Sarga 6

Verse 5.6.1

स निकामं विमानेषु निषण्णः कामरूपधृत्।विचचार पुनर्लङ्कां लाघवेन समन्वितः।।।।

Able to assume any form at will, he—having sat and searched in the lofty mansions without success—again began to range through Laṅkā, swift, light, and unwearied.

Verse 5.6.2

आससादाथ लक्ष्मीवान्राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनम्।प्राकारेणार्कवर्णेन भास्वरेणाभिसम्वृतम्।।।।

The great monkey leapt on—past Mahodara’s house and indeed Virūpākṣa’s, then to Vidyujjihva’s dwelling, likewise to Vidyunmālī’s, and so also to Vajradaṃṣṭra’s.

Verse 5.6.3

रक्षितं राक्षसैर्घोरैः सिंहैरिव महद्वनम्।समीक्षमाणो भवनं चकाशे कपिकुञ्जरः।।।।

Guarded by dreadful rākṣasas like a vast forest protected by lions, the mansion shone as the “elephant among monkeys,” Hanumān, beheld it.

Verse 5.6.4

रूप्यकोपहितै श्चित्रैस्तोरणैर्हेमभूषितैः।विचित्राभिश्च कक्ष्याभिर्द्वारैश्च रुचिरैर्वृतम्।।।।

It was surrounded by wondrous archways (toraṇas) inlaid with silver and adorned with gold, and by richly ornamented inner enclosures and beautiful gateways.

Verse 5.6.5

गजास्थितैर्महामात्रैः शूरैश्च विगतश्रमैः।उपस्थितमसंहार्यैः र्हयैः स्यन्दनयायिभिः।।।।

There were marvelous chariots constantly moving about—covered with lion- and tiger-skins, inlaid with ivory, gold, and silver, and ringing with sound.

Verse 5.6.6

सिंहव्याघ्रतनुत्राणैर्दान्तकाञ्चनराजतैः।घोषवद्भिर्विचित्रैश्च सदा विचरितं रथैः।।।।

It was strewn with many jewels, furnished with excellent seats and vessels, and had ample stations for great chariots—resounding with the deep tumult of mighty charioteers.

Verse 5.6.7

बहुरत्नसमाकीर्णं परार्थ्यसनभाजनम्।महारथसमावासं महारथमहास्वनम्।।।।

All around it was filled—by the thousands—with many kinds of pleasing and beautiful beasts and birds.

Verse 5.6.8

दृश्यैश्च परमोदारैस्तैस्तैश्च मृगपक्षिभिः।विविधै र्बहुसाहस्रैः परिपूर्णं समन्ततः।।।।

It was well protected by disciplined guards and rākṣasas, and everywhere it was filled with prominent and beautiful women.

Verse 5.6.9

विनीतैरन्तपालैश्च रक्षोभिश्च सुरक्षितम्।मुख्याभिश्च वरस्त्रीभिः परिपूर्णं समन्ततः।।।।

Hanumān entered a vast and delightful great mansion, like Kubera’s own abode—its floors damp with mead and liquor, its halls strewn with gem-studded vessels. It rang with the sounds of anklets and girdles, and with the beat of drums; it was joined to clusters of palaces and filled with hundreds of exquisite women, its inner apartments carefully laid out.

Verse 5.6.10

मुदितप्रमदारत्नं राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनम्।वराभरणसंह्रादैः समुद्रस्वनन्निस्वनम्।।।।

The dwelling of the lord of the rākṣasas glittered with the jewels of delighted women, and it resounded with the ringing of fine ornaments—like the ceaseless sound of the sea.

Verse 5.6.11

तद्राजगुणसम्पन्नं मुख्यैश्चागुरुचन्दनैः।महाजनैः समाकीर्णां सिंहैरिव महद्वनम्।।।।

That place seemed endowed with royal qualities, fragrant with choice agaru and sandal, and crowded with eminent figures—like a vast forest thronged with lions.

Verse 5.6.12

भेरीमृदङ्गाभिरुतं शङ्खघोषनिनादितम्।नित्यार्चितं पर्वहुतं पूजितं राक्षसैः सदा।।।।

It rang with trumpets and drums, echoed with conch-calls, and was continually worshipped—offerings being made on festival and lunar occasions—ever honored by the rākṣasas.

Verse 5.6.13

समुद्रमिव गम्भीरं समुद्रमिव निस्स्वनम्।महात्मनो महाद्वेश्म महारत्नपरिच्छदम्।।।।महारत्नसमाकीर्णं ददर्श स महाकपिः।

Deep as the sea and resounding as the sea, the great monkey beheld the vast mansion of that great one, adorned with superb gems and filled with precious treasures.

Verse 5.6.14

विराजमानं वपुषा गजाश्वरथसङ्कुलम्।।।।लङ्काभरणमित्येव सोऽमन्यत महाकपिः।चचार हनुमांस्तत्र रावणस्य समीपतः।।।।

Brilliant in appearance and thronged with elephants, horses, and chariots, it seemed to the great monkey to be the very ornament of Laṅkā. There Hanumān moved about, drawing near to Rāvaṇa’s quarters.

Verse 5.6.15

विराजमानं वपुषा गजाश्वरथसङ्कुलम्।।5.6.14।।लङ्काभरणमित्येव सोऽमन्यत महाकपिः।चचार हनुमांस्तत्र रावणस्य समीपतः।।5.6.15।।

Then Hanumān reached the dwelling of the lord of the rākṣasas, enclosed by a radiant boundary-wall, sun-red in hue and dazzling like the midday sun.

Verse 5.6.16

गृहाद्गृहं राक्षसानामुद्यानानि च वानरः।वीक्षमाणोऽह्यसंत्रस्तः प्रासादांश्च चचार सः।।।।

The great monkey considered it truly an ornament of Laṅkā; and there Hanumān moved about near Rāvaṇa’s quarters, remaining unobserved.

Verse 5.6.17

अवप्लुत्य महावेगः प्रहस्तस्य निवेशनम्।ततोऽन्यत्पुप्लुवे वेश्म महापार्श्वस्य वीर्यवान्।।।।

Undaunted, the vānara went from house to house among the rākṣasas, observing their pleasure-gardens and mansions as he moved about.

Verse 5.6.18

अथ मेघप्रतीकाशं कुम्भकर्णनिवेशनम्।विभीषणस्य च तदा पुप्लुवे स महाकपिः।।।।

With tremendous speed, the mighty one sprang from Prahasta’s residence; then he leapt to another dwelling—the house of Mahāpārśva.

Verse 5.6.19

महोदरस्य च गृहं विरूपाक्षस्य चैव हि।विद्युज्जिह्वस्य भवनं विद्युन्मालेस्तथैव च।।।।वज्रदंष्ट्रस्य च तथा पुप्लुवे स महाकपिः।

Then that great monkey leapt to Kumbhakarṇa’s cloud-like residence, and from there also to Vibhīṣaṇa’s, continuing his search.

Verse 5.6.20

शुकस्य च महातेजाः सारणस्य च धीमतः।।।।तथा चेन्द्रजितो वेश्म जगाम हरियूथपः।

That radiant leader of the monkey-host went on to Śuka’s house, to the wise Sāraṇa’s, and likewise to Indrajit’s residence.

Verse 5.6.21

जम्बुमालेः सुमालेश्च जगाम हरिसत्तमः।।।।रश्मिकेतोश्च भवनं सूर्यकेतोस्तथैव च।वज्रकायस्य च तथा पुप्लुवे स महाकपिः।।।।

The best of the monkeys went to Jambumālī’s and Sumālī’s houses; he also leapt to Raśmiketu’s dwelling, likewise to Sūryaketu’s, and then to Vajrakāya’s.

Verse 5.6.22

जम्बुमालेः सुमालेश्च जगाम हरिसत्तमः।।5.6.21।।रश्मिकेतोश्च भवनं सूर्यकेतोस्तथैव च।वज्रकायस्य च तथा पुप्लुवे स महाकपिः।।5.6.22।।

The son of the Wind-god leapt across the dwellings of Dhūmrākṣa and Sampāti; of Vidyudrūpa, Bhīma, Ghana and Vighana; of Śukanāsa, Vakra, Śaṭha and Vikaṭa; of Brahmakarṇa, Daṃṣṭra and Romaśa; of Yuddhonmatta, Matta, Dhvajagrīva and Nādin; of Vidyujjihva and Indrajihva; and also of Hastimukha, Karāla, Piśāca, and indeed Śoṇitākṣa.

Verse 5.6.23

धूम्राक्षस्य च सम्पातेर्भवनं मारुतात्मजः।विद्युद्रूपस्य भीमस्य घनस्य विघनस्य च।।।।शुकनासस्य वक्रस्य शठस्य विकटस्य च।ब्रह्मकर्णस्य दंष्ट्रस्य रोमशस्य च रक्षसः।।।।युद्धोन्मत्तस्य मत्तस्य ध्वजग्रीवस्य नादिनः।विद्युज्जिह्वेन्द्रजिह्वानां तथा हस्तिमुखस्य च।।।।कराळस्य पिशाचस्य शोणिताक्षस्य चैव हि।

Hanumān, the son of the Wind-god, leapt over the dwellings of the rākṣasas—Dhūmrākṣa and Sampāti; Vidyudrūpa, Bhīma, Ghana and Vighana; Śukanāsa, Vakra, Śaṭha and Vikaṭa; Brahmakarṇa, Daṃṣṭra and Romaśa; Yuddhonmatta and Matta; Dhvajagrīva and Nādin; Vidyujjihva and Indrajihva; as well as Hastimukha, Karāla, Piśāca, and also Śoṇitākṣa—indeed.

Verse 5.6.24

धूम्राक्षस्य च सम्पातेर्भवनं मारुतात्मजः।विद्युद्रूपस्य भीमस्य घनस्य विघनस्य च।।5.6.23।।शुकनासस्य वक्रस्य शठस्य विकटस्य च।ब्रह्मकर्णस्य दंष्ट्रस्य रोमशस्य च रक्षसः।।5.6.24।।युद्धोन्मत्तस्य मत्तस्य ध्वजग्रीवस्य नादिनः।विद्युज्जिह्वेन्द्रजिह्वानां तथा हस्तिमुखस्य च।।5.6.25।।कराळस्य पिशाचस्य शोणिताक्षस्य चैव हि।

The son of the Wind (Hanumān) moved on past the mansions belonging to the rākṣasas—Śukanāsa, Vakra, Śaṭha, Vikaṭa, Brahmakarṇa, Daṃṣṭra, and Romaśa.

Verse 5.6.25

धूम्राक्षस्य च सम्पातेर्भवनं मारुतात्मजः।विद्युद्रूपस्य भीमस्य घनस्य विघनस्य च।।5.6.23।।शुकनासस्य वक्रस्य शठस्य विकटस्य च।ब्रह्मकर्णस्य दंष्ट्रस्य रोमशस्य च रक्षसः।।5.6.24।।युद्धोन्मत्तस्य मत्तस्य ध्वजग्रीवस्य नादिनः।विद्युज्जिह्वेन्द्रजिह्वानां तथा हस्तिमुखस्य च।।5.6.25।।कराळस्य पिशाचस्य शोणिताक्षस्य चैव हि।

He also went past the houses of Yuddhonmatta, Matta, Dhvajagrīva, Nādin, Vidyujjihva, Indrajihva, and likewise Hastimukha.

Verse 5.6.26

भवनम् क्रममाणः णोऽसौ हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः।।।।तेषु तेषु महार्हेषु भवनेषु महायशाः।तेषामृद्धिमतामृद्धिं ददर्श स महाकपिः।।।।

Thus Hanumān, the son of the Wind, advanced from mansion to mansion in due order.

Verse 5.6.27

भवनम् क्रममाणः णोऽसौ हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः।।5.6.26।।तेषु तेषु महार्हेषु भवनेषु महायशाः।तेषामृद्धिमतामृद्धिं ददर्श स महाकपिः।।5.6.27।।

In those many priceless mansions, the illustrious great monkey beheld the overflowing prosperity of the wealthy.

Verse 5.6.28

सर्वेषां समतिक्रम्य भवनानि समन्ततः।आससादाथ लक्ष्मीवान् राक्षसेद्रनिवेशनम्।।।।

Having passed all the mansions on every side, the fortunate Hanumān then reached the residence of the lord of the rākṣasas, Rāvaṇa.

Verse 5.6.29

रावणस्योपशायिन्यो ददर्श हरिसत्तमः।विचरन्हरिशार्दूलो राक्षसीर्विकृतेक्षणाः।।।।शूलमुद्गरहस्ताश्च शक्तितोमरधारिणी:।

Moving about within, the best of monkeys—the tiger among the Vānaras—saw near Rāvaṇa’s bed rākṣasīs with distorted, terrifying eyes, holding tridents and hammers, and bearing spears and javelins.

Verse 5.6.30

ददर्श विविधान् गुल्मान् तस्य रक्षःपतेर्गृहे।।।।राक्षसांश्च महाकायान्नानाप्रहरणोद्यतान्।

In the house of that lord of the rākṣasas, he saw various armed detachments and huge-bodied rākṣasas standing ready with many kinds of weapons.

Verse 5.6.31

रक्तान् श्वेतान् सितांश्चैव हरींश्चापि महाजवान्।।।।कुलीनान् रूपसम्पन्नान् गजान्परगजारुजान्।निष्ठितान् गजशिक्षयामैरावतसमान्युधि।।।।निहन्त्रून् परसैन्यानां गृहे तस्मिन् ददर्श सः।क्षरतश्च यथा मेघान् स्रवतश्च यथा गिरीन्।।।।मेघसन्ततिनिर्घोषान् दुर्धर्षान् समरे परैः।

He beheld swift horses—red, white, and also of pale hue.

Verse 5.6.32

रक्तान् श्वेतान् सितांश्चैव हरींश्चापि महाजवान्।।5.6.31।।कुलीनान् रूपसम्पन्नान् गजान्परगजारुजान्।निष्ठितान् गजशिक्षयामैरावतसमान्युधि।।5.6.32।।निहन्त्रून् परसैन्यानां गृहे तस्मिन् ददर्श सः।क्षरतश्च यथा मेघान् स्रवतश्च यथा गिरीन्।।5.6.33।।मेघसन्ततिनिर्घोषान् दुर्धर्षान् समरे परैः।

He saw noble, handsome elephants, able to match the enemy’s elephants—fully trained in elephant-discipline and, in battle, equal to Airāvata.

Verse 5.6.33

रक्तान् श्वेतान् सितांश्चैव हरींश्चापि महाजवान्।।5.6.31।।कुलीनान् रूपसम्पन्नान् गजान्परगजारुजान्।निष्ठितान् गजशिक्षयामैरावतसमान्युधि।।5.6.32।।निहन्त्रून् परसैन्यानां गृहे तस्मिन् ददर्श सः।क्षरतश्च यथा मेघान् स्रवतश्च यथा गिरीन्।।5.6.33।।मेघसन्ततिनिर्घोषान् दुर्धर्षान् समरे परैः।

There, in that house, he saw elephants that shattered enemy armies—rut streaming like rain from clouds and like torrents from mountains; in battle they roared like a mass of clouds and were unassailable by foes.

Verse 5.6.34

सहस्रं वाहिनीस्तत्र जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृताः।।।।हेमजालपरिच्छन्नास्तरुणादित्यसन्निभाः।ददर्श राक्षसेन्द्रस्य रावणस्य निवेशने।।।।

There, in the dwelling of Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, he saw thousands of troops—adorned with Jāmbūnada gold, covered in net-like golden armor, radiant like the newly risen sun.

Verse 5.6.35

सहस्रं वाहिनीस्तत्र जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृताः।।5.6.34।।हेमजालपरिच्छन्नास्तरुणादित्यसन्निभाः।ददर्श राक्षसेन्द्रस्य रावणस्य निवेशने।।5.6.35।।

In Rāvaṇa’s residence, he saw thousands of troops—adorned with Jāmbūnada gold, clad in golden mesh-like armor, radiant like the rising sun.

Verse 5.6.36

शिबिका विविधाकाराः स कपिर्मारुतात्मजः।लतागृहाणि चित्राणि चित्रशालागृहाणि च।।।।क्रीडागृहाणि चान्यानि दारुपर्वतकानपि।कामस्य गृहकं रम्यं दिवागृहकमेव च।।।।ददर्श राक्षसेन्द्रस्य रावणस्य निवेशने।

That monkey, the son of the Wind-god, beheld palanquins of many kinds, colorful vine-bowers, and houses with painted galleries within, in Ravana’s dwelling.

Verse 5.6.37

शिबिका विविधाकाराः स कपिर्मारुतात्मजः।लतागृहाणि चित्राणि चित्रशालागृहाणि च।।5.6.36।।क्रीडागृहाणि चान्यानि दारुपर्वतकानपि।कामस्य गृहकं रम्यं दिवागृहकमेव च।।5.6.37।।ददर्श राक्षसेन्द्रस्य रावणस्य निवेशने।

In the residence of Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, he also saw other pleasure-halls, artificial wooden hillocks, a charming chamber meant for amorous play, and separate apartments for daytime leisure.

Verse 5.6.38

स मन्दरगिरिप्रख्यं मयूरस्थानसङ्कुलम्।।।।ध्वजयष्टिभिराकीर्णं ददर्श भवनोत्तमम्।अनेकरत्नसङ्कीर्णं निधिजालं समन्ततः।।।।धीरनिष्ठितकर्मान्तं गृहं भूतपतेरिव।

He saw a superb mansion, comparable to Mount Mandara—crowded with places where peacocks gathered, and filled everywhere with flagstaffs.

Verse 5.6.39

स मन्दरगिरिप्रख्यं मयूरस्थानसङ्कुलम्।।5.6.38।।ध्वजयष्टिभिराकीर्णं ददर्श भवनोत्तमम्।अनेकरत्नसङ्कीर्णं निधिजालं समन्ततः।।5.6.39।।धीरनिष्ठितकर्मान्तं गृहं भूतपतेरिव।

It was strewn with many kinds of gems and surrounded on all sides by stores of treasure—built with painstaking workmanship, like the dwelling of Bhūtapati (Śiva).

Verse 5.6.40

अर्चिर्भिश्चापि रत्नानां तेजसा रावणस्य च।।।।विरराजाथ तद्वेश्म रश्मिमानिव रश्मिभिः।

That palace then shone—by the gleams of its gems and by Ravana’s own splendor—like the radiant sun blazing with its rays.

Verse 5.6.41

जाम्बूनदमयान्येन शयनान्यासनानि च।।।।भाजनानि च मुख्यानि ददर्श हरियूथपः।

The vanara leader saw beds and seats made of Jāmbūnada gold, and also the finest vessels—all fashioned of gold.

Verse 5.6.42

मध्वासवकृतक्लेदं मणिभाजनसङ्कुलम्।।।।मनोरममसंबाधं कुबेरभवनं यथा।नूपुराणां च घोषेण काञ्चीनां निनदेन च।।।।मृदङ्तलघोषैश्च घोषवद्भिर्विनादितम्।प्रासादसङ्घातयुतं स्त्रीरत्नशतसङ्कुलम्।।।सुव्यूढकक्ष्यं हनुमान् प्रविवेश महागृहाम्।

He saw the approaches kept ready—manned by high officers stationed on elephants, and by tireless warriors who rode in chariots drawn by irresistible horses.