Sloka & Translation

[Rikshabila cave --- meeting with Svayamprabha.]

saha tārāṅgadābhyāṅ tu saṅgamya hanumānkapiḥ.

vicinōti sma vindhyasya guhāśca gahanāni ca৷৷4.50.1৷৷


kapiḥ Monkey, hanumān Hanuman, tārāṅgadābhyāṅ saha along with Tara and Angada, saṅgamya together with, vindhyasya Vindhya, guhāśca caves, gahanāni ca and impenetrable places, vicinōti sma searched for.

Hanuman, together with the monkeys, Tara and Angada, searched in the impenetrable places and caves of Vindhya.
siṅhaśārdūlajuṣṭēṣu śilāśca saritastadā.

viṣamēṣu nagēndrasya mahāprasravaṇēṣu ca৷৷4.50.2৷৷


tadā then, saritaḥ rivers, siṅhaśārdūlajuṣṭēṣu inhabited by lions and tigers, śilāśca rocks, nagēndrasya vast mountain, viṣamēṣu in difficult spots, mahāprasravaṇēṣu ca near mountain streams also.

They also searched near rivers, mountain streams, hill ranges, caves of lions and tigers, in the rock shelters and difficult spots of vast mountains.
āsēdustasya śailasya kōṭiṅ dakṣṇipaścimām.

tēṣāṅ tatraiva vasatāṅ sa kālō vyatyavartata৷৷4.50.3৷৷


tasya śailasya that mountain's, dakṣṇipaścimām south-west side, kōṭim end of, āsēduḥ reached, tēṣām for them, tatraiva while being there, vasatām while they stayed, saḥ kālaḥ that time, vyatyavartata slipped.

They reached the end of the south-west side of the mountain(Vindhya). While they
were still there, the time stipulated for them (to find Sita) had slipped.
sa hi dēśō duranvēṣō guhāgahanavānmahān.

tatra vāyusutassarvaṅ vicinōti sma parvatam৷৷4.50.4৷৷


guhāgahanavān a difficult mountain range, caves and woods, mahān great, saḥ dēśaḥ that place, duranvēṣaḥ difficult to search in, vāyusutaḥ son of the Wind-god, tatra there, sarvam all, parvatam mountains, vicinōti sma had searched.

The son of the Wind-god, Hanuman, searched all over the mountains and caves and woods difficult to access in that south-western region of the mountain.
parasparēṇa hanumā nanyōnyasyāvidūrataḥ.

gajō gavākṣō gavayaśśarabhō gandhamādanaḥ৷৷4.50.5৷৷

maindaśca dvividaścaiva suṣēṇō jāmbavānnala:.

aṅgadō yuvarājaśca tāraśca vanagōcaraḥ৷৷4.50.6৷৷

girijālāvṛtāndēśānmārgitvā dakṣiṇāṅ diśam.

vicinvantastatastatra dadṛśurvivṛtaṅ bilam৷৷4.50.7৷৷

durgamṛkṣabilaṅ nāma dānavēnābhirakṣitam.


gajaḥ Gaja, gavākṣaḥ Gavaksha, gavayaḥ Gavaya, śarabhaḥ Sarabha, gandhamādanaḥ Gandhamadana, maindaśca Mainda, dvividaścaiva Dvivida also, suṣēṇaḥ Sushena, jāmbavān Jambavan, yuvarājaḥ heir apparent, aṅgadaśca Angada too, vanagōcaraḥ forest dweller, tāraśca and Tara too, parasparēṇa close to one another, hanūmān Hanuman, anyōnyasya one with the other, avidūrataḥ not far away from one, girijālāvṛtān surrounded by a network of mountains, dēśān locations, mārgitvā having searched, dakṣiṇāṅ diśam southern direction, tataḥ then, vicinvantaḥ while exploring, tatra there, dānavēna by a demon, abhirakṣitam guarded by, durgam large, ṛkṣabilaṅ nāma called Rikshabilam, vivṛtam open, bilam mouth of the cave, dadṛśuḥ they saw.

Having explored the region surrounded by a network of mountains, Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sarabha, Gandhamadana, Mainda and also Dvivida, Sushena, Jambavan, Angada the heir apparent, Tara the forest-dweller staying close to one another and Hanuman too not far from the others searched in the southern direction. While they were exploring, they saw the mouth of a large cave called Rikshabilam, which had its mouth open, guarded by a demon.
kṣutpipāsāparītāśca śrāntāśca salilārthinaḥ৷৷4.50.8৷৷

avakīrṇaṅ latāvṛkṣairdadṛśustē mahābilam.


kṣutpipāsāparītāḥ overcome by hunger and thirst, śrāntāḥ tired out, salilārthinaḥ (desperately) looking for water, tē they, latāvṛkṣaiḥ with creepers and bushes, avakīrṇam spread with creepers and trees, mahābilam huge cave, dadṛśuḥ saw.

Overcome with hunger and thirst, the exhausted monkeys noticed a huge cave covered with creepers and bushes, while they were looking around for water.
tatra krauñcāśca haṅsāśca sārasāśca viniṣkraman৷৷4.50.9৷৷

jalārdrāścakravākāśca raktāṅgā: padmarēṇubhiḥ.


tatra there, krauñcāśca kraunchas, haṅsāśca swans, sārasāśca geese, jalārdrāḥ drenched in water, padmarēṇubhiḥ covered by the pollen of lotuses, raktāṅgāḥ wings red in colour, cakravākāśca chakravakas, viniṣkraman flying out of it.

Just then, the kraunchas, swans, geese and chakravaka drenched in water with their limbs reddened with the pollen of lotuses were fluttering out (of the cave).
tatastadbilamāsādya sugandhi duratikramam৷৷4.50.10৷৷

vismayavyagramanasō babhūvurvānararṣabhāḥ.


tataḥ then, vānararṣabhāḥ bulls among monkeys, sugandhi fragrant, duratikramam difficult to enter, tat
that, bilam cave, āsādya reached, vismayavyagramanasaḥ bewildered, babhūvuḥ became.

The bulls among the monkeys were bewildered when they reached the cave which was difficult to access.
saṅñjātapariśaṅkāstē tadbilaṅ plavagōttamāḥ৷৷4.50.11৷৷

abhyapadyanta saṅhṛṣṭāstējōvantō mahābalāḥ.


tējōvantaḥ brilliant, mahābalāḥ forces, tē those, plavagōttamāḥ best of the monkeys, sañjātapariśaṅkāḥ afraid, saṅhṛṣṭāḥ they felt happy, tat bilam that cave, abhyapadyanta that was difficult to enter.

The brilliant host of monkeys experienced both fear and joy to see the cave difficult to enter.
nānāsattvasamākīrṇaṅ daityēndranilayōpamam৷৷4.50.12৷৷

durdarśamatighōraṅ ca durvigāhaṅ ca sarvaśaḥ.


nānāsattvasamākīrṇam crowded with different kinds of creatures, daityēndranilayōpamam looked like the abode of king of the demons, durdarśam fearful to look at, ati ghōram highly dreadful, sarvaśaḥ all over, durvigāhyaṅ ca and inaccessible.

The cave was crowded with creatures of different kinds. It looked like the abode of the king of demons difficult (to enter), dreadful and impenetrable.
tata: parvatakūṭābhō hanūmānpavanātmajaḥ৷৷4.50.13৷৷

abravīdvānarānsarvānkāntāravanakōvidaḥ.


tataḥ then, parvatakūṭābhaḥ a being as huge as a mountain, kāntāravanakōvidaḥ knowledgeable of dense forests, pavanātmajaḥ son of the wind-god, hanūmān Hanuman, sarvān all, vānarān monkeys, abravīt said:

Then Hanuman, son of the Wind-god who appeared like a huge mountain and knew
about forests spoke to the fellow-monkeys:
girijālāvṛtāndēśānmārgitvā dakṣiṇāṅ diśam৷৷4.50.14৷৷

vayaṅ sarvē pariśrāntā na ca paśyāma maithilīm.


vayam we, sarvē all, girijālāvṛtān having covered all the mountain ranges, dēśān places, mārgitvā having searched, dakṣiṇāṅ diśam southern side, pariśrāntāḥ exhausted, maithilīm Maithili, na ca paśyāma not see.

'Going round the places covering all mountain ranges in the southern direction, we are spent. But we could not see Maithili.
asmāccāpi bilāddhaṅsāḥ krauñcāśca saha sārasaiḥ৷৷4.50.15৷৷

jalārdrāścakravākāśca niṣpatanti sma sarvaśaḥ.

nūnaṅ salilavānatra kūpō vā yadi vā hradaḥ৷৷4.50.16৷৷

tathā cēmē biladvāri snigdhāstiṣṭhanti pādapāḥ.


asmāt from this, bilāt cave, haṅsāḥ swans, sārasaiḥ saha with sarasas, krauñcāśca and kraunchas, jalārdrāḥ drenched in water, cakravākāśca chakravakas also, sarvaśaḥ all over, niṣpatanti sma emerging, atra here, salilavān abundant water, kūpō vā well or, yadi vā so also, hradaḥ a pond, nūnam surely, tathā like that, imē these, biladvāri at the entrance of the cave, pādapāḥ trees, snigdhāḥ shining, tiṣṭhanti are present.

'From this cave have emerged several birds like sarasas, swans, kraunchas and chakravakas drenched in water. Surely there must be a source of plenty of water or well or a pond. Moreover there are shining( green) trees at the entrance of the cave (suggesting sub-soil water).'
ityuktvā tadbilaṅ sarvē viviśustimirāvṛtam৷৷4.50.17৷৷

acandrasūryaṅ harayō dadṛśū rōmaharṣaṇam.


iti thus, uktvā having been told, sarvē all, timirāvṛtam filled with darkness, tat bilam that cave, viviśuḥ entered, harayaḥ monkeys, acandrasūryam where there is no Moon or Sun light, rōmaharṣaṇam horripilating, dadṛśuḥ saw.

On hearing him, the monkeys entered the cave full of darkness. There was no light of the Moon or the Sun. It was a horripilating experience.
niśāmya tasmāt śiṅhāṅśca tāṅstāṅśca mṛgapakṣṇiḥ৷৷4.50.18৷৷

praviṣṭā hariśārdūlā bilaṅ timirasaṅvṛtam.


hariśārdūlāḥ tigers among monkeys, tasmāt from, siṅhāṅśca lions, tāṅstān various types of, mṛgapakṣṇiḥ beasts and birds, niśāmya after hearing their sounds, timirasaṅvṛtam full of darkness, bilam cave, praviṣṭāḥ entered.

The tigers among the monkeys entered the dark cave reverberating with the sounds of lions, beasts and birds.
na tēṣāṅ sajjatē cakṣurna tējō na parākramaḥ৷৷4.50.19৷৷

vāyōriva gatistēṣāṅ dṛṣṭistamasi vartatē.


tēṣām their, cakṣu: eyes, na not, sajjatē was uninterrupted, tējaḥ brilliance, na not, parākramaḥ valour, na not, tēṣām their, gatiḥ way, vāyōriva like the wind, dṛṣṭiḥ sight, tamasi in darkness, vartatē moved

The monkeys could not fix their eyes anywhere.Their lustre or valour could not help them. They moved like wind uninterrupted and their vision was lost in darkness.
tē praviṣṭāstu vēgēna tadbilaṅ kapikuñjarāḥ৷৷4.50.20৷৷

prakāśamabhirāmaṅ ca dadṛśurdēśamuttamam.


tat bilam that cave, vēgēna quickly, praviṣṭāḥ they entered, tē kapikuñjarāḥ those elephant-like
monkeys, prakāśaṅ ca bright light, abhirāmaṅ ca delighting, uttamam excellent, dēśam place, dadṛśuḥ saw.

As the elephant-like monkeys entered the cave quickly, they saw bright light and an excellent delightful place.
tatastasminbilē durgē nānāpādapasaṅkulē৷৷4.50.21৷৷

anyōnyaṅ sampariṣvajya jagmuryōjanamantaram.


tataḥ then, anyōnyam one another, sampariṣvajya after holding on, durgē in the dense, nānāpādapasaṅkulē in a place filled with several kinds of trees, tasmin bilē in that cave, yōjanam yojana, antaram inside, jagmuḥ went.

Holding one another's hands, they went in for a distance of one yojana inside the cave that was densely covered with several kinds of trees.
tē naṣṭasaṅjñāstṛṣitāssambhrāntāssalilārthinaḥ৷৷4.50.22৷৷

paripēturbilē tasminkañcitkālamatandritāḥ.


naṣṭasaṅjñāḥ they nearly lost consciousness, tṛṣitāḥ thirsty ones, sambhrāntāḥ bewildered ones, salilārthinaḥ they were desperate for water, tē they, atandritāḥ without feeling lazy, tasmin in that, bilē in the cave, kañcitkālam for a while, paripētuḥ wandered.

Having nearly lost their senses (without water to drink), the thirsty and bewildered monkeys were desperate for water.They wandered in the cave without feeling lazy for some time.
tē kṛśā dīnavadanāḥ pariśrāntāḥ plavaṅgamāḥ৷৷4.50.23৷৷

ālōkaṅ dadṛśurvīrā nirāśā jīvitē yadā.


kṛśāḥ weakened, dīnavadanāḥ having dejected faces, pariśrāntāḥ exhausted ones, tē they, vīrāḥ heroes, plavaṅgamāḥ monkeys, yadā when, jīvitē in life, nirāśāḥ desperate, ālōkam light,
dadṛśuḥ beheld.

Exhausted and enfeebled, they saw with dejected faces a gleam of light at a time when they were desparate.
tatastaṅ dēśamāgamya saumyā vitimiraṅ vanam৷৷4.50.24৷৷

dadṛśuḥ kāñcanānvṛkṣāndīptavaiśvānaraprabhān.

sālāṅ stālāṅśca punnāgānkakubhānvañjulāndhavān৷৷4.50.25৷৷

campakān nāgavṛkṣāṅśca karṇikārāṅśca puṣpitān.

stabakaiḥ kāñcanaiścitrai raktai: kisalayaistathā৷৷4.50.26৷৷

āpīḍaiśca latābhiśca hēmābharaṇabhūṣitān.

taruṇādityasaṅkāśānvaiḍhūryakṛtavēdikān৷৷4.50.27৷৷

vibhrājamānānvapuṣā pādapāṅśca hiraṇmayān.

nīlavaiḍhūryavarṇāśca padminīḥ patagāvṛtāḥ৷৷4.50.28৷৷

mahadbhi: kāñcanaiḥ padmairvṛtā bālārkasannibhaiḥ.


saumyāḥ gentle ones, tataḥ then, taṅ dēśam place, āgamya having reached, vitimiram devoid of darkness, vanam forest, dīptavaiśvānaraprabhām light of burning fire, kāñcanān golden, vṛkṣān trees, sālān salas, tālān talas, tamālāṅśca tamalas, punnāgān punnagas, vañjulān vanjjulas, dhavān dhavas, campakān champakas, nāgavṛkṣāṅśca naga trees, puṣpitān blossomed, karṇikārāṅśca Karnikas also, kāñcanaiḥ golden, citraiḥ wonderful, stabakaiḥ bunches, tathā so also, raktai: red ones, kisalayaiḥ tender leaves, āpīḍaiḥ entwining, latābhiśca with creepers, hēmābharaṇabhūṣitān adorned with golden ornaments, taruṇādityasaṅkāśān looking like effulgent rising Sun, vaidūryamayavēdikān raised structures encrusted with precious stones of Vaiduryas, vapuṣā with their appearance, vibhrājamānān dazzling, hiraṇmayān full of gold, pādapāṅśca and trees, nīlavaidūryavarṇāḥ of the colours of sapphires and vaiduryas, patagaiḥ with birds, vṛtāḥ filled, bālārkasannibhaiḥ by those looking like the rising Sun, kāñcanaiḥ with golden, mahadbhi: by
enchanting ones, padmaiḥ lotuses, vṛtāḥ surrounded, padminīḥ lotus ponds, dadṛśuḥ saw.

Having reached inside the cave the monkeys saw a forest shining like blazing fire, dispelling the surrounding darkness. There they noticed sala, tala, tamala, punnaga, vanjjula, dhava, champaka, and naga trees. They also saw blossoming plants of Karnikara, bunches of beautiful golden flowers and tender red-coloured leaves.They saw wonderful trees with creepers on top entwining them, and ornamented with gold (like golden fruits), radiant like the dazzling rising Sun. There were altars encrusted with precious sapphire and vaidurya. The golden trees were shining bright. There were lotus creepers looking like sapphire and vaidurya.The ponds were filled with golden lotuses and were surrounded by birds.
jātarūpamayairmatsyairmahadbhiśca sakacchapaiḥ৷৷4.50.29৷৷

naḷinīstatra dadṛśuḥ prasannasalilāvṛtāḥ.


saḥ that, jātarūpamayaiḥ with those golden ones, matsyaiḥ with fish, mahadbhi with huge, atha and then, kacchapaiḥ with tortoises, prasannasalilāvṛtāḥ filled with pellucid water, nalinīḥ lotus creepers, tatra dadṛśuḥ saw there.

There they saw golden fishes and huge tortoises in the pellucid water of the tank filled with lotus creepers.
kāñcanāni vimānāni rājatāni tathaiva ca৷৷4.50.30৷৷

tapanīyagavākṣāṇi muktājālāvṛtāni ca.

haimarājatabhaumāni vaidūryamaṇimanti ca৷৷4.50.31৷৷

dadṛśustatra harayō gṛhamukhyāni sarvaśaḥ.


harayaḥ monkeys, tatra there, kāñcanāni golden, tathaiva similarly, rājatāni silver, vimānāni high-rise palaces, tapanīyagavākṣāṇi golden windows (shaped like cow's eye fixed on the roofs and walls), muktājālāvṛtāni ca covered with lattices of pearls, haimarājatabhaumāni made of gold, silver and mud (earth), vaiduryamaṇimanti ca decorated with precious gems of vaidurya, gṛhamukhyāni beautiful houses, sarvaśaḥ all over, dadṛśuḥ they saw.

The vanaras beheld high-rise palaces built with gold and silver. The windows fixed on the roof were golden, shaped like cow's eye with lattices of pearls. They also saw best of houses built in gold, silver and clay, decorated with precious gems including vaidurya.
puṣpitānphalinō vṛkṣānpravāḷamaṇisannibhān৷৷4.50.32৷৷

kāñcanabhramarāṅścaiva madhūni ca samantataḥ.


puṣpitān blossomed, phalinaḥ with ripe fruits, pravālamaṇisannibhān trees bright like corals, vṛkṣān trees, kāñcanabhramarāṅścaiva golden bees also, madhūni ca and different kinds of honey, samantataḥ all over.

They saw trees bright like corals in full bloom and ripe fruits. Golden bees were found hovering around making all kinds of honey.
maṇikāñcanacitrāṇi śayanānyāsanāni ca৷৷4.50.33৷৷

mahārhāṇi cayānāni dadṛśustē samantataḥ.

haimarājatakāṅsyānāṅ bhājanānāṅ ca saṅñcayān৷৷4.50.34৷৷


tē they, maṇikāñcanacitrāṇi wonderfully shining with gems and gold, mahārhāṇi highly valuable ones, ca also, yānāni vehicles, śayanāni beds, āsanāni ca and couches, haimarājatakāṅsyānām made of gold, silver and bronze, bhājanānām of utensils, saṅñcayān ca collections, samantataḥ all over, dadṛśuḥ they saw.

They saw all over rich collections of beds, couches and highly valuable vehicles, decorated beautifully with gems and gold.They also saw a large collection of shining utensils made of gold, silver and bronze.
agarūṇāṅ ca divyānāṅ candanānāṅ ca saṅñcāyān.

śucīnyabhyavahāryāṇi mūlāni ca phalāni ca৷৷4.50.35৷৷


divyānām of wonderful, agarūṇām of incense, candanānām of sandal, sañcayān collections, śucīni pure, abhyavahāryāṇi eatables, mūlāni ca roots, phalāni ca and fruits.

There they noticed a wonderful collection of incense and sandal, tasty and pure eatables, roots and fruits;
mahārhāṇi ca pānāni madhūni rasavanti ca.

divyānāmambarāṇāṅ ca mahārhāṇāṅ ca sañcayān৷৷4.50.36৷৷

kambalānāṅ ca citrāṇāmajinānāṅ ca sañcayān.


mahārhāṇi very rich, pānāni drinks, rasavanti tasty, madhūni many kinds of honey, divyānām wonderful, mahārhāṇām of valuable ones, ambarāṇām of clothes, sañcayān ca and collections, citrāṇām of colourful, kambalānāṅ ca of blankets, ajinānāṅ ca of animal skins, sañcayān collection.

(They found) excellent drinks and many kinds of honey, wonderful collections of clothes, colourful blankets and heaps of animal skin.
tatra tatra ca vinyastāndīptānvaiśvānaraprabhān৷৷4.50.37৷৷

dadṛśurvānarāśśubhrāñjātarūpasya sañcayān.


vānarāḥ monkeys, tatra tatra here and there, vinyastān placed, dīptān glittering, vaiśvānaraprabhān like blazing fire, śubhrān pure, jātarūpasya gold, sañcayān collections, dadṛśuḥ observed.

The monkeys marked here and there a collection of gold, glittering like blazing fire.
tatra tatra vicinvantō bilē tasminmahābalāḥ৷৷4.50.38৷৷

dadṛśurvānarāśśūrāḥ striyaṅ kāñcidadūrataḥ.


mahābalāḥ strong, śūrāḥ powerful, vānarāḥ monkeys, tasminbilē in that cave, tatra tatra here and
there, vicinvantaḥ while they searched, adūrataḥ not far from there, kāñcit some, striyam woman, dadṛśuḥ saw.

While searching here and there in the cave, the strong and powerful monkeys discovered a woman not far from there.
tāṅ dṛṣṭvā bhṛśasantrastāścīrakṛṣṇājināmbarām৷৷4.50.39৷৷

tāpasīṅ niyatāhārāṅ jvalantīmiva tējasā.


dṛṣṭvā on seeing, tāṅ her, cīrakṛṣṇājināmbarām wearing deer skin and bark robes, niyatāhārām restricted food, tējasā with lustre, jvalantīmiva as if glowing, tāpasīm a female ascetic, bhṛśasantrastā very much frightened.

She was an ascetic in bark robes and deer skin blazing with lustre, restrained in her food. The monkeys got very frightened.
vismitā harayastatra vyavatiṣṭhanta sarvaśaḥ৷৷4.50.40৷৷

papraccha hanumāṅstatra kā.si tvaṅ kasya vā bilam.


harayaḥ monkeys, vismitāḥ amazed, tatra there, sarvaśaḥ all over, vyavatiṣṭhanta stopped, tatra there, hanumān Hanuman, papraccha enquired, tvam you, kā asi who are, bilam cave, kasya vā whose is it?

The amazed monkeys stopped there. Hanuman enquired, 'Who are you? Whose cave is this'?
tatō hanūmāngirisannikāśaḥ

kṛtājñalistāmabhivādya vṛddhām.

papraccha kā tvaṅ bhavanaṅ bilaṅ ca

ratnāni cēmāni vadasva kasya৷৷4.50.41৷৷


tataḥ then, girisannikāśaḥ resembling a mountain in size, hanūmān Hanuman, kṛtāñjaliḥ offered salutations with folded palms, tāṅ vṛddhām to that old lady, abhivādya having greeted, papraccha enquired, tvam you, kā who, bhavanam this mansion, bilaṅ ca and cave, imāni these, ratnāni ca gems, kasya whose, vadasva tell.

Then Hanuman who was of the size of a mountain greeted the old lady with folded hands and enquired her 'Who are you? To whom does this mansion, this cave and these gems belong?'
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē pañcāśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends of fiftieth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic of the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.