराक्षसान्। राघवस्य यशो हीयेत् त्वया शस्तैस्तु राक्षसैः
Indeed, you are fully capable of destroying all the rākṣasas; yet, the fame of Rāghava would diminish if the rākṣasas were slain by you.