स दर्भसंस्तराद् गृह्य ब्रह्मणोऽस्त्रेण योजयत्। स दीप्त इव कालाग्निर्जज्वालाभिमुखो द्विजम्
He took a blade of darbha grass from his mat and empowered it with the Brahma weapon; it blazed forth, facing the bird, like the fire of destruction.
स तं प्रदीप्तं चिक्षेप दर्भं तं वायसं प्रति। ततस्तु वायसं दर्भः सोऽम्बरेऽनुजगाम ह
He hurled that blazing blade of grass at the crow, and that blade pursued the crow through the sky.
अनुसृष्टस्तदा काको जगाम विविधां गतिम्। त्राणकाम इमं लोकं सर्वं वै विचचार ह
Pursued in this way, the crow took many different paths, wandering through the whole world seeking protection.
स पित्रा च परित्यक्तः सर्वैश्च परमर्षिभिः। त्रीँल्लोकान् सम्परिक्रम्य तमेव शरणं गतः
Abandoned by his father and all the great sages, he roamed the three worlds and finally sought refuge only with him.
स तं निपतितं भूमौ शरण्यः शरणागतम्। वधार्हमपि काकुत्स्थः कृपया पर्यपालयत्
He who gives refuge protected that crow, who had fallen to the ground and sought shelter, even though he deserved death, out of compassion.
परिद्यूनं विवर्णं च पतमानं तमब्रवीत्। मोघमस्त्रं न शक्यं तु ब्राह्मं कर्तुं तदुच्यताम्
He spoke to that crow, who was exhausted, pale, and falling: 'The Brahma weapon cannot be rendered fruitless; let it be told where it should strike.'
ततस्तस्याक्षि काकस्य हिनस्ति स्म स दक्षिणम्। दत्त्वा तु दक्षिणं नेत्रं प्राणेभ्यः परिरक्षितः
Then it struck the crow’s right eye; having given his right eye, his life was spared.
स रामाय नमस्कृत्वा राज्ञे दशरथाय च। विसृष्टस्तेन वीरेण प्रतिपेदे स्वमालयम्
Having bowed to Rāma and to King Daśaratha, he was released by that hero and returned to his own abode.
मत्कृते काकमात्रेऽपि ब्रह्मास्त्रं समुदीरितम्। कस्माद् यो माहरत् त्वत्तः क्षमसे तं महीपते
For my sake, even for the offense of a crow, the Brahma weapon was invoked; so why do you, O king, forgive the one who has wronged me?
आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मस्त्वत्त एव मया श्रुतम्। जानामि त्वां महावीर्यं महोत्साहं महाबलम्
From you I have heard that compassion is the highest virtue; I know you are of great strength, great energy, and great might.
अपारवारमक्षोभ्यं गाम्भीर्यात् सागरोपमम्। भर्तारं ससमुद्राया धरण्या वासवोपमम्
A lord as unfathomable and unshakable as the ocean in depth, the master of the earth with its seas, like Indra himself.
एवमस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठो बलवान् सत्त्ववानपि। किमर्थमस्त्रं रक्षःसु न योजयसि राघव
Thus, being the best among those skilled in weapons, powerful and steadfast, why, O Rāghava, do you not use your weapon against the demons?
न नागा नापि गन्धर्वा न सुरा न मरुद्गणाः। रामस्य समरे वेगं शक्ताः प्रतिसमीहितुम्
Neither serpents, nor Gandharvas, nor gods, nor hosts of Maruts are able to withstand Rāma’s force in battle.
तस्य वीर्यवतः कच्चिद् यद्यस्ति मयि सम्भ्रमः। किमर्थं न शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः क्षयं नयति राक्षसान्
If that valiant one has any concern for me, why does he not destroy the rakshasas with sharp arrows?
भ्रातुरादेशमादाय लक्ष्मणो वा परंतपः। कस्य हेतोर्न मां वीरः परित्राति महाबलः
Having received his brother’s command, does Lakshmana, the tormentor of foes, for some reason not rescue me, O mighty hero?
यदि तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ वाय्विन्द्रसमतेजसौ। सुराणामपि दुर्धर्षौ किमर्थं मामुपेक्षतः
If those two tigers among men, whose brilliance equals that of the wind and Indra, who are difficult even for the gods to withstand, why do they neglect me?
ममैव दुष्कृतं किंचिन्महदस्ति न संशयः। समर्थावपि तौ यन्मां नावेक्षेते परंतपौ
There is surely some great wrongdoing of mine; otherwise, though both are capable and destroyers of enemies, they do not look upon me.
वैदेह्या वचनं श्रुत्वा करुणं साश्रु भाषितम्। अथाब्रवीन्महातेजा हनूमान् हरियूथपः
Hearing Vaidehi’s words, spoken with tears and full of sorrow, Hanuman, the illustrious leader of the monkeys, then spoke.
त्वच्छोकविमुखो रामो देवि सत्येन ते शपे। रामे दुःखाभिपन्ने तु लक्ष्मणः परितप्यते
O lady, Rama is absorbed in your grief—I swear to you by truth; and when Rama is afflicted by sorrow, Lakshmana too is tormented.
कथंचिद् भवती दृष्टा न कालः परिशोचितुम्। इमं मुहूर्तं दुःखानामन्तं द्रक्ष्यसि शोभने
Somehow you have been found; now is not the time to grieve. O beautiful one, in this very moment you will see the end of your sorrows.
तावुभौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ राजपुत्रौ महाबलौ। त्वद्दर्शनकृतोत्साहौ लोकान् भस्मीकरिष्यतः
Those two tigers among men, royal sons of immense strength, inspired by the desire to see you, will reduce the worlds to ashes.
हत्वा च समरक्रूरं रावणं सहबान्धवम्। राघवस्त्वां विशालाक्षि स्वां पुरीं प्रति नेष्यति
After slaying Ravana, cruel in battle, along with his kinsmen, Raghava will bring you, wide-eyed one, back to his own city.
ब्रूहि यद् राघवो वाच्यो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः। सुग्रीवो वापि तेजस्वी हरयो वा समागताः
Tell me what message should be conveyed to Raghava, to mighty Lakshmana, to the radiant Sugriva, or to the assembled monkeys.
इत्युक्तवति तस्मिंश्च सीता पुनरथाब्रवीत्। कौसल्या लोकभर्तारं सुषुवे यं मनस्विनी
When Hanuman had spoken thus, Sita again replied: 'Kausalya, the noble-minded one, gave birth to the lord of the world.'
तं ममार्थे सुखं पृच्छ शिरसा चाभिवादय। स्रजश्च सर्वरत्नानि प्रियायाश्च वराङ्गनाः
For my sake, ask after his well-being and bow to him with your head; and to the beloved ladies, adorned with garlands and all jewels.
ऐश्वर्यं च विशालायां पृथिव्यामपि दुर्लभम्। पितरं मातरं चैव सम्मान्याभिप्रसाद्य च
Even the rarest sovereignty on the vast earth, honor and favor should be shown to his father and mother.
अनुप्रव्रजितो रामं सुमित्रा येन सुप्रजाः। आनुकूल्येन धर्मात्मा त्यक्त्वा सुखमनुत्तमम्
Sumitra’s virtuous son, who has accompanied Rama in exile, forsaking unsurpassed comfort out of loyalty.
अनुगच्छति काकुत्स्थं भ्रातरं पालयन् वने। सिंहस्कन्धो महाबाहुर्मनस्वी प्रियदर्शनः
He follows Kakutstha, protecting his brother in the forest; broad-shouldered, mighty-armed, thoughtful, and pleasing to behold.
पितृवद् वर्तते रामे मातृवन्मां समाचरत्। ह्रियमाणां तदा वीरो न तु मां वेद लक्ष्मणः
He acts towards Rama as a son would to a father, and towards me as a mother would; yet when I was being carried away, the hero Lakshmana did not know.
वृद्धोपसेवी लक्ष्मीवान् शक्तो न बहुभाषिता। राजपुत्रप्रियश्रेष्ठः सदृशः श्वशुरस्य मे
Lakshmana, who serves elders, is endowed with fortune, capable, not given to much speech, the best among those dear to the royal prince, and resembles my father-in-law.