Rama’s ring

भूय एव महातेजा हनूमान् पवनात्मजः ।

bhūya eva mahātejā hanūmān pavanātmajaḥ |

Again glorious Hanuman, the Wind’s son,

अब्रवीत् प्रश्रितं वाक्यं सीताप्रत्ययकारणात् ॥

abravīt praśritaṃ vākyaṃ sītāpratyayakāraṇāt ||

spoke humbly to strengthen Sita’s trust.

वानरोऽहं महाभागे दूतो रामस्य धीमतः ।

vānaro’haṃ mahābhāge dūto rāmasya dhīmataḥ |

“Blessed lady, I am a vanara, wise Rama’s messenger.

रामनामाङ्कितं चेदं पश्य देव्यङ्गुलीयकम् ॥

rāmanāmāṅkitaṃ cedaṃ paśya devyaṅgulīyakam ||

Look, lady, at this ring engraved with Rama’s name.

प्रत्ययार्थं तवानीतं तेन दत्तं महात्मना ।

pratyayārthaṃ tavānītaṃ tena dattaṃ mahātmanā |

That great soul gave it to me to bring you assurance.

समाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते क्षीणदुःखफला ह्यसि ॥

samāśvasihi bhadraṃ te kṣīṇaduḥkhaphalā hyasi ||

Take comfort; good awaits you, for your suffering is nearing its end.”

गृहीत्वा प्रेक्षमाणा सा भर्तुः करविभूषितम् ।

gṛhītvā prekṣamāṇā sā bhartuḥ karavibhūṣitam |

Taking and examining the ornament of her husband’s hand,

भर्तारमिव सम्प्राप्तं जानकी मुदिताभवत् ॥

bhartāramiva samprāptaṃ jānakī muditābhavat ||

Janaki rejoiced as though her husband himself had arrived.

चारु तद् वदनं तस्यास्ताम्रशुक्लायतेक्षणम् ।

cāru tad vadanaṃ tasyāstāmraśuklāyatekṣaṇam |

Her lovely face, with long eyes white and reddish at the edges,

बभूव हर्षोदग्रं च राहुमुक्त इवोडुराट् ॥

babhūva harṣodagraṃ ca rāhumukta ivoḍurāṭ ||

rose in joy like the moon released from Rahu.

ततः सा ह्रीमती बाला भर्तुः संदेशहर्षिता ।

tataḥ sā hrīmatī bālā bhartuḥ saṃdeśaharṣitā |

Then the modest lady, delighted by her husband’s message,

परितुष्टा प्रियं कृत्वा प्रशशंस महाकपिम् ॥

parituṣṭā priyaṃ kṛtvā praśaśaṃsa mahākapim ||

pleased and affectionate, praised the great vanara.

विक्रान्तस्त्वं समर्थस्त्वं प्राज्ञस्त्वं वानरोत्तम ।

vikrāntastvaṃ samarthastvaṃ prājñastvaṃ vānarottama |

“You are brave, capable and wise, foremost vanara,

येनेदं राक्षसपदं त्वयैकेन प्रधर्षितम् ॥

yenedaṃ rākṣasapadaṃ tvayaikena pradharṣitam ||

for you alone have penetrated this stronghold of rakshasas.

शतयोजनविस्तीर्णः सागरो मकरालयः ।

śatayojanavistīrṇaḥ sāgaro makarālayaḥ |

In crossing the hundred-yojana ocean, home of sea creatures,

विक्रमश्लाघनीयेन क्रमता गोष्पदीकृतः ॥

vikramaślāghanīyena kramatā goṣpadīkṛtaḥ ||

your praiseworthy courage made it seem a cow’s hoofprint.

नहि त्वां प्राकृतं मन्ये वानरं वानरर्षभ ।

nahi tvāṃ prākṛtaṃ manye vānaraṃ vānararṣabha |

I do not regard you as an ordinary vanara, foremost of vanaras,

यस्य ते नास्ति संत्रासो रावणादपि सम्भ्रमः ॥

yasya te nāsti saṃtrāso rāvaṇādapi sambhramaḥ ||

for you feel neither terror nor confusion even before Ravana.

अर्हसे च कपिश्रेष्ठ मया समभिभाषितुम् ।

arhase ca kapiśreṣṭha mayā samabhibhāṣitum |

Foremost vanara, you deserve to be spoken with by me,

यद्यसि प्रेषितस्तेन रामेण विदितात्मना ॥

yadyasi preṣitastena rāmeṇa viditātmanā ||

since self-possessed Rama has sent you.

प्रेषयिष्यति दुर्धर्षो रामो नह्यपरीक्षितम् ।

preṣayiṣyati durdharṣo rāmo nahyaparīkṣitam |

Invincible Rama would never send an untested person,

पराक्रममविज्ञाय मत्सकाशं विशेषतः ॥

parākramamavijñāya matsakāśaṃ viśeṣataḥ ||

without knowing his courage, especially to me.

दिष्ट्या च कुशली रामो धर्मात्मा सत्यसंगरः ।

diṣṭyā ca kuśalī rāmo dharmātmā satyasaṃgaraḥ |

Fortunately righteous Rama, true to his pledge, is well,

लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजाः सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः ॥

lakṣmaṇaśca mahātejāḥ sumitrānandavardhanaḥ ||

as is glorious Lakshmana, who brings Sumitra joy.

कुशली यदि काकुत्स्थः किं न सागरमेखलाम् ।

kuśalī yadi kākutsthaḥ kiṃ na sāgaramekhalām |

If Kakutstha is well, why does he not burn

महीं दहति कोपेन युगान्ताग्निरिवोत्थितः ॥

mahīṃ dahati kopena yugāntāgnirivotthitaḥ ||

the ocean-girdled earth in anger, like the fire at the world’s end?

अथवा शक्तिमन्तौ तौ सुराणामपि निग्रहे ।

athavā śaktimantau tau surāṇāmapi nigrahe |

Yet those two can subdue even the gods;

ममैव तु न दुःखानामस्ति मन्ये विपर्ययः ॥

mamaiva tu na duḥkhānāmasti manye viparyayaḥ ||

I think it is only my suffering that finds no reversal.

कच्चिन्न व्यथते रामः कच्चिन्न परितप्यते ।

kaccinna vyathate rāmaḥ kaccinna paritapyate |

Is Rama not distressed or consumed by grief?

उत्तराणि च कार्याणि कुरुते पुरुषोत्तमः ॥

uttarāṇi ca kāryāṇi kurute puruṣottamaḥ ||

Does that foremost man take the steps still needed?

कच्चिन्न दीनः सम्भ्रान्तः कार्येषु च न मुह्यति ।

kaccinna dīnaḥ sambhrāntaḥ kāryeṣu ca na muhyati |

Is he neither despondent nor confused in his work?

कच्चित् पुरुषकार्याणि कुरुते नृपतेः सुतः ॥

kaccit puruṣakāryāṇi kurute nṛpateḥ sutaḥ ||

Does the king’s son undertake the actions a man must perform?

द्विविधं त्रिविधोपायमुपायमपि सेवते ।

dvividhaṃ trividhopāyamupāyamapi sevate |

Seeking victory, does that friendly conqueror of foes employ

विजिगीषुः सुहृत् कच्चिन्मित्रेषु च परंतपः ॥

vijigīṣuḥ suhṛt kaccinmitreṣu ca paraṃtapaḥ ||

the appropriate twofold and threefold policies towards allies?

कच्चिन्मित्राणि लभतेऽमित्रैश्चाप्यभिगम्यते ।

kaccinmitrāṇi labhate’mitraiścāpyabhigamyate |

Does he gain friends and receive approaches even from opponents?

कच्चित् कल्याणमित्रश्च मित्रैश्चापि पुरस्कृतः ॥

kaccit kalyāṇamitraśca mitraiścāpi puraskṛtaḥ ||

Has he good allies, and do his friends honour him?

कच्चिदाशास्ति देवानां प्रसादं पार्थिवात्मजः ।

kaccidāśāsti devānāṃ prasādaṃ pārthivātmajaḥ |

Does the prince seek the gods’ favour?

कच्चित् पुरुषकारं च दैवं च प्रतिपद्यते ॥

kaccit puruṣakāraṃ ca daivaṃ ca pratipadyate ||

Does he attend both to human effort and to providence?

कच्चिन्न विगतस्नेहो विवासान्मयि राघवः ।

kaccinna vigatasneho vivāsānmayi rāghavaḥ |

Has exile not diminished Raghava’s affection for me?

कच्चिन्मां व्यसनादस्मान्मोक्षयिष्यति राघवः ॥

kaccinmāṃ vyasanādasmānmokṣayiṣyati rāghavaḥ ||

Will Raghava free me from this calamity?

सुखानामुचितो नित्यमसुखानामनूचितः ।

sukhānāmucito nityamasukhānāmanūcitaḥ |

Accustomed to happiness and unaccustomed to hardship,

दुःखमुत्तरमासाद्य कच्चिद् रामो न सीदति ॥

duḥkhamuttaramāsādya kaccid rāmo na sīdati ||

does Rama remain unbroken by this greater suffering?

कौसल्यायास्तथा कच्चित् सुमित्रायास्तथैव च ।

kausalyāyāstathā kaccit sumitrāyāstathaiva ca |

Is news of Kausalya’s and Sumitra’s welfare,

अभीक्ष्णं श्रूयते कच्चित् कुशलं भरतस्य च ॥

abhīkṣṇaṃ śrūyate kaccit kuśalaṃ bharatasya ca ||

and of Bharata’s, heard frequently?

मन्निमित्तेन मानार्हः कच्चिच्छोकेन राघवः ।

mannimittena mānārhaḥ kaccicchokena rāghavaḥ |

Is honourable Raghava troubled by sorrow on my account?

कच्चिन्नान्यमना रामः कच्चिन्मां तारयिष्यति ॥

kaccinnānyamanā rāmaḥ kaccinmāṃ tārayiṣyati ||

Is Rama’s mind still on me, and will he bring me through?

कच्चिदक्षौहिणीं भीमां भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः ।

kaccidakṣauhiṇīṃ bhīmāṃ bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ |

Will Bharata, devoted to his brother, send for my sake

ध्वजिनीं मन्त्रिभिर्गुप्तां प्रेषयिष्यति मत्कृते ॥

dhvajinīṃ mantribhirguptāṃ preṣayiṣyati matkṛte ||

a formidable akshauhini army, with banners and protected by ministers?

वानराधिपतिः श्रीमान् सुग्रीवः कच्चिदेष्यति ।

vānarādhipatiḥ śrīmān sugrīvaḥ kaccideṣyati |

Will glorious Sugriva, lord of vanaras, come for my sake,

मत्कृते हरिभिर्वीरैर्वृतो दन्तनखायुधैः ॥

matkṛte haribhirvīrairvṛto dantanakhāyudhaiḥ ||

surrounded by brave vanaras armed with teeth and nails?

कच्चिच्च लक्ष्मणः शूरः सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः ।

kaccicca lakṣmaṇaḥ śūraḥ sumitrānandavardhanaḥ |

Will brave Lakshmana, who brings Sumitra joy,

अस्त्रविच्छरजालेन राक्षसान् विधमिष्यति ॥

astraviccharajālena rākṣasān vidhamiṣyati ||

skilled in weapons, scatter the rakshasas with showers of arrows?

रौद्रेण कच्चिदस्त्रेण रामेण निहतं रणे ।

raudreṇa kaccidastreṇa rāmeṇa nihataṃ raṇe |

Will I soon see Ravana and his companions

द्रक्ष्याम्यल्पेन कालेन रावणं ससुहृज्जनम् ॥

drakṣyāmyalpena kālena rāvaṇaṃ sasuhṛjjanam ||

struck down in battle by Rama’s terrible weapon?

कच्चिन्न तद्धेमसमानवर्णं

kaccinna taddhemasamānavarṇaṃ

Is his golden-hued face,

तस्याननं पद्मसमानगन्धि ।

tasyānanaṃ padmasamānagandhi |

fragrant like a lotus,

मया विना शुष्यति शोकदीनं

mayā vinā śuṣyati śokadīnaṃ

not withering in grief without me,

जलक्षये पद्ममिवातपेन ॥

jalakṣaye padmamivātapena ||

like a lotus scorched when water fails?

धर्मापदेशात् त्यजतः स्वराज्यं

dharmāpadeśāt tyajataḥ svarājyaṃ

When he gave up his kingdom for dharma

मां चाप्यरण्यं नयतः पदातेः ।

māṃ cāpyaraṇyaṃ nayataḥ padāteḥ |

and led me on foot into the forest,

नासीद् यथा यस्य न भीर्न शोकः

nāsīd yathā yasya na bhīrna śokaḥ

he showed neither fear nor sorrow;

कच्चित् स धैर्यं हृदये करोति ॥

kaccit sa dhairyaṃ hṛdaye karoti ||

does he hold that courage in his heart now?

न चास्य माता न पिता न चान्यः

na cāsya mātā na pitā na cānyaḥ

Neither his mother, father, nor anyone else

स्नेहाद् विशिष्टोऽस्ति मया समो वा ।

snehād viśiṣṭo’sti mayā samo vā |

equals or surpasses me in his affection.

तावद्ध्यहं दूत जिजीविषेयं

tāvaddhyahaṃ dūta jijīviṣeyaṃ

Messenger, I would wish to remain alive

यावत् प्रवृत्तिं शृणुयां प्रियस्य ॥

yāvat pravṛttiṃ śṛṇuyāṃ priyasya ||

until I hear news of my beloved.”

इतीव देवी वचनं महार्थं

itīva devī vacanaṃ mahārthaṃ

Having spoken these weighty words,

तं वानरेन्द्रं मधुरार्थमुक्त्वा ।

taṃ vānarendraṃ madhurārthamuktvā |

sweet in meaning, to the foremost vanara,

श्रोतुं पुनस्तस्य वचोऽभिरामं

śrotuṃ punastasya vaco’bhirāmaṃ

the lovely lady fell silent, eager to hear again

रामार्थयुक्तं विरराम रामा ॥

rāmārthayuktaṃ virarāma rāmā ||

his pleasing words concerning Rama.

सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा मारुतिर्भीमविक्रमः ।

sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā mārutirbhīmavikramaḥ |

Hearing Sita’s words, Maruti of formidable prowess

शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय वाक्यमुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥

śirasyañjalimādhāya vākyamuttaramabravīt ||

raised joined palms to his head and replied:

न त्वामिहस्थां जानीते रामः कमललोचनः ।

na tvāmihasthāṃ jānīte rāmaḥ kamalalocanaḥ |

“Lotus-eyed Rama does not know you are here.

तेन त्वां नानयत्याशु शचीमिव पुरंदरः ॥

tena tvāṃ nānayatyāśu śacīmiva puraṃdaraḥ ||

That is why he has not quickly taken you back, as Indra recovered Shachi.

श्रुत्वैव च वचो मह्यं क्षिप्रमेष्यति राघवः ।

śrutvaiva ca vaco mahyaṃ kṣiprameṣyati rāghavaḥ |

As soon as he hears my report, Raghava will come quickly,

चमूं प्रकर्षन् महतीं हर्यृक्षगणसंयुताम् ॥

camūṃ prakarṣan mahatīṃ haryṛkṣagaṇasaṃyutām ||

bringing a great army of vanaras and bears.

विष्टम्भयित्वा बाणौघैरक्षोभ्यं वरुणालयम् ।

viṣṭambhayitvā bāṇaughairakṣobhyaṃ varuṇālayam |

Holding the unshakable ocean with showers of arrows,

करिष्यति पुरीं लङ्कां काकुत्स्थः शान्तराक्षसाम् ॥

kariṣyati purīṃ laṅkāṃ kākutsthaḥ śāntarākṣasām ||

Kakutstha will render Lanka’s rakshasas powerless.

तत्र यद्यन्तरा मृत्युर्यदि देवा महासुराः ।

tatra yadyantarā mṛtyuryadi devā mahāsurāḥ |

Even if Death, gods, or mighty asuras

स्थास्यन्ति पथि रामस्य स तानपि वधिष्यति ॥

sthāsyanti pathi rāmasya sa tānapi vadhiṣyati ||

stand in Rama’s path, he will overcome them.

तवादर्शनजेनार्ये शोकेन परिपूरितः ।

tavādarśanajenārye śokena paripūritaḥ |

Noble lady, filled with grief at not seeing you,

न शर्म लभते रामः सिंहार्दित इव द्विपः ॥

na śarma labhate rāmaḥ siṃhārdita iva dvipaḥ ||

Rama finds no peace, like an elephant harried by a lion.

मन्दरेण च ते देवि शपे मूलफलेन च ।

mandareṇa ca te devi śape mūlaphalena ca |

Lady, I swear by Mandara, by roots and fruits,

मलयेन च विन्ध्येन मेरुणा दर्दुरेण च ॥

malayena ca vindhyena meruṇā dardureṇa ca ||

by Malaya, Vindhya, Meru and Dardura,

यथा सुनयनं वल्गु बिम्बोष्ठं चारुकुण्डलम् ।

yathā sunayanaṃ valgu bimboṣṭhaṃ cārukuṇḍalam |

that you shall see Rama’s face, lovely-eyed, charming,

मुखं द्रक्ष्यसि रामस्य पूर्णचन्द्रमिवोदितम् ॥

mukhaṃ drakṣyasi rāmasya pūrṇacandramivoditam ||

with bimba-red lips and beautiful earrings, like the risen full moon.

क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि वैदेहि रामं प्रस्रवणे गिरौ ।

kṣipraṃ drakṣyasi vaidehi rāmaṃ prasravaṇe girau |

Soon, Vaidehi, you shall see Rama upon Mount Prasravana,

शतक्रतुमिवासीनं नागपृष्ठस्य मूर्धनि ॥

śatakratumivāsīnaṃ nāgapṛṣṭhasya mūrdhani ||

seated like Indra on the summit of a great elephant’s back.

न मांसं राघवो भुङ्‍क्ते न चैव मधु सेवते ।

na māṃsaṃ rāghavo bhuṅkte na caiva madhu sevate |

Raghava eats no meat and drinks no intoxicating mead;

वन्यं सुविहितं नित्यं भक्तमश्नाति पञ्चमम् ॥

vanyaṃ suvihitaṃ nityaṃ bhaktamaśnāti pañcamam ||

he regularly takes a properly prepared forest meal at the fifth portion of the day.

नैव दंशान् न मशकान् न कीटान् न सरीसृपान् ।

naiva daṃśān na maśakān na kīṭān na sarīsṛpān |

Raghava does not remove biting flies, mosquitoes, insects or crawling creatures

राघवोऽपनयेद् गात्रात् त्वद‍्गतेनान्तरात्मना ॥

rāghavo’panayed gātrāt tvadgatenāntarātmanā ||

from his body, for his inner thoughts are fixed on you.

नित्यं ध्यानपरो रामो नित्यं शोकपरायणः ।

nityaṃ dhyānaparo rāmo nityaṃ śokaparāyaṇaḥ |

Rama is always absorbed in thought, always devoted to grief;

नान्यच्चिन्तयते किंचित् स तु कामवशं गतः ॥

nānyaccintayate kiṃcit sa tu kāmavaśaṃ gataḥ ||

overcome by longing, he thinks of nothing else.

अनिद्रः सततं रामः सुप्तोऽपि च नरोत्तमः ।

anidraḥ satataṃ rāmaḥ supto’pi ca narottamaḥ |

Rama is continually sleepless; even when that foremost man sleeps,

सीतेति मधुरां वाणीं व्याहरन् प्रतिबुध्यते ॥

sīteti madhurāṃ vāṇīṃ vyāharan pratibudhyate ||

he awakens uttering the sweet word ‘Sita.’

दृष्ट्वा फलं वा पुष्पं वा यच्चान्यत् स्त्रीमनोहरम् ।

dṛṣṭvā phalaṃ vā puṣpaṃ vā yaccānyat strīmanoharam |

Seeing a fruit, flower, or anything pleasing to women,

बहुशो हा प्रियेत्येवं श्वसंस्त्वामभिभाषते ॥

bahuśo hā priyetyevaṃ śvasaṃstvāmabhibhāṣate ||

he repeatedly sighs, ‘Alas, beloved!’ and addresses you.

स देवि नित्यं परितप्यमान-

sa devi nityaṃ paritapyamāna-

Lady, always suffering,

स्त्वामेव सीतेत्यभिभाषमाणः ।

stvāmeva sītetyabhibhāṣamāṇaḥ |

calling only to you, ‘Sita,’

धृतव्रतो राजसुतो महात्मा

dhṛtavrato rājasuto mahātmā

that great-souled prince, steadfast in his vow,

तवैव लाभाय कृतप्रयत्नः ॥

tavaiva lābhāya kṛtaprayatnaḥ ||

has devoted his effort solely to recovering you.”

सा रामसंकीर्तनवीतशोका

sā rāmasaṃkīrtanavītaśokā

Freed from sorrow by the account of Rama,

रामस्य शोकेन समानशोका ।

rāmasya śokena samānaśokā |

yet sharing Rama’s sorrow,

शरन्मुखेनाम्बुदशेषचन्द्रा

śaranmukhenāmbudaśeṣacandrā

she resembled an early-autumn night with its moon among lingering clouds—

निशेव वैदेहसुता बभूव ॥

niśeva vaidehasutā babhūva ||

such was the daughter of the king of Videha.