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.
तद् दृष्ट्वा व्यादितं त्वास्यं ह्रस्वं ह्यकरवं पुनः। तस्मिन् मुहूर्ते च पुनर्बभूवाङ्गुष्ठसम्मितः
Seeing her mouth thus opened, I made myself small again; in that instant, I became the size of a thumb.
अभिपत्याशु तद्वक्त्रं निर्गतोऽहं ततः क्षणात् । अब्रवीत् सुरसा देवी स्वेन रूपेण मां पुनः
Swiftly entering her mouth, I came out again in a moment; then the goddess Surasā, in her own form, spoke to me.
अर्थसिद्धौ हरिश्रेष्ठ गच्छ सौम्य यथासुखम्। समानय च वैदेहीं राघवेण महात्मना
O best of monkeys, go, gentle one, and accomplish your purpose as you wish; bring back Vaidehī to the great-souled Rāghava.
सुखी भव महाबाहो प्रीतास्मि तव वानर। ततोऽहं साधुसाध्वीति सर्वभूतैः प्रशंसितः
Be happy, mighty-armed one; I am pleased with you, O monkey. Then I was praised by all beings, saying, 'Well done! Well done!'
ततोऽन्तरिक्षं विपुलं प्लुतोऽहं गरुडो यथा। छाया मे निगृहीता च न च पश्यामि किंचन
Then I soared through the vast sky like Garuḍa; my shadow was seized, but I saw nothing.
सोऽहं विगतवेगस्तु दिशो दश विलोकयन्। न किंचित् तत्र पश्यामि येन मे विहता गतिः
Then, my speed gone, I looked in all ten directions; I saw nothing there by which my movement was hindered.
अथ मे बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना किंनाम गमने मम। ईदृशो विघ्न उत्पन्नो रूपमत्र न दृश्यते
Then a thought arose in me: 'What is this that obstructs my journey? Such an obstacle has appeared, but no form is seen here.'
अधोभागे तु मे दृष्टिः शोचतः पतिता तदा। तत्राद्राक्षमहं भीमां राक्षसीं सलिलेशयाम्
Then, as I grieved, my gaze fell downward, and there I saw a terrifying rākṣasī lying in the water.
प्रहस्य च महानादमुक्तोऽहं भीमया तया। अवस्थितमसम्भ्रान्तमिदं वाक्यमशोभनम्
She let out a great roar of laughter, and, unshaken, I heard her utter these harsh words to me.
क्वासि गन्ता महाकाय क्षुधिताया ममेप्सितः। भक्षः प्रीणय मे देहं चिरमाहारवर्जितम्
"Where are you going, great-bodied one? You are the meal I desire for my hunger. Satisfy me with your body, which has long been deprived of food."