Hanuman’s warning to Ravana

तं समीक्ष्य महासत्त्वं सत्त्ववान् हरिसत्तमः ।

taṃ samīkṣya mahāsattvaṃ sattvavān harisattamaḥ |

Looking upon the powerful ten-headed king, the resolute foremost vanara

वाक्यमर्थवदव्यग्रस्तमुवाच दशाननम् ॥

vākyamarthavadavyagrastamuvāca daśānanam ||

calmly addressed him in words full of meaning.

अहं सुग्रीवसंदेशादिह प्राप्तस्तवान्तिके ।

ahaṃ sugrīvasaṃdeśādiha prāptastavāntike |

'I have come into your presence with a message from Sugriva.

राक्षसेश हरीशस्त्वां भ्राता कुशलमब्रवीत् ॥

rākṣaseśa harīśastvāṃ bhrātā kuśalamabravīt ||

Rakshasa lord, the vanara king, addressing you as a brother, asks after your welfare.

भ्रातुः श्रृणु समादेशं सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः ।

bhrātuḥ śrṛṇu samādeśaṃ sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ |

Hear the message of your noble brother Sugriva,

धर्मार्थसहितं वाक्यमिह चामुत्र च क्षमम् ॥

dharmārthasahitaṃ vākyamiha cāmutra ca kṣamam ||

words joined with righteousness and practical good, beneficial here and hereafter.

राजा दशरथो नाम रथकुञ्जरवाजिमान् ।

rājā daśaratho nāma rathakuñjaravājimān |

There was a king named Dasharatha, rich in chariots, elephants and horses,

पितेव बन्धुर्लोकस्य सुरेश्वरसमद्युतिः ॥

piteva bandhurlokasya sureśvarasamadyutiḥ ||

a fatherlike friend to the world and radiant as the gods' sovereign.

ज्येष्ठस्तस्य महाबाहुः पुत्रः प्रियतरः प्रभुः ।

jyeṣṭhastasya mahābāhuḥ putraḥ priyataraḥ prabhuḥ |

His eldest, strong-armed son, his beloved and capable heir,

पितुर्निदेशान्निष्क्रान्तः प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम् ॥

piturnideśānniṣkrāntaḥ praviṣṭo daṇḍakāvanam ||

left at his father's command and entered Dandaka forest.

लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्राता सीतया सह भार्यया ।

lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātā sītayā saha bhāryayā |

Together with his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita,

रामो नाम महातेजा धर्म्यं पन्थानमाश्रितः ॥

rāmo nāma mahātejā dharmyaṃ panthānamāśritaḥ ||

the radiant prince named Rama followed the righteous path.

तस्य भार्या जनस्थाने भ्रष्टा सीतेति विश्रुता ।

tasya bhāryā janasthāne bhraṣṭā sīteti viśrutā |

His wife, famed as Sita, disappeared from Janasthana;

वैदेहस्य सुता राज्ञो जनकस्य महात्मनः ॥

vaidehasya sutā rājño janakasya mahātmanaḥ ||

she is the daughter of the noble Videha king Janaka.

मार्गमाणस्तु तां देवीं राजपुत्रः सहानुजः ।

mārgamāṇastu tāṃ devīṃ rājaputraḥ sahānujaḥ |

Searching for that lady with his younger brother, the prince

ऋष्यमूकमनुप्राप्तः सुग्रीवेण च संगतः ॥

ṛṣyamūkamanuprāptaḥ sugrīveṇa ca saṃgataḥ ||

reached Rishyamuka and met Sugriva.

तस्य तेन प्रतिज्ञातं सीतायाः परिमार्गणम् ।

tasya tena pratijñātaṃ sītāyāḥ parimārgaṇam |

Sugriva promised to search for Sita,

सुग्रीवस्यापि रामेण हरिराज्यं निवेदितुम् ॥

sugrīvasyāpi rāmeṇa harirājyaṃ niveditum ||

and Rama promised to secure the vanara kingdom for Sugriva.

ततस्तेन मृधे हत्वा राजपुत्रेण वालिनम् ।

tatastena mṛdhe hatvā rājaputreṇa vālinam |

Then the prince killed Vali in battle

सुग्रीवः स्थापितो राज्ये हर्यृक्षाणां गणेश्वरः ॥

sugrīvaḥ sthāpito rājye haryṛkṣāṇāṃ gaṇeśvaraḥ ||

and established Sugriva as king over the vanaras and bears.

त्वया विज्ञातपूर्वश्च वाली वानरपुङ्गवः ।

tvayā vijñātapūrvaśca vālī vānarapuṅgavaḥ |

You already knew Vali, that foremost vanara;

स तेन निहतः संख्ये शरेणैकेन वानरः ॥

sa tena nihataḥ saṃkhye śareṇaikena vānaraḥ ||

Rama killed him in battle with a single arrow.

स सीतामार्गणे व्यग्रः सुग्रीवः सत्यसंगरः ।

sa sītāmārgaṇe vyagraḥ sugrīvaḥ satyasaṃgaraḥ |

Sugriva, the vanara lord, true to his pledge and intent upon finding Sita,

हरीन् सम्प्रेषयामास दिशः सर्वा हरीश्वरः ॥

harīn sampreṣayāmāsa diśaḥ sarvā harīśvaraḥ ||

sent vanaras in every direction.

तां हरीणां सहस्राणि शतानि नियुतानि च ।

tāṃ harīṇāṃ sahasrāṇi śatāni niyutāni ca |

Hundreds, thousands and myriads of vanaras

दिक्षु सर्वासु मार्गन्ते ह्यधश्चोपरि चाम्बरे ॥

dikṣu sarvāsu mārgante hyadhaścopari cāmbare ||

search for her everywhere, below and above in the sky.

वैनतेयसमाः केचित् केचित् तत्रानिलोपमाः ।

vainateyasamāḥ kecit kecit tatrānilopamāḥ |

Some equal Garuda and some resemble the wind;

असङ्गगतयः शीघ्रा हरिवीरा महाबलाः ॥

asaṅgagatayaḥ śīghrā harivīrā mahābalāḥ ||

these mighty vanara heroes move swiftly and without obstruction.

अहं तु हनुमान्नाम मारुतस्यौरसः सुतः ।

ahaṃ tu hanumānnāma mārutasyaurasaḥ sutaḥ |

I am named Hanuman, the Wind's own son.

सीतायास्तु कृते तूर्णं शतयोजनमायतम् ॥

sītāyāstu kṛte tūrṇaṃ śatayojanamāyatam ||

For Sita's sake, I swiftly crossed the hundred-yojana-wide—

समुद्रं लङ्घयित्वैव त्वां दिदृक्षुरिहागतः ।

samudraṃ laṅghayitvaiva tvāṃ didṛkṣurihāgataḥ |

ocean, and came here wishing to see you.

भ्रमता च मया दृष्टा गृहे ते जनकात्मजा ॥

bhramatā ca mayā dṛṣṭā gṛhe te janakātmajā ||

While searching, I saw Janaka's daughter in your domain.

तद् भवान् दृष्टधर्मार्थस्तपःकृतपरिग्रहः ।

tad bhavān dṛṣṭadharmārthastapaḥkṛtaparigrahaḥ |

You understand righteousness and expediency and have accumulated austerity;

परदारान् महाप्राज्ञ नोपरोद‍्धुं त्वमर्हसि ॥

paradārān mahāprājña noparoddhuṃ tvamarhasi ||

wise one, you ought not to imprison another man's wife.

नहि धर्मविरुद्धेषु बह्वपायेषु कर्मसु ।

nahi dharmaviruddheṣu bahvapāyeṣu karmasu |

Intelligent people like you do not engage in deeds

मूलघातिषु सज्जन्ते बुद्धिमन्तो भवद्विधाः ॥

mūlaghātiṣu sajjante buddhimanto bhavadvidhāḥ ||

opposed to righteousness, full of dangers and destructive at the root.

कश्च लक्ष्मणमुक्तानां रामकोपानुवर्तिनाम् ।

kaśca lakṣmaṇamuktānāṃ rāmakopānuvartinām |

Who, even among gods and asuras, could stand before

शराणामग्रतः स्थातुं शक्तो देवासुरेष्वपि ॥

śarāṇāmagrataḥ sthātuṃ śakto devāsureṣvapi ||

Lakshmana's arrows when they follow Rama's anger?

न चापि त्रिषु लोकेषु राजन् विद्येत कश्चन ।

na cāpi triṣu lokeṣu rājan vidyeta kaścana |

King, no one in the three worlds

राघवस्य व्यलीकं यः कृत्वा सुखमवाप्नुयात् ॥

rāghavasya vyalīkaṃ yaḥ kṛtvā sukhamavāpnuyāt ||

can injure Raghava and then enjoy happiness.

तत् त्रिकालहितं वाक्यं धर्म्यमर्थानुयायि च ।

tat trikālahitaṃ vākyaṃ dharmyamarthānuyāyi ca |

Accept this advice, beneficial at all times, righteous and sound:

मन्यस्व नरदेवाय जानकी प्रतिदीयताम् ॥

manyasva naradevāya jānakī pratidīyatām ||

let Janaka's daughter be returned to the lord of men.

दृष्टा हीयं मया देवी लब्धं यदिह दुर्लभम् ।

dṛṣṭā hīyaṃ mayā devī labdhaṃ yadiha durlabham |

I have seen the lady and achieved the difficult object of my journey.

उत्तरं कर्म यच्छेषं निमित्तं तत्र राघवः ॥

uttaraṃ karma yaccheṣaṃ nimittaṃ tatra rāghavaḥ ||

Whatever further action remains is now for Raghava to accomplish.

लक्षितेयं मया सीता तथा शोकपरायणा ।

lakṣiteyaṃ mayā sītā tathā śokaparāyaṇā |

I saw Sita deeply overcome with sorrow;

गृहे यां नाभिजानासि पञ्चास्यामिव पन्नगीम् ॥

gṛhe yāṃ nābhijānāsi pañcāsyāmiva pannagīm ||

you do not recognize the five-headed serpent, as it were, kept within your house.

नेयं जरयितुं शक्या सासुरैरमरैरपि ।

neyaṃ jarayituṃ śakyā sāsurairamarairapi |

Even gods together with asuras could not withstand her,

विषसंस्पृष्टमत्यर्थं भुक्तमन्नमिवौजसा ॥

viṣasaṃspṛṣṭamatyarthaṃ bhuktamannamivaujasā ||

any more than strength can digest food thoroughly mixed with poison.

तपःसंतापलब्धस्ते सोऽयं धर्मपरिग्रहः ।

tapaḥsaṃtāpalabdhaste so’yaṃ dharmaparigrahaḥ |

The merit you gained through the hardship of austerity

न स नाशयितुं न्याय्य आत्मप्राणपरिग्रहः ॥

na sa nāśayituṃ nyāyya ātmaprāṇaparigrahaḥ ||

ought not to be destroyed; it is a safeguard of your very life.

अवध्यतां तपोभिर्यां भवान् समनुपश्यति ।

avadhyatāṃ tapobhiryāṃ bhavān samanupaśyati |

You regard yourself as invulnerable through your austerities

आत्मनः सासुरैर्देवैर्हेतुस्तत्राप्ययं महान् ॥

ātmanaḥ sāsurairdevairhetustatrāpyayaṃ mahān ||

to gods and asuras; that great merit is indeed the cause of this protection.

सुग्रीवो न च देवोऽयं न यक्षो न च राक्षसः ।

sugrīvo na ca devo’yaṃ na yakṣo na ca rākṣasaḥ |

Sugriva is neither a god, a yaksha nor a rakshasa.

मानुषो राघवो राजन् सुग्रीवश्च हरीश्वरः ।

mānuṣo rāghavo rājan sugrīvaśca harīśvaraḥ |

Raghava is human, king, and Sugriva is lord of the vanaras.

तस्मात् प्राणपरित्राणं कथं राजन् करिष्यसि ॥

tasmāt prāṇaparitrāṇaṃ kathaṃ rājan kariṣyasi ||

How, then, will you preserve your life?

न तु धर्मोपसंहारमधर्मफलसंहितम् ।

na tu dharmopasaṃhāramadharmaphalasaṃhitam |

The harvest of righteousness is not to be confused with the fruit of wrongdoing;

तदेव फलमन्वेति धर्मश्चाधर्मनाशनः ॥

tadeva phalamanveti dharmaścādharmanāśanaḥ ||

each brings its consequence, and righteousness works against evil.

प्राप्तं धर्मफलं तावद् भवता नात्र संशयः ।

prāptaṃ dharmaphalaṃ tāvad bhavatā nātra saṃśayaḥ |

You have already received the fruit of your righteous conduct; of this there is no doubt.

फलमस्याप्यधर्मस्य क्षिप्रमेव प्रपत्स्यसे ॥

phalamasyāpyadharmasya kṣiprameva prapatsyase ||

Soon you will also receive the fruit of this unrighteous act.

जनस्थानवधं बुद्‍ध्वा वालिनश्च वधं तथा ।

janasthānavadhaṃ buddhvā vālinaśca vadhaṃ tathā |

Consider the destruction at Janasthana, the killing of Vali,

रामसुग्रीवसख्यं च बुद्‍ध्यस्व हितमात्मनः ॥

rāmasugrīvasakhyaṃ ca buddhyasva hitamātmanaḥ ||

and the friendship between Rama and Sugriva; understand what serves your welfare.

कामं खल्वहमप्येकः सवाजिरथकुञ्जराम् ।

kāmaṃ khalvahamapyekaḥ savājirathakuñjarām |

I alone could indeed destroy Lanka,

लङ्कां नाशयितुं शक्तस्तस्यैष तु न निश्चयः ॥

laṅkāṃ nāśayituṃ śaktastasyaiṣa tu na niścayaḥ ||

with its horses, chariots and elephants; but that is not Rama's decision for me.

रामेण हि प्रतिज्ञातं हर्यृक्षगणसंनिधौ ।

rāmeṇa hi pratijñātaṃ haryṛkṣagaṇasaṃnidhau |

Rama has pledged before the vanaras and bears

उत्सादनममित्राणां सीता यैस्तु प्रधर्षिता ॥

utsādanamamitrāṇāṃ sītā yaistu pradharṣitā ||

to destroy the enemies who have mistreated Sita.

अपकुर्वन् हि रामस्य साक्षादपि पुरंदरः ।

apakurvan hi rāmasya sākṣādapi puraṃdaraḥ |

Even Indra himself could not gain happiness by harming Rama;

न सुखं प्राप्नुयादन्यः किं पुनस्त्वद्विधो जनः ॥

na sukhaṃ prāpnuyādanyaḥ kiṃ punastvadvidho janaḥ ||

how much less could another person such as you?

यां सीतेत्यभिजानासि येयं तिष्ठति ते गृहे ।

yāṃ sītetyabhijānāsi yeyaṃ tiṣṭhati te gṛhe |

The woman you call Sita, who remains in your house,

कालरात्रीति तां विद्धि सर्वलङ्काविनाशिनीम् ॥

kālarātrīti tāṃ viddhi sarvalaṅkāvināśinīm ||

should be understood as the night of doom that will destroy all Lanka.

तदलं कालपाशेन सीताविग्रहरूपिणा ।

tadalaṃ kālapāśena sītāvigraharūpiṇā |

Enough of this noose of death in Sita's form

स्वयं स्कन्धावसक्तेन क्षेममात्मनि चिन्त्यताम् ॥

svayaṃ skandhāvasaktena kṣemamātmani cintyatām ||

which you have hung around your own neck; consider your safety.

सीतायास्तेजसा दग्धां रामकोपप्रदीपिताम् ।

sītāyāstejasā dagdhāṃ rāmakopapradīpitām |

Consumed by Sita’s spiritual splendour and kindled by Rama’s anger,

दह्यमानामिमां पश्य पुरीं साट्टप्रतोलिकाम् ॥

dahyamānāmimāṃ paśya purīṃ sāṭṭapratolikām ||

see this city burning, with its towers and gateways.

स्वानि मित्राणि मन्त्रींश्च ज्ञातीन् भ्रातॄन् सुता‍न‍‍्हितान् ।

svāni mitrāṇi mantrīṃśca jñātīn bhrātṝn sutānhitān |

Do not bring your friends, ministers, relatives, brothers and beloved sons,

भोगान् दारांश्च लङ्कां च मा विनाशमुपानय ॥

bhogān dārāṃśca laṅkāṃ ca mā vināśamupānaya ||

your pleasures, wives and Lanka itself, to destruction.

सत्यं राक्षसराजेन्द्र शृणुष्व वचनं मम ।

satyaṃ rākṣasarājendra śṛṇuṣva vacanaṃ mama |

Great king of rakshasas, hear my truthful words:

रामदासस्य दूतस्य वानरस्य विशेषतः ॥

rāmadāsasya dūtasya vānarasya viśeṣataḥ ||

I speak as Rama's servant and messenger, and especially as a vanara.

सर्वाल्ँ लोकान् सुसंहृत्य सभूतान् सचराचरान् ।

sarvālm̐ lokān susaṃhṛtya sabhūtān sacarācarān |

The illustrious Rama can withdraw all worlds

पुनरेव तथा स्रष्टुं शक्तो रामो महायशाः ॥

punareva tathā sraṣṭuṃ śakto rāmo mahāyaśāḥ ||

with their moving and unmoving beings, and create them again.

देवासुरनरेन्द्रेषु यक्षरक्षोरगेषु च ।

devāsuranarendreṣu yakṣarakṣorageṣu ca |

Among gods, asuras, kings, yakshas, rakshasas and serpents,

विद्याधरेषु नागेषु गन्धर्वेषु मृगेषु च ॥

vidyādhareṣu nāgeṣu gandharveṣu mṛgeṣu ca ||

among vidyadharas, nagas, gandharvas and beasts—

सिद्धेषु किंनरेन्द्रेषु पतत्त्रिषु च सर्वतः ।

siddheṣu kiṃnarendreṣu patattriṣu ca sarvataḥ |

among perfected beings, kinnara rulers and birds everywhere,

सर्वत्र सर्वभूतेषु सर्वकालेषु नास्ति सः ॥

sarvatra sarvabhūteṣu sarvakāleṣu nāsti saḥ ||

among all creatures in every place and time, none exists—

यो रामं प्रति युध्येत विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमम् ।

yo rāmaṃ prati yudhyeta viṣṇutulyaparākramam |

who could fight Rama, whose prowess equals Vishnu's.

सर्वलोकेश्वरस्येह कृत्वा विप्रियमीदृशम् ।

sarvalokeśvarasyeha kṛtvā vipriyamīdṛśam |

Having committed such an offence against the lord of all worlds,

रामस्य राजसिंहस्य दुर्लभं तव जीवितम् ॥

rāmasya rājasiṃhasya durlabhaṃ tava jīvitam ||

Rama, lion among kings, it will be difficult for you to survive.

देवाश्च दैत्याश्च निशाचरेन्द्र

devāśca daityāśca niśācarendra

Lord of night-wanderers, gods and daityas,

गन्धर्वविद्याधरनागयक्षाः ।

gandharvavidyādharanāgayakṣāḥ |

gandharvas, vidyadharas, nagas and yakshas—

रामस्य लोकत्रयनायकस्य

rāmasya lokatrayanāyakasya

against Rama, leader of the three worlds,

स्थातुं न शक्ताः समरेषु सर्वे ॥

sthātuṃ na śaktāḥ samareṣu sarve ||

all together cannot stand in battle.

ब्रह्मा स्वयम्भूश्चतुराननो वा

brahmā svayambhūścaturānano vā

Neither four-faced, self-born Brahma,

रुद्रस्त्रिनेत्रस्त्रिपुरान्तको वा ।

rudrastrinetrastripurāntako vā |

nor three-eyed Rudra, destroyer of the three cities,

इन्द्रो महेन्द्रः सुरनायको वा

indro mahendraḥ suranāyako vā

nor mighty Indra, leader of the gods,

स्थातुं न शक्ता युधि राघवस्य ॥

sthātuṃ na śaktā yudhi rāghavasya ||

can stand against Raghava in battle.

स सौष्ठवोपेतमदीनवादिनः

sa sauṣṭhavopetamadīnavādinaḥ

Hearing the fearless vanara's eloquent

कपेर्निशम्याप्रतिमोऽप्रियं वचः ।

kaperniśamyāpratimo’priyaṃ vacaḥ |

but unwelcome words, that formidable ten-headed king,

दशाननः कोपविवृत्तलोचनः

daśānanaḥ kopavivṛttalocanaḥ

his eyes widening with anger,

समादिशत् तस्य वधं महाकपेः ॥

samādiśat tasya vadhaṃ mahākapeḥ ||

ordered the great vanara to be killed.