ज्येष्ठस्तस्य महाबाहुः पुत्रः प्रियतरः प्रभुः। पितुर्निदेशान्निष्क्रान्तः प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम्
'His eldest son, mighty-armed, beloved, and powerful, departed to the Daṇḍaka forest at his father's command.'
लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्राता सीतया सह भार्यया। रामो नाम महातेजा धर्म्यं पन्थानमाश्रितः
'With his brother Lakṣmaṇa and his wife Sītā, Rāma by name, of great splendor, followed the righteous path.'
तस्य भार्या जनस्थाने भ्रष्टा सीतेति विश्रुता। वैदेहस्य सुता राज्ञो जनकस्य महात्मनः
'His wife, lost in Janasthāna, is renowned as Sītā, the daughter of King Janaka, the great-souled ruler of Videha.'
मार्गमाणस्तु तां देवीं राजपुत्रः सहानुजः। ऋष्यमूकमनुप्राप्तः सुग्रीवेण च संगतः
'While searching for that princess, the prince, with his younger brother, reached Ṛśyamūka and was united with Sugrīva.'
तस्य तेन प्रतिज्ञातं सीतायाः परिमार्गणम्। सुग्रीवस्यापि रामेण हरिराज्यं निवेदितुम्
'He promised to search for Sītā, and Rāma, in turn, pledged to restore Sugrīva to the kingship of the monkeys.'
ततस्तेन मृधे हत्वा राजपुत्रेण वालिनम्। सुग्रीवः स्थापितो राज्ये हर्यृक्षाणां गणेश्वरः
Then, after the prince slew Vāli in battle, Sugrīva was established in the kingdom as the lord of the hosts of monkeys and bears.
त्वया विज्ञातपूर्वश्च वाली वानरपुङ्गवः। स तेन निहतः संख्ये शरेणैकेन वानरः
You already knew Vāli, the foremost of monkeys; he was slain in combat by that one, with a single arrow.
स सीतामार्गणे व्यग्रः सुग्रीवः सत्यसंगरः। हरीन् सम्प्रेषयामास दिशः सर्वा हरीश्वरः
Engaged in the search for Sītā, Sugrīva, steadfast in his promise, swiftly sent out the monkeys in all directions, as their lord.
तां हरीणां सहस्राणि शतानि नियुतानि च। दिक्षु सर्वासु मार्गन्ते ह्यधश्चोपरि चाम्बरे
Thousands, hundreds of thousands of monkeys searched in every direction, below, above, and in the sky.
वैनतेयसमाः केचित् केचित् तत्रानिलोपमाः। असङ्गगतयः शीघ्रा हरिवीरा महाबलाः
Some were equal to Garuḍa, some like the wind; swift, unimpeded, mighty monkey heroes.
अहं तु हनुमान्नाम मारुतस्यौरसः सुतः। सीतायास्तु कृते तूर्णं शतयोजनमायतम्
But I am Hanumān by name, the true-born son of Vāyu; for Sītā's sake, I swiftly crossed the ocean, a hundred yojanas wide.
समुद्रं लङ्घयित्वैव त्वां दिदृक्षुरिहागतः। भ्रमता च मया दृष्टा गृहे ते जनकात्मजा
Having crossed the ocean, I came here desiring to see you; and while wandering, I saw Janaka's daughter in your house.
तद् भवान् दृष्टधर्मार्थस्तपःकृतपरिग्रहः। परदारान् महाप्राज्ञ नोपरोद्धुं त्वमर्हसि
Therefore, you who know righteousness and wealth, who have undertaken austerities, O wise one, you ought not to oppress another's wife.
नहि धर्मविरुद्धेषु बह्वपायेषु कर्मसु। मूलघातिषु सज्जन्ते बुद्धिमन्तो भवद्विधाः
For those like you, wise men, do not engage in acts that are unrighteous, dangerous, and destructive at their root.
कश्च लक्ष्मणमुक्तानां रामकोपानुवर्तिनाम्। शराणामग्रतः स्थातुं शक्तो देवासुरेष्वपि
Who among gods or demons could stand before the arrows released by Lakṣmaṇa, who follows Rāma's wrath?
न चापि त्रिषु लोकेषु राजन् विद्येत कश्चन। राघवस्य व्यलीकं यः कृत्वा सुखमवाप्नुयात्
Nor, O king, is there anyone in the three worlds who, having wronged Rāghava, could attain happiness.
तत् त्रिकालहितं वाक्यं धर्म्यमर्थानुयायि च। मन्यस्व नरदेवाय जानकी प्रतिदीयताम्
Therefore, consider these words, beneficial in all times, righteous and aligned with purpose: let Jānakī be returned to the lord of men.
दृष्टा हीयं मया देवी लब्धं यदिह दुर्लभम्। उत्तरं कर्म यच्छेषं निमित्तं तत्र राघवः
This goddess has been seen by me; if something rare has been gained here, the remaining task is for Rāghava, who is the cause in this matter.
लक्षितेयं मया सीता तथा शोकपरायणा। गृहे यां नाभिजानासि पञ्चास्यामिव पन्नगीम्
I have seen Sītā, devoted to sorrow, whom you do not recognize in your house, like a five-headed serpent.
नेयं जरयितुं शक्या सासुरैरमरैरपि। विषसंस्पृष्टमत्यर्थं भुक्तमन्नमिवौजसा
She cannot be subdued, not even by gods or demons, just as food touched by poison cannot be digested, however powerful one may be.
तपःसंतापलब्धस्ते सोऽयं धर्मपरिग्रहः। न स नाशयितुं न्याय्य आत्मप्राणपरिग्रहः
This righteousness you have gained through the heat of austerity—such a possession should not be destroyed, nor the possession of one's own life.
अवध्यतां तपोभिर्यां भवान् समनुपश्यति। आत्मनः सासुरैर्देवैर्हेतुस्तत्राप्ययं महान्
The invulnerability you perceive for yourself through austerities, even among gods and demons, has a great cause for its end here.
सुग्रीवो न च देवोऽयं न यक्षो न च राक्षसः। मानुषो राघवो राजन् सुग्रीवश्च हरीश्वरः। तस्मात् प्राणपरित्राणं कथं राजन् करिष्यसि
Sugrīva is not a god, nor a yakṣa, nor a demon; Rāghava is a man, O king, and Sugrīva is lord of the monkeys; therefore, how will you protect your life, O king?
न तु धर्मोपसंहारमधर्मफलसंहितम्। तदेव फलमन्वेति धर्मश्चाधर्मनाशनः
But the result of unrighteousness, which is bound to the fruit of wrongdoing, does not bring about the fulfillment of righteousness; indeed, righteousness destroys unrighteousness.
प्राप्तं धर्मफलं तावद् भवता नात्र संशयः। फलमस्याप्यधर्मस्य क्षिप्रमेव प्रपत्स्यसे
You have already obtained the fruit of righteousness—of this there is no doubt; but you will very soon reap the fruit of this unrighteousness as well.
जनस्थानवधं बुद्ध्वा वालिनश्च वधं तथा। रामसुग्रीवसख्यं च बुद्ध्यस्व हितमात्मनः
Reflect on the slaughter at Janasthāna, on the killing of Vāli, and on the alliance between Rāma and Sugrīva—consider what is truly beneficial for yourself.
कामं खल्वहमप्येकः सवाजिरथकुञ्जराम्। लङ्कां नाशयितुं शक्तस्तस्यैष तु न निश्चयः
Indeed, I alone am capable of destroying Laṅkā, along with its horses, chariots, and elephants; but that is not my resolve in this matter.
रामेण हि प्रतिज्ञातं हर्यृक्षगणसंनिधौ। उत्सादनममित्राणां सीता यैस्तु प्रधर्षिता
For Rāma has vowed, in the presence of the hosts of monkeys and bears, to annihilate those enemies by whom Sītā has been wronged.
अपकुर्वन् हि रामस्य साक्षादपि पुरंदरः। न सुखं प्राप्नुयादन्यः किं पुनस्त्वद्विधो जनः
Even Indra himself, if he were to harm Rāma, would not find happiness—how much less someone like you.
यां सीतेत्यभिजानासि येयं तिष्ठति ते गृहे। कालरात्रीति तां विद्धि सर्वलङ्काविनाशिनीम्
She whom you know as Sītā, who now dwells in your house—know her as the Night of Destruction, destined to bring ruin upon all of Laṅkā.