Hanuman chooses his words

हनुमानपि विश्रान्तः सर्वं शुश्राव तत्त्वतः ।

hanumānapi viśrāntaḥ sarvaṃ śuśrāva tattvataḥ |

Hanuman, now rested, heard everything clearly:

सीतायास्त्रिजटायाश्च राक्षसीनां च तर्जनम् ॥

sītāyāstrijaṭāyāśca rākṣasīnāṃ ca tarjanam ||

Sita’s words, Trijata’s words, and the rakshasis’ threats.

अवेक्षमाणस्तां देवीं देवतामिव नन्दने ।

avekṣamāṇastāṃ devīṃ devatāmiva nandane |

Watching that noble lady, like a goddess in Nandana garden,

ततो बहुविधां चिन्तां चिन्तयामास वानरः ॥

tato bahuvidhāṃ cintāṃ cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ ||

the vanara began to ponder many possibilities.

यां कपीनां सहस्राणि सुबहून्ययुतानि च ।

yāṃ kapīnāṃ sahasrāṇi subahūnyayutāni ca |

“She whom thousands and tens of thousands of vanaras

दिक्षु सर्वासु मार्गन्ते सेयमासादिता मया ॥

dikṣu sarvāsu mārgante seyamāsāditā mayā ||

seek in every direction has now been found by me.

चारेण तु सुयुक्तेन शत्रोः शक्तिमवेक्षता ।

cāreṇa tu suyuktena śatroḥ śaktimavekṣatā |

Moving secretly as a well-prepared scout

गूढेन चरता तावदवेक्षितमिदं मया ॥

gūḍhena caratā tāvadavekṣitamidaṃ mayā ||

and observing the enemy’s strength, I have examined this place.

राक्षसानां विशेषश्च पुरी चेयमवेक्षिता ।

rākṣasānāṃ viśeṣaśca purī ceyamavekṣitā |

I have observed the rakshasas’ particular strengths, this city,

राक्षसाधिपतेरस्य प्रभावो रावणस्य च ॥

rākṣasādhipaterasya prabhāvo rāvaṇasya ca ||

and the power of Ravana, their ruler.

युक्तं तस्याप्रमेयस्य सर्वसत्त्वदयावतः ।

yuktaṃ tasyāprameyasya sarvasattvadayāvataḥ |

It is right to reassure the wife of that immeasurable hero,

समाश्वासयितुं भार्यां पतिदर्शनकांक्षिणीम् ॥

samāśvāsayituṃ bhāryāṃ patidarśanakāṃkṣiṇīm ||

compassionate towards all beings, while she longs to see her husband.

अहमाश्वासयाम्येनां पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम् ।

ahamāśvāsayāmyenāṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanām |

I shall reassure her, whose face resembles the full moon,

अदृष्टदुःखां दुःखार्तां दुःखस्यान्तमगच्छतीम् ॥

adṛṣṭaduḥkhāṃ duḥkhārtāṃ duḥkhasyāntamagacchatīm ||

unaccustomed to suffering, now distressed and finding no end to sorrow.

यद्यप्यहमिमां देवीं शोकोपहतचेतनाम् ।

yadyapyahamimāṃ devīṃ śokopahatacetanām |

If I leave this noble lady, her mind overwhelmed by grief,

अनाश्वास्य गमिष्यामि दोषवद् गमनं भवेत् ॥

anāśvāsya gamiṣyāmi doṣavad gamanaṃ bhavet ||

without reassuring her, my departure would be a fault.

गते हि मयि तत्रेयं राजपुत्री यशस्विनी ।

gate hi mayi tatreyaṃ rājaputrī yaśasvinī |

Once I have gone, this renowned princess Janaki,

परित्राणमविन्दन्ती जानकी जीवितं त्यजेत् ॥

paritrāṇamavindantī jānakī jīvitaṃ tyajet ||

seeing no rescue, might give up her life.

मया च स महाबाहुः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननः ।

mayā ca sa mahābāhuḥ pūrṇacandranibhānanaḥ |

And I must also reassure that long-armed, moon-faced hero,

समाश्वासयितुं न्याय्यः सीतादर्शनलालसः ॥

samāśvāsayituṃ nyāyyaḥ sītādarśanalālasaḥ ||

who longs to see Sita.

निशाचरीणां प्रत्यक्षमनर्हं चापि भाषणम् ।

niśācarīṇāṃ pratyakṣamanarhaṃ cāpi bhāṣaṇam |

Yet speaking in the night-roaming guards’ presence is improper.

कथं तु खलु कर्तव्यमिदं कृच्छ्रगतो ह्यहम् ॥

kathaṃ tu khalu kartavyamidaṃ kṛcchragato hyaham ||

How should this be done? I am in a difficult position.

अनेन रात्रिशेषेण यदि नाश्वास्यते मया ।

anena rātriśeṣeṇa yadi nāśvāsyate mayā |

Unless I comfort her in the remainder of this night,

सर्वथा नास्ति सन्देहः परित्यक्ष्यति जीवितम् ॥

sarvathā nāsti sandehaḥ parityakṣyati jīvitam ||

there is no doubt that she may abandon her life.

रामश्च यदि पृच्छेन्मां किं मां सीता अब्रवीद्वचः ।

rāmaśca yadi pṛcchenmāṃ kiṃ māṃ sītā abravīdvacaḥ |

If Rama asks me, “What words did Sita say to me?”

किमहं दं प्रतिब्रूयामसम्भाष्य सुमध्यमाम् ॥

kimahaṃ daṃ pratibrūyāmasambhāṣya sumadhyamām ||

what could I answer without having spoken to this graceful lady?

सीतासन्देशरहितं मामितस्त्वरया गतम् ।

sītāsandeśarahitaṃ māmitastvarayā gatam |

If I hasten back from here without a message from Sita,

निर्दहेदपि काकुत्स्थः क्रुद्धस्तीव्रेण चक्षुषा ॥

nirdahedapi kākutsthaḥ kruddhastīvreṇa cakṣuṣā ||

angry Kakutstha might burn me with his fierce gaze.

यदि चोद्योजयिष्यामि भर्तारं रामकारणात् ।

yadi codyojayiṣyāmi bhartāraṃ rāmakāraṇāt |

And if I urge my master to act for Rama’s sake,

व्यर्थमागमनं तस्य ससैन्यस्य भविष्यति ॥

vyarthamāgamanaṃ tasya sasainyasya bhaviṣyati ||

his coming with an army could be in vain.

अन्तरं त्वहमासाद्य राक्षसीनामिह स्थितः ।

antaraṃ tvahamāsādya rākṣasīnāmiha sthitaḥ |

I shall remain here and find an opening among the rakshasis;

शनैराश्वासयिष्यामि सन्तापबहुलामिमाम् ॥

śanairāśvāsayiṣyāmi santāpabahulāmimām ||

then gently reassure this lady burdened with sorrow.

अहं त्वति तनुश्चैव वानरश्च विशेषतः ।

ahaṃ tvati tanuścaiva vānaraśca viśeṣataḥ |

But I am very small, and moreover a vanara;

वाचं चोदाहरिष्यामि मानुषीमिह संस्कृताम् ॥

vācaṃ codāhariṣyāmi mānuṣīmiha saṃskṛtām ||

yet I would speak here in cultivated human speech.

यदि वाचं प्रदास्यामि द्विजातिरिव संस्कृताम् ।

yadi vācaṃ pradāsyāmi dvijātiriva saṃskṛtām |

If I speak polished Sanskrit like a twice-born scholar,

रावणं मन्यमाना मां सीता भीता भविष्यति ।

rāvaṇaṃ manyamānā māṃ sītā bhītā bhaviṣyati |

Sita may think I am Ravana and become afraid;

वानरस्य विशेषेण कथं स्यादभिभाषणम् ॥

vānarasya viśeṣeṇa kathaṃ syādabhibhāṣaṇam ||

how especially could a vanara be speaking so?

अवश्यमेव वक्तव्यं मानुषं वाक्यमर्थवत् ।

avaśyameva vaktavyaṃ mānuṣaṃ vākyamarthavat |

I must certainly speak meaningful human words;

मया सान्त्वयितुं शक्या नान्यथेयमनिन्दिता ॥

mayā sāntvayituṃ śakyā nānyatheyamaninditā ||

only so can I comfort this blameless lady.

सेयमालोक्य मे रूपं जानकी भाषितं तथा ।

seyamālokya me rūpaṃ jānakī bhāṣitaṃ tathā |

Seeing my form and hearing my speech, Janaki,

रक्षोभिस्त्रासिता पूर्वं भूयस्त्रासं गमिष्यति ॥

rakṣobhistrāsitā pūrvaṃ bhūyastrāsaṃ gamiṣyati ||

already frightened by the rakshasas, may become frightened again.

ततो जातपरित्रासा शब्दं कुर्यान्मनस्विनी ।

tato jātaparitrāsā śabdaṃ kuryānmanasvinī |

Then, terrified, the steadfast, wide-eyed lady might cry out,

जानमाना विशालाक्षी रावणं कामरूपिणम् ॥

jānamānā viśālākṣī rāvaṇaṃ kāmarūpiṇam ||

believing me to be shape-changing Ravana.

सीतया च कृते शब्दे सहसा राक्षसीगणः ।

sītayā ca kṛte śabde sahasā rākṣasīgaṇaḥ |

At Sita’s cry, a dreadful troop of rakshasis,

नानाप्रहरणो घोरः समेयादन्तकोपमः ॥

nānāpraharaṇo ghoraḥ sameyādantakopamaḥ ||

bearing many weapons and resembling Death, would suddenly gather.

ततो मां संपरिक्षिप्य सर्वतो विकृताननाः ।

tato māṃ saṃparikṣipya sarvato vikṛtānanāḥ |

Then those distorted-faced women would surround me on every side

वधे च ग्रहणे चैव कुर्युर्यत्नं यथाबलम् ॥

vadhe ca grahaṇe caiva kuryuryatnaṃ yathābalam ||

and try with all their strength to capture or kill me.

गृह्य शाखाः प्रशाखाश्च स्कन्धांश्चोत्तमशाखिनाम् ।

gṛhya śākhāḥ praśākhāśca skandhāṃścottamaśākhinām |

Seeing me run about, grasping branches, smaller branches

दृष्ट्वा विपरिधावन्तं भवेयुर्भयशङ्किताः ॥

dṛṣṭvā viparidhāvantaṃ bhaveyurbhayaśaṅkitāḥ ||

and trunks of splendid trees, they would become fearful.

मम रूपं च सम्प्रेक्ष्य वने विचरतो महत् ।

mama rūpaṃ ca samprekṣya vane vicarato mahat |

Seeing my great form as I ranged through the grove,

राक्षस्यो भयवित्रस्ता भवेयुर्विकृताननाः ॥

rākṣasyo bhayavitrastā bhaveyurvikṛtānanāḥ ||

the distorted-faced rakshasis would be terrified.

ततः कुर्युः समाह्वानं राक्षस्यो रक्षसामपि ।

tataḥ kuryuḥ samāhvānaṃ rākṣasyo rakṣasāmapi |

Then the rakshasis would summon the rakshasas

राक्षसेन्द्रनियुक्तानां राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशने ॥

rākṣasendraniyuktānāṃ rākṣasendraniveśane ||

appointed by their king within his palace.

ते शूलशक्तिनिस्त्रिंशविविधायुधपाणयः ।

te śūlaśaktinistriṃśavividhāyudhapāṇayaḥ |

Holding tridents, spears, swords and many other weapons,

आपतेयुर्विमर्दे ऽस्मिन् वेगेनोद्विग्नकारिणः ॥

āpateyurvimarde ’smin vegenodvignakāriṇaḥ ||

they would rush violently into this disturbance, causing terror.

संरुद्धस्तैस्तु परितो विधमन् रक्षसां बलम् ।

saṃruddhastaistu parito vidhaman rakṣasāṃ balam |

Surrounded by them, though I scattered the rakshasa force,

शक्नुयां न तु संप्राप्तुं परं पारं महोदधेः ॥

śaknuyāṃ na tu saṃprāptuṃ paraṃ pāraṃ mahodadheḥ ||

I might no longer be able to reach the ocean’s far shore.

मां वा गृह्णीयुराप्लुत्य बहवः शीघ्रकारिणः ।

māṃ vā gṛhṇīyurāplutya bahavaḥ śīghrakāriṇaḥ |

Or many swift attackers might leap upon and capture me;

स्यादियं चागृहीतार्था मम च ग्रहणं भवेत् ॥

syādiyaṃ cāgṛhītārthā mama ca grahaṇaṃ bhavet ||

Sita would remain uninformed, and I would be a prisoner.

हिंसाभिरुचयो हिंस्युरिमां वा जनकात्मजाम् ।

hiṃsābhirucayo hiṃsyurimāṃ vā janakātmajām |

Fond of violence, they might even kill Janaka’s daughter;

विपन्नं स्यात्ततः कार्यं रामसुग्रीवयोरिदम् ॥

vipannaṃ syāttataḥ kāryaṃ rāmasugrīvayoridam ||

then this undertaking of Rama and Sugriva would fail.

उद्देशे नष्टमार्गे ऽस्मिन् राक्षसैः परिवारिते ।

uddeśe naṣṭamārge ’smin rākṣasaiḥ parivārite |

Janaki lives hidden in this place where the path is lost,

सागरेण परिक्षिप्ते गुप्त वसति जानकी ॥

sāgareṇa parikṣipte gupta vasati jānakī ||

surrounded by rakshasas and enclosed by the sea.

विशस्ते वा गृहीते वा रक्षोभिर्मयि संयुगे ।

viśaste vā gṛhīte vā rakṣobhirmayi saṃyuge |

If the rakshasas kill or capture me in battle,

नान्यं पश्यामि रामस्य साहाय्यं कार्यसाधने ॥

nānyaṃ paśyāmi rāmasya sāhāyyaṃ kāryasādhane ||

I see no other helper to accomplish Rama’s purpose.

विमृशंश्च न पश्यामि यो हते मयि वानरः ।

vimṛśaṃśca na paśyāmi yo hate mayi vānaraḥ |

Thinking it through, I see no other vanara who, if I were killed,

शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं लङ्गयेत महोदधिम् ॥

śatayojanavistīrṇaṃ laṅgayeta mahodadhim ||

would cross this great ocean a hundred yojanas wide.

कामं हन्तुं समर्थो ऽस्मि सहस्राण्यपि रक्षसाम् ।

kāmaṃ hantuṃ samartho ’smi sahasrāṇyapi rakṣasām |

I am indeed capable of killing thousands of rakshasas,

नतु शक्ष्यामि संप्राप्तुं परं पारं महोदधेः ॥

natu śakṣyāmi saṃprāptuṃ paraṃ pāraṃ mahodadheḥ ||

but afterwards I might not reach the ocean’s far shore.

असत्यानि च युद्धानि संशयो मे न रोचते ।

asatyāni ca yuddhāni saṃśayo me na rocate |

Battles are uncertain, and I do not welcome that uncertainty.

कश्च निस्संशयं कार्यं कुर्यात् प्राज्ञः ससंशयम् ॥

kaśca nissaṃśayaṃ kāryaṃ kuryāt prājñaḥ sasaṃśayam ||

What wise person would make an assured undertaking doubtful?

प्राणत्यागश्च वैदेह्या भवेदनभिभाषणे ।

prāṇatyāgaśca vaidehyā bhavedanabhibhāṣaṇe |

If I do not speak, Vaidehi may abandon her life;

एष दोषो महान् हि स्यान्मम सीताभिभाषणे ॥

eṣa doṣo mahān hi syānmama sītābhibhāṣaṇe ||

yet this great danger might arise if I speak to Sita.

भूताश्चार्था विनश्यन्ति देशकालविरोधिताः ।

bhūtāścārthā vinaśyanti deśakālavirodhitāḥ |

Even achieved purposes perish when opposed to place and time,

विक्लवं दूतमासाद्य तमः सूर्योदये यथा ॥

viklavaṃ dūtamāsādya tamaḥ sūryodaye yathā ||

through a bewildered messenger, as darkness vanishes at sunrise.

अर्थानर्थान्तरे बुद्धिर्निश्चिता ऽपि न शोभते ।

arthānarthāntare buddhirniścitā ’pi na śobhate |

Even a settled plan may fail between gain and loss;

घातयन्ति हि कार्याणि दूताः पण्डितमानिनः ॥

ghātayanti hi kāryāṇi dūtāḥ paṇḍitamāninaḥ ||

messengers who imagine themselves wise can ruin undertakings.

न विनश्येत् कथं कार्यं वैक्लव्यं न कथं भवेत् ।

na vinaśyet kathaṃ kāryaṃ vaiklavyaṃ na kathaṃ bhavet |

How can the undertaking avoid destruction and confusion?

लङ्घनं च समुद्रस्य कथं नु न वृथा भवेत् ॥

laṅghanaṃ ca samudrasya kathaṃ nu na vṛthā bhavet ||

How can my crossing of the ocean avoid becoming fruitless?

कथं नु खलु वाक्यं मे श्रुणुयान्नोद्विजेत वा ।

kathaṃ nu khalu vākyaṃ me śruṇuyānnodvijeta vā |

How can she hear my words without becoming alarmed?”

इति संचिन्त्य हनुमांश्चकार मतिमान् मतिम् ॥

iti saṃcintya hanumāṃścakāra matimān matim ||

Reflecting thus, wise Hanuman formed a plan.

राममक्लिष्टकर्माणं स्वबन्धुमनुकीर्तयन् ।

rāmamakliṣṭakarmāṇaṃ svabandhumanukīrtayan |

“By speaking of Rama, her own beloved, whose deeds never fail,

नैनामुद्वेजयिष्यामि तद्बन्धुगतमानसाम् ॥

naināmudvejayiṣyāmi tadbandhugatamānasām ||

I shall not alarm her, whose thoughts rest on him.

इक्ष्वाकूणां वरिष्ठस्य रामस्य विदितात्मनः ।

ikṣvākūṇāṃ variṣṭhasya rāmasya viditātmanaḥ |

Presenting auspicious words grounded in righteousness

शुभानि धर्मयुक्तानि वचनानि समर्पयन् ॥

śubhāni dharmayuktāni vacanāni samarpayan ||

about self-possessed Rama, foremost of the Ikshvakus,

श्रावयिष्यामि सर्वाणि मधुरां प्रब्रुवन् गिरम् ।

śrāvayiṣyāmi sarvāṇi madhurāṃ prabruvan giram |

I shall let her hear everything in a gentle voice.

श्रद्धास्यति यथा हीयं तथा सर्वं समादधे ॥

śraddhāsyati yathā hīyaṃ tathā sarvaṃ samādadhe ||

I shall arrange it all so that she may believe.”

इति स बहुविधं महानुभावो जगतिपतेः प्रमदामवेक्षमाणः ।

iti sa bahuvidhaṃ mahānubhāvo jagatipateḥ pramadāmavekṣamāṇaḥ |

Thus, after considering many things while watching the king’s wife, great-hearted Hanuman,

मधुरमवितथं जगाद वाक्यं द्रुमविटपान्तरमास्थितो हनूमान् ॥

madhuramavitathaṃ jagāda vākyaṃ drumaviṭapāntaramāsthito hanūmān ||

remaining among the tree’s branches, spoke words that were sweet and true.