A hidden place to watch

स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा मनसा चाधिगम्य ताम् ।

sa muhūrtamiva dhyātvā manasā cādhigamya tām |

After reflecting briefly and approaching the grove in his mind,

अवप्लुतो महातेजाः प्राकारं तस्य वेश्मनः ॥

avapluto mahātejāḥ prākāraṃ tasya veśmanaḥ ||

the radiant one leapt onto the wall of the residence.

स तु संहृष्टसर्वांगः प्राकारस्थो महाकपिः ।

sa tu saṃhṛṣṭasarvāṃgaḥ prākārastho mahākapiḥ |

Standing upon the wall, every limb filled with joy,

पुष्पिताग्रान् वसन्तादौ ददर्श विविधान् द्रुमान् ॥

puṣpitāgrān vasantādau dadarśa vividhān drumān ||

the great vanara saw many trees flowering at spring's beginning.

सालानशोकान् भव्यांश्च चम्पकांश्च सुपुष्पितान् ।

sālānaśokān bhavyāṃśca campakāṃśca supuṣpitān |

There were shala, ashoka, bhavya, and richly flowering champaka trees,

उद्दालकान् नागवृक्षांश्चूतान् कपिमुखानपि ॥

uddālakān nāgavṛkṣāṃścūtān kapimukhānapi ||

uddalaka, naga trees, mangoes, and kapimukha trees.

तथाऽऽम्रवणसम्पन्नाँल्लताशतसमन्वितान् ।

tathā’’mravaṇasampannām̐llatāśatasamanvitān |

Rich with mango groves and hundreds of creepers,

ज्यामुक्त इव नाराचः पुप्लुवे वृक्षवाटिकाम् ॥

jyāmukta iva nārācaḥ pupluve vṛkṣavāṭikām ||

the garden received his leap like an arrow released from a bow.

स प्रविश्य विचित्रां तां विहगैरभिनादिताम् ।

sa praviśya vicitrāṃ tāṃ vihagairabhināditām |

He entered that varied grove ringing with birds,

राजतैः काञ्चनैश्चैव पादपैः सर्वतो वृताम् ॥

rājataiḥ kāñcanaiścaiva pādapaiḥ sarvato vṛtām ||

surrounded on every side by silver and golden trees.

विहगैर्मृगसङ्घैश्च विचित्रां चित्रकाननाम् ।

vihagairmṛgasaṅghaiśca vicitrāṃ citrakānanām |

Strong Hanuman saw the wonderfully varied woodland,

उदितादित्यसंकाशां ददर्श हनुमान् बली ॥

uditādityasaṃkāśāṃ dadarśa hanumān balī ||

filled with birds and herds of animals and bright as the rising sun.

वृतां नानाविधैर्वृक्षैः पुष्पोपगफलोपगैः ।

vṛtāṃ nānāvidhairvṛkṣaiḥ puṣpopagaphalopagaiḥ |

It was enclosed by many kinds of flowering and fruit-bearing trees,

कोकिलैर्भृङ्गराजैश्च मत्तैर्नित्यनिषेविताम् ॥

kokilairbhṛṅgarājaiśca mattairnityaniṣevitām ||

continually attended by delighted cuckoos and bhringaraja birds.

प्रहृष्टमनुजां काले मृगपक्षिमदाकुलाम् ।

prahṛṣṭamanujāṃ kāle mṛgapakṣimadākulām |

In its season it delighted people and stirred animals and birds,

मत्तबर्हिणसंघुष्टां नानाद्विजगणायुताम् ॥

mattabarhiṇasaṃghuṣṭāṃ nānādvijagaṇāyutām ||

resounding with excited peacocks and many kinds of birds.

मार्गमाणो वरारोहां राजपुत्रीमनिन्दिताम् ।

mārgamāṇo varārohāṃ rājaputrīmaninditām |

Searching for the faultless, graceful princess,

सुखप्रसुप्तान् विहगान् बोधयामास वानरः ॥

sukhaprasuptān vihagān bodhayāmāsa vānaraḥ ||

the vanara awakened birds that had been sleeping peacefully.

उत्पतद्भिर्द्विजगणैः पक्षैर्वातैः समाहताः ।

utpatadbhirdvijagaṇaiḥ pakṣairvātaiḥ samāhatāḥ |

As the flocks flew up, the wind of their wings struck the trees,

अनेकवर्णा विविधा मुमुचुः पुष्पवृष्टयः ॥

anekavarṇā vividhā mumucuḥ puṣpavṛṣṭayaḥ ||

releasing showers of many-colored flowers.

पुष्पावकीर्णः शुशुभे हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ।

puṣpāvakīrṇaḥ śuśubhe hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ |

Covered with blossoms, Hanuman, son of the Wind, shone

अशोकवनिकामध्ये यथा पुष्पमयो गिरिः ॥

aśokavanikāmadhye yathā puṣpamayo giriḥ ||

in the ashoka grove like a mountain made of flowers.

दिशः सर्वाभिधावन्तं वृक्षखण्डगतं कपिम् ।

diśaḥ sarvābhidhāvantaṃ vṛkṣakhaṇḍagataṃ kapim |

Seeing him dart through the clusters of trees in every direction,

दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि वसन्त इति मेनिरे ॥

dṛṣṭvā sarvāṇi bhūtāni vasanta iti menire ||

all the creatures thought that spring itself had arrived.

वृक्षेभ्यः पतितैः पुष्पैरवकीर्णाः पृथग्विधैः ।

vṛkṣebhyaḥ patitaiḥ puṣpairavakīrṇāḥ pṛthagvidhaiḥ |

The ground, scattered with different flowers fallen from the trees,

रराज वसुधा तत्र प्रमदेव विभूषिता ॥

rarāja vasudhā tatra pramadeva vibhūṣitā ||

shone like a woman adorned with ornaments.

तरस्विना ते तरवस्तरसा बहु कम्पिताः ।

tarasvinā te taravastarasā bahu kampitāḥ |

Shaken vigorously by the swift vanara,

कुसुमानि विचित्राणि ससृजुः कपिना तदा ॥

kusumāni vicitrāṇi sasṛjuḥ kapinā tadā ||

the trees released their varied flowers.

निर्धूतपत्रशिखराः शीर्णपुष्पफलद्रुमाः ।

nirdhūtapatraśikharāḥ śīrṇapuṣpaphaladrumāḥ |

With their leafy crowns shaken bare and flowers and fruit fallen,

निक्षिप्तवस्त्राभरणा धूर्ता इव पराजिताः ॥

nikṣiptavastrābharaṇā dhūrtā iva parājitāḥ ||

the trees resembled defeated gamblers stripped of clothes and ornaments.

हनूमता वेगवता कम्पितास्ते नगोत्तमाः ।

hanūmatā vegavatā kampitāste nagottamāḥ |

Those excellent, fruit-laden trees, shaken by swift Hanuman,

पुष्पपत्रफलान्याशु मुमुचुः फलशालिनः ॥

puṣpapatraphalānyāśu mumucuḥ phalaśālinaḥ ||

quickly shed their flowers, leaves, and fruit.

विहंगसङ्घैर्हीनास्ते स्कन्धमात्राश्रया द्रुमाः ।

vihaṃgasaṅghairhīnāste skandhamātrāśrayā drumāḥ |

Deprived of the birds and left chiefly with their trunks,

बभूवुरगमाः सर्वे मारुतेन विनिर्धुताः ॥

babhūvuragamāḥ sarve mārutena vinirdhutāḥ ||

the trees seemed thoroughly shaken by the wind.

विधूतकेशी युवतिर्यथा मृदितवर्णका ।

vidhūtakeśī yuvatiryathā mṛditavarṇakā |

Like a young woman with loosened hair and rubbed-off cosmetics,

निपीतशुभदन्तोष्ठी नखैर्दन्तैश्च विक्षता ॥

nipītaśubhadantoṣṭhī nakhairdantaiśca vikṣatā ||

her lovely lip kissed and her skin marked by nails and teeth—

तथा लांगूलहस्तैस्तु चरणाभ्यां च मर्दिता ।

tathā lāṃgūlahastaistu caraṇābhyāṃ ca marditā |

so the ashoka grove, pressed by his tail, hands, and feet,

तथैवाशोकवनिका प्रभग्नवनपादपा ॥

tathaivāśokavanikā prabhagnavanapādapā ||

had its woodland trees broken and disordered.

महालतानां दामानि व्यधमत् तरसा कपिः ।

mahālatānāṃ dāmāni vyadhamat tarasā kapiḥ |

The vanara swiftly scattered the long festoons of creepers,

यथा प्रावृषि वेगेन मेघजालानि मारुतः ॥

yathā prāvṛṣi vegena meghajālāni mārutaḥ ||

as wind in the rainy season scatters masses of clouds.

स तत्र मणिभूमीश्च राजतीश्च मनोरमाः ।

sa tatra maṇibhūmīśca rājatīśca manoramāḥ |

Moving there, he saw delightful grounds paved with jewels and silver,

तथा काञ्चनभूमीश्च विचरन् ददृशे कपिः ॥

tathā kāñcanabhūmīśca vicaran dadṛśe kapiḥ ||

and other areas made of gold.

वापीश्च विविधाकाराः पूर्णाः परमवारिणा ।

vāpīśca vividhākārāḥ pūrṇāḥ paramavāriṇā |

Here and there were pools of varied shapes filled with excellent water,

महार्हैर्मणिसोपानैरुपपन्नास्ततस्ततः ॥

mahārhairmaṇisopānairupapannāstatastataḥ ||

provided with steps of costly jewels.

मुक्ताप्रवालसिकताः स्फाटिकान्तरकुट्टिमाः ।

muktāpravālasikatāḥ sphāṭikāntarakuṭṭimāḥ |

Their sand was pearl and coral, their inner paving crystal;

काञ्चनैस्तरुभिश्चित्रैस्तीरजैरुपशोभिताः ॥

kāñcanaistarubhiścitraistīrajairupaśobhitāḥ ||

beautiful golden trees growing on the banks adorned them.

बुद्धपद्मोत्पलवनाश्चक्रवाकोपशोभिताः ।

buddhapadmotpalavanāścakravākopaśobhitāḥ |

They held beds of open lotuses and blue water-lilies, with chakravakas,

नत्यूहरुतसंघुष्टा हंससारसनादिताः ॥

natyūharutasaṃghuṣṭā haṃsasārasanāditāḥ ||

resounding with waterfowl, swans, and cranes.

दीर्घाभिर्द्रुमयुक्ताभिः सरिद्भिश्च समन्ततः ।

dīrghābhirdrumayuktābhiḥ saridbhiśca samantataḥ |

Pleasant long streams, lined with trees on every side

अमृतोपमतोयाभिः शिवाभिरुपसंस्कृताः ॥

amṛtopamatoyābhiḥ śivābhirupasaṃskṛtāḥ ||

and bearing water like nectar, embellished the grounds.

लताशतैरवतताः संतानकुसुमावृताः ।

latāśatairavatatāḥ saṃtānakusumāvṛtāḥ |

Hundreds of creepers spread over them, with clusters of santanaka flowers,

नानागुल्मावृतवनाः करवीरकृतान्तराः ॥

nānāgulmāvṛtavanāḥ karavīrakṛtāntarāḥ ||

woods of many shrubs, and oleanders filling the spaces.

ततोऽम्बुधरसंकाशं प्रवृद्धशिखरं गिरिम् ।

tato’mbudharasaṃkāśaṃ pravṛddhaśikharaṃ girim |

Then he saw a cloudlike hill with a lofty summit,

विचित्रकूटं कूटैश्च सर्वतः परिवारितम् ॥

vicitrakūṭaṃ kūṭaiśca sarvataḥ parivāritam ||

picturesque peaks surrounded by other heights—

शिलागृहैरवततं नानावृक्षसमावृतम् ।

śilāgṛhairavatataṃ nānāvṛkṣasamāvṛtam |

covered with stone chambers and many kinds of trees;

ददर्श कपिशार्दूलो रम्यं जगति पर्वतम् ॥

dadarśa kapiśārdūlo ramyaṃ jagati parvatam ||

the foremost vanara saw that delightful mountain on the ground.

ददर्श च नगात् तस्मान्नदीं निपतितां कपिः ।

dadarśa ca nagāt tasmānnadīṃ nipatitāṃ kapiḥ |

The vanara saw a stream falling from that hill,

अंकादिव समुत्पत्य प्रियस्य पतितां प्रियाम् ॥

aṃkādiva samutpatya priyasya patitāṃ priyām ||

like a beloved woman springing from her lover's lap.

जले निपतिताग्रैश्च पादपैरुपशोभिताम् ।

jale nipatitāgraiśca pādapairupaśobhitām |

Trees whose tips fell into the water beautified it,

वार्यमाणामिव क्रुद्धां प्रमदां प्रियबन्धुभिः ॥

vāryamāṇāmiva kruddhāṃ pramadāṃ priyabandhubhiḥ ||

as though dear friends were restraining the angry woman.

पुनरावृत्ततोयां च ददर्श स महाकपिः ।

punarāvṛttatoyāṃ ca dadarśa sa mahākapiḥ |

The great vanara saw its waters turn back again,

प्रसन्नामिव कान्तस्य कान्तां पुनरुपस्थिताम् ॥

prasannāmiva kāntasya kāntāṃ punarupasthitām ||

like a beloved woman reconciled and returning to her lover.

तस्यादूरात् स पद्मिन्यो नानाद्विजगणायुताः ।

tasyādūrāt sa padminyo nānādvijagaṇāyutāḥ |

Not far away, mighty Hanuman, son of the Wind,

ददर्श कपिशार्दूलो हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥

dadarśa kapiśārdūlo hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ ||

saw lotus ponds attended by many flocks of birds.

कृत्रिमां दीर्घिकां चापि पूर्णां शीतेन वारिणा ।

kṛtrimāṃ dīrghikāṃ cāpi pūrṇāṃ śītena vāriṇā |

He also saw an artificial tank filled with cool water,

मणिप्रवरसोपानां मुक्तासिकतशोभिताम् ॥

maṇipravarasopānāṃ muktāsikataśobhitām ||

with steps of excellent gems and sand shining like pearls.

विविधैर्मृगसङ्घैश्च विचित्रां चित्रकाननाम् ।

vividhairmṛgasaṅghaiśca vicitrāṃ citrakānanām |

It was made varied by many herds of animals and picturesque woods,

प्रासादैः सुमहद्भिश्च निर्मितैर्विश्वकर्मणा ॥

prāsādaiḥ sumahadbhiśca nirmitairviśvakarmaṇā ||

and by great buildings fashioned by Vishvakarma.

काननैः कृत्रिमैश्चापि सर्वतः समलंकृताम् ।

kānanaiḥ kṛtrimaiścāpi sarvataḥ samalaṃkṛtām |

Artificial groves decorated it on every side;

ये केचित् पादपास्तत्र पुष्पोपगफलोपगाः ॥

ye kecit pādapāstatra puṣpopagaphalopagāḥ ||

whatever flowering and fruit-bearing trees stood there—

सच्छत्राः सवितर्दीकाः सर्वे सौवर्णवेदिकाः ।

sacchatrāḥ savitardīkāḥ sarve sauvarṇavedikāḥ |

all had canopies, raised seats, and golden platforms.

लताप्रतानैर्बहुभिः पर्णैश्च बहुभिर्वृताम् ॥

latāpratānairbahubhiḥ parṇaiśca bahubhirvṛtām ||

Covered with many spreading vines and abundant leaves—

काञ्चनीं शिंशपामेकां ददर्श स महाकपिः ।

kāñcanīṃ śiṃśapāmekāṃ dadarśa sa mahākapiḥ |

the great vanara saw a single golden shimshapa tree,

वृतां हेममयीभिस्तु वेदिकाभिः समन्ततः ॥

vṛtāṃ hemamayībhistu vedikābhiḥ samantataḥ ||

surrounded on every side by platforms of gold.

सोऽपश्यद् भूमिभागांश्च नगप्रस्रवणानि च ।

so’paśyad bhūmibhāgāṃśca nagaprasravaṇāni ca |

He saw the grounds and the mountain springs,

सुवर्णवृक्षानपरान् ददर्श शिखिसंनिभान् ॥

suvarṇavṛkṣānaparān dadarśa śikhisaṃnibhān ||

and other golden trees shining like fire.

तेषां द्रुमाणां प्रभया मेरोरिव महाकपिः ।

teṣāṃ drumāṇāṃ prabhayā meroriva mahākapiḥ |

From the brilliance of those trees, like that of Meru,

अमन्यत तदा वीरः काञ्चनोऽस्मीति सर्वतः ॥

amanyata tadā vīraḥ kāñcano’smīti sarvataḥ ||

the heroic vanara thought his whole body had become golden.

तान् काञ्चनान् वृक्षगणान् मारुतेन प्रकम्पितान् ।

tān kāñcanān vṛkṣagaṇān mārutena prakampitān |

Seeing those golden trees shaken by the wind

किङ्किणीशतनिर्घोषान् दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमागमत् ॥

kiṅkiṇīśatanirghoṣān dṛṣṭvā vismayamāgamat ||

and ringing with the sound of hundreds of little bells, he marveled.

सुपुष्पिताग्रान् रुचिरांस्तरुणाङ्कुरपल्लवान् ।

supuṣpitāgrān rucirāṃstaruṇāṅkurapallavān |

Among lovely flowering crowns and young shoots and leaves,

तामारुह्य महावेगः शिंशपां पर्णसंवृताम् ॥

tāmāruhya mahāvegaḥ śiṃśapāṃ parṇasaṃvṛtām ||

the swift one climbed that densely leafed shimshapa.

इतो द्रक्ष्यामि वैदेहीं रामदर्शनलालसाम् ।

ito drakṣyāmi vaidehīṃ rāmadarśanalālasām |

'From here I shall see Sita, longing to see Rama,

इतश्चेतश्च दुःखार्तां सम्पतन्तीं यदृच्छया ॥

itaścetaśca duḥkhārtāṃ sampatantīṃ yadṛcchayā ||

wandering here and there as sorrow moves her.'

अशोकवनिका चेयं दृढं रम्या दुरात्मनः ।

aśokavanikā ceyaṃ dṛḍhaṃ ramyā durātmanaḥ |

'This wicked ruler's ashoka grove is indeed delightful,

चन्दनैश्चम्पकैश्चापि बकुलैश्च विभूषिता ॥

candanaiścampakaiścāpi bakulaiśca vibhūṣitā ||

adorned with sandalwood, champaka, and bakula trees.'

इयं च नलिनी रम्या द्विजसङ्घनिषेविता ।

iyaṃ ca nalinī ramyā dvijasaṅghaniṣevitā |

'This lovely lotus pool is visited by flocks of birds.

इमां सा राजमहिषी नूनमेष्यति जानकी ॥

imāṃ sā rājamahiṣī nūnameṣyati jānakī ||

Surely Janaki, the royal lady, will come here.'

सा रामा राजमहिषी राघवस्य प्रिया सती ।

sā rāmā rājamahiṣī rāghavasya priyā satī |

'That lovely queen, Rama's faithful beloved,

वनसंचारकुशला ध्रुवमेष्यति जानकी ॥

vanasaṃcārakuśalā dhruvameṣyati jānakī ||

is accustomed to walking in forests; surely Janaki will come.'

अथवा मृगशावाक्षी वनस्यास्य विचक्षणा ।

athavā mṛgaśāvākṣī vanasyāsya vicakṣaṇā |

'Or the doe-eyed woman, familiar with the ways of forests,

वनमेष्यति साद्येह रामचिन्तासुकर्शिता ॥

vanameṣyati sādyeha rāmacintāsukarśitā ||

may come here today, worn thin by thoughts of Rama.'

रामशोकाभिसंतप्ता सा देवी वामलोचना ।

rāmaśokābhisaṃtaptā sā devī vāmalocanā |

'Scorched by sorrow for Rama, the lovely-eyed lady

वनवासरता नित्यमेष्यते वनचारिणी ॥

vanavāsaratā nityameṣyate vanacāriṇī ||

who always delighted in forest life will come wandering here.'

वनेचराणां सततं नूनं स्पृहयते पुरा ।

vanecarāṇāṃ satataṃ nūnaṃ spṛhayate purā |

'Rama's noble, faithful beloved, Janaka's daughter,

रामस्य दयिता चार्या जनकस्य सुता सती ॥

rāmasya dayitā cāryā janakasya sutā satī ||

has always cared for the creatures of the forest.'

संध्याकालमनाः श्यामा ध्रुवमेष्यति जानकी ।

saṃdhyākālamanāḥ śyāmā dhruvameṣyati jānakī |

'Mindful of twilight observance, lovely Janaki will surely come

नदीं चेमां शुभजलां संध्यार्थे वरवर्णिनी ॥

nadīṃ cemāṃ śubhajalāṃ saṃdhyārthe varavarṇinī ||

to this river with its pure water for her evening worship.'

तस्याश्चाप्यनुरूपेयमशोकवनिका शुभा ।

tasyāścāpyanurūpeyamaśokavanikā śubhā |

'This lovely ashoka grove is suited to that virtuous woman,

शुभायाः पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य पत्नी रामस्य सम्मता ॥

śubhāyāḥ pārthivendrasya patnī rāmasya sammatā ||

the honored wife of Rama, foremost among kings.'

यदि जीवति सा देवी ताराधिपनिभानना ।

yadi jīvati sā devī tārādhipanibhānanā |

'If the moon-faced lady is alive,

आगमिष्यति सावश्यमिमां शीतजलां नदीम् ॥

āgamiṣyati sāvaśyamimāṃ śītajalāṃ nadīm ||

she will certainly come to this river of cool water.'

एवं तु मत्वा हनुमान् महात्मा

evaṃ tu matvā hanumān mahātmā

Thinking thus, noble Hanuman

प्रतीक्षमाणो मनुजेन्द्रपत्नीम् ।

pratīkṣamāṇo manujendrapatnīm |

waited for the king's wife.

अवेक्षमाणश्च ददर्श सर्वं

avekṣamāṇaśca dadarśa sarvaṃ

He looked carefully over everything,

सुपुष्पिते पर्णघने निलीनः ॥

supuṣpite parṇaghane nilīnaḥ ||

hidden in the richly flowering, densely leafed tree.