ततस्तस्य गिरेः शृङ्गे महेन्द्रस्य महाबलाः। हनुमत्प्रमुखाः प्रीतिं हरयो जग्मुरुत्तमाम्
Then, on the summit of that mountain, Mahendra, the mighty monkeys led by Hanuman experienced supreme joy.
प्रीतिमत्सूपविष्टेषु वानरेषु महात्मसु। तं ततः प्रतिसंहृष्टः प्रीतियुक्तं महाकपिम्
As the noble monkeys, filled with joy, sat together, then Jāmbavān, delighted, addressed the great monkey with affection.
जाम्बवान् कार्यवृत्तान्तमपृच्छदनिलात्मजम्। कथं दृष्टा त्वया देवी कथं वा तत्र वर्तते
Jāmbavān asked Hanuman, the son of the wind, about the course of events: 'How did you see the Lady? And how does she fare there?'
तस्यां चापि कथं वृत्तः क्रूरकर्मा दशाननः। तत्त्वतः सर्वमेतन्नः प्रब्रूहि त्वं महाकपे
'And how did the cruel Ravana behave towards her? Tell us all this truthfully, O great monkey.'
सम्मार्गिता कथं देवी किं च सा प्रत्यभाषत। श्रुतार्थाश्चिन्तयिष्यामो भूयः कार्यविनिश्चयम्
'How was the Lady searched for, and what did she say in reply? Once we have heard the facts, we will again consider what action to take.'
यश्चार्थस्तत्र वक्तव्यो गतैरस्माभिरात्मवान्। रक्षितव्यं च यत्तत्र तद् भवान् व्याकरोतु नः
'And whatever should be said or done by us who have returned, and what must be protected there, let that be explained to us by you.'
स नियुक्तस्ततस्तेन सम्प्रहृष्टतनूरुहः। नमस्यन् शिरसा देव्यै सीतायै प्रत्यभाषत
Thus instructed by him, Hanuman, his hair standing on end with joy, bowed his head to the goddess Sita and began to speak.
प्रत्यक्षमेव भवतां महेन्द्राग्रात् खमाप्लुतः। उदधेर्दक्षिणं पारं काङ्क्षमाणः समाहितः
'Right before your eyes, leaping from the peak of Mahendra, I set out, intent on reaching the southern shore of the ocean.'
गच्छतश्च हि मे घोरं विघ्नरूपमिवाभवत्। काञ्चनं शिखरं दिव्यं पश्यामि सुमनोहरम्
'As I was going, a terrible obstacle appeared to me, taking the form of a golden, wondrous, and most delightful mountain.'
स्थितं पन्थानमावृत्य मेने विघ्नं च तं नगम्। उपसंगम्य तं दिव्यं काञ्चनं नगमुत्तमम्
'That mountain stood blocking my path, and I considered it an obstacle. Approaching that divine, golden, and excellent mountain—'
कृता मे मनसा बुद्धिर्भेत्तव्योऽयं मयेति च। प्रहतस्य मया तस्य लाङ्गूलेन महागिरेः
'I resolved in my mind: "I must break through this." Striking that great mountain with my tail—'
शिखरं सूर्यसंकाशं व्यशीर्यत सहस्रधा। व्यवसायं च तं बुद्ध्वा स होवाच महागिरिः
'Its peak, shining like the sun, shattered into a thousand pieces by my blow. Then, recognizing my resolve, the great mountain spoke.'
पुत्रेति मधुरां वाणीं मनः प्रह्लादयन्निव। पितृव्यं चापि मां विद्धि सखायं मातरिश्वनः
'Calling me "son" in a sweet voice that gladdened my heart, he said: "Know me as your father's brother, a friend of the Wind-god."'
मैनाकमिति विख्यातं निवसन्तं महोदधौ। पक्षवन्तः पुरा पुत्र बभूवुः पर्वतोत्तमाः
'I am known as Mainaka, dwelling in the great ocean. In ancient times, O son, the best of mountains had wings.'
छन्दतः पृथिवीं चेरुर्बाधमानाः समन्ततः। श्रुत्वा नगानां चरितं महेन्द्रः पाकशासनः
'At will, they roamed the earth, troubling it on all sides. Hearing of the mountains' deeds, Mahendra, the lord of the gods—'
वज्रेण भगवान् पक्षौ चिच्छेदैषां सहस्रशः। अहं तु मोचितस्तस्मात् तव पित्रा महात्मना
'With his thunderbolt, the blessed one cut off their wings by the thousands. But I was saved from that by your great-souled father.'
मारुतेन तदा वत्स प्रक्षिप्तो वरुणालये। राघवस्य मया साह्ये वर्तितव्यमरिंदम
'At that time, O child, the Wind-god placed me in Varuna's abode. I must now assist Raghava, the subduer of foes.'
रामो धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो महेन्द्रसमविक्रमः। एतच्छ्रुत्वा मया तस्य मैनाकस्य महात्मनः
'Rama, the best among upholders of righteousness, equal in valor to Mahendra—hearing this from the great-souled Mainaka—'
कार्यमावेद्य च गिरेरुद्धतं वै मनो मम। तेन चाहमनुज्ञातो मैनाकेन महात्मना
'Having informed the mountain of my mission, my mind remained resolute. Then, with Mainaka's permission, I continued on my way.'
स चाप्यन्तर्हितः शैलो मानुषेण वपुष्मता। शरीरेण महाशैलः शैलेन च महोदधौ
And that mountain, concealed, took on a human form; the great mountain entered the ocean with a body like a man.
उत्तमं जवमास्थाय शेषमध्वानमास्थितः। ततोऽहं सुचिरं कालं जवेनाभ्यगमं पथि
Having assumed the utmost speed, I set out on the remaining path; then, after a long time, I traveled swiftly along the way.
ततः पश्याम्यहं देवीं सुरसां नागमातरम्। समुद्रमध्ये सा देवी वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
Then I saw the goddess Surasā, mother of the serpents, in the middle of the ocean; that goddess spoke these words to me.
मम भक्ष्यः प्रदिष्टस्त्वममरैर्हरिसत्तम। ततस्त्वां भक्षयिष्यामि विहितस्त्वं हि मे सुरैः
You have been appointed as my food by the gods, O best of monkeys; therefore I will devour you, for you have been assigned to me by the gods.
एवमुक्तः सुरसया प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतः स्थितः। विवर्णवदनो भूत्वा वाक्यं चेदमुदीरयम्
Thus addressed by Surasā, I stood with joined palms, bowing, my face drained of color, and spoke these words.
रामो दाशरथिः श्रीमान् प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम्। लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा सीतया च परंतपः
Rāma, son of Daśaratha, glorious and mighty, has entered the Daṇḍaka forest with his brother Lakṣmaṇa and his wife Sītā.
तस्य सीता हृता भार्या रावणेन दुरात्मना। तस्याः सकाशं दूतोऽहं गमिष्ये रामशासनात्
His wife Sītā was abducted by the wicked Rāvaṇa; by Rāma's command, I am going as a messenger to her.
कर्तुमर्हसि रामस्य साहाय्यं विषये सती। अथवा मैथिलीं दृष्ट्वा रामं चाक्लिष्टकारिणम्
You ought to assist Rāma in this matter; or, after seeing Maithilī and the blameless Rāma, you may act as you wish.
आगमिष्यामि ते वक्त्रं सत्यं प्रतिशृणोमि ते। एवमुक्ता मया सा तु सुरसा कामरूपिणी
I will enter your mouth and return; I promise you this truly. Thus addressed by me, Surasā, the wish-formed, replied.
अब्रवीन्नातिवर्तेत कश्चिदेष वरो मम। एवमुक्तः सुरसया दशयोजनमायतः
She said, 'No one can surpass this; such is my boon.' Thus addressed by Surasā, I became ten yojanas long.
ततोऽर्धगुणविस्तारो बभूवाहं क्षणेन तु। मत्प्रमाणाधिकं चैव व्यादितं तु मुखं तया
Then, in a moment, I became half as wide as before; and she opened her mouth wider than my own size.