Sloka & Translation

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[Hanuman sings the story of glory of Rama within Sita's hearing.]

ēvaṅ bahuvidhāṅ cintāṅ cintayitvā mahākapiḥ.

saṅśravē madhuraṅ vākyaṅ vaidēhyā vyājahāra ha৷৷5.31.1৷৷


mahākapiḥ great vanara, ēvam thus, bahuvidhām in several ways, cintām thought, cintayitvā deliberating in his mind, vaidēhyāḥ Vaidehi's, saṅśravē hearing, madhuram sweet, vākyam words, vyājahāra ha spoke.

After deliberating in several ways the great Hanuman spoke these sweet words to Vaidehi:
rājā daśarathō nāma rathakuñjaravājimān.

puṇyaśīlō mahākīrtirikṣvākūṇāṅ mahāyaśāḥ৷৷5.31.2৷৷


rathakuñjaravājimān with chariots, elephants and horses, puṇyaśīlaḥ foremost in merits, mahākīrtiḥ renowned, ikṣvākūṇām in Ikshvaku race, mahāyaśāḥ illustrious, daśarathō nāma called Dasaratha, rājā king.

"There was an illustrious king called Dasaratha in Ikshvaku race, a master of chariots, elephants and horses. He was highly meritorious and renowned.
rājarṣīṇāṅ guṇaśrēṣṭhastapasā carṣibhi ssamaḥ.

cakravartikulē jātaḥ purandarasamō balē৷৷5.31.3৷৷


rājarṣīṇām among sage-like kings, guṇaśrēṣṭhaḥ most virtuous one, tapasā in austerity, ṛṣibhiḥ with sages, samaḥ equal, cakravartikulē in a dynasty of emperors, jātaḥ born, balē in might, purandarasamaḥ crusher of citadels like Indra.

"He was the most virtuous among royal sages, equal to sages in austerity, born in the race of emperors and equal to Indra in might.
ahiṅsāratirakṣudrō ghṛṇī satyaparākramaḥ.

mukhyaścēkṣvākuvaṅśasya lakṣmīvān lakṣmivardhanaḥ৷৷5.31.4৷৷


ahiṅsāratiḥ committed to nonviolence, akṣudraḥ magnanimous, ghṛṇī compassionate, satyaparākramaḥ one whose strength truth, ikṣvākuvaṅśasya of Ikshvaku family, mukhyaśca chief, lakṣmīvān prosperous, lakṣmivardhanaḥ increaser of riches.

"He was committed to nonviolence, magnanimous, compassionate and one whose strength was truth. He was not only a prosperous king of Ikshvaku family but also a promoter of prosperity of others too.
pārthivavyañjanairyuktaḥ pṛthuśrīḥ pārthivarṣabhaḥ.

pṛthivyāṅ caturantāyāṅ viśrutassukhadassukhī৷৷5.31.5৷৷


pārthivavyañjanaiḥ with signs of kingship, yuktaḥ endowed, pṛthuśrīḥ with vast wealth, pārthivarṣabhaḥ a bull among rulers, caturantāyām surrounded by the sea, pṛthivyām on the earth, viśrutaḥ well known, sukhadaḥ provider of happiness (to people), sukhī happy man.

"Endowed with signs of kingship and vast wealth, he was a bull among rulers of the vast earth, surrounded by the sea. A happy king himself, he was well-known as a provider of happiness.
tasya putraḥ priyō jyēṣṭhastārādhipanibhānanaḥ.

rāmō nāma viśēṣajñaḥ śrēṣṭha ssarvadhanuṣmatām৷৷5.31.6৷৷


tasya his, priyaḥ beloved, tārādhipanibhānanaḥ of Moon like face, viśēṣajñaḥ scholar of all knowledge, sarvadhanuṣmatām among all those wielders of bow, śrēṣṭhaḥ foremost, rāmō nāma called Rama, jyēṣṭhaḥ putraḥ eldest son.

"His beloved eldest son Rama, whose countenance is like the full moon, is a scholar of all branches of knowledge and is foremost among the bowmen on earth.
rakṣitā svasya dharmasya svajanasya ca rakṣitā.

rakṣitā jīvalōkasya dharmasya ca parantapaḥ৷৷5.31.7৷৷


parantapaḥ scourage of foes, svasya his, dharmasya of righteousness, rakṣitā a protector, svajanasya of his kins, rakṣitā a protector, jīvalōkasya of all living creatures, dharmasya ca and of righteousness, rakṣitā protector.

"The scourage of enemies, he is a protector of righteousness and of his kins and all living creatures. He is an embodiment of righteousness.
tasya satyābhisandhasya vṛddhasya vacanātpituḥ.

sabhāryassaha ca bhrātrā vīraḥ pravrājitō vanam৷৷5.31.8৷৷


satyābhisandhasya ever steadfast in truth, vṛddhasya of the aged, pituḥ father, tasya his, vacanāt honouring the word, vīraḥ hero, sabhāryaḥ along with wife, saha ca bhrātrā and accompanied by his brother, vanam forest, pravrājitaḥ went as a wanderer.

"Honouring the word of his aged father who was ever steadfast in truth, Rama left for the forest along with his wife and brother.
tēna tatra mahāraṇyē mṛgayāṅ paridhāvatā.

rākṣasā nihatāśśūrā bahavaḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ৷৷5.31.9৷৷


tatra there, mahāraṇyē in the thick forest, mṛgayām hunting, paridhāvatā while chasing, tēna by him, śūrāḥ warriors, kāmarūpiṇaḥ those who can assume any form at their will, bahavaḥ many, rākṣasāḥ demons, nihatāḥ killed.

"In the deep forest he went round hunting animals and killing the demon warriors who assumed any form at their free will.
janasthānavadhaṅ śrutvā hatau ca kharadūṣaṇau.

tatastvamarṣāpahṛtā jānakī rāvaṇēna tu৷৷5.31.10৷৷

vañcayitvā vanē rāmaṅ mṛgarūpēṇa māyayā.


tataḥ then, janasthānavadham killing at Janasthana, hatau killed, kharadūṣaṇau ca Khara and Dooshana, śrutvā having heard, vanē in the forest, rāmam Rama, mṛgarūpēṇa in the form of a deer, māyayā by creating illusion, vañcayitvā having deceived, rāvaṇēna by Ravana, jānakī Janaki, amarṣāpahṛtā abducted out of anger.

"Ravana having heard about the killing of all demons at Janasthana including Khara and Dooshana in the forest, deceived Rama in the guise of a deer and abducted Janaki in anger.
sa mārgamāṇastāṅ dēvīṅ rāmassītāmaninditām৷৷5.31.11৷৷

āsasāda vanē mitraṅ sugrīvaṅ nāma vānaram.


saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, aninditām sinless, dēvīm goddess-like lady, tāṅ sītām that Sita, mārgamāṇaḥ looking for, vanē in the forest, sugrīvaṅ nāma called Sugriva, vānaram monkey, mitram friendship, āsasāda met.

"While looking for the goddess-like lady, the sinless Sita in the forest, Rama met a monkey called Sugriva and made friendship with him
tata ssa vālinaṅ hatvā rāmaḥ parapurañjayaḥ৷৷5.31.12৷৷

prāyacchatkapirājyaṅ tatsugrīvāya mahābalaḥ.


tataḥ then, parapurañjayaḥ one who can win over enemy forts, mahābalaḥ powerful, saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, vālinam that Vali, hatvā having killed, tat that, kapirājyam kingdom of the monkeys, sugrīvāya to Sugriva, prāyacchat offered.

"Rama, a powerful king, who can win enemy forts killed Vali and offered the monkey kingdom to Sugriva.
sugrīvēṇāpi sandiṣṭā harayaḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ৷৷5.31.13৷৷

dikṣu sarvāsu tāṅ dēvīṅ vicinvanti sahasraśaḥ.


sugrīvēṇa by Sugriva, sandiṣṭāḥ received orders, kāmarūpiṇaḥ those who can assume any form, kapayaḥ monkeys, sahasraśaḥ in thousands, sarvāsu all over, dikṣu in directions, tāṅ dēvīm that divine queen, vicinvanti are searching.

"Having received Sugriva's orders thousands of monkeys who can assume any form went searching for that divine queen in all directions.
ahaṅ sampātivacanācchatayōjanamāyatam৷৷5.31.14৷৷

asyā hētōrviśālākṣyāḥ sāgaraṅ vēgavānplutaḥ.


aham I am, sampātivacanāt by the words of Sampati, vēgavān swiftly, asyāḥ for her, viśālākṣyāḥ large-eyed, hētōḥ for the cause, śatayōjanam a hundred yojanas, āyatam wide, sāgaram ocean, plutaḥ leaped.

"On hearing the words of Sampati I leaped the wide ocean swiftly crossing a hundred yojanas in quest of the large-eyed Sita.
yathārūpāṅ yathāvarṇāṅ yathālakṣmīvatīṅ ca niścitām৷৷5.31.15৷৷

aśrauṣaṅ rāghavasyāhaṅ sēyamāsāditā mayā.


aham I, rāghavasya Raghava's, tām her, yathārūpām of a similar form, yathāvarṇām of the same complexion, yathālakṣmī of similar glow, aśrauṣam I heard, sā she, iyam the same one, mayā by me, āsāditā has been found.

"Surely I have seen here a lady of similar body, of similar complexion, of similar glow and beauty as described by Rama".
virarāmaivamuktvāsau vācaṅ vānarapuṅgavaḥ৷৷5.31.16৷৷

jānakī cāpi tacchrutvā paraṅ vismayamāgatā.


asau he, vānarapuṅgavaḥ chief of the vanaras, ēvam in that way, vācam word, uktvā having spoken, virarāma stopped, jānakī cāpi even Janaki, tat that, śrutvā having heard, param great, vismayam wonder, āgatā felt.

Having spoken thus, the great vanara stopped speaking after that. Janaki was wonder-struck by the words of the vanara.
tatassā vakrakēśāntā sukēśī kēśasaṅvṛtam৷৷5.31.17৷৷

unnamya vadanaṅ bhīruśśiṅśupāvṛkṣamaikṣata.


tataḥ then, vakrakēśāntā one who had hair curled up at the ends, bhīruḥ (timid) lady, klēśasaṅvṛtam covered with hanging hair, sā she, vadanam face, unnamya by raising, śiṅśupāvṛkṣam Simsupa tree, aikṣata looked up.

Then Sita looked up at the Simsupa tree timidly, her face covered with beautiful curly hair.
niśamya sītā vacanaṅ kapēśca diśaśca sarvāḥ pradiśaśca vīkṣya.

svayaṅ praharṣaṅ paramaṅ jagāma sarvātmanā rāmamanusmarantī ৷৷5.31.18৷৷


sītā Sita, kapēḥ Hanuman's, vacanam word, niśamya after hearing, sarvāḥ all, diśaśca directions, pradiśaśca and quarters, vīkṣya after observing, svayam herself, sarvātmanā self of all, rāmam Rama, anusmarantī contemplating on, paramam supreme, praharṣam joy, jagāma experienced.

On hearing Hanuman's words Sita looked at all directions and quarters while quietly contemplating on Rama, the self of all and experienced supreme joy.
sā tiryagūrdhvaṅ ca tathāpyadhastānnirīkṣamāṇā tamacintyabuddhim.

dadarśa piṅgādhipatēramātyaṅ vātātmajaṅ sūryamivōdayastham৷৷5.31.19৷৷


sā she, tiryak obliquely, ūrdhvaṅ ca vertically, tathāpi so also, athastāt downward, nirīkṣamāṇā observing, acintyabuddhim of unimaginable intelligence, piṅgādhipatēḥ of king of monkeys, amātyam minister, udayastham rising, sūryamiva like Sun, taṅ vātātmajam that son of the Wind-god, dadarśa saw.

She looked obliquely, up, and down and saw Hanuman of unimaginable intelligence, the minister of the monkey lord, son of the Wind-god, who looked like the rising Sun.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē ēkatriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the thirtyfirst sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.