Sarga 52

Verse 1

अथ तानब्रवीत्सर्वान्विश्रान्तान्हरियूथपान्।इदं वचनमेकाग्रा तापसी धर्मचारिणी।।।।

Then, when all the monkey-leaders had rested, the righteous ascetic woman, with focused attention, spoke these words to them.

Verse 2

वानरा यदि वः खेदः प्रनष्टः फलभक्षणात्।यदि चैतन्मया श्राव्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम्।।।।

O monkeys, if your weariness has been dispelled by eating fruits, then tell me (your matter)—if it is something fit to be heard by me; I wish to listen.

Verse 3

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हनूमान्मारुतात्मजः।आर्जवेन यथातत्त्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे।।।।

Hearing her words, Hanumān—the son of the Wind-god—began to narrate the matter honestly and exactly as it was.

Verse 4

राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य महेन्द्रवरुणोपमः।रामो दाशरथिश्शीमान्प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम्।।।।लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा वैदेह्या चापि भार्यया।तस्य भार्या जनस्थानाद्रावणेन हृता बलात्।।।।

Rāma—Daśaratha’s illustrious son, a king revered by all the world, comparable to Indra and Varuṇa—entered the Daṇḍaka forest along with his brother Lakṣmaṇa and his wife Vaidehī. From Jana-sthāna, his wife was forcibly abducted by Rāvaṇa.

Verse 5

राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य महेन्द्रवरुणोपमः।रामो दाशरथिश्शीमान्प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम्।।4.52.4।।लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा वैदेह्या चापि भार्यया।तस्य भार्या जनस्थानाद्रावणेन हृता बलात्।।4.52.5।।

Rāma—Daśaratha’s illustrious son, a king revered by all the world, comparable to Indra and Varuṇa—entered the Daṇḍaka forest along with his brother Lakṣmaṇa and his wife Vaidehī. From Jana-sthāna, his wife was forcibly abducted by Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6

वीरस्तस्य सखा राज्ञस्सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः।राजा वानरमुख्यानां येन प्रस्थापिता वयम्।।4.52.6।।

A hero named Sugrīva, a monkey-king—the lord of the foremost vānaras—is that king’s friend; and it is by him that we have been dispatched (on this mission).

Verse 7

अगस्त्यचरितामाशां दक्षिणां यमरक्षिताम्।सहैभिर्वानरैर्घोरैरङ्गदप्रमुखैर्वयम्।।।।रावणं सहितास्सर्वे राक्षसं कामरूपिणम्।सीतया सह वैदेह्या मार्गध्वमिति चोदिताः।।।।

We, together with these formidable monkeys, with Aṅgada as our leader, have been sent toward the southern quarter—trodden by Agastya and guarded by Yama—commanded thus: ‘Search for Vaidehī Sītā, and (seek out) Rāvaṇa, the shape-shifting rākṣasa.’

Verse 8

अगस्त्यचरितामाशां दक्षिणां यमरक्षिताम्।सहैभिर्वानरैर्घोरैरङ्गदप्रमुखैर्वयम्।।4.52.7।।रावणं सहितास्सर्वे राक्षसं कामरूपिणम्।सीतया सह वैदेह्या मार्गध्वमिति चोदिताः।।4.52.8।।

We, together with these formidable monkeys, with Aṅgada as our leader, have been sent toward the southern quarter—trodden by Agastya and guarded by Yama—commanded thus: ‘Search for Vaidehī Sītā, and (seek out) Rāvaṇa, the shape-shifting rākṣasa.’

Verse 9

विचित्य तु वयं सर्वे समग्रां दक्षिणां दिशम्।परित्रान्ता बुभुक्षिता वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रिताः।।4.52.9।।

After searching the entire southern region, we all became utterly exhausted and hungry, and took shelter at the foot of a tree.

Verse 10

विवर्णवदनास्सर्वे सर्वे ध्यानपरायणाः।नाधिगच्छामहे पारं मग्नाश्चिन्तामहार्णवे।।।।

All of us were pale-faced, wholly absorbed in anxious thought; submerged in the great ocean of worry, we could find no shore—no way forward.

Verse 11

चारयन्तस्ततश्चक्षुर्दृष्टवन्तो वयं बिलम्।लतापादपसञ्च्छन्नं तिमिरेण समावृतम्।।।।

Then, as we cast our eyes about, we saw a cave—hidden by vines and trees, and covered over with darkness.

Verse 12

अस्माद्धंसा जलक्लिन्नाः पक्षैस्सलिलविस्रवैः।कुररास्सारसाश्चैव निष्पतन्ति पतत्रिणः।।।।

From this place, swans—drenched, their wings dripping with water—along with kuraras and sārasas, were seen flying out.

Verse 13

साध्वत्र प्रविशामेति मया तूक्ताः प्लवङ्गमाः।तेषामपि हि सर्वेषामनुमानमुपागतम्।।।।

“It is right—let us enter here,” I said to the monkeys; and indeed the same inference came to all of them.

Verse 14

गच्छाम प्रविशामेति भर्तृकार्यत्वरान्विताः।ततो गाढं निपतिता गृह्य हस्तौ परस्परम्।।।।

“Let us go, let us enter,” we said—driven by haste to accomplish our lord’s task. Then we plunged in, tightly holding one another’s hands.

Verse 15

इदं प्रविष्टास्सहसा बिलं तिमिरसंवृतम्।एतन्नः कार्यमेतेन कृत्येन वयमागताः।।।।त्वां चैवोपगतास्सर्वे परिद्यूना बुभुक्षिताः।

We entered at once into this cave, shrouded in darkness. Pursuing this very task, we came here—and all of us reached you, worn down and hungry.

Verse 16

आतिथ्यधर्मदत्तानि मूलानि च फलानि च।।।।अस्माभिरुपभुक्तानि बुभुक्षापरिपीडितैः।

The roots and fruits you gave in keeping with the dharma of hospitality were eaten by us, oppressed by hunger.

Verse 17

यत्त्वया रक्षितास्सर्वे म्रियमाणा बुभुक्षया।।।।ब्रूहि प्रत्युपकारार्थं किं ते कुर्वन्तु वानराः।

Since you saved all of us when we were dying of hunger, tell us what the monkeys should do to repay you in return.

Verse 18

एवमुक्ता तु धर्मज्ञैर्वानरैस्तैस्स्वयंप्रभा।।।।प्रत्युवाच ततस्सर्वानिदं वानरपुङ्गवान्।

Thus addressed by those monkeys who knew dharma, Svayaṃprabhā then replied with these words to all the foremost monkey-leaders.

Verse 19

सर्वेषां परितुष्टाऽस्मि वानराणां तरस्विनाम्।।।।चरन्त्या मम धर्मेण न कार्यमिह केनचित्।

I am fully pleased with all of you swift and vigorous monkeys. Since I am living in accordance with my dharma, I have no need here of service from anyone.