Sloka & Translation

Audio

[Hanuman makes a thorough search of Ravana's palace for Sita.]

sa tasya madhyē bhavanasya māruti-

rlatāgṛhāṅścitragṛhānniśāgṛhān.

jagāma sītāṅ prati darśanōtsukō

na caiva tāṅ paśyati cārudarśanām৷৷5.12.1৷৷


saḥ mārutiḥ Maruti, tasya of that, bhavanasya mansion's, madhyē midst, sītāṅ prati towards Sita, darśanōtsukaḥ with eagerness to find, latāgṛhān homes of creepers, citragṛhān picture galleries, niśāgṛhān dormitories for rest at night, jagāma went, cārudarśanām beautiful lady, tām that Sita, na caiva paśyati did not find her.

Anxious to find Sita, Hanuman revisited the bowers of creepers, picture galleries and domitories located in the midst of the mansion, but did not find that beautiful Sita.
sa cintayāmāsa tatō mahākapiḥ

priyāmapaśyanraghunandanasya tām.

dhruvaṅ hi sītā mriyatē yathā na mē

vicinvatō darśanamēti maithilī৷৷5.12.2৷৷


tataḥ then, saḥ mahākapiḥ that great monkey, raghunandanasya Rama's, priyām beloved, tām her, apaśyan while being unable to find, cintayāmāsa started thinking, maithilī Mythili, vicinvataḥ while searching, mē to me, yathā as, darśanam her sight, na upaiti not appears, sītā Sita, dhruvam surely, mriyatē dead.

The great monkey, unable to find the beloved of Rama thought Sita might not be surviving. So he started thinking, ' I could not see her even though I have searched all
over'.
sā rākṣasānāṅ pravarēṇa jānakī

svaśīlasaṅrakṣṇatatparā satī.

anēna nūnaṅ prati duṣṭakarmaṇā

hatā bhavēdāryapathē parē sthitā৷৷5.12.3৷৷


parē best, āryapathē on a noble path, sthitā follower, sā jānakī Janaki, svaśīlasaṅrakṣaṇatatparā satī who wishes to protect her chastity, prati duṣṭakarmaṇā by this evil mind, anēna by him, rākṣasānāṅ pravarēṇa by the demon king, hatā slayed, bhavēt is, nūnam surely.

'Janaki, follower of noble path, anxious to protect her chastity must have been killed by the wicked demon king.
virūparūpā vikṛtā vivarcasō

mahānanā dīrghavirūpadarśanāḥ.

samīkṣya sā rākṣasarājayōṣitō

bhayādvinaṣṭā janakēśvarātmajā৷৷5.12.4৷৷


sā that, janakēśvarātmajā daughter of king Janaka, virūparūpāḥ distorted forms, vikṛtāḥ ugly, vivarcasaḥ dull, mahānanāḥ women with huge faces, dīrghavirūpadarśanāḥ tall and deformed, rākṣasarājayōṣitaḥ wives of the demon king, samīkṣya on looking, bhayāt out of fear, vinaṣṭā died.

'The daughter of Janaka might have collapsed out of fear, looking at the distorted faces of ugly, tall and monstrous demon maids of Ravana.
sītāmadṛṣṭvā hyanavāpya pauruṣaṅ

vihṛtya kālaṅ saha vānaraiściram.

na mē.sti sugrīvasamīpagā gatiḥ

sutīkṣṇadaṇḍō balavāṅśca vānaraḥ৷৷5.12.5৷৷


sītām Sita, adṛṣṭvā without seeing, pauruṣam pride of achievement, anavāpya without achieving, vānaraiḥ saha accompanied by vanaras, ciraṅ kālam for a long time, vihṛtya having passed time, mē to myself, sugrīvasamīpagā to approach Sugriva, gatiḥ way, nāsti not possible, vānaraḥ vanara, sutīkṣṇadaṇḍaḥ will punish severely, balavāṅśca powerful.

'I have spent a long time with vanaras. I have not succeded in my efforts to find Sita. I dare not see Sugriva now without finding Sita and without fulfilling my task. Sugriva will punish me severely. There is no way out.'
dṛṣṭamantaḥpuraṅ sarvaṅ dṛṣṭā rāvaṇayōṣitaḥ.

na sītā dṛśyatē sādhvīvṛthā jātō mama śramaḥ৷৷5.12.6৷৷


sarvam everywhere, antaḥpuram the harem, dṛṣṭam seen, rāvaṇayōṣitaḥ Ravana's women, dṛṣṭāḥ are seen, sādhvī noble lady, sītā Sita, na dṛśyatē is not seen, mama my, śramaḥ efforts, vṛthā wasted, jātaḥ gone.

'I have searched all over the harem. Ravana's women have been seen. (Yet) I have not been able to see noble Sita. My efforts have been wasted'.
kiṅ nu māṅ vānarāḥ sarvē gataṅ vakṣyanti saṅgatāḥ.

gatvā tatra tvayā vīra kiṅ kṛtaṅ tadvadasva naḥ৷৷5.12.7৷৷


gatam when I reach, mām me, saṅgatāḥ together, sarvē all, vānarāḥ vanaras, kiṅ nu what indeed, vakṣyanti they will speak, vīra O hero, tatra there, gatvā after going, tvayā by you, kim what, kṛtam is done, tat that, naḥ for us, vadasva you will say.

'What will the vanaras say when I return? What should I speak when they ask me: O hero, what did you accomplish there?'
adṛṣṭvā kiṅ pravakṣyāmi tāmahaṅ janakātmajām.

dhruvaṅ prāyamupaiṣyanti kālasya vyativartanē৷৷5.12.8৷৷


tām her, janakātmajām Janaki, adṛṣṭavā without seeing, kim what, pravakṣyāmi l am going to say, kālasya for a long time, vyativartanē exceeded time limit, dhruvam surely, prāyam upaiṣyanti they will sit down and wait until death.

'Since the time limit has exceeded and Janaki is not spotted, surely the vanaras would sit and wait unto death. What am I going to say'?
kiṅ vā vakṣyati vṛddhaśca jāmbavānāṅgadaśca saḥ.

gataṅ pāraṅ samudrasya vānarāśca samāgatāḥ৷৷5.12.9৷৷


samudrasya ocean's, pāram other shore, gatam on going, vṛddhaḥ elderly, jāmbavān Jambavan, kiṅ vā why or else, vakṣyati will say, saḥ he, aṅgada: ca Angada also, samāgatāḥ collecting together, vānarāśca and vanaras.

'What will the elderly Jambavan say? What will young prince Angada and other vanaras collected there say when I reach the sea-shore to meet them'.
anirvēdaḥ śriyō mūlamanirvēdaḥ paraṅ sukham.

anirvēdō hi satataṅ sarvārthēṣu pravartakaḥ৷৷5.12.10৷৷


anirvēdaḥ being free from despair, śriyaḥ prosperity, mūlam cause, anirvēdaḥ being free from despondency, param supreme, sukham happiness, anirvēdaḥ being free from despair, satatam always, sarvārthēṣu in all objectives, pravartakaḥ hi will lead the way.

Wise Hanuman once again declared, 'being free from despair is the root cause of prosperity. Freedom from despondency gives supreme happiness and leads to success'.
karōti saphalaṅ jantōḥ karma yattatkarōti saḥ.

tasmādanirvēdakṛtaṅ yatnaṅ cēṣṭē.hamuttamam৷৷5.12.11৷৷

bhūyastāvadvicēṣyāmi dēśānrāvaṇapālitān.


yat that, karma action, karōti that he will do, jantōḥ of a living being, tat that, saphalam fruitful, saḥ he, karōti will do, tasmāt therefore, aham I, anirvēdakṛtam without experiencing despair, uttamam best, prayatnam effort, cēṣṭē I act, adṛṣṭān not seen, rāvaṇapālitān ruled by Ravana, dēśān country, vicēṣyāmi tāvat search everywhere.

'The action of a living being certainly bears fruit. Therefore, I shall put forth my best effort without feeling despondent. I will once again search everywhere in Lanka ruled by Ravana'.
āpānaśālā vicitāstathā puṣpagṛhāṇi ca৷৷5.12.12৷৷

citraśālāśca vicitā bhūyaḥ krīḍāgṛhāṇi ca.

niṣkuṭāntararathyāśca vimānāni ca sarvaśaḥ৷৷5.12.13৷৷


pānaśālāḥ banquet halls, vicitāḥ searched, tathā so also, puṣpagṛhāṇi ca bowers of creepers, citraśālāśca picture galleries, vicitāḥ searched, bhūyaḥ further, krīḍāgṛhāṇi ca and sports galleries, niṣkuṭāntararathyāśca paths through the gardens and mansions, female apartments, vimānāni ca of the chariot, sarvaśaḥ everywhere.

'I have searched the banquet halls, bowers of creepers, picture galleries and gymnasiums. I have searched everywhere through the paths of gardens and mansions, harems and the Pushpaka chariot also.
iti sañcintya bhūyō.pi vicētumupacakramē.

bhūmīgṛhāṅścaityagṛhān gṛhātigṛhakānapi৷৷5.12.14৷৷


iti thus, sañcintya thinking over well, bhūmīgṛhān underground cells, caityagṛhān temples, gṛhātigṛhakānapi homes with many doorways also, bhūyō.pi once again, vicētum to search,
upacakramē he started.

Thinking thus, he started searching once again the basement cells, temples, homes within homes.
utpatanniṣpataṅścāpi tiṣṭhangacchan punaḥ punaḥ.

apāvṛṇvaṅśca dvārāṇi kavāṭānyavaghāṭayan৷৷5.12.15৷৷

praviśanniṣpataṅścāpi prapatannutpatannapi.

sarvamapyavakāśaṅ sa vicacāra mahākapiḥ৷৷5.12.16৷৷


saḥ mahākapiḥ that great vanara, punaḥ punaḥ again and again, utpatan jumping, niṣpataṅścāpi climbing down, tiṣṭhan standing, gacchan going, dvārāṇi entrance, apāvṛṇvan opening, kavāṭāni doors, avaghāṭayan crossing, praviśan entering, niṣpataṅścāpi and coming out, prapatan jumping down, utpatannapi climbing up, sarvam api and all over, avakāśam scope, vicacāra searched.

The great vanara searched all over again and again jumping up and down, stopping for a while and moving, opening and closing doors, by crossing, entering and exiting, jumping up and down. Thus he moved about and searched whereever there was scope to search
caturaṅgulamātrō.pi nāvakāśaḥ sa vidyatē.

rāvaṇāntaḥpurē tasmin yaṅ kapirna jagāma saḥ৷৷5.12.17৷৷


tasmin in that, rāvaṇāntaḥpurē in Ravana's inner chambers, saḥ kapiḥ monkey, yam where, na jagāma did not go, saḥ he, avakāśaḥ scope, caturaṅgulamātrō.pi even four fingers of space, na not vidyatē leaving.

Even a space of four fingers in the inner chambers of Ravana was not left out in his search for Sita.
prākārāntararathyāśca vēdikāścaityasaṅśrayāḥ.

dīrghikāḥ puṣkariṇyaśca sarvaṅ tēnāvalōkitam৷৷5.12.18৷৷


prākārāntararathyāśca lanes inside the boundaries, caityasaṅśrayāḥ around shrines, vēdikāḥ altars, dīrghikāḥ wells, puṣkariṇyaśca tanks, sarvam everywhere, tēna by him, avalōkitam was seen.

He moved in the lanes inside the boundary walls, around the shrines, altars, wells and tanks whereever it was possible to look for.
rākṣasyō vividhākārā virūpā vikṛtāstathā.

dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu sā janakātmajā৷৷5.12.19৷৷


vividhākārāḥ of different types, virūpāḥ ugly, tathā so also, vikṛtāḥ deformed, rākṣasyaḥ ogresses, tatra there, hanumatā by Hanuman, dṛṣṭāḥ were seen, sā she, janakātmajā tu daughter of Janaka, na not found.

Hanuman could see only ogresses of different types-ugly, deformed but could not find the daughter of Janaka.
rūpēṇāpratimā lōkē varā vidyādharastriyaḥ.

dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu rāghavanandinī৷৷5.12.20৷৷


rūpēṇa in beauty, lōkē in the world, apratimāḥ incomparable, varāḥ best, vidyādharastriyaḥ Vidyadhara women, tatra there, hanumatā by Hanuman, dṛṣṭāḥ were seen, rāghavanandinī tu beloved of Raghava, na not find.

Hanuman could see even the women of vidyadharas who were matchless in beauty among women in the world but not Janaki the beloved of Raghava.
nāgakanyā varārōhāḥ pūrṇacanrdanibhānanāḥ.

dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu sītā sumadhyamā৷৷5.12.21৷৷


varārōhāḥ lovely women with symmetrical limbs, pūrṇacanrdanibhānanāḥ moon-faced women, nāgakanyāḥ daughters of nagas, tatra there, hanumatā by Hanuman, dṛṣṭāḥ were seen, sumadhyamā a woman of lovely waist, sītā tu Sita, na not found.

Hanuman could see there moon-faced daughters of nagas with charming limbs but not the slim-waisted Sita.
pramathya rākṣasēndrēṇa nāgakanyā balāddhṛtāḥ.

dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na sā janakanandinī৷৷5.12.22৷৷


rākṣasēndrēṇa by the demon king, pramathya defeating, balāt forcefully, hṛtāḥ abducted, nāgakanyāḥ daughters of nagas, tatra there, hanumatā by Hanuman, dṛṣṭāḥ seen, sā that, janakanandinī na not the delight of Janaka.

Hanuman saw the daghters of nagas kidnapped by Ravana forcibly after victory in war but not Sita, the delight of Janaka.
sō.paśyaṅstāṅ mahābāhuḥ paśyaṅścānyā varastriyaḥ.

viṣasāda muhurdhīmān hanumān mārutātmajaḥ৷৷5.12.23৷৷


mahābāhuḥ long-armed, dhīmān wise one, mārutātmajaḥ son of the Wind god, saḥ hanumān Hanuman, tām her, apaśyan while being unable to see, anyāḥ other, varastriyaḥ great women, paśyan while seeing, muhuḥ again, viṣasāda was sorrowful.

The long-armed Hanuman, son of the Wind-god was able to see other great women but not Sita. So he became despondent.
udyōgaṅ vānarēndrāṇāṅ plavanaṅ sāgarasya ca.

vyarthaṅ vīkṣyānilasutaścintāṅ punarupāgamat৷৷5.12.24৷৷


vānarēndrāṇām of the great vanara, udyōgam effort, sāgarasya ocean's, plavanaṅ ca in crossing, vyartham wasted, vīkṣya after seeing that, anilasutaḥ son of the Wind-god, punaḥ again, cintām worry,
upāgamat experienced.

The son of the Wind god, the great monkey realised the futility of his efforts in crossing the sea. He brooded again.
avatīrya vimānācca hanumān mārutātmajaḥ.

cintāmupajagāmātha śōkōpahatacētanaḥ৷৷5.12.25৷৷


atha now, mārutātmajaḥ son of the Wind-god, hanumān Hanuman, vimānāt from the aerial-chariot, avatīrya after descending, śōkōpahatacētanaḥ mind stricken with grief, cintām worry, upajagāma he experienced.

Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, came out of the aerial chariot, mind stricken with grief and started thinking again.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē dvādaśassargaḥ.
Thus ends the twelfth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.