Hanuman surveys Lanka

स सागरमनाधृष्यमतिक्रम्य महाबलः ।

sa sāgaramanādhṛṣyamatikramya mahābalaḥ |

Having crossed the formidable ocean, the immensely strong Hanuman

त्रिकूटस्य तटे लंकां स्थितः स्वस्थो ददर्श ह ॥

trikūṭasya taṭe laṃkāṃ sthitaḥ svastho dadarśa ha ||

stood calmly on the slope of Trikuta and looked upon Lanka.

ततः पादपमुक्तेन पुष्पवर्षेण वीर्यवान् ।

tataḥ pādapamuktena puṣpavarṣeṇa vīryavān |

A shower of flowers shaken loose from the trees fell upon the valiant one.

अभिवृष्टस्ततस्तत्र बभौ पुष्पमयो हरिः ॥

abhivṛṣṭastatastatra babhau puṣpamayo hariḥ ||

Covered in those blossoms, the vanara seemed to be made of flowers.

योजनानां शतं श्रीमांस्तीर्त्वाप्युत्तमविक्रमः ।

yojanānāṃ śataṃ śrīmāṃstīrtvāpyuttamavikramaḥ |

Though the glorious hero of outstanding courage had crossed a hundred yojanas,

अनिःश्वसन् कपिस्तत्र न ग्लानिमधिगच्छति ॥

aniḥśvasan kapistatra na glānimadhigacchati ||

he was neither breathless nor overcome by weariness.

शतान्यहं योजनानां क्रमेयं सुबहून्यपि ।

śatānyahaṃ yojanānāṃ krameyaṃ subahūnyapi |

“I could cross even many hundreds of yojanas;

किं पुनः सागरस्यान्तं संख्यातं शतयोजनम् ॥

kiṃ punaḥ sāgarasyāntaṃ saṃkhyātaṃ śatayojanam ||

how much less difficult was this ocean, measured at a hundred yojanas!”

स तु वीर्यवतां श्रेष्ठः प्लवतामपि चोत्तमः ।

sa tu vīryavatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ plavatāmapi cottamaḥ |

Foremost among the courageous and the best of leapers,

जगाम वेगवाँल्लंकां लङ्घयित्वा महोदधिम् ॥

jagāma vegavām̐llaṃkāṃ laṅghayitvā mahodadhim ||

he sped towards Lanka after crossing the great sea.

शाद्वलानि च नीलानि गन्धवन्ति वनानि च ।

śādvalāni ca nīlāni gandhavanti vanāni ca |

He passed through blue-green meadows and fragrant woods,

मधुमन्ति च मध्येन जगाम नगवन्ति च ॥

madhumanti ca madhyena jagāma nagavanti ca ||

rich in honey and filled with trees and hills.

शैलांश्च तरुसंछन्नान् वनराजीश्च पुष्पिताः ।

śailāṃśca tarusaṃchannān vanarājīśca puṣpitāḥ |

Tree-covered hills and stretches of flowering woodland

अभिचक्राम तेजस्वी हनूमान् प्लवगर्षभः ॥

abhicakrāma tejasvī hanūmān plavagarṣabhaḥ ||

were crossed by radiant Hanuman, foremost among the leaping vanaras.

स तस्मिन्नचले तिष्ठन् वनान्युपवनानि च ।

sa tasminnacale tiṣṭhan vanānyupavanāni ca |

Standing on that mountain, the son of the Wind saw forests and gardens;

स नगाग्रे स्थितां लंकां ददर्श पवनात्मजः ॥

sa nagāgre sthitāṃ laṃkāṃ dadarśa pavanātmajaḥ ||

he also saw Lanka standing upon the mountain's summit.

सरलान् कर्णिकारांश्च खर्जूरांश्च सुपुष्पितान् ।

saralān karṇikārāṃśca kharjūrāṃśca supuṣpitān |

He saw sarala and karnikara trees, and date palms in full bloom,

प्रियालान् मुचुलिन्दांश्च कुटजान् केतकानपि ॥

priyālān muculindāṃśca kuṭajān ketakānapi ||

priyala, muchulinda, kutaja and ketaka trees;

प्रियङ्गून् गन्धपूर्णांश्च नीपान् सप्तच्छदांस्तथा ।

priyaṅgūn gandhapūrṇāṃśca nīpān saptacchadāṃstathā |

fragrant priyangu, nipa and saptachchhada trees,

असनान् कोविदारांश्च करवीरांश्च पुष्पितान् ॥

asanān kovidārāṃśca karavīrāṃśca puṣpitān ||

asana, kovidara and flowering karavira trees;

पुष्पभारनिबद्धांश्च तथा मुकुलितानपि ।

puṣpabhāranibaddhāṃśca tathā mukulitānapi |

trees weighed down with flowers, and others still covered in buds,

पादपान् विहगाकीर्णान् पवनाधूतमस्तकान् ॥

pādapān vihagākīrṇān pavanādhūtamastakān ||

crowded with birds, their crowns stirred by the wind;

हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णा वापीः पद्मोत्पलावृताः ।

haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇā vāpīḥ padmotpalāvṛtāḥ |

he saw ponds full of swans and waterbirds, covered with lotuses and water-lilies,

आक्रीडान् विविधान् रम्यान् विविधांश्च जलाशयान् ॥

ākrīḍān vividhān ramyān vividhāṃśca jalāśayān ||

lovely pleasure grounds of many kinds, and various reservoirs;

संततान् विविधैर्वृक्षैः सर्वर्तुफलपुष्पितैः ।

saṃtatān vividhairvṛkṣaiḥ sarvartuphalapuṣpitaiḥ |

Thick with many kinds of trees bearing flowers and fruit in every season,

उद्यानानि च रम्याणि ददर्श कपिकुञ्जरः ॥

udyānāni ca ramyāṇi dadarśa kapikuñjaraḥ ||

the delightful gardens came into the mighty vanara’s view.

समासाद्य च लक्ष्मीवाँल्लंकां रावणपालिताम् ।

samāsādya ca lakṣmīvām̐llaṃkāṃ rāvaṇapālitām |

The splendid hero approached Lanka, ruled by Ravana,

परिखाभिः सपद्माभिः सोत्पलाभिरलंकृताम् ॥

parikhābhiḥ sapadmābhiḥ sotpalābhiralaṃkṛtām ||

adorned with moats containing lotuses and water-lilies.

सीतापहरणात् तेन रावणेन सुरक्षिताम् ।

sītāpaharaṇāt tena rāvaṇena surakṣitām |

Since abducting Sita, Ravana had kept the city closely guarded,

समन्ताद् विचरद्भिश्च राक्षसैरुग्रधन्वभिः ॥

samantād vicaradbhiśca rākṣasairugradhanvabhiḥ ||

with rakshasas carrying formidable bows patrolling on every side.

काञ्चनेनावृतां रम्यां प्राकारेण महापुरीम् ।

kāñcanenāvṛtāṃ ramyāṃ prākāreṇa mahāpurīm |

The lovely, great city was enclosed by a golden rampart,

गृहैश्च गिरिसंकाशैः शारदाम्बुदसंनिभैः ॥

gṛhaiśca girisaṃkāśaiḥ śāradāmbudasaṃnibhaiḥ ||

and filled with mountain-like houses as pale as autumn clouds.

पाण्डुराभिः प्रतोलीभिरुच्चाभिरभिसंवृताम् ।

pāṇḍurābhiḥ pratolībhiruccābhirabhisaṃvṛtām |

It was surrounded by lofty, pale gateways,

अट्टालकशताकीर्णां पताकाध्वजशोभिताम् ॥

aṭṭālakaśatākīrṇāṃ patākādhvajaśobhitām ||

crowded with hundreds of towers, and adorned with banners and standards.

तोरणैः काञ्चनैर्दिव्यैर्लतापङ्‍क्तिविराजितैः ।

toraṇaiḥ kāñcanairdivyairlatāpaṅktivirājitaiḥ |

With splendid golden arches bright with rows of creeper designs,

ददर्श हनुमाँल्लंकां देवो देवपुरीमिव ॥

dadarśa hanumām̐llaṃkāṃ devo devapurīmiva ||

Lanka appeared to Hanuman as a celestial city might appear to a god.

गिरिमूर्ध्नि स्थितां लंकां पाण्डुरैर्भवनैः शुभैः ।

girimūrdhni sthitāṃ laṃkāṃ pāṇḍurairbhavanaiḥ śubhaiḥ |

The glorious vanara saw Lanka on the mountain's crest,

ददर्श स कपिः श्रीमान् पुरीमाकाशगामिव ॥

dadarśa sa kapiḥ śrīmān purīmākāśagāmiva ||

its beautiful pale buildings making it seem to travel through the sky.

पालितां राक्षसेन्द्रेण निर्मितां विश्वकर्मणा ।

pālitāṃ rākṣasendreṇa nirmitāṃ viśvakarmaṇā |

Guarded by the rakshasa king and built by Vishvakarma,

प्लवमानामिवाकाशे ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः ॥

plavamānāmivākāśe dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ ||

Lanka appeared to Hanuman to float in the sky.

वप्रप्राकारजघनां विपुलाम्बुवनाम्बराम् ।

vapraprākārajaghanāṃ vipulāmbuvanāmbarām |

Its ramparts and walls were like hips, its broad waters and forests like clothing;

शतघ्नीशूलकेशान्तामट्टालकावतंसकाम् ॥

śataghnīśūlakeśāntāmaṭṭālakāvataṃsakām ||

its defensive engines and spears were like hair, and its towers like ornaments.

मनसेव कृतां लंकां निर्मितां विश्वकर्मणा ।

manaseva kṛtāṃ laṃkāṃ nirmitāṃ viśvakarmaṇā |

Lanka, built by Vishvakarma, seemed shaped by thought itself.

द्वारमुत्तरमासाद्य चिन्तयामास वानरः ॥

dvāramuttaramāsādya cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ ||

Reaching its northern gate, the vanara began to consider his course.

कैलासनिलयप्रख्यमालिखन्तमिवाम्बरम् ।

kailāsanilayaprakhyamālikhantamivāmbaram |

Its splendid buildings rose like the dwellings of Kailasa, seeming to scrape the sky;

ध्रियमाणमिवाकाशमुच्छ्रितैर्भवनोत्तमैः ॥

dhriyamāṇamivākāśamucchritairbhavanottamaiḥ ||

their height made it appear that the heavens themselves were held aloft.

सम्पूर्णा राक्षसैर्घोरैर्नागैर्भोगवतीमिव ।

sampūrṇā rākṣasairghorairnāgairbhogavatīmiva |

It was filled with fearsome rakshasas, like Bhogavati with serpents:

अचिन्त्यां सुकृतां स्पष्टां कुबेराध्युषितां पुरा ॥

acintyāṃ sukṛtāṃ spaṣṭāṃ kuberādhyuṣitāṃ purā ||

a wondrous, beautifully built, conspicuous city once inhabited by Kubera.

दंष्ट्राभिर्बहुभिः शूरैः शूलपट्टिशपाणिभिः ।

daṃṣṭrābhirbahubhiḥ śūraiḥ śūlapaṭṭiśapāṇibhiḥ |

Many brave, fearsome, fanged rakshasas, holding spears and bladed polearms,

रक्षितां राक्षसैर्घोरैर्गुहामाशीविषैरिव ॥

rakṣitāṃ rākṣasairghorairguhāmāśīviṣairiva ||

guarded it as venomous snakes guard a cave.

तस्याश्च महतीं गुप्तिं सागरं च निरीक्ष्य सः ।

tasyāśca mahatīṃ guptiṃ sāgaraṃ ca nirīkṣya saḥ |

Having examined its strong defences and the surrounding ocean,

रावणं च रिपुं घोरं चिन्तयामास वानरः ॥

rāvaṇaṃ ca ripuṃ ghoraṃ cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ ||

the vanara reflected upon Ravana, that dreadful enemy.

आगत्यापीह हरयो भविष्यन्ति निरर्थकाः ।

āgatyāpīha harayo bhaviṣyanti nirarthakāḥ |

“Even if the vanaras reach this place, their efforts may be fruitless.

नहि युद्धेन वै लंका शक्या जेतुं सुरैरपि ॥

nahi yuddhena vai laṃkā śakyā jetuṃ surairapi ||

Even the gods could not easily conquer Lanka in battle.”

इमां त्वविषमां लंकां दुर्गां रावणपालिताम् ।

imāṃ tvaviṣamāṃ laṃkāṃ durgāṃ rāvaṇapālitām |

“This Lanka, guarded by Ravana, is a formidable, fortified city.

प्राप्यापि सुमहाबाहुः किं करिष्यति राघवः ॥

prāpyāpi sumahābāhuḥ kiṃ kariṣyati rāghavaḥ ||

Even if mighty-armed Rama reaches it, what will he do?”

अवकाशो न साम्नस्तु राक्षसेष्वभिगम्यते ।

avakāśo na sāmnastu rākṣaseṣvabhigamyate |

“I can see no opening here for conciliation with the rakshasas,

न दानस्य न भेदस्य नैव युद्धस्य दृश्यते ॥

na dānasya na bhedasya naiva yuddhasya dṛśyate ||

nor for gifts, division among them, or outright war.”

चतुर्णामेव हि गतिर्वानराणां तरस्विनाम् ।

caturṇāmeva hi gatirvānarāṇāṃ tarasvinām |

“Only four swift vanaras could make this journey:

वालिपुत्रस्य नीलस्य मम राज्ञश्च धीमतः ॥

vāliputrasya nīlasya mama rājñaśca dhīmataḥ ||

Vali's son, Nila, myself and our wise king.”

यावज्जानामि वैदेहीं यदि जीवति वा न वा ।

yāvajjānāmi vaidehīṃ yadi jīvati vā na vā |

“First I must learn about Vaidehi, whether she is alive or not.

तत्रैव चिन्तयिष्यामि दृष्ट्वा तां जनकात्मजाम् ॥

tatraiva cintayiṣyāmi dṛṣṭvā tāṃ janakātmajām ||

After seeing Janaka's daughter, I shall consider the rest.”

ततः स चिन्तयामास मुहूर्तं कपिकुञ्जरः ।

tataḥ sa cintayāmāsa muhūrtaṃ kapikuñjaraḥ |

Then the mighty vanara stood for a while upon that mountain peak

गिरेः शृङ्गे स्थितस्तस्मिन् रामस्याभ्युदयं ततः ॥

gireḥ śṛṅge sthitastasmin rāmasyābhyudayaṃ tataḥ ||

and reflected on how to advance Rama's cause.

अनेन रूपेण मया न शक्या रक्षसां पुरी ।

anena rūpeṇa mayā na śakyā rakṣasāṃ purī |

“In this form I cannot enter the rakshasas' city,

प्रवेष्टुं राक्षसैर्गुप्ता क्रूरैर्बलसमन्वितैः ॥

praveṣṭuṃ rākṣasairguptā krūrairbalasamanvitaiḥ ||

guarded as it is by fierce and powerful rakshasas.”

महौजसो महावीर्या बलवन्तश्च राक्षसाः ।

mahaujaso mahāvīryā balavantaśca rākṣasāḥ |

“These rakshasas possess immense energy, valour and strength.

वञ्चनीया मया सर्वे जानकीं परिमार्गता ॥

vañcanīyā mayā sarve jānakīṃ parimārgatā ||

In searching for Janaki, I must avoid the notice of every one of them.”

लक्ष्यालक्ष्येण रूपेण रात्रौ लंकापुरी मया ।

lakṣyālakṣyeṇa rūpeṇa rātrau laṃkāpurī mayā |

“At night I should enter Lanka in a form scarcely visible;

प्राप्तकालं प्रवेष्टुं मे कृत्यं साधयितुं महत् ॥

prāptakālaṃ praveṣṭuṃ me kṛtyaṃ sādhayituṃ mahat ||

the time has come for me to accomplish my great task.”

तां पुरीं तादृशीं दृष्ट्वा दुराधर्षां सुरासुरैः ।

tāṃ purīṃ tādṛśīṃ dṛṣṭvā durādharṣāṃ surāsuraiḥ |

Seeing that city, difficult for gods and asuras alike to assail,

हनूमांश्चिन्तयामास विनिःश्वस्य मुहुर्मुहुः ॥

hanūmāṃścintayāmāsa viniḥśvasya muhurmuhuḥ ||

Hanuman thought deeply, drawing breath again and again.

केनोपायेन पश्येयं मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम् ।

kenopāyena paśyeyaṃ maithilīṃ janakātmajām |

“By what means can I see Maithili, Janaka's daughter,

अदृष्टो राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना ॥

adṛṣṭo rākṣasendreṇa rāvaṇena durātmanā ||

without being seen by the wicked rakshasa king Ravana?”

न विनश्येत् कथं कार्यं रामस्य विदितात्मनः ।

na vinaśyet kathaṃ kāryaṃ rāmasya viditātmanaḥ |

“How can I preserve the mission of self-possessed Rama?

एकामेकस्तु पश्येयं रहिते जनकात्मजाम् ॥

ekāmekastu paśyeyaṃ rahite janakātmajām ||

How can I meet Janaka's daughter alone, in a secluded place?”

भूताश्चार्था विनश्यन्ति देशकालविरोधिताः ।

bhūtāścārthā vinaśyanti deśakālavirodhitāḥ |

“Even well-advanced undertakings, mishandled in place or time, can disappear

विक्लवं दूतमासाद्य तमः सूर्योदये यथा ॥

viklavaṃ dūtamāsādya tamaḥ sūryodaye yathā ||

on reaching an unsteady messenger, like darkness at sunrise.”

अर्थानर्थान्तरे बुद्धिर्निश्चितापि न शोभते ।

arthānarthāntare buddhirniścitāpi na śobhate |

“Even a settled judgement loses its value when wavering between benefit and harm.

घातयन्तीह कार्याणि दूताः पण्डितमानिनः ॥

ghātayantīha kāryāṇi dūtāḥ paṇḍitamāninaḥ ||

Messengers who imagine themselves wise can ruin the tasks entrusted to them.”

न विनश्येत् कथं कार्यं वैक्लव्यं न कथं भवेत् ।

na vinaśyet kathaṃ kāryaṃ vaiklavyaṃ na kathaṃ bhavet |

“How can I keep the task from failing and prevent confusion?

लङ्घनं च समुद्रस्य कथं नु न भवेद् वृथा ॥

laṅghanaṃ ca samudrasya kathaṃ nu na bhaved vṛthā ||

How can I make sure that crossing the ocean has not been in vain?”

मयि दृष्टे तु रक्षोभी रामस्य विदितात्मनः ।

mayi dṛṣṭe tu rakṣobhī rāmasya viditātmanaḥ |

“If the rakshasas see me, this mission of self-possessed Rama,

भवेद् व्यर्थमिदं कार्यं रावणानर्थमिच्छतः ॥

bhaved vyarthamidaṃ kāryaṃ rāvaṇānarthamicchataḥ ||

who seeks Ravana's downfall, could become fruitless.”

नहि शक्यं क्वचित् स्थातुमविज्ञातेन राक्षसैः ।

nahi śakyaṃ kvacit sthātumavijñātena rākṣasaiḥ |

“It is impossible to stay anywhere unnoticed by the rakshasas,

अपि राक्षसरूपेण किमुतान्येन केनचित् ॥

api rākṣasarūpeṇa kimutānyena kenacit ||

even in a rakshasa's form—how much more so in any other shape!”

वायुरप्यत्र नाज्ञातश्चरेदिति मतिर्मम ।

vāyurapyatra nājñātaścarediti matirmama |

“I think even the wind could not move here without being noticed.

नह्यत्राविदितं किंचिद् रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम् ॥

nahyatrāviditaṃ kiṃcid rakṣasāṃ bhīmakarmaṇām ||

Nothing here escapes these rakshasas of fearsome deeds.”

इहाहं यदि तिष्ठामि स्वेन रूपेण संवृतः ।

ihāhaṃ yadi tiṣṭhāmi svena rūpeṇa saṃvṛtaḥ |

“If I remain here in my present form,

विनाशमुपयास्यामि भर्तुरर्थश्च हास्यति ॥

vināśamupayāsyāmi bharturarthaśca hāsyati ||

I shall meet destruction, and my master's purpose will suffer.”

तदहं स्वेन रूपेण रजन्यां ह्रस्वतां गतः ।

tadahaṃ svena rūpeṇa rajanyāṃ hrasvatāṃ gataḥ |

“Therefore, retaining my own form but becoming small,

लंकामभिपतिष्यामि राघवस्यार्थसिद्धये ॥

laṃkāmabhipatiṣyāmi rāghavasyārthasiddhaye ||

I shall enter Lanka at night to accomplish Rama's purpose.”

रावणस्य पुरीं रात्रौ प्रविश्य सुदुरासदाम् ।

rāvaṇasya purīṃ rātrau praviśya sudurāsadām |

“Entering Ravana's hard-to-approach city at night,

प्रविश्य भवनं सर्वं द्रक्ष्यामि जनकात्मजाम् ॥

praviśya bhavanaṃ sarvaṃ drakṣyāmi janakātmajām ||

I shall search every dwelling and find Janaka's daughter.”

इति निश्चित्य हनुमान् सूर्यस्यास्तमयं कपिः ।

iti niścitya hanumān sūryasyāstamayaṃ kapiḥ |

Having decided, the heroic vanara Hanuman waited for sunset,

आचकाङ्क्षे तदा वीरो वैदेह्या दर्शनोत्सुकः ॥

ācakāṅkṣe tadā vīro vaidehyā darśanotsukaḥ ||

eager to obtain a sight of Vaidehi.

सूर्ये चास्तं गते रात्रौ देहं संक्षिप्य मारुतिः ।

sūrye cāstaṃ gate rātrau dehaṃ saṃkṣipya mārutiḥ |

When the sun had set and night arrived, the Wind's son reduced his body.

वृषदंशकमात्रोऽथ बभूवाद्भुतदर्शनः ॥

vṛṣadaṃśakamātro’tha babhūvādbhutadarśanaḥ ||

His wondrous appearance was now only the size of a cat.

प्रदोषकाले हनुमांस्तूर्णमुत्पत्य वीर्यवान् ।

pradoṣakāle hanumāṃstūrṇamutpatya vīryavān |

At dusk the valiant Hanuman sprang forward swiftly

प्रविवेश पुरीं रम्यां प्रविभक्तमहापथाम् ॥

praviveśa purīṃ ramyāṃ pravibhaktamahāpathām ||

and entered the lovely city with its well-laid-out main roads.

प्रासादमालाविततां स्तम्भैः काञ्चनसंनिभैः ।

prāsādamālāvitatāṃ stambhaiḥ kāñcanasaṃnibhaiḥ |

Rows of palaces stretched out, with columns shining like gold

शातकुम्भनिभैर्जालैर्गन्धर्वनगरोपमाम् ॥

śātakumbhanibhairjālairgandharvanagaropamām ||

and golden latticework, making the city resemble a city of Gandharvas.

सप्तभौमाष्टभौमैश्च स ददर्श महापुरीम् ।

saptabhaumāṣṭabhaumaiśca sa dadarśa mahāpurīm |

He saw great buildings of seven and eight storeys,

तलैः स्फटिकसंकीर्णैः कार्तस्वरविभूषितैः ॥

talaiḥ sphaṭikasaṃkīrṇaiḥ kārtasvaravibhūṣitaiḥ ||

with crystal-inlaid floors and golden adornments.

वैदूर्यमणिचित्रैश्च मुक्ताजालविभूषितैः ।

vaidūryamaṇicitraiśca muktājālavibhūṣitaiḥ |

Decorated with varied beryl gems and networks of pearls,

तैस्तैः शुशुभिरे तानि भवनान्यत्र रक्षसाम् ॥

taistaiḥ śuśubhire tāni bhavanānyatra rakṣasām ||

the rakshasas' mansions shone with all these ornaments.

काञ्चनानि विचित्राणि तोरणानि च रक्षसाम् ।

kāñcanāni vicitrāṇi toraṇāni ca rakṣasām |

The rakshasas' many splendid golden arches

लंकामुद्योतयामासुः सर्वतः समलंकृताम् ॥

laṃkāmudyotayāmāsuḥ sarvataḥ samalaṃkṛtām ||

lit up Lanka, which was richly adorned on every side.

अचिन्त्यामद्भुताकारां दृष्ट्वा लंकां महाकपिः ।

acintyāmadbhutākārāṃ dṛṣṭvā laṃkāṃ mahākapiḥ |

Seeing Lanka's astonishing and almost unimaginable form, the great vanara

आसीद् विषण्णो हृष्टश्च वैदेह्या दर्शनोत्सुकः ॥

āsīd viṣaṇṇo hṛṣṭaśca vaidehyā darśanotsukaḥ ||

felt both apprehensive and delighted, while longing to see Vaidehi.

स पाण्डुराविद्धविमानमालिनीं

sa pāṇḍurāviddhavimānamālinīṃ

There stood the renowned city, garlanded with pale, lofty palaces,

महार्हजाम्बूनदजालतोरणाम् ।

mahārhajāmbūnadajālatoraṇām |

with costly golden latticework and gateways,

यशस्विनीं रावणबाहुपालितां

yaśasvinīṃ rāvaṇabāhupālitāṃ

protected by Ravana's strength

क्षपाचरैर्भीमबलैः सुपालिताम् ॥

kṣapācarairbhīmabalaiḥ supālitām ||

and closely guarded by night-wanderers of formidable power.

चन्द्रोऽपि साचिव्यमिवास्य कुर्वं-

candro’pi sācivyamivāsya kurvaṃ-

The moon, as though acting as Hanuman's helper,

स्तारागणैर्मध्यगतो विराजन् ।

stārāgaṇairmadhyagato virājan |

shone among the hosts of stars.

ज्योत्स्नावितानेन वितत्य लोका-

jyotsnāvitānena vitatya lokā-

Spreading a canopy of moonlight across the worlds,

नुत्तिष्ठतेऽनेकसहस्ररश्मिः ॥

nuttiṣṭhate’nekasahasraraśmiḥ ||

it rose with its many thousands of rays.

शङ्खप्रभं क्षीरमृणालवर्ण-

śaṅkhaprabhaṃ kṣīramṛṇālavarṇa-

Bright as a conch, with the colour of milk and a lotus stalk,

मुद‍्गच्छमानं व्यवभासमानम् ।

mudgacchamānaṃ vyavabhāsamānam |

the moon rose and shone.

ददर्श चन्द्रं स कपिप्रवीरः

dadarśa candraṃ sa kapipravīraḥ

The foremost vanara watched it,

पोप्लूयमानं सरसीव हंसम् ॥

poplūyamānaṃ sarasīva haṃsam ||

like a swan floating upon a lake.