शिरोभिर्दशभिर्वीरो भ्राजमानं महौजसम्। नानाव्यालसमाकीर्णैः शिखरैरिव मन्दरम्
A hero with ten heads, shining with immense energy, like Mount Mandara crowned with peaks swarming with many serpents.
नीलाञ्जनचयप्रख्यं हारेणोरसि राजता। पूर्णचन्द्राभवक्त्रेण सबालार्कमिवाम्बुदम्
His chest adorned with a silver necklace, dark as a mass of black collyrium, his face full as the moon, like a rain cloud with the sun and young moon.
बाहुभिर्बद्धकेयूरैश्चन्दनोत्तमरूषितैः। भ्राजमानाङ्गदैर्भीमैः पञ्चशीर्षैरिवोरगैः
His arms, adorned with bracelets and smeared with the finest sandal, gleamed with mighty armlets, like five-hooded serpents.
महति स्फाटिके चित्रे रत्नसंयोगचित्रिते। उत्तमास्तरणास्तीर्णे सूपविष्टं वरासने
Seated on a splendid, jeweled, crystal throne, spread with the finest coverings.
अलंकृताभिरत्यर्थं प्रमदाभिः समन्ततः। वालव्यजनहस्ताभिरारात्समुपसेवितम्
Surrounded on all sides by exquisitely adorned women, attended from afar by those holding yak-tail fans.
दुर्धरेण प्रहस्तेन महापार्श्वेन रक्षसा। मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रतत्त्वज्ञैर्निकुम्भेन च मन्त्रिणा
With Durdhara, Prahasta, Mahāpārśva, and Nikumbha, ministers skilled in counsel, seated nearby.
उपोपविष्टं रक्षोभिश्चतुर्भिर्बलदर्पितम्। कृत्स्नं परिवृतं लोकं चतुर्भिरिव सागरैः
Surrounded by four rākṣasas, proud in their strength, as if the whole world were encircled by the four oceans.
मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रतत्त्वज्ञैरन्यैश्च शुभदर्शिभिः। आश्वास्यमानं सचिवैः सुरैरिव सुरेश्वरम्
Comforted by ministers skilled in counsel and others of auspicious appearance, like the lord of the gods by the gods themselves.
अपश्यद् राक्षसपतिं हनूमानतितेजसम्। वेष्टितं मेरुशिखरे सतोयमिव तोयदम्
Hanuman beheld the lord of the rākṣasas, of surpassing brilliance, surrounded like a rain cloud on the summit of Mount Meru.
स तैः सम्पीड्यमानोऽपि रक्षोभिर्भीमविक्रमैः। विस्मयं परमं गत्वा रक्षोऽधिपमवैक्षत
Even while being pressed by those demons of terrible prowess, he, struck with utmost wonder, looked upon the lord of the demons.
भ्राजमानं ततो दृष्ट्वा हनुमान् राक्षसेश्वरम्। मनसा चिन्तयामास तेजसा तस्य मोहितः
Then, seeing the radiant king of the demons, Hanuman, his mind bewildered by that brilliance, began to reflect.
अहो रूपमहो धैर्यमहो सत्त्वमहो द्युतिः। अहो राक्षसराजस्य सर्वलक्षणयुक्तता
Ah, what form! Ah, what courage! Ah, what strength! Ah, what splendor! Ah, how the king of the demons possesses all the marks!
यद्यधर्मो न बलवान् स्यादयं राक्षसेश्वरः। स्यादयं सुरलोकस्य सशक्रस्यापि रक्षिता
If unrighteousness were not powerful, this lord of the demons would be the protector even of the world of the gods, along with Indra.
अस्य क्रूरैर्नृशंसैश्च कर्मभिर्लोककुत्सितैः। सर्वे बिभ्यति खल्वस्माल्लोकाः सामरदानवाः
Because of his cruel and merciless deeds, which are despised by the world, all beings, including gods and demons, truly fear him.
अयं ह्युत्सहते क्रुद्धः कर्तुमेकार्णवं जगत्। इति चिन्तां बहुविधामकरोन्मतिमान् कपिः। दृष्ट्वा राक्षसराजस्य प्रभावममितौजसः
Indeed, when enraged, he is capable of turning the world into a single ocean. Thus, the wise monkey pondered in many ways, having witnessed the might of the king of the demons, whose energy is immeasurable.
thumb|पञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे सुन्दरकाण्डे पञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥५-
Let the fiftieth chapter be heard. In the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Sundara Kāṇḍa, the fiftieth chapter.
तमुद्वीक्ष्य महाबाहुः पिङ्गाक्षं पुरतः स्थितम्। रोषेण महताऽऽविष्टो रावणो लोकरावणः
Seeing him standing before him, the mighty-armed, tawny-eyed Ravana, the terror of the worlds, was seized by great wrath.
शङ्काहतात्मा दध्यौ स कपीन्द्रं तेजसा वृतम्। किमेष भगवान् नन्दी भवेत् साक्षादिहागतः
His mind struck by suspicion, he contemplated the monkey king, adorned with brilliance: 'Could this be the divine Nandi himself, arrived here in person?'
येन शप्तोऽस्मि कैलासे मया प्रहसिते पुरा। सोऽयं वानरमूर्तिः स्यात्किंस्विद् बाणोऽपि वासुरः
'By whom I was cursed on Kailāsa, when I once laughed. Could this be that one in the form of a monkey, or perhaps Bāṇa, or even an Asura?'
स राजा रोषताम्राक्षः प्रहस्तं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्। कालयुक्तमुवाचेदं वचो विपुलमर्थवत्
The king, his eyes reddened with anger, addressed Prahasta, the foremost among ministers, at the proper time, speaking these extensive and meaningful words.
दुरात्मा पृच्छ्यतामेष कुतः किं वास्य कारणम्। वनभङ्गे च कोऽस्यार्थो राक्षसानां च तर्जने
'Let this wicked one be questioned: from where has he come, and what is his purpose? What is the reason for the destruction of the grove and the threatening of the demons?'
मत्पुरीमप्रधृष्यां वै गमने किं प्रयोजनम्। आयोधने वा कं कार्यं पृच्छ्यतामेष दुर्मतिः
'What is his intention in entering my impregnable city, or what is his aim in battle? Let this evil-minded one be questioned.'
रावणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्तो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। समाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते न भीः कार्या त्वया कपे
Hearing Ravana's words, Prahasta spoke: 'Be calm, blessings to you; you need not fear, O monkey.'
यदि तावत् त्वमिन्द्रेण प्रेषितो रावणालयम्। तत्त्वमाख्याहि मा ते भूद् भयं वानर मोक्ष्यसे
'If you have been sent here by Indra to Ravana's abode, speak the truth; do not be afraid, O monkey, you will be released.'
यदि वैश्रवणस्य त्वं यमस्य वरुणस्य च। चारुरूपमिदं कृत्वा प्रविष्टो नः पुरीमिमाम्
'If, having assumed this pleasing form, you have entered our city on behalf of Kubera, Yama, or Varuna—'
विष्णुना प्रेषितो वापि दूतो विजयकाङ्क्षिणा। नहि ते वानरं तेजो रूपमात्रं तु वानरम्
'Or if you have been sent by Vishnu, desiring victory, you are not truly a monkey; your brilliance is not merely that of a monkey.'
तत्त्वतः कथयस्वाद्य ततो वानर मोक्ष्यसे। अनृतं वदतश्चापि दुर्लभं तव जीवितम्
'Now speak the truth; then, O monkey, you will be released. If you speak falsely, your life will be hard to preserve.'
अथवा यन्निमित्तस्ते प्रवेशो रावणालये। एवमुक्तो हरिवरस्तदा रक्षोगणेश्वरम्
Or, for whatever reason you have entered the abode of Rāvaṇa, thus addressed, the foremost of monkeys then spoke to the lord of the rākṣasas.
अब्रवीन्नास्मि शक्रस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य च। धनदेन न मे सख्यं विष्णुना नास्मि चोदितः
He said, 'I am not an ally of Indra, Yama, or Varuṇa; nor am I sent by Kubera or Viṣṇu.'
जातिरेव मम त्वेषा वानरोऽहमिहागतः। दर्शने राक्षसेन्द्रस्य तदिदं दुर्लभं मया
'This alone is my nature: I am a monkey who has come here. The sight of the king of rākṣasas, which is difficult to obtain, has been achieved by me.'