अथाब्रवीत् तदा साध्वी सीता सर्वाङ्गशोभना। रक्षसां कामरूपाणां विज्ञाने का गतिर्मम
Then that virtuous and radiant Sītā replied: What recourse do I have in discerning the forms of these shape-shifting demons?
यूयमेवास्य जानीत योऽयं यद् वा करिष्यति। अहिरेव ह्यहेः पादान् विजानाति न संशयः
You alone know who he is and what he will do; just as a serpent knows the feet of another serpent, without doubt.
अहमप्यतिभीतास्मि नैव जानामि को ह्ययम्। वेद्मि राक्षसमेवैनं कामरूपिणमागतम्
I too am exceedingly afraid; I do not know who he is. I think he is a demon, come here in whatever form he wishes.
वैदेह्या वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षस्यो विद्रुता द्रुतम्। स्थिताः काश्चिद्गताः काश्चिद् रावणाय निवेदितुम्
Hearing Vaidehī’s words, the demonesses quickly scattered; some remained, while others went to inform Rāvaṇa.
रावणस्य समीपे तु राक्षस्यो विकृताननाः। विरूपं वानरं भीमं रावणाय न्यवेदिषुः
In the presence of Rāvaṇa, the demonesses with distorted faces reported about the dreadful, monstrous monkey.
अशोकवनिकामध्ये राजन् भीमवपुः कपिः। सीतया कृतसंवादस्तिष्ठत्यमितविक्रमः
O king, in the midst of the Aśoka grove stands a monkey of terrible form, who has conversed with Sītā and possesses immeasurable valor.
न च तं जानकी सीता हरिं हरिणलोचना। अस्माभिर्बहुधा पृष्टा निवेदयितुमिच्छति
But Janaka’s daughter, Sītā of deer-like eyes, though questioned by us in many ways, does not wish to reveal anything about that monkey.
वासवस्य भवेद् दूतो दूतो वैश्रवणस्य वा। प्रेषितो वापि रामेण सीतान्वेषणकाङ्क्षया
He might be a messenger of Indra, or a messenger of Kubera, or perhaps sent by Rāma himself, desiring to search for Sītā.
तेनैवाद्भुतरूपेण यत्तत्तव मनोहरम्। नानामृगगणाकीर्णं प्रमृष्टं प्रमदावनम्
With that same wondrous form—so captivating to the mind—he has ravaged the pleasure-garden, crowded with many kinds of deer.
न तत्र कश्चिदुद्देशो यस्तेन न विनाशितः। यत्र सा जानकी देवी स तेन न विनाशितः
There is no place in that garden which he did not destroy, except for the spot where Lady Jānakī is; that alone he left untouched.
जानकीरक्षणार्थं वा श्रमाद् वा नोपलक्ष्यते। अथवा कः श्रमस्तस्य सैव तेनाभिरक्षिता
Whether to protect Jānakī or from exhaustion, it is not clear; or perhaps, what fatigue could there be for him? She alone was guarded by him.
चारुपल्लवपत्राढ्यं यं सीता स्वयमास्थिता। प्रवृद्धः शिंशपावृक्षः स च तेनाभिरक्षितः
The great śiṃśapā tree, rich with lovely leaves, upon which Sītā herself sat, was also protected by him.
तस्योग्ररूपस्योग्रं त्वं दण्डमाज्ञातुमर्हसि। सीता सम्भाषिता येन वनं तेन विनाशितम्
You ought to order a severe punishment for that one of terrible form, by whom Sītā was spoken to and the garden was destroyed.
मनःपरिगृहीतां तां तव रक्षोगणेश्वर। कः सीतामभिभाषेत यो न स्यात् त्यक्तजीवितः
O lord of the rākṣasas, who but one who has abandoned his life would dare address Sītā, whom your mind has claimed?
राक्षसीनां वचः श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। चिताग्निरिव जज्वाल कोपसंवर्तितेक्षणः
Hearing the words of the rākṣasīs, Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, blazed like a funeral fire, his eyes rolling with wrath.
तस्य क्रुद्धस्य नेत्राभ्यां प्रापतन्नश्रुबिन्दवः। दीप्ताभ्यामिव दीपाभ्यां सार्चिषः स्नेहबिन्दवः
From his angry eyes fell drops of tears, like drops of oil from blazing lamps.
आत्मनः सदृशान् वीरान् किंकरान्नाम राक्षसान्। व्यादिदेश महातेजा निग्रहार्थं हनूमतः
That mighty one, of great splendor, ordered his attendants—the rākṣasas called Kiṃkaras, heroes like himself—to subdue Hanumān.
तेषामशीतिसाहस्रं किंकराणां तरस्विनाम्। निर्ययुर्भवनात् तस्मात् कूटमुद्गरपाणयः
Eighty thousand of those swift Kiṃkaras, armed with clubs and maces, came out from that palace.
महोदरा महादंष्ट्रा घोररूपा महाबलाः। युद्धाभिमनसः सर्वे हनूमद्ग्रहणोन्मुखाः
Huge-bellied, with great fangs, terrifying in form, of immense strength, all eager for battle, they set out to capture Hanumān.
ते कपिं तं समासाद्य तोरणस्थमवस्थितम्। अभिपेतुर्महावेगाः पतंगा इव पावकम्
They approached that monkey, standing on the gateway, and rushed at him with great speed, like moths toward a flame.
ते गदाभिर्विचित्राभिः परिघैः काञ्चनाङ्गदैः। आजग्मुर्वानरश्रेष्ठं शरैरादित्यसंनिभैः
With wondrous maces and iron bars adorned with golden bands, and arrows shining like the sun, they advanced upon the foremost of monkeys.
मुद्गरैः पट्टिशैः शूलैः प्रासतोमरपाणयः। परिवार्य हनूमन्तं सहसा तस्थुरग्रतः
With clubs, spears, lances, javelins, and axes in hand, they surrounded Hanumān and suddenly stood before him.
हनूमानपि तेजस्वी श्रीमान् पर्वतसंनिभः। क्षितावाविद्ध्य लाङ्गूलं ननाद च महाध्वनिम्
Hanumān, radiant and glorious, resembling a mountain, struck his tail upon the ground and let out a mighty roar.
स भूत्वा तु महाकायो हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः। पुच्छमास्फोटयामास लङ्कां शब्देन पूरयन्
Then Hanumān, son of the wind, assuming a gigantic form, thrashed his tail, filling Laṅkā with sound.
तस्यास्फोटितशब्देन महता चानुनादिना। पेतुर्विहङ्गा गगनादुच्चैश्चेदमघोषयत्
At the great, resounding noise of his tail's beating, birds fell from the sky, and the earth echoed with that tumult.
जयत्यतिबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः। राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः
Victorious is mighty Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa of great strength; victorious is King Sugrīva, protected by Rāghava.
दासोऽहं कोसलेन्द्रस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। हनूमान् शत्रुसैन्यानां निहन्ता मारुतात्मजः
I am the servant of the king of Kosala, Rāma, whose deeds are unwearied; I am Hanumān, son of the Wind, destroyer of enemy armies.
न रावणसहस्रं मे युद्धे प्रतिबलं भवेत्। शिलाभिश्च प्रहरतः पादपैश्च सहस्रशः
Not even a thousand Rāvaṇas could match me in battle, as I strike with rocks and trees by the thousands.
अर्दयित्वा पुरीं लङ्कामभिवाद्य च मैथिलीम्। समृद्धार्थो गमिष्यामि मिषतां सर्वरक्षसाम्
Having struck terror into the city of Laṅkā and saluted Maithilī, I shall depart, my purpose accomplished, before the eyes of all the rākṣasas.
तस्य संनादशब्देन तेऽभवन् भयशङ्किताः। ददृशुश्च हनूमन्तं संध्यामेघमिवोन्नतम्
At the sound of his roar, they became filled with fear and suspicion; and they saw Hanumān, towering like a cloud at dusk.