Search DHIH library
VĀLMĪKI RĀMĀYAṆA · CHAPTER 11
सुन्दरकाण्डम् · सर्गः ११
Hanuman rejects his mistaken identification and considers whether his search through the inner apartments has remained faithful to his purpose.
An edition-specific reading with original English meanings. Source & reading notes
SCENE 01 · VERSES 1–48
Hanuman rejects his mistaken identification and considers whether his search through the inner apartments has remained faithful to his purpose.
अवधूय च तां बुद्धिं बभूवावस्थितस्तदा ।
avadhūya ca tāṃ buddhiṃ babhūvāvasthitastadā |
Rejecting that idea, the great vanara steadied himself
जगाम चापरां चिन्तां सीतां प्रति महाकपिः ॥
jagāma cāparāṃ cintāṃ sītāṃ prati mahākapiḥ ||
and turned to another reflection concerning Sita.
न रामेण वियुक्ता सा स्वप्तुमर्हति भामिनी ।
na rāmeṇa viyuktā sā svaptumarhati bhāminī |
'Separated from Rama, that noble woman could not sleep comfortably,
न भोक्तुं नाप्यलंकर्तुं न पानमुपसेवितुम् ॥
na bhoktuṃ nāpyalaṃkartuṃ na pānamupasevitum ||
eat, adorn herself, or take pleasure in drinking.'
नान्यं नरमुपस्थातुं सुराणामपि चेश्वरम् ।
nānyaṃ naramupasthātuṃ surāṇāmapi ceśvaram |
'She would not approach another man, even the ruler of the gods,
न हि रामसमः कश्चिद् विद्यते त्रिदशेष्वपि ॥
na hi rāmasamaḥ kaścid vidyate tridaśeṣvapi ||
for none even among the gods is equal to Rama.'
अन्येयमिति निश्चित्य भूयस्तत्र चचार सः ।
anyeyamiti niścitya bhūyastatra cacāra saḥ |
Deciding, 'This is someone else,' the foremost vanara continued through
पानभूमौ हरिश्रेष्ठः सीतासंदर्शनोत्सुकः ॥
pānabhūmau hariśreṣṭhaḥ sītāsaṃdarśanotsukaḥ ||
the drinking hall, eager to find Sita.
क्रीडितेनापराः क्लान्ता गीतेन च तथापराः ।
krīḍitenāparāḥ klāntā gītena ca tathāparāḥ |
Some women were tired from play, others from singing,
नृत्येन चापराः क्लान्ताः पानविप्रहतास्तथा ॥
nṛtyena cāparāḥ klāntāḥ pānaviprahatāstathā ||
others from dancing, and others overcome by drink.
मुरजेषु मृदंगेषु चेलिकासु च संस्थिताः ।
murajeṣu mṛdaṃgeṣu celikāsu ca saṃsthitāḥ |
Some rested upon murajas, mridangas, and chelika instruments;
तथाऽऽस्तरणमुख्येषु संविष्टाश्चापराः स्त्रियः ॥
tathā’’staraṇamukhyeṣu saṃviṣṭāścāparāḥ striyaḥ ||
other women lay upon excellent coverings.
अंगनानां सहस्रेण भूषितेन विभूषणैः ।
aṃganānāṃ sahasreṇa bhūṣitena vibhūṣaṇaiḥ |
The hall held a thousand women adorned with ornaments,
रूपसंलापशीलेन युक्तगीतार्थभाषिणा ॥
rūpasaṃlāpaśīlena yuktagītārthabhāṣiṇā ||
endowed with beauty, pleasant conversation, and speech suited to song—
देशकालाभियुक्तेन युक्तवाक्याभिधायिना ।
deśakālābhiyuktena yuktavākyābhidhāyinā |
skilled in knowing the proper place and time, speaking appropriately,
रताधिकेन संयुक्तां ददर्श हरियूथपः ॥
ratādhikena saṃyuktāṃ dadarśa hariyūthapaḥ ||
and devoted to pleasure; the vanara leader saw the hall filled with them.
अन्यत्रापि वरस्त्रीणां रूपसंलापशायिनाम् ।
anyatrāpi varastrīṇāṃ rūpasaṃlāpaśāyinām |
Elsewhere too he saw a thousand lovely young women,
सहस्रं युवतीनां तु प्रसुप्तं स ददर्श ह ॥
sahasraṃ yuvatīnāṃ tu prasuptaṃ sa dadarśa ha ||
who had fallen asleep after their graceful conversation.
देशकालाभियुक्तं तु युक्तवाक्याभिधायि तत् ।
deśakālābhiyuktaṃ tu yuktavākyābhidhāyi tat |
The vanara leader saw that company, considerate of occasion and speech,
रताविरतसंसुप्तं ददर्श हरियूथपः ॥
ratāviratasaṃsuptaṃ dadarśa hariyūthapaḥ ||
now sleeping after their pleasures had ceased.
तासां मध्ये महाबाहुः शुशुभे राक्षसेश्वरः ।
tāsāṃ madhye mahābāhuḥ śuśubhe rākṣaseśvaraḥ |
Among them the mighty-armed rakshasa king shone
गोष्ठे महति मुख्यानां गवां मध्ये यथा वृषः ॥
goṣṭhe mahati mukhyānāṃ gavāṃ madhye yathā vṛṣaḥ ||
like a bull among fine cows in a great enclosure.
स राक्षसेन्द्रः शुशुभे ताभिः परिवृतः स्वयम् ।
sa rākṣasendraḥ śuśubhe tābhiḥ parivṛtaḥ svayam |
Surrounded by them, the rakshasa king himself shone
करेणुभिर्यथारण्ये परिकीर्णो महाद्विपः ॥
kareṇubhiryathāraṇye parikīrṇo mahādvipaḥ ||
like a great elephant surrounded by female elephants in the forest.
सर्वकामैरुपेतां च पानभूमिं महात्मनः ।
sarvakāmairupetāṃ ca pānabhūmiṃ mahātmanaḥ |
In the rakshasa lord's house the foremost vanara saw
ददर्श कपिशार्दूलस्तस्य रक्षःपतेर्गृहे ॥
dadarśa kapiśārdūlastasya rakṣaḥpatergṛhe ||
his drinking hall supplied with every desired enjoyment.
मृगाणां महिषाणां च वराहाणां च भागशः ।
mṛgāṇāṃ mahiṣāṇāṃ ca varāhāṇāṃ ca bhāgaśaḥ |
He saw portions of meat from deer, buffaloes, and boars
तत्र न्यस्तानि मांसानि पानभूमौ ददर्श सः ॥
tatra nyastāni māṃsāni pānabhūmau dadarśa saḥ ||
laid out in the drinking hall.
रौक्मेषु च विशालेषु भाजनेष्वप्यभक्षितान् ।
raukmeṣu ca viśāleṣu bhājaneṣvapyabhakṣitān |
In large golden vessels the foremost vanara saw
ददर्श कपिशार्दूलो मयूरान् कुक्कुटांस्तथा ॥
dadarśa kapiśārdūlo mayūrān kukkuṭāṃstathā ||
peacocks and fowl that had not been eaten.
वराहवाध्रीणसकान् दधिसौवर्चलायुतान् ।
varāhavādhrīṇasakān dadhisauvarcalāyutān |
Hanuman observed boar and vadhrinasa meat prepared with curd and salt,
शल्यान् मृगमयूरांश्च हनुमानन्ववैक्षत ॥
śalyān mṛgamayūrāṃśca hanumānanvavaikṣata ||
and porcupines, deer, and peacocks.
कृकलान् विविधांश्छागान् शशकानर्धभक्षितान् ।
kṛkalān vividhāṃśchāgān śaśakānardhabhakṣitān |
There were various birds, goats, half-eaten hares,
महिषानेकशल्यांश्च मेषांश्च कृतनिष्ठितान् ॥
mahiṣānekaśalyāṃśca meṣāṃśca kṛtaniṣṭhitān ||
buffaloes, ekashalya animals, and sheep, all carefully prepared.
लेह्यानुच्चावचान् पेयान् भोज्यान्युच्चावचानि च ।
lehyānuccāvacān peyān bhojyānyuccāvacāni ca |
There were many kinds of foods to lick, drink, and eat,
तथाम्ललवणोत्तंसैर्विविधै रागखाण्डवैः ॥
tathāmlalavaṇottaṃsairvividhai rāgakhāṇḍavaiḥ ||
with assorted sour and salty seasonings and sweet preparations.
महानूपुरकेयूरैरपविद्धैर्महाधनैः ।
mahānūpurakeyūrairapaviddhairmahādhanaiḥ |
Costly anklets and armlets had been cast aside,
पानभाजनविक्षिप्तैः फलैश्च विविधैरपि ॥
pānabhājanavikṣiptaiḥ phalaiśca vividhairapi ||
with drinking vessels scattered about and fruits of many kinds.
कृतपुष्पोपहारा भूरधिकां पुष्यति श्रियम् ।
kṛtapuṣpopahārā bhūradhikāṃ puṣyati śriyam |
The ground, strewn with offerings of flowers, possessed still greater beauty,
तत्र तत्र च विन्यस्तैः सुश्लिष्टशयनासनैः ॥
tatra tatra ca vinyastaiḥ suśliṣṭaśayanāsanaiḥ ||
with well-arranged beds and seats placed here and there.
पानभूमिर्विना वह्निं प्रदीप्तेवोपलक्ष्यते ।
pānabhūmirvinā vahniṃ pradīptevopalakṣyate |
The drinking hall appeared ablaze without fire,
बहुप्रकारैर्विविधैर्वरसंस्कारसंस्कृतैः ॥
bahuprakārairvividhairvarasaṃskārasaṃskṛtaiḥ ||
with many varied dishes prepared in the finest ways—
मांसैः कुशलसंयुक्तैः पानभूमिगतैः पृथक् ।
māṃsaiḥ kuśalasaṃyuktaiḥ pānabhūmigataiḥ pṛthak |
meats skillfully prepared and separately set out in the hall,
दिव्याः प्रसन्ना विविधाः सुराः कृतसुरा अपि ॥
divyāḥ prasannā vividhāḥ surāḥ kṛtasurā api ||
and excellent, clear drinks of many kinds, including brewed liquors.
शर्करासवमाध्वीकाः पुष्पासवफलासवाः ।
śarkarāsavamādhvīkāḥ puṣpāsavaphalāsavāḥ |
There were sugar-liquor, mead, flower-liquor, and fruit-liquor,
वासचूर्णैश्च विविधैर्मृष्टास्तैस्तैः पृथक् पृथक् ॥
vāsacūrṇaiśca vividhairmṛṣṭāstaistaiḥ pṛthak pṛthak ||
each pleasantly scented with different aromatic powders.
संतता शुशुभे भूमिर्माल्यैश्च बहुसंस्थितैः ।
saṃtatā śuśubhe bhūmirmālyaiśca bahusaṃsthitaiḥ |
The floor shone with many garlands spread about,
हिरण्मयैश्च कलशैर्भाजनैः स्फाटिकैरपि ॥
hiraṇmayaiśca kalaśairbhājanaiḥ sphāṭikairapi ||
with golden jars and crystal vessels.
जाम्बूनदमयैश्चान्यैः करकैरभिसंवृता ।
jāmbūnadamayaiścānyaiḥ karakairabhisaṃvṛtā |
Other pitchers of pure gold surrounded it;
राजतेषु च कुम्भेषु जाम्बूनदमयेषु च ॥
rājateṣu ca kumbheṣu jāmbūnadamayeṣu ca ||
there were silver and golden jars as well.
पानश्रेष्ठां तथा भूमिं कपिस्तत्र ददर्श सः ।
pānaśreṣṭhāṃ tathā bhūmiṃ kapistatra dadarśa saḥ |
The vanara saw that excellent place for drinking;
सोऽपश्यच्छातकुम्भानि सीधोर्मणिमयानि च ॥
so’paśyacchātakumbhāni sīdhormaṇimayāni ca ||
he saw golden and jeweled vessels of liquor—
तानि तानि च पूर्णानि भाजनानि महाकपिः ।
tāni tāni ca pūrṇāni bhājanāni mahākapiḥ |
some of the vessels were full,
क्वचिदर्धावशेषाणि क्वचित् पीतान्यशेषतः ॥
kvacidardhāvaśeṣāṇi kvacit pītānyaśeṣataḥ ||
some half-empty, and some entirely drained.
क्वचिन्नैव प्रपीतानि पानानि स ददर्श ह ।
kvacinnaiva prapītāni pānāni sa dadarśa ha |
He saw some drinks not yet touched,
क्वचिद् भक्ष्यांश्च विविधान् क्वचित् पानानि भागशः ॥
kvacid bhakṣyāṃśca vividhān kvacit pānāni bhāgaśaḥ ||
different foods in one place and separate portions of drink in another.
क्वचिदर्धावशेषाणि पश्यन् वै विचचार ह ।
kvacidardhāvaśeṣāṇi paśyan vai vicacāra ha |
He moved about seeing still more half-finished portions;
शयनान्यत्र नारीणां शून्यानि बहुधा पुनः ।
śayanānyatra nārīṇāṃ śūnyāni bahudhā punaḥ |
many of the women's beds were empty,
परस्परं समाश्लिष्य काश्चित् सुप्ता वरांगनाः ॥
parasparaṃ samāśliṣya kāścit suptā varāṃganāḥ ||
while some lovely women slept embracing one another.
काचिच्च वस्त्रमन्यस्या अपहृत्योपगुह्य च ।
kācicca vastramanyasyā apahṛtyopaguhya ca |
One woman had taken another's cloth, wrapped herself in it,
उपगम्याबला सुप्ता निद्राबलपराजिता ॥
upagamyābalā suptā nidrābalaparājitā ||
and moved close to sleep, overcome by drowsiness.
तासामुच्छ्वासवातेन वस्त्रं माल्यं च गात्रजम् ।
tāsāmucchvāsavātena vastraṃ mālyaṃ ca gātrajam |
Their patterned clothes and garlands moved only slightly
नात्यर्थं स्पन्दते चित्रं प्राप्य मन्दमिवानिलम् ॥
nātyarthaṃ spandate citraṃ prāpya mandamivānilam ||
with their breathing, as though touched by a gentle breeze.
चन्दनस्य च शीतस्य सीधोर्मधुरसस्य च ।
candanasya ca śītasya sīdhormadhurasasya ca |
The scent of cool sandalwood, liquor, and sweet honey,
विविधस्य च माल्यस्य पुष्पस्य विविधस्य च ॥
vividhasya ca mālyasya puṣpasya vividhasya ca ||
of many garlands and many kinds of flowers—
बहुधा मारुतस्तस्य गन्धं विविधमुद्वहन् ।
bahudhā mārutastasya gandhaṃ vividhamudvahan |
the breeze carried those various scents in many ways,
स्नानानां चन्दनानां च धूपानां चैव मूर्च्छितः ॥
snānānāṃ candanānāṃ ca dhūpānāṃ caiva mūrcchitaḥ ||
mingling with perfumes of bathing, sandalwood, and incense.
प्रववौ सुरभिर्गन्धो विमाने पुष्पके तदा ।
pravavau surabhirgandho vimāne puṣpake tadā |
That fragrant aroma then spread through Pushpaka.
श्यामावदातास्तत्रान्याः काश्चित् कृष्णा वरांगनाः ॥
śyāmāvadātāstatrānyāḥ kāścit kṛṣṇā varāṃganāḥ ||
Among the lovely women some were dusky, some fair, and some dark—
काश्चित् काञ्चनवर्णांग््यः प्रमदा राक्षसालये ।
kāścit kāñcanavarṇāṃg्yaḥ pramadā rākṣasālaye |
and some in the rakshasa dwelling had limbs the color of gold.
तासां निद्रावशत्वाच्च मदनेन विमूर्च्छितम् ॥
tāsāṃ nidrāvaśatvācca madanena vimūrcchitam ||
Overcome by sleep, with their senses subdued after love—
पद्मिनीनां प्रसुप्तानां रूपमासीद् यथैव हि ।
padminīnāṃ prasuptānāṃ rūpamāsīd yathaiva hi |
they had the appearance of sleeping lotus ponds.
एवं सर्वमशेषेण रावणान्तःपुरं कपिः ।
evaṃ sarvamaśeṣeṇa rāvaṇāntaḥpuraṃ kapiḥ |
Thus the mighty vanara saw all of Ravana's inner apartments,
ददर्श स महातेजा न ददर्श च जानकीम् ॥
dadarśa sa mahātejā na dadarśa ca jānakīm ||
but he did not see Janaki.
निरीक्षमाणश्च ततस्ताः स्त्रियः स महाकपिः ।
nirīkṣamāṇaśca tatastāḥ striyaḥ sa mahākapiḥ |
Then, while looking at those women, the great vanara
जगाम महतीं शंकां धर्मसाध्वसशंकितः ॥
jagāma mahatīṃ śaṃkāṃ dharmasādhvasaśaṃkitaḥ ||
became seriously troubled by doubt concerning righteousness.
परदारावरोधस्य प्रसुप्तस्य निरीक्षणम् ।
paradārāvarodhasya prasuptasya nirīkṣaṇam |
'Looking into another man's inner apartments and at his sleeping wives
इदं खलु ममात्यर्थं धर्मलोपं करिष्यति ॥
idaṃ khalu mamātyarthaṃ dharmalopaṃ kariṣyati ||
may indeed cause me a grave lapse in righteousness.'
न हि मे परदाराणां दृष्टिर्विषयवर्तिनी ।
na hi me paradārāṇāṃ dṛṣṭirviṣayavartinī |
'My gaze upon other men's wives does not seek sensual enjoyment;
अयं चात्र मया दृष्टः परदारपरिग्रहः ॥
ayaṃ cātra mayā dṛṣṭaḥ paradāraparigrahaḥ ||
nevertheless I have now seen another man's household of women.'
तस्य प्रादुरभूच्चिन्ता पुनरन्या मनस्विनः ।
tasya prādurabhūccintā punaranyā manasvinaḥ |
Another thought arose in that thoughtful one,
निश्चितैकान्तचित्तस्य कार्यनिश्चयदर्शिनी ॥
niścitaikāntacittasya kāryaniścayadarśinī ||
whose concentrated mind sought a definite judgment about the task.
कामं दृष्टा मया सर्वा विश्वस्ता रावणस्त्रियः ।
kāmaṃ dṛṣṭā mayā sarvā viśvastā rāvaṇastriyaḥ |
'It is true that I have seen Ravana's women resting without suspicion,
न तु मे मनसा किंचिद् वैकृत्यमुपपद्यते ॥
na tu me manasā kiṃcid vaikṛtyamupapadyate ||
yet no disturbance of desire has arisen in my mind.'
मनो हि हेतुः सर्वेषामिन्द्रियाणां प्रवर्तने ।
mano hi hetuḥ sarveṣāmindriyāṇāṃ pravartane |
'The mind is the cause of the senses' activity
शुभाशुभास्ववस्थासु तच्च मे सुव्यवस्थितम् ॥
śubhāśubhāsvavasthāsu tacca me suvyavasthitam ||
in wholesome or unwholesome states, and my mind is firmly settled.'
नान्यत्र हि मया शक्या वैदेही परिमार्गितुम् ।
nānyatra hi mayā śakyā vaidehī parimārgitum |
'I cannot search for Sita elsewhere,
स्त्रियो हि स्त्रीषु दृश्यन्ते सदा सम्परिमार्गणे ॥
striyo hi strīṣu dṛśyante sadā samparimārgaṇe ||
for a woman is naturally sought among women.'
यस्य सत्त्वस्य या योनिस्तस्यां तत् परिमार्गते ।
yasya sattvasya yā yonistasyāṃ tat parimārgate |
'One seeks a being among beings of its own kind;
न शक्यं प्रमदा नष्टा मृगीषु परिमार्गितुम् ॥
na śakyaṃ pramadā naṣṭā mṛgīṣu parimārgitum ||
a missing woman cannot be searched for among female deer.'
तदिदं मार्गितं तावच्छुद्धेन मनसा मया ।
tadidaṃ mārgitaṃ tāvacchuddhena manasā mayā |
'Thus I have searched all of Ravana's inner apartments
रावणान्तःपुरं सर्वं दृश्यते न च जानकी ॥
rāvaṇāntaḥpuraṃ sarvaṃ dṛśyate na ca jānakī ||
with a pure mind, but Janaki is not to be seen.'
देवगन्धर्वकन्याश्च नागकन्याश्च वीर्यवान् ।
devagandharvakanyāśca nāgakanyāśca vīryavān |
The powerful Hanuman examined daughters of gods, gandharvas,
अवेक्षमाणो हनुमान् नैवापश्यत जानकीम् ॥
avekṣamāṇo hanumān naivāpaśyata jānakīm ||
and nagas, but he still did not see Janaki.
तामपश्यन् कपिस्तत्र पश्यंश्चान्या वरस्त्रियः ।
tāmapaśyan kapistatra paśyaṃścānyā varastriyaḥ |
Seeing other beautiful women but not her,
अपक्रम्य तदा वीरः प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे ॥
apakramya tadā vīraḥ prasthātumupacakrame ||
the heroic vanara withdrew and prepared to move on.
स भूयः सर्वतः श्रीमान् मारुतिर्यत्नमाश्रितः ।
sa bhūyaḥ sarvataḥ śrīmān mārutiryatnamāśritaḥ |
The illustrious son of the Wind renewed his effort on every side;
आपानभूमिमुत्सृज्य तां विचेतुं प्रचक्रमे ॥
āpānabhūmimutsṛjya tāṃ vicetuṃ pracakrame ||
leaving the drinking hall, he began to search again.
CHAPTER 11 COMPLETE
His mind remains focused on the task, and he leaves the banquet hall to search again.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kanda, chapter 11. This reading follows Sanskrit Wikisource revision 354223, with all 48 numbered verses. Verse divisions and wording vary between editions.
The Sanskrit is preserved with normalized display spacing and line breaks. Some sentences continue across verse boundaries; the English follows that continuity. A yojana is a traditional distance unit, retained without assigning a modern measurement. Shape-changing and celestial beings belong to the epic’s sacred narrative.
English line senses and short meanings are original AI-assisted DHIH renderings checked against this Sanskrit reading; they are not a word-for-word grammatical commentary or a claim of human scholarly certification. Roman transliteration is generated mechanically in IAST. Names may also appear in familiar English spellings.
Sanskrit transcription credit: Wikisource contributors, revision history. The adapted reading text and DHIH English on this chapter page are offered under CC BY-SA 4.0. The ancient Sanskrit work is in the public domain. Illustrations are separately commissioned AI-generated DHIH artwork.
Historical comparison: M. N. Dutt’s Ramayana, volume II, a public-domain translation, was consulted for narrative context. The English displayed here is a fresh rendering of the pinned Sanskrit, not a reproduction of that translation.
This full text describes meat, alcohol, and sleeping adults. Hanuman’s reflection concerns his own intention during a rescue mission; it is not a general permission to invade another person’s privacy. Audio will be added only when suitable recording permissions are available.