What should the searchers do next?

एतदाख्याय तत् सर्वं हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ।

etadākhyāya tat sarvaṃ hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ |

Having related all this, Hanuman, the Wind's son,

भूयः समुपचक्राम वचनं वक्तुमुत्तरम् ॥

bhūyaḥ samupacakrāma vacanaṃ vaktumuttaram ||

began once more to speak further.

सफलो राघवोद्योगः सुग्रीवस्य च सम्भ्रमः ।

saphalo rāghavodyogaḥ sugrīvasya ca sambhramaḥ |

'Raghava's effort and Sugriva's earnest activity have borne fruit.

शीलमासाद्य सीताया मम च प्रीणितं मनः ॥

śīlamāsādya sītāyā mama ca prīṇitaṃ manaḥ ||

Having witnessed Sita's steadfast character, my own mind is satisfied.

आर्यायाः सदृशं शीलं सीतायाः प्लवगर्षभाः ।

āryāyāḥ sadṛśaṃ śīlaṃ sītāyāḥ plavagarṣabhāḥ |

Foremost vanaras, Sita's conduct is worthy of a noble lady.

तपसा धारयेल्लोकान् क्रुद्धा वा निर्दहेदपि ॥

tapasā dhārayellokān kruddhā vā nirdahedapi ||

Through austerity she could sustain the worlds, or burn them in anger.

सर्वथातिप्रकृष्टोऽसौ रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः ।

sarvathātiprakṛṣṭo’sau rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ |

The rakshasa king Ravana must possess extraordinary austerity,

यस्य तां स्पृशतो गात्रं तपसा न विनाशितम् ॥

yasya tāṃ spṛśato gātraṃ tapasā na vināśitam ||

since his body was not destroyed when he touched her.

न तदग्निशिखा कुर्यात् संस्पृष्टा पाणिना सती ।

na tadagniśikhā kuryāt saṃspṛṣṭā pāṇinā satī |

A flame touched by the hand could not do

जनकस्य सुता कुर्याद् यत् क्रोधकलुषीकृता ॥

janakasya sutā kuryād yat krodhakaluṣīkṛtā ||

what Janaka's daughter could do if overcome by wrath.

जाम्बवत्प्रमुखान् सर्वाननुज्ञाप्य महाकपीन् ।

jāmbavatpramukhān sarvānanujñāpya mahākapīn |

With the approval of all the great vanaras, beginning with Jambavan,

अस्मिन् नेवंगते कार्ये भवतां च निवेदिते ।

asmin nevaṃgate kārye bhavatāṃ ca nivedite |

now that the mission has reached this point and I have informed you,

न्याय्यं स्म सह वैदेह्या द्रष्टुं तौ पार्थिवात्मजौ ॥

nyāyyaṃ sma saha vaidehyā draṣṭuṃ tau pārthivātmajau ||

it would be fitting to see the two princes together with Vaidehi.

अहमेकोऽपि पर्याप्तः सराक्षसगणां पुरीम् ।

ahameko’pi paryāptaḥ sarākṣasagaṇāṃ purīm |

I alone am sufficient to destroy by force

तां लङ्कां तरसा हन्तुं रावणं च महाबलम् ॥

tāṃ laṅkāṃ tarasā hantuṃ rāvaṇaṃ ca mahābalam ||

Lanka with its rakshasa hosts and mighty Ravana.

किं पुनः सहितो वीरैर्बलवद्भिः कृतात्मभिः ।

kiṃ punaḥ sahito vīrairbalavadbhiḥ kṛtātmabhiḥ |

How much more could I do together with you—brave, powerful and disciplined,

कृतास्त्रैः प्लवगैः शक्तैर्भवद्भिर्विजयैषिभिः ॥

kṛtāstraiḥ plavagaiḥ śaktairbhavadbhirvijayaiṣibhiḥ ||

trained in weapons, capable vanaras eager for victory!

अहं तु रावणं युद्धे ससैन्यं सपुरःसरम् ।

ahaṃ tu rāvaṇaṃ yuddhe sasainyaṃ sapuraḥsaram |

In battle I could kill Ravana with his army and foremost warriors,

सहपुत्रं वधिष्यामि सहोदरयुतं युधि ॥

sahaputraṃ vadhiṣyāmi sahodarayutaṃ yudhi ||

together with his sons and brothers.

ब्राह्ममस्त्रं च रौद्रं च वायव्यं वारुणं तथा ।

brāhmamastraṃ ca raudraṃ ca vāyavyaṃ vāruṇaṃ tathā |

Even if Indrajit released Brahma's, Rudra's, Wind's and Varuna's weapons,

यदि शक्रजितोऽस्त्राणि दुर्निरीक्ष्याणि संयुगे ।

yadi śakrajito’strāṇi durnirīkṣyāṇi saṃyuge |

dreadful to face in battle,

तान्यहं निहनिष्यामि विधमिष्यामि राक्षसान् ॥

tānyahaṃ nihaniṣyāmi vidhamiṣyāmi rākṣasān ||

I would defeat them and scatter the rakshasas.

भवतामभ्यनुज्ञातो विक्रमो मे रुणद्धि तम् ।

bhavatāmabhyanujñāto vikramo me ruṇaddhi tam |

If you approve, my prowess will restrain him;

मयातुला विसृष्टा हि शैलवृष्टिर्निरन्तरा ॥

mayātulā visṛṣṭā hi śailavṛṣṭirnirantarā ||

the unequalled, unbroken shower of rocks I unleash—

देवानपि रणे हन्यात् किं पुनस्तान् निशाचरान् ।

devānapi raṇe hanyāt kiṃ punastān niśācarān |

could destroy even gods in battle, much more those night-wanderers.

भवतामननुज्ञातो विक्रमो मे रुणद्धि माम् ॥

bhavatāmananujñāto vikramo me ruṇaddhi mām ||

Without your permission, however, I restrain my prowess.

सागरोऽप्यतियाद् वेलां मन्दरः प्रचलेदपि ।

sāgaro’pyatiyād velāṃ mandaraḥ pracaledapi |

The ocean might pass its bounds and Mandara might shake,

न जाम्बवन्तं समरे कम्पयेदरिवाहिनी ॥

na jāmbavantaṃ samare kampayedarivāhinī ||

but an enemy army could not shake Jambavan in battle.

सर्वराक्षससङ्घानां राक्षसा ये च पूर्वजाः ।

sarvarākṣasasaṅghānāṃ rākṣasā ye ca pūrvajāḥ |

Vali's heroic vanara son alone is sufficient

अलमेकोऽपि नाशाय वीरो वालिसुतः कपिः ॥

alameko’pi nāśāya vīro vālisutaḥ kapiḥ ||

to destroy all rakshasa hosts, including their ancient champions.

प्लवगस्योरुवेगेन नीलस्य च महात्मनः ।

plavagasyoruvegena nīlasya ca mahātmanaḥ |

At the rush of noble Nila's thighs,

मन्दरोऽप्यवशीर्येत किं पुनर्युधि राक्षसाः ॥

mandaro’pyavaśīryeta kiṃ punaryudhi rākṣasāḥ ||

even Mandara might crumble—how much more rakshasas in battle!

सदेवासुरयक्षेषु गन्धर्वोरगपक्षिषु ।

sadevāsurayakṣeṣu gandharvoragapakṣiṣu |

Among gods, asuras, yakshas, gandharvas, serpents and birds,

मैन्दस्य प्रतियोद्धारं शंसत द्विविदस्य वा ॥

maindasya pratiyoddhāraṃ śaṃsata dvividasya vā ||

name anyone who could oppose Mainda or Dvivida.

अश्विपुत्रौ महावेगावेतौ प्लवगसत्तमौ ।

aśviputrau mahāvegāvetau plavagasattamau |

These swift sons of the Ashvins are foremost vanaras;

एतयोः प्रतियोद्धारं न पश्यामि रणाजिरे ॥

etayoḥ pratiyoddhāraṃ na paśyāmi raṇājire ||

I see no opponent for them on the battlefield.

मयैव निहता लङ्का दग्धा भस्मीकृता पुरी ।

mayaiva nihatā laṅkā dagdhā bhasmīkṛtā purī |

I myself struck Lanka; the city was burned and reduced to ashes.

राजमार्गेषु सर्वेषु नाम विश्रावितं मया ॥

rājamārgeṣu sarveṣu nāma viśrāvitaṃ mayā ||

In all its royal streets I proclaimed my identity.

जयत्यतिबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः ।

jayatyatibalo rāmo lakṣmaṇaśca mahābalaḥ |

"Victory to immensely strong Rama and mighty Lakshmana!

राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः ॥

rājā jayati sugrīvo rāghaveṇābhipālitaḥ ||

Victory to King Sugriva, protected by Raghava!"

अहं कोसलराजस्य दासः पवनसम्भवः ।

ahaṃ kosalarājasya dāsaḥ pavanasambhavaḥ |

"I am the Wind-born servant of the king of Kosala,

हनूमानिति सर्वत्र नाम विश्रावितं मया ॥

hanūmāniti sarvatra nāma viśrāvitaṃ mayā ||

named Hanuman." Thus I announced my name everywhere.

अशोकवनिकामध्ये रावणस्य दुरात्मनः ।

aśokavanikāmadhye rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ |

In wicked Ravana's Ashoka grove,

अधस्ताच्छिंशपामूले साध्वी करुणमास्थिता ॥

adhastācchiṃśapāmūle sādhvī karuṇamāsthitā ||

beneath a shimshapa tree, the virtuous lady sits in sorrow—

राक्षसीभिः परिवृता शोकसंतापकर्शिता ।

rākṣasībhiḥ parivṛtā śokasaṃtāpakarśitā |

surrounded by rakshasis and worn by grief and anguish,

मेघरेखापरिवृता चन्द्ररेखेव निष्प्रभा ॥

megharekhāparivṛtā candrarekheva niṣprabhā ||

dimmed like a crescent Moon enclosed by a line of clouds.

अचिन्तयन्ती वैदेही रावणं बलदर्पितम् ।

acintayantī vaidehī rāvaṇaṃ baladarpitam |

Vaidehi gives no thought to Ravana's arrogant power;

पतिव्रता च सुश्रोणी अवष्टब्धा च जानकी ॥

pativratā ca suśroṇī avaṣṭabdhā ca jānakī ||

faithful Janaki remains firmly devoted to her husband.

अनुरक्ता हि वैदेही रामे सर्वात्मना शुभा ।

anuraktā hi vaidehī rāme sarvātmanā śubhā |

The blessed Vaidehi loves Rama with her whole being;

अनन्यचित्ता रामेण पौलोमीव पुरन्दरे ॥

ananyacittā rāmeṇa paulomīva purandare ||

her mind is his alone, as Shachi's is devoted to Indra.

तदेकवासःसंवीता रजोध्वस्ता तथैव च ।

tadekavāsaḥsaṃvītā rajodhvastā tathaiva ca |

Wearing only that single garment and covered in dust,

सा मया राक्षसीमध्ये तर्ज्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः ॥

sā mayā rākṣasīmadhye tarjyamānā muhurmuhuḥ ||

she was among the rakshasis, being repeatedly threatened—

राक्षसीभिर्विरूपाभिर्दृष्टा हि प्रमदावने ।

rākṣasībhirvirūpābhirdṛṣṭā hi pramadāvane |

I saw her in the pleasure grove, guarded by misshapen rakshasis,

एकवेणीधरा दीना भर्तृचिन्तापरायणा ॥

ekaveṇīdharā dīnā bhartṛcintāparāyaṇā ||

with a single braid, distressed and absorbed in thoughts of her husband.

अधःशय्या विवर्णाङ्गी पद्मिनीव हिमोदये ।

adhaḥśayyā vivarṇāṅgī padminīva himodaye |

Sleeping on the ground, her body faded like a lotus at the coming of frost,

रावणाद् विनिवृत्तार्था मर्तव्यकृतनिश्चया ॥

rāvaṇād vinivṛttārthā martavyakṛtaniścayā ||

she had rejected Ravana and resolved on death rather than submission.

कथंचिन्मृगशावाक्षी विश्वासमुपपादिता ।

kathaṃcinmṛgaśāvākṣī viśvāsamupapāditā |

With difficulty I won the doe-eyed lady's trust;

ततः सम्भाषिता चैव सर्वमर्थं प्रकाशिता ॥

tataḥ sambhāṣitā caiva sarvamarthaṃ prakāśitā ||

then I spoke with her and explained the whole purpose of my visit.

रामसुग्रीवसख्यं च श्रुत्वा प्रीतिमुपागता ।

rāmasugrīvasakhyaṃ ca śrutvā prītimupāgatā |

Hearing of Rama's friendship with Sugriva, she became glad.

नियतः समुदाचारो भक्तिर्भर्तरि चोत्तमा ॥

niyataḥ samudācāro bhaktirbhartari cottamā ||

Her conduct remains disciplined and her devotion to her husband supreme.

यन्न हन्ति दशग्रीवं स महात्मा दशाननः ।

yanna hanti daśagrīvaṃ sa mahātmā daśānanaḥ |

She does not herself kill the powerful ten-headed Ravana;

निमित्तमात्रं रामस्तु वधे तस्य भविष्यति ॥

nimittamātraṃ rāmastu vadhe tasya bhaviṣyati ||

Rama will be the instrument of his destruction.

सा प्रकृत्यैव तन्वङ्गी तद्वियोगाच्च कर्शिता ।

sā prakṛtyaiva tanvaṅgī tadviyogācca karśitā |

Naturally slender, she has become thinner through separation,

प्रतिपत्पाठशीलस्य विद्येव तनुतां गता ॥

pratipatpāṭhaśīlasya vidyeva tanutāṃ gatā ||

like learning that fades in someone who studies only on the month's first day.

एवमास्ते महाभागा सीता शोकपरायणा ।

evamāste mahābhāgā sītā śokaparāyaṇā |

Thus the noble Sita remains overcome with sorrow.

यदत्र प्रतिकर्तव्यं तत् सर्वमुपकल्प्यताम् ॥

yadatra pratikartavyaṃ tat sarvamupakalpyatām ||

Let everything that ought to be done for her now be arranged.'