Hanuman meets Lanka’s guardian

स लम्बशिखरे लम्बे लम्बतोयदसंनिभे ।

sa lambaśikhare lambe lambatoyadasaṃnibhe |

On lofty Mount Lamba, which resembled a hanging cloud,

सत्त्वमास्थाय मेधावी हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥

sattvamāsthāya medhāvī hanumān mārutātmajaḥ ||

wise Hanuman, the son of the Wind, gathered his courage.

निशि लंकां महासत्त्वो विवेश कपिकुञ्जरः ।

niśi laṃkāṃ mahāsattvo viveśa kapikuñjaraḥ |

At night the courageous hero, foremost among vanaras, entered Lanka,

रम्यकाननतोयाढ्यां पुरीं रावणपालिताम् ॥

ramyakānanatoyāḍhyāṃ purīṃ rāvaṇapālitām ||

Ravana's city, rich in beautiful woods and water.

शारदाम्बुधरप्रख्यैर्भवनैरुपशोभिताम् ।

śāradāmbudharaprakhyairbhavanairupaśobhitām |

Its buildings shone like autumn clouds;

सागरोपमनिर्घोषां सागरानिलसेविताम् ॥

sāgaropamanirghoṣāṃ sāgarānilasevitām ||

its roar was like the ocean's, and sea breezes moved through it.

सुपुष्टबलसम्पुष्टां यथैव विटपावतीम् ।

supuṣṭabalasampuṣṭāṃ yathaiva viṭapāvatīm |

Supported by its well-nourished, powerful forces, it resembled Vitapavati;

चारुतोरणनिर्यूहां पाण्डुरद्वारतोरणाम् ॥

cārutoraṇaniryūhāṃ pāṇḍuradvāratoraṇām ||

it had beautiful arches and projecting structures, and pale gateways.

भुजगाचरितां गुप्तां शुभां भोगवतीमिव ।

bhujagācaritāṃ guptāṃ śubhāṃ bhogavatīmiva |

It was guarded like lovely Bhogavati, inhabited by serpents,

तां सविद्युद‍्घनाकीर्णां ज्योतिर्गणनिषेविताम् ॥

tāṃ savidyudghanākīrṇāṃ jyotirgaṇaniṣevitām ||

and seemed surrounded by lightning-bearing clouds and hosts of lights;

चण्डमारुतनिर्ह्रादां यथा चाप्यमरावतीम् ।

caṇḍamārutanirhrādāṃ yathā cāpyamarāvatīm |

Like Amaravati, it resounded with the noise of strong winds,

शातकुम्भेन महता प्राकारेणाभिसंवृताम् ॥

śātakumbhena mahatā prākāreṇābhisaṃvṛtām ||

and was enclosed by a great wall of gold.

किङ्किणीजालघोषाभिः पताकाभिरलंकृताम् ।

kiṅkiṇījālaghoṣābhiḥ patākābhiralaṃkṛtām |

Banners adorned it amid the sound of networks of little bells.

आसाद्य सहसा हृष्टः प्राकारमभिपेदिवान् ॥

āsādya sahasā hṛṣṭaḥ prākāramabhipedivān ||

Reaching it, Hanuman joyfully approached the rampart.

विस्मयाविष्टहृदयः पुरीमालोक्य सर्वतः ।

vismayāviṣṭahṛdayaḥ purīmālokya sarvataḥ |

His heart filled with wonder as he looked around the city,

जाम्बूनदमयैर्द्वारैर्वैदूर्यकृतवेदिकैः ॥

jāmbūnadamayairdvārairvaidūryakṛtavedikaiḥ ||

with its doors of fine gold and terraces made of beryl;

वज्रस्फटिकमुक्ताभिर्मणिकुट्टिमभूषितैः ।

vajrasphaṭikamuktābhirmaṇikuṭṭimabhūṣitaiḥ |

its jewelled pavements adorned with diamonds, crystal and pearls,

तप्तहाटकनिर्यूहै राजतामलपाण्डुरैः ॥

taptahāṭakaniryūhai rājatāmalapāṇḍuraiḥ ||

its projections of glowing gold and its pure, pale silver surfaces;

वैदूर्यकृतसोपानैः स्फाटिकान्तरपांसुभिः ।

vaidūryakṛtasopānaiḥ sphāṭikāntarapāṃsubhiḥ |

its beryl stairways, crystal-strewn interiors

चारुसंजवनोपेतैः खमिवोत्पतितैः शुभैः ॥

cārusaṃjavanopetaiḥ khamivotpatitaiḥ śubhaiḥ ||

and beautiful courts, with splendid buildings seeming to rise into the sky;

क्रौञ्चबर्हिणसंघुष्टै राजहंसनिषेवितैः ।

krauñcabarhiṇasaṃghuṣṭai rājahaṃsaniṣevitaiḥ |

it echoed with the calls of cranes, peacocks and royal swans,

तूर्याभरणनिर्घोषैः सर्वतः परिनादिताम् ॥

tūryābharaṇanirghoṣaiḥ sarvataḥ parināditām ||

and with the sounds of musical instruments and ornaments on every side.

वस्वोकसारप्रतिमां समीक्ष्य नगरीं ततः ।

vasvokasārapratimāṃ samīkṣya nagarīṃ tataḥ |

Seeing the city, comparable to Vasvokasara,

खमिवोत्पतितां लंकां जहर्ष हनुमान् कपिः ॥

khamivotpatitāṃ laṃkāṃ jaharṣa hanumān kapiḥ ||

and Lanka seeming to rise into the sky, Hanuman rejoiced.

तां समीक्ष्य पुरीं लंकां राक्षसाधिपतेः शुभाम् ।

tāṃ samīkṣya purīṃ laṃkāṃ rākṣasādhipateḥ śubhām |

Having surveyed the rakshasa ruler's splendid city of Lanka,

अनुत्तमामृद्धिमतीं चिन्तयामास वीर्यवान् ॥

anuttamāmṛddhimatīṃ cintayāmāsa vīryavān ||

unequalled and prosperous, the valiant hero began to reflect.

नेयमन्येन नगरी शक्या धर्षयितुं बलात् ।

neyamanyena nagarī śakyā dharṣayituṃ balāt |

“This city cannot be overpowered by just anyone,

रक्षिता रावणबलैरुद्यतायुधपाणिभिः ॥

rakṣitā rāvaṇabalairudyatāyudhapāṇibhiḥ ||

guarded by Ravana's forces with weapons raised in their hands.”

कुमुदाङ्गदयोर्वापि सुषेणस्य महाकपेः ।

kumudāṅgadayorvāpi suṣeṇasya mahākapeḥ |

“This land might be accessible to Kumuda and Angada, to the great vanara Sushena,

प्रसिद्धेयं भवेद् भूमिर्मैन्दद्विविदयोरपि ॥

prasiddheyaṃ bhaved bhūmirmaindadvividayorapi ||

and also to Mainda and Dvivida;

विवस्वतस्तनूजस्य हरेश्च कुशपर्वणः ।

vivasvatastanūjasya hareśca kuśaparvaṇaḥ |

to the Sun's son, the vanara Kushaparvan,

ऋक्षस्य कपिमुख्यस्य मम चैव गतिर्भवेत् ॥

ṛkṣasya kapimukhyasya mama caiva gatirbhavet ||

the foremost bear-chief, and myself.”

समीक्ष्य च महाबाहो राघवस्य पराक्रमम् ।

samīkṣya ca mahābāho rāghavasya parākramam |

Then, considering the prowess of mighty-armed Rama

लक्ष्मणस्य च विक्रान्तमभवत् प्रीतिमान् कपिः ॥

lakṣmaṇasya ca vikrāntamabhavat prītimān kapiḥ ||

and the courage of Lakshmana, the vanara felt glad.

तां रत्नवसनोपेतां गोष्ठागारावतंसिकाम् ।

tāṃ ratnavasanopetāṃ goṣṭhāgārāvataṃsikām |

The wealthy city looked like an adorned woman, dressed in jewels, with cattle-yards and storehouses as ornaments,

यन्त्रागारस्तनीमृद्धां प्रमदामिव भूषिताम् ॥

yantrāgārastanīmṛddhāṃ pramadāmiva bhūṣitām ||

and buildings for defensive machinery compared to her breasts.

तां नष्टतिमिरां दीपैर्भास्वरैश्च महाग्रहैः ।

tāṃ naṣṭatimirāṃ dīpairbhāsvaraiśca mahāgrahaiḥ |

Its darkness was driven away by lamps and shining heavenly bodies.

नगरीं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य स ददर्श महाकपिः ॥

nagarīṃ rākṣasendrasya sa dadarśa mahākapiḥ ||

The great vanara gazed upon that city of the rakshasa king.

अथ सा हरिशार्दूलं प्रविशन्तं महाकपिम् ।

atha sā hariśārdūlaṃ praviśantaṃ mahākapim |

Then, as the great vanara, foremost of his kind, entered,

नगरी स्वेन रूपेण ददर्श पवनात्मजम् ॥

nagarī svena rūpeṇa dadarśa pavanātmajam ||

the city herself in her embodied form saw the son of the Wind.

सा तं हरिवरं दृष्ट्वा लंका रावणपालिता ।

sā taṃ harivaraṃ dṛṣṭvā laṃkā rāvaṇapālitā |

Seeing the foremost vanara, Lanka, protected by Ravana,

स्वयमेवोत्थिता तत्र विकृताननदर्शना ॥

svayamevotthitā tatra vikṛtānanadarśanā ||

rose there herself with a fearsome-looking face.

पुरस्तात् तस्य वीरस्य वायुसूनोरतिष्ठत ।

purastāt tasya vīrasya vāyusūnoratiṣṭhata |

She stood before that hero, the son of the Wind,

मुञ्चमाना महानादमब्रवीत् पवनात्मजम् ॥

muñcamānā mahānādamabravīt pavanātmajam ||

and, uttering a mighty cry, addressed him.

कस्त्वं केन च कार्येण इह प्राप्तो वनालय ।

kastvaṃ kena ca kāryeṇa iha prāpto vanālaya |

“Who are you, forest-dweller, and for what purpose have you come here?

कथयस्वेह यत् तत्त्वं यावत् प्राणा धरन्ति ते ॥

kathayasveha yat tattvaṃ yāvat prāṇā dharanti te ||

Tell me the truth while life still remains in you.”

न शक्यं खल्वियं लंका प्रवेष्टुं वानर त्वया ।

na śakyaṃ khalviyaṃ laṃkā praveṣṭuṃ vānara tvayā |

“You cannot enter this Lanka, vanara,

रक्षिता रावणबलैरभिगुप्ता समन्ततः ॥

rakṣitā rāvaṇabalairabhiguptā samantataḥ ||

protected by Ravana's forces and guarded on every side.”

अथ तामब्रवीद् वीरो हनुमानग्रतः स्थिताम् ।

atha tāmabravīd vīro hanumānagrataḥ sthitām |

Then heroic Hanuman spoke to her as she stood before him:

कथयिष्यामि तत् तत्त्वं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसे ॥

kathayiṣyāmi tat tattvaṃ yanmāṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchase ||

“I shall tell you the truth about what you are asking me.”

का त्वं विरूपनयना पुरद्वारेऽवतिष्ठसे ।

kā tvaṃ virūpanayanā puradvāre’vatiṣṭhase |

“Who are you, with that fierce appearance, standing at the city gate?

किमर्थं चापि मां क्रोधान्निर्भर्त्सयसि दारुणे ॥

kimarthaṃ cāpi māṃ krodhānnirbhartsayasi dāruṇe ||

And why, fearsome one, do you angrily threaten me?”

हनुमद्वचनं श्रुत्वा लंका सा कामरूपिणी ।

hanumadvacanaṃ śrutvā laṃkā sā kāmarūpiṇī |

Hearing Hanuman's words, shape-changing Lanka

उवाच वचनं क्रुद्धा परुषं पवनात्मजम् ॥

uvāca vacanaṃ kruddhā paruṣaṃ pavanātmajam ||

angrily addressed the son of the Wind in harsh terms.

अहं राक्षसराजस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः ।

ahaṃ rākṣasarājasya rāvaṇasya mahātmanaḥ |

“I await the command of the mighty rakshasa king Ravana.

आज्ञाप्रतीक्षा दुर्धर्षा रक्षामि नगरीमिमाम् ॥

ājñāpratīkṣā durdharṣā rakṣāmi nagarīmimām ||

Unassailable, I guard this city.”

न शक्यं मामवज्ञाय प्रवेष्टुं नगरीमिमाम् ।

na śakyaṃ māmavajñāya praveṣṭuṃ nagarīmimām |

“You cannot disregard me and enter this city.

अद्य प्राणैः परित्यक्तः स्वप्स्यसे निहतो मया ॥

adya prāṇaiḥ parityaktaḥ svapsyase nihato mayā ||

Today you will lie lifeless, slain by me.”

अहं हि नगरी लंका स्वयमेव प्लवङ्गम ।

ahaṃ hi nagarī laṃkā svayameva plavaṅgama |

“I am the city of Lanka herself, vanara.

सर्वतः परिरक्षामि अतस्ते कथितं मया ॥

sarvataḥ parirakṣāmi ataste kathitaṃ mayā ||

I protect it on every side; this is what I have told you.”

लंकाया वचनं श्रुत्वा हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः ।

laṃkāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā hanumān mārutātmajaḥ |

Hearing Lanka's words, Hanuman, the son of the Wind,

यत्नवान् स हरिश्रेष्ठः स्थितः शैल इवापरः ॥

yatnavān sa hariśreṣṭhaḥ sthitaḥ śaila ivāparaḥ ||

remained alert and stood like another mountain.

स तां स्त्रीरूपविकृतां दृष्ट्वा वानरपुङ्गवः ।

sa tāṃ strīrūpavikṛtāṃ dṛṣṭvā vānarapuṅgavaḥ |

Seeing her fearsome female form, the foremost vanara,

आबभाषेऽथ मेधावी सत्त्ववान् प्लवगर्षभः ॥

ābabhāṣe’tha medhāvī sattvavān plavagarṣabhaḥ ||

wise and courageous, spoke to her.

द्रक्ष्यामि नगरीं लंकां साट्टप्राकारतोरणाम् ।

drakṣyāmi nagarīṃ laṃkāṃ sāṭṭaprākāratoraṇām |

“I wish to see Lanka, with its towers, ramparts and gateways.

इत्यर्थमिह सम्प्राप्तः परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥

ityarthamiha samprāptaḥ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me ||

That is why I have come; I am deeply curious.”

वनान्युपवनानीह लंकायाः काननानि च ।

vanānyupavanānīha laṃkāyāḥ kānanāni ca |

“I have come to see Lanka's woods, pleasure gardens and groves,

सर्वतो गृहमुख्यानि द्रष्टुमागमनं हि मे ॥

sarvato gṛhamukhyāni draṣṭumāgamanaṃ hi me ||

and the principal houses on every side.”

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा लंका सा कामरूपिणी ।

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā laṃkā sā kāmarūpiṇī |

Hearing these words, shape-changing Lanka

भूय एव पुनर्वाक्यं बभाषे परुषाक्षरम् ॥

bhūya eva punarvākyaṃ babhāṣe paruṣākṣaram ||

once again answered him with harsh speech.

मामनिर्जित्य दुर्बुद्धे राक्षसेश्वरपालिताम् ।

māmanirjitya durbuddhe rākṣaseśvarapālitām |

“Without first defeating me, foolish and contemptible vanara,

न शक्यं ह्यद्य ते द्रष्टुं पुरीयं वानराधम ॥

na śakyaṃ hyadya te draṣṭuṃ purīyaṃ vānarādhama ||

you cannot see this city protected by the lord of the rakshasas.”

ततः स हरिशार्दूलस्तामुवाच निशाचरीम् ।

tataḥ sa hariśārdūlastāmuvāca niśācarīm |

Then the foremost vanara said to that night-wanderer:

दृष्ट्वा पुरीमिमां भद्रे पुनर्यास्ये यथागतम् ॥

dṛṣṭvā purīmimāṃ bhadre punaryāsye yathāgatam ||

“Good lady, after seeing this city I shall return by the way I came.”

ततः कृत्वा महानादं सा वै लंका भयंकरम् ।

tataḥ kṛtvā mahānādaṃ sā vai laṃkā bhayaṃkaram |

Then Lanka gave a great, terrifying cry

तलेन वानरश्रेष्ठं ताडयामास वेगिता ॥

talena vānaraśreṣṭhaṃ tāḍayāmāsa vegitā ||

and swiftly struck the foremost vanara with her palm.

ततः स हरिशार्दूलो लंकया ताडितो भृशम् ।

tataḥ sa hariśārdūlo laṃkayā tāḍito bhṛśam |

Struck hard by Lanka, that foremost vanara,

ननाद सुमहानादं वीर्यवान् मारुतात्मजः ॥

nanāda sumahānādaṃ vīryavān mārutātmajaḥ ||

the valiant son of the Wind, gave a mighty roar.

ततः संवर्तयामास वामहस्तस्य सोऽङ्गुलीः ।

tataḥ saṃvartayāmāsa vāmahastasya so’ṅgulīḥ |

Then he closed the fingers of his left hand

मुष्टिनाभिजघानैनां हनुमान् क्रोधर्मूच्छितः ॥

muṣṭinābhijaghānaināṃ hanumān krodharmūcchitaḥ ||

and, seized by anger, struck her with his fist.

स्त्री चेति मन्यमानेन नातिक्रोधः स्वयं कृतः ।

strī ceti manyamānena nātikrodhaḥ svayaṃ kṛtaḥ |

Remembering that she was a woman, he did not let his anger reach its full force.

सा तु तेन प्रहारेण विह्वलाङ्गी निशाचरी ।

sā tu tena prahāreṇa vihvalāṅgī niśācarī |

Yet the night-wanderer, her limbs shaken by the blow,

पपात सहसा भूमौ विकृताननदर्शना ॥

papāta sahasā bhūmau vikṛtānanadarśanā ||

suddenly fell to the ground, her face distorted.

ततस्तु हनुमान् वीरस्तां दृष्ट्वा विनिपातिताम् ।

tatastu hanumān vīrastāṃ dṛṣṭvā vinipātitām |

Seeing her fallen, the radiant hero Hanuman

कृपां चकार तेजस्वी मन्यमानः स्त्रियं च ताम् ॥

kṛpāṃ cakāra tejasvī manyamānaḥ striyaṃ ca tām ||

felt compassion, also bearing in mind that she was a woman.

ततो वै भृशमुद्विग्ना लंका सा गद‍्गदाक्षरम् ।

tato vai bhṛśamudvignā laṃkā sā gadgadākṣaram |

Then Lanka, deeply shaken, spoke with faltering syllables,

उवाचागर्वितं वाक्यं हनुमन्तं प्लवङ्गमम् ॥

uvācāgarvitaṃ vākyaṃ hanumantaṃ plavaṅgamam ||

addressing Hanuman without her former pride.

प्रसीद सुमहाबाहो त्रायस्व हरिसत्तम ।

prasīda sumahābāho trāyasva harisattama |

“Be gracious, mighty-armed one; spare me, foremost vanara.

समये सौम्य तिष्ठन्ति सत्त्ववन्तो महाबलाः ॥

samaye saumya tiṣṭhanti sattvavanto mahābalāḥ ||

Good and powerful beings, gentle one, remain within proper bounds.”

अहं तु नगरी लंका स्वयमेव प्लवङ्गम ।

ahaṃ tu nagarī laṃkā svayameva plavaṅgama |

“I am the city of Lanka herself, leaping vanara.

निर्जिताहं त्वया वीर विक्रमेण महाबल ॥

nirjitāhaṃ tvayā vīra vikrameṇa mahābala ||

Hero of great strength, you have overcome me by your prowess.”

इदं च तथ्यं शृणु मे ब्रुवन्त्या वै हरीश्वर ।

idaṃ ca tathyaṃ śṛṇu me bruvantyā vai harīśvara |

“Now hear the truth that I tell you, lord of vanaras,

स्वयं स्वयम्भुवा दत्तं वरदानं यथा मम ॥

svayaṃ svayambhuvā dattaṃ varadānaṃ yathā mama ||

about the boon once given to me by the self-born Brahma.”

यदा त्वां वानरः कश्चिद् विक्रमाद् वशमानयेत् ।

yadā tvāṃ vānaraḥ kaścid vikramād vaśamānayet |

“When some vanara overcomes you by his valour,

तदा त्वया हि विज्ञेयं रक्षसां भयमागतम् ॥

tadā tvayā hi vijñeyaṃ rakṣasāṃ bhayamāgatam ||

then know that danger has come upon the rakshasas.”

स हि मे समयः सौम्य प्राप्तोऽद्य तव दर्शनात् ।

sa hi me samayaḥ saumya prāpto’dya tava darśanāt |

“That appointed time, gentle one, has arrived today through meeting you.

स्वयम्भूविहितः सत्यो न तस्यास्ति व्यतिक्रमः ॥

svayambhūvihitaḥ satyo na tasyāsti vyatikramaḥ ||

What the self-born one ordained is true; it cannot be transgressed.”

सीतानिमित्तं राज्ञस्तु रावणस्य दुरात्मनः ।

sītānimittaṃ rājñastu rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ |

“For wicked King Ravana, because of Sita,

रक्षसां चैव सर्वेषां विनाशः समुपागतः ॥

rakṣasāṃ caiva sarveṣāṃ vināśaḥ samupāgataḥ ||

and for all the rakshasas, destruction has drawn near.”

तत् प्रविश्य हरिश्रेष्ठ पुरीं रावणपालिताम् ।

tat praviśya hariśreṣṭha purīṃ rāvaṇapālitām |

“Therefore enter the city ruled by Ravana, foremost vanara,

विधत्स्व सर्वकार्याणि यानि यानीह वाञ्छसि ॥

vidhatsva sarvakāryāṇi yāni yānīha vāñchasi ||

and accomplish all the tasks you wish to carry out here.”

प्रविश्य शापोपहतां हरीश्वर

praviśya śāpopahatāṃ harīśvara

“Enter, lord of vanaras, this splendid city touched by a curse,

पुरीं शुभां राक्षसमुख्यपालिताम् ।

purīṃ śubhāṃ rākṣasamukhyapālitām |

guarded by the chief of the rakshasas.

यदृच्छया त्वं जनकात्मजां सतीं

yadṛcchayā tvaṃ janakātmajāṃ satīṃ

Seek the virtuous daughter of Janaka as you wish,

विमार्ग सर्वत्र गतो यथासुखम् ॥

vimārga sarvatra gato yathāsukham ||

going everywhere freely in your search.”