Sita considers an escape

सा सीता वचनं श्रुत्वा पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानना ।

sā sītā vacanaṃ śrutvā pūrṇacandranibhānanā |

Hearing those words, moon-faced Sita

हनूमन्तमुवाचेदं धर्मार्थसहितं वचः ॥

hanūmantamuvācedaṃ dharmārthasahitaṃ vacaḥ ||

addressed Hanuman with words grounded in duty and purpose.

अमृतं विषसम्पृक्तं त्वया वानर भाषितम् ।

amṛtaṃ viṣasampṛktaṃ tvayā vānara bhāṣitam |

“Vanara, your words are nectar mixed with poison:

यच्च नान्यमना रामो यच्च शोकपरायणः ॥

yacca nānyamanā rāmo yacca śokaparāyaṇaḥ ||

Rama thinks of no other, yet he is consumed by grief.

ऐश्वर्ये वा सुविस्तीर्णे व्यसने वा सुदारुणे ।

aiśvarye vā suvistīrṇe vyasane vā sudāruṇe |

Whether in vast prosperity or terrible calamity,

रज्ज्वेव पुरुषं बद्‍ध्वा कृतान्तः परिकर्षति ॥

rajjveva puruṣaṃ baddhvā kṛtāntaḥ parikarṣati ||

fate binds a person as with a rope and drags them along.

विधिर्नूनमसंहार्यः प्राणिनां प्लवगोत्तम ।

vidhirnūnamasaṃhāryaḥ prāṇināṃ plavagottama |

Foremost vanara, destiny seems irresistible for living beings.

सौमित्रं मां च रामं च व्यसनैः पश्य मोहितान् ॥

saumitraṃ māṃ ca rāmaṃ ca vyasanaiḥ paśya mohitān ||

See how Saumitri, Rama and I are overwhelmed by troubles.

शोकस्यास्य कथं पारं राघवोऽधिगमिष्यति ।

śokasyāsya kathaṃ pāraṃ rāghavo’dhigamiṣyati |

How will Raghava reach the far shore of this sorrow,

प्लवमानः परिक्रान्तो हतनौः सागरे यथा ॥

plavamānaḥ parikrānto hatanauḥ sāgare yathā ||

struggling to swim like someone whose ship is wrecked at sea?

राक्षसानां वधं कृत्वा सूदयित्वा च रावणम् ।

rākṣasānāṃ vadhaṃ kṛtvā sūdayitvā ca rāvaṇam |

When will my husband see me, after killing the rakshasas,

लङ्कामुन्मथितां कृत्वा कदा द्रक्ष्यति मां पतिः ॥

laṅkāmunmathitāṃ kṛtvā kadā drakṣyati māṃ patiḥ ||

destroying Ravana and overthrowing Lanka?

स वाच्यः संत्वरस्वेति यावदेव न पूर्यते ।

sa vācyaḥ saṃtvarasveti yāvadeva na pūryate |

Tell him, ‘Make haste before this year’s allotted time

अयं संवत्सरः कालस्तावद्धि मम जीवितम् ॥

ayaṃ saṃvatsaraḥ kālastāvaddhi mama jīvitam ||

has run its course; only until then will I live.’

वर्तते दशमो मासो द्वौ तु शेषौ प्लवङ्गम ।

vartate daśamo māso dvau tu śeṣau plavaṅgama |

The tenth month is passing; only two remain, vanara,

रावणेन नृशंसेन समयो यः कृतो मम ॥

rāvaṇena nṛśaṃsena samayo yaḥ kṛto mama ||

of the time cruel Ravana has fixed for me.

विभीषणेन च भ्रात्रा मम निर्यातनं प्रति ।

vibhīṣaṇena ca bhrātrā mama niryātanaṃ prati |

His brother Vibhishana has earnestly urged him

अनुनीतः प्रयत्नेन न च तत् कुरुते मतिम् ॥

anunītaḥ prayatnena na ca tat kurute matim ||

to return me, but he will not decide to do so.

मम प्रतिप्रदानं हि रावणस्य न रोचते ।

mama pratipradānaṃ hi rāvaṇasya na rocate |

My return does not please Ravana;

रावणं मार्गते संख्ये मृत्युः कालवशंगतम् ॥

rāvaṇaṃ mārgate saṃkhye mṛtyuḥ kālavaśaṃgatam ||

Death seeks him in battle, now that time has him in its power.

ज्येष्ठा कन्या कला नाम विभीषणसुता कपे ।

jyeṣṭhā kanyā kalā nāma vibhīṣaṇasutā kape |

Vibhishana’s eldest daughter, named Kala, vanara,

तया ममैतदाख्यातं मात्रा प्रहितया स्वयम् ॥

tayā mamaitadākhyātaṃ mātrā prahitayā svayam ||

told me this when her mother herself sent her.

अविन्ध्यो नाम मेधावी विद्वान् राक्षसपुङ्गवः ।

avindhyo nāma medhāvī vidvān rākṣasapuṅgavaḥ |

A wise and learned foremost rakshasa named Avindhya,

धृतिमाञ्छीलवान् वृद्धो रावणस्य सुसम्मतः ॥

dhṛtimāñchīlavān vṛddho rāvaṇasya susammataḥ ||

resolute, well-conducted, elderly and respected by Ravana,

रामात् क्षयमनुप्राप्तं रक्षसां प्रत्यचोदयत् ।

rāmāt kṣayamanuprāptaṃ rakṣasāṃ pratyacodayat |

warned him that destruction would come upon the rakshasas through Rama;

न च तस्य स दुष्टात्मा शृणोति वचनं हितम् ॥

na ca tasya sa duṣṭātmā śṛṇoti vacanaṃ hitam ||

but that wicked soul will not hear his beneficial words.

आशंसेयं हरिश्रेष्ठ क्षिप्रं मां प्राप्स्यते पतिः ।

āśaṃseyaṃ hariśreṣṭha kṣipraṃ māṃ prāpsyate patiḥ |

I hope, foremost vanara, that my husband will soon reach me;

अन्तरात्मा हि मे शुद्धस्तस्मिंश्च बहवो गुणाः ॥

antarātmā hi me śuddhastasmiṃśca bahavo guṇāḥ ||

my heart is clear, and he possesses many virtues.

उत्साहः पौरुषं सत्त्वमानृशंस्यं कृतज्ञता ।

utsāhaḥ pauruṣaṃ sattvamānṛśaṃsyaṃ kṛtajñatā |

Energy, manliness, courage, compassion, gratitude,

विक्रमश्च प्रभावश्च सन्ति वानर राघवे ॥

vikramaśca prabhāvaśca santi vānara rāghave ||

valour and commanding power belong to Raghava, vanara.

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि राक्षसानां जघान यः ।

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rākṣasānāṃ jaghāna yaḥ |

He killed fourteen thousand rakshasas in Janasthana without his brother;

जनस्थाने विना भ्रात्रा शत्रुः कस्तस्य नोद्विजेत् ॥

janasthāne vinā bhrātrā śatruḥ kastasya nodvijet ||

what enemy would not fear him?

न स शक्यस्तुलयितुं व्यसनैः पुरुषर्षभः ।

na sa śakyastulayituṃ vyasanaiḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ |

That foremost man cannot be overcome by misfortune.

अहं तस्यानुभावज्ञा शक्रस्येव पुलोमजा ॥

ahaṃ tasyānubhāvajñā śakrasyeva pulomajā ||

I know his power as Puloma’s daughter knows Indra’s.

शरजालांशुमान् शूरः कपे रामदिवाकरः ।

śarajālāṃśumān śūraḥ kape rāmadivākaraḥ |

Brave Rama is a sun whose rays are showers of arrows;

शत्रुरक्षोमयं तोयमुपशोषं नयिष्यति ॥

śatrurakṣomayaṃ toyamupaśoṣaṃ nayiṣyati ||

he will dry up the waters made of hostile rakshasas.”

इति संजल्पमानां तां रामार्थे शोककर्शिताम् ।

iti saṃjalpamānāṃ tāṃ rāmārthe śokakarśitām |

To her, speaking thus of Rama, wasted with sorrow

अश्रुसम्पूर्णवदनामुवाच हनुमान् कपिः ॥

aśrusampūrṇavadanāmuvāca hanumān kapiḥ ||

and with tears covering her face, Hanuman the vanara replied:

श्रुत्वैव च वचो मह्यं क्षिप्रमेष्यति राघवः ।

śrutvaiva ca vaco mahyaṃ kṣiprameṣyati rāghavaḥ |

“Hearing my report, Raghava will come quickly,

चमूं प्रकर्षन् महतीं हर्यृक्षगणसंकुलाम् ॥

camūṃ prakarṣan mahatīṃ haryṛkṣagaṇasaṃkulām ||

leading a great army filled with vanaras and bears.

अथवा मोचयिष्यामि त्वामद्यैव सराक्षसात् ।

athavā mocayiṣyāmi tvāmadyaiva sarākṣasāt |

Or I shall free you today from this suffering and the rakshasa.

अस्माद् दुःखादुपारोह मम पृष्ठमनिन्दिते ॥

asmād duḥkhādupāroha mama pṛṣṭhamanindite ||

Blameless lady, climb upon my back.

त्वां तु पृष्ठगतां कृत्वा संतरिष्यामि सागरम् ।

tvāṃ tu pṛṣṭhagatāṃ kṛtvā saṃtariṣyāmi sāgaram |

With you upon my back, I shall cross the ocean.

शक्तिरस्ति हि मे वोढुं लङ्कामपि सरावणाम् ॥

śaktirasti hi me voḍhuṃ laṅkāmapi sarāvaṇām ||

I have strength to carry even Lanka together with Ravana.

अहं प्रस्रवणस्थाय राघवायाद्य मैथिलि ।

ahaṃ prasravaṇasthāya rāghavāyādya maithili |

Princess of Mithila, today I shall bring you to Raghava at Prasravana,

प्रापयिष्यामि शक्राय हव्यं हुतमिवानलः ॥

prāpayiṣyāmi śakrāya havyaṃ hutamivānalaḥ ||

as Fire carries an offered oblation to Indra.

द्रक्ष्यस्यद्यैव वैदेहि राघवं सहलक्ष्मणम् ।

drakṣyasyadyaiva vaidehi rāghavaṃ sahalakṣmaṇam |

Today you shall see Raghava with Lakshmana,

व्यवसायसमायुक्तं विष्णुं दैत्यवधे यथा ॥

vyavasāyasamāyuktaṃ viṣṇuṃ daityavadhe yathā ||

resolute like Vishnu preparing to destroy the daityas.

त्वद्दर्शनकृतोत्साहमाश्रमस्थं महाबलम् ।

tvaddarśanakṛtotsāhamāśramasthaṃ mahābalam |

Mighty and eager to see you, he stays in his hermitage,

पुरंदरमिवासीनं नगराजस्य मूर्धनि ॥

puraṃdaramivāsīnaṃ nagarājasya mūrdhani ||

seated like Indra on a mountain summit.

पृष्ठमारोह मे देवि मा विकाङ्क्षस्व शोभने ।

pṛṣṭhamāroha me devi mā vikāṅkṣasva śobhane |

Climb upon my back, beautiful lady; do not hesitate.

योगमन्विच्छ रामेण शशाङ्केनेव रोहिणी ॥

yogamanviccha rāmeṇa śaśāṅkeneva rohiṇī ||

Seek reunion with Rama, as Rohini with the moon.

कथयन्तीव शशिना संगमिष्यसि रोहिणी ।

kathayantīva śaśinā saṃgamiṣyasi rohiṇī |

You will meet him as Rohini meets the moon, conversing with him.

मत्पृष्ठमधिरोह त्वं तराकाशं महार्णवम् ॥

matpṛṣṭhamadhiroha tvaṃ tarākāśaṃ mahārṇavam ||

Mount my back and cross the sky and great ocean.

नहि मे सम्प्रयातस्य त्वामितो नयतोऽङ्गने ।

nahi me samprayātasya tvāmito nayato’ṅgane |

Lady, when I depart carrying you from here,

अनुगन्तुं गतिं शक्ताः सर्वे लङ्कानिवासिनः ॥

anugantuṃ gatiṃ śaktāḥ sarve laṅkānivāsinaḥ ||

all Lanka’s inhabitants together cannot keep pace with me.

यथैवाहमिह प्राप्तस्तथैवाहमसंशयम् ।

yathaivāhamiha prāptastathaivāhamasaṃśayam |

Just as I came here, so undoubtedly shall I return.

यास्यामि पश्य वैदेहि त्वामुद्यम्य विहायसम् ॥

yāsyāmi paśya vaidehi tvāmudyamya vihāyasam ||

See, Vaidehi, I shall lift you into the sky.”

मैथिली तु हरिश्रेष्ठाच्छ्रुत्वा वचनमद्भुतम् ।

maithilī tu hariśreṣṭhācchrutvā vacanamadbhutam |

Hearing this astonishing offer from the foremost vanara,

हर्षविस्मितसर्वाङ्गी हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत् ॥

harṣavismitasarvāṅgī hanūmantamathābravīt ||

the princess of Mithila, thrilled with joy and wonder, addressed Hanuman.

हनूमन् दूरमध्वानं कथं मां नेतुमिच्छसि ।

hanūman dūramadhvānaṃ kathaṃ māṃ netumicchasi |

“Hanuman, how do you intend to carry me so far?

तदेव खलु ते मन्ये कपित्वं हरियूथप ॥

tadeva khalu te manye kapitvaṃ hariyūthapa ||

Leader of vanaras, I think this is your monkey nature showing itself.

कथं चाल्पशरीरस्त्वं मामितो नेतुमिच्छसि ।

kathaṃ cālpaśarīrastvaṃ māmito netumicchasi |

How can you, so small-bodied, intend to carry me from here

सकाशं मानवेन्द्रस्य भर्तुर्मे प्लवगर्षभ ॥

sakāśaṃ mānavendrasya bharturme plavagarṣabha ||

to my husband, lord of men, foremost vanara?”

सीतायास्तु वचः श्रुत्वा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ।

sītāyāstu vacaḥ śrutvā hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ |

Hearing Sita’s words, glorious Hanuman, the Wind’s son,

चिन्तयामास लक्ष्मीवान् नवं परिभवं कृतम् ॥

cintayāmāsa lakṣmīvān navaṃ paribhavaṃ kṛtam ||

considered this a fresh slight.

न मे जानाति सत्त्वं वा प्रभावं वासितेक्षणा ।

na me jānāti sattvaṃ vā prabhāvaṃ vāsitekṣaṇā |

“The dark-eyed lady does not know my strength or power.

तस्मात् पश्यतु वैदेही यद् रूपं मम कामतः ॥

tasmāt paśyatu vaidehī yad rūpaṃ mama kāmataḥ ||

Let Vaidehi see the form I can assume at will.”

इति संचिन्त्य हनुमांस्तदा प्लवगसत्तमः ।

iti saṃcintya hanumāṃstadā plavagasattamaḥ |

Reflecting thus, Hanuman, foremost vanara and crusher of foes,

दर्शयामास सीतायाः स्वरूपमरिमर्दनः ॥

darśayāmāsa sītāyāḥ svarūpamarimardanaḥ ||

displayed his own great form before Sita.

स तस्मात् पादपाद् धीमानाप्लुत्य प्लवगर्षभः ।

sa tasmāt pādapād dhīmānāplutya plavagarṣabhaḥ |

Leaping down from that tree, the wise foremost vanara

ततो वर्धितुमारेभे सीताप्रत्ययकारणात् ॥

tato vardhitumārebhe sītāpratyayakāraṇāt ||

began to grow to establish Sita’s confidence.

मेरुमन्दरसंकाशो बभौ दीप्तानलप्रभः ।

merumandarasaṃkāśo babhau dīptānalaprabhaḥ |

Like Meru or Mandara, bright as blazing fire,

अग्रतो व्यवतस्थे च सीताया वानरर्षभः ॥

agrato vyavatasthe ca sītāyā vānararṣabhaḥ ||

the foremost vanara stood before Sita.

हरिः पर्वतसंकाशस्ताम्रवक्त्रो महाबलः ।

hariḥ parvatasaṃkāśastāmravaktro mahābalaḥ |

Mountain-like, coral-faced, immensely strong,

वज्रदंष्ट्रनखो भीमो वैदेहीमिदमब्रवीत् ॥

vajradaṃṣṭranakho bhīmo vaidehīmidamabravīt ||

with diamond-hard fangs and nails, the formidable vanara said to Vaidehi:

सपर्वतवनोद्देशां साट्टप्राकारतोरणाम् ।

saparvatavanoddeśāṃ sāṭṭaprākāratoraṇām |

“I can carry this Lanka with its mountains and forests,

लङ्कामिमां सनाथां वा नयितुं शक्तिरस्ति मे ॥

laṅkāmimāṃ sanāthāṃ vā nayituṃ śaktirasti me ||

watchtowers, walls and gateways—even with its ruler.

तदवस्थाप्यतां बुद्धिरलं देवि विकाङ्क्षया ।

tadavasthāpyatāṃ buddhiralaṃ devi vikāṅkṣayā |

Settle your mind, lady; enough hesitation.

विशोकं कुरु वैदेहि राघवं सहलक्ष्मणम् ॥

viśokaṃ kuru vaidehi rāghavaṃ sahalakṣmaṇam ||

Free Raghava and Lakshmana from grief, Vaidehi.”

तं दृष्ट्वाचलसंकाशमुवाच जनकात्मजा ।

taṃ dṛṣṭvācalasaṃkāśamuvāca janakātmajā |

Seeing him mountain-like, Janaka’s daughter,

पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षी मारुतस्यौरसं सुतम् ॥

padmapatraviśālākṣī mārutasyaurasaṃ sutam ||

whose wide eyes resembled lotus petals, addressed the Wind’s own son:

तव सत्त्वं बलं चैव विजानामि महाकपे ।

tava sattvaṃ balaṃ caiva vijānāmi mahākape |

“Great vanara, I know your courage and strength,

वायोरिव गतिश्चापि तेजश्चाग्नेरिवाद्भुतम् ॥

vāyoriva gatiścāpi tejaścāgnerivādbhutam ||

your speed like the wind’s and your wondrous brilliance like fire’s.

प्राकृतोऽन्यः कथं चेमां भूमिमागन्तुमर्हति ।

prākṛto’nyaḥ kathaṃ cemāṃ bhūmimāgantumarhati |

How could any ordinary being reach this land

उदधेरप्रमेयस्य पारं वानरयूथप ॥

udadheraprameyasya pāraṃ vānarayūthapa ||

beyond the immeasurable ocean, vanara leader?

जानामि गमने शक्तिं नयने चापि ते मम ।

jānāmi gamane śaktiṃ nayane cāpi te mama |

I know you can travel and carry me.

अवश्यं सम्प्रधार्याशु कार्यसिद्धिरिवात्मनः ॥

avaśyaṃ sampradhāryāśu kāryasiddhirivātmanaḥ ||

Yet the undertaking’s success must first be carefully considered.

अयुक्तं तु कपिश्रेष्ठ मया गन्तुं त्वया सह ।

ayuktaṃ tu kapiśreṣṭha mayā gantuṃ tvayā saha |

It would be unsuitable for me to go with you, foremost vanara;

वायुवेगसवेगस्य वेगो मां मोहयेत् तव ॥

vāyuvegasavegasya vego māṃ mohayet tava ||

your wind-like speed might make me faint.

अहमाकाशमासक्ता उपर्युपरि सागरम् ।

ahamākāśamāsaktā uparyupari sāgaram |

Suspended in the sky high above the ocean,

प्रपतेयं हि ते पृष्ठाद् भूयो वेगेन गच्छतः ॥

prapateyaṃ hi te pṛṣṭhād bhūyo vegena gacchataḥ ||

I might fall from your back as you sped onward.

पतिता सागरे चाहं तिमिनक्रझषाकुले ।

patitā sāgare cāhaṃ timinakrajhaṣākule |

Falling into an ocean filled with great fish and crocodiles,

भवेयमाशु विवशा यादसामन्नमुत्तमम् ॥

bhaveyamāśu vivaśā yādasāmannamuttamam ||

helpless, I would quickly become food for its creatures.

न च शक्ष्ये त्वया सार्धं गन्तुं शत्रुविनाशन ।

na ca śakṣye tvayā sārdhaṃ gantuṃ śatruvināśana |

Destroyer of foes, I cannot go with you;

कलत्रवति संदेहस्त्वयि स्यादप्यसंशयम् ॥

kalatravati saṃdehastvayi syādapyasaṃśayam ||

with a woman to protect, even you would surely face danger.

ह्रियमाणां तु मां दृष्ट्वा राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः ।

hriyamāṇāṃ tu māṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasā bhīmavikramāḥ |

Seeing me carried away, rakshasas of formidable prowess

अनुगच्छेयुरादिष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना ॥

anugaccheyurādiṣṭā rāvaṇena durātmanā ||

might follow at wicked Ravana’s command.

तैस्त्वं परिवृतः शूरैः शूलमुद‍्गरपाणिभिः ।

taistvaṃ parivṛtaḥ śūraiḥ śūlamudgarapāṇibhiḥ |

Surrounded by those heroes bearing spears and clubs,

भवेस्त्वं संशयं प्राप्तो मया वीर कलत्रवान् ॥

bhavestvaṃ saṃśayaṃ prāpto mayā vīra kalatravān ||

you would face uncertainty, hero, while burdened with protecting me.

सायुधा बहवो व्योम्नि राक्षसास्त्वं निरायुधः ।

sāyudhā bahavo vyomni rākṣasāstvaṃ nirāyudhaḥ |

Many armed rakshasas would be in the sky, while you were unarmed;

कथं शक्ष्यसि संयातुं मां चैव परिरक्षितुम् ॥

kathaṃ śakṣyasi saṃyātuṃ māṃ caiva parirakṣitum ||

how could you fight and also keep me safe?

युध्यमानस्य रक्षोभिस्ततस्तैः क्रूरकर्मभिः ।

yudhyamānasya rakṣobhistatastaiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ |

While you fought those cruel rakshasas,

प्रपतेयं हि ते पृष्ठाद् भयार्ता कपिसत्तम ॥

prapateyaṃ hi te pṛṣṭhād bhayārtā kapisattama ||

I might fall from your back in terror, foremost vanara.

अथ रक्षांसि भीमानि महान्ति बलवन्ति च ।

atha rakṣāṃsi bhīmāni mahānti balavanti ca |

Or those terrifying rakshasas, large and strong,

कथंचित् साम्पराये त्वां जयेयुः कपिसत्तम ॥

kathaṃcit sāmparāye tvāṃ jayeyuḥ kapisattama ||

might somehow defeat you in combat, foremost vanara.

अथवा युध्यमानस्य पतेयं विमुखस्य ते ।

athavā yudhyamānasya pateyaṃ vimukhasya te |

Or I might fall while you fought, turned away from me;

पतितां च गृहीत्वा मां नयेयुः पापराक्षसाः ॥

patitāṃ ca gṛhītvā māṃ nayeyuḥ pāparākṣasāḥ ||

then the wicked rakshasas could seize me and take me back.

मां वा हरेयुस्त्वद्धस्ताद् विशसेयुरथापि वा ।

māṃ vā hareyustvaddhastād viśaseyurathāpi vā |

They might snatch me from you, or kill me;

अनवस्थौ हि दृश्येते युद्धे जयपराजयौ ॥

anavasthau hi dṛśyete yuddhe jayaparājayau ||

victory and defeat in battle are visibly unstable.

अहं वापि विपद्येयं रक्षोभिरभितर्जिता ।

ahaṃ vāpi vipadyeyaṃ rakṣobhirabhitarjitā |

Or I might perish when threatened by the rakshasas,

त्वत्प्रयत्नो हरिश्रेष्ठ भवेन्निष्फल एव तु ॥

tvatprayatno hariśreṣṭha bhavenniṣphala eva tu ||

and your effort, foremost vanara, would become fruitless.

कामं त्वमपि पर्याप्तो निहन्तुं सर्वराक्षसान् ।

kāmaṃ tvamapi paryāpto nihantuṃ sarvarākṣasān |

You are indeed sufficient to kill every rakshasa;

राघवस्य यशो हीयेत् त्वया शस्तैस्तु राक्षसैः ॥

rāghavasya yaśo hīyet tvayā śastaistu rākṣasaiḥ ||

but if you killed them, Raghava’s glory would be diminished.

अथवाऽऽदाय रक्षांसि न्यसेयुः संवृते हि माम् ।

athavā’’dāya rakṣāṃsi nyaseyuḥ saṃvṛte hi mām |

Or the rakshasas might take me and hide me

यत्र ते नाभिजानीयुर्हरयो नापि राघवः ॥

yatra te nābhijānīyurharayo nāpi rāghavaḥ ||

where neither the vanaras nor Raghava could find me.

आरम्भस्तु मदर्थोऽयं ततस्तव निरर्थकः ।

ārambhastu madartho’yaṃ tatastava nirarthakaḥ |

Then this undertaking for my sake would be wasted;

त्वया हि सह रामस्य महानागमने गुणः ॥

tvayā hi saha rāmasya mahānāgamane guṇaḥ ||

Rama’s coming with you would instead bring great benefit.

मयि जीवितमायत्तं राघवस्यामितौजसः ।

mayi jīvitamāyattaṃ rāghavasyāmitaujasaḥ |

My life sustains boundlessly powerful Raghava,

भ्रातॄणां च महाबाहो तव राजकुलस्य च ॥

bhrātṝṇāṃ ca mahābāho tava rājakulasya ca ||

his brothers, long-armed one, and your royal household.

तौ निराशौ मदर्थं च शोकसंतापकर्शितौ ।

tau nirāśau madarthaṃ ca śokasaṃtāpakarśitau |

Those two, despairing over me and wasted by grief,

सह सर्वर्क्षहरिभिस्त्यक्ष्यतः प्राणसंग्रहम् ॥

saha sarvarkṣaharibhistyakṣyataḥ prāṇasaṃgraham ||

would abandon their lives with all the bears and vanaras.

भर्तुर्भक्तिं पुरस्कृत्य रामादन्यस्य वानर ।

bharturbhaktiṃ puraskṛtya rāmādanyasya vānara |

Putting devotion to my husband first, foremost vanara,

नाहं स्प्रष्टुं स्वतो गात्रमिच्छेयं वानरोत्तम ॥

nāhaṃ spraṣṭuṃ svato gātramiccheyaṃ vānarottama ||

I would not willingly touch the body of anyone other than Rama.

यदहं गात्रसंस्पर्शं रावणस्य गता बलात् ।

yadahaṃ gātrasaṃsparśaṃ rāvaṇasya gatā balāt |

When I was forced into contact with Ravana’s body,

अनीशा किं करिष्यामि विनाथा विवशा सती ॥

anīśā kiṃ kariṣyāmi vināthā vivaśā satī ||

I was powerless, without my protector; what could I do?

यदि रामो दशग्रीवमिह हत्वा सराक्षसम् ।

yadi rāmo daśagrīvamiha hatvā sarākṣasam |

If Rama kills the ten-headed one and his rakshasas here,

मामितो गृह्य गच्छेत तत् तस्य सदृशं भवेत् ॥

māmito gṛhya gaccheta tat tasya sadṛśaṃ bhavet ||

then takes me away, that would be worthy of him.

श्रुताश्च दृष्टा हि मया पराक्रमा

śrutāśca dṛṣṭā hi mayā parākramā

I have heard and seen the heroic deeds

महात्मनस्तस्य रणावमर्दिनः ।

mahātmanastasya raṇāvamardinaḥ |

of that great-souled destroyer in battle.

न देवगन्धर्वभुजङ्गराक्षसा

na devagandharvabhujaṅgarākṣasā

Neither gods, Gandharvas, serpents nor rakshasas

भवन्ति रामेण समा हि संयुगे ॥

bhavanti rāmeṇa samā hi saṃyuge ||

are Rama’s equal in combat.

समीक्ष्य तं संयति चित्रकार्मुकं

samīkṣya taṃ saṃyati citrakārmukaṃ

Seeing him in battle with his splendid bow,

महाबलं वासवतुल्यविक्रमम् ।

mahābalaṃ vāsavatulyavikramam |

immensely strong and equal to Indra in prowess,

सलक्ष्मणं को विषहेत राघवं

salakṣmaṇaṃ ko viṣaheta rāghavaṃ

who could withstand Raghava together with Lakshmana,

हुताशनं दीप्तमिवानिलेरितम् ॥

hutāśanaṃ dīptamivānileritam ||

like blazing fire driven by the wind?

सलक्ष्मणं राघवमाजिमर्दनं

salakṣmaṇaṃ rāghavamājimardanaṃ

Who, foremost vanara, could endure battle

दिशागजं मत्तमिव व्यवस्थितम् ।

diśāgajaṃ mattamiva vyavasthitam |

with Raghava and Lakshmana, destroyers of armies,

सहेत को वानरमुख्य संयुगे

saheta ko vānaramukhya saṃyuge

standing like a rutting elephant of the quarters,

युगान्तसूर्यप्रतिमं शरार्चिषम् ॥

yugāntasūryapratimaṃ śarārciṣam ||

sun-like at the world’s end, with arrows for flames?

स मे कपिश्रेष्ठ सलक्ष्मणं प्रियं

sa me kapiśreṣṭha salakṣmaṇaṃ priyaṃ

Foremost vanara, bring my beloved, together with Lakshmana,

सयूथपं क्षिप्रमिहोपपादय ।

sayūthapaṃ kṣipramihopapādaya |

and the army’s commanders quickly to this place.

चिराय रामं प्रति शोककर्शितां

cirāya rāmaṃ prati śokakarśitāṃ

I have long been wasted with sorrow for Rama;

कुरुष्व मां वानरवीर हर्षिताम् ॥

kuruṣva māṃ vānaravīra harṣitām ||

make me happy, heroic vanara.