Sloka & Translation

Audio

[Hanuman tells the story of Rama to Sita.]

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हनुमान्हरिपुङ्गवः।

दुःखाद्दुःखाभिभूताया स्सान्त्वमुत्तरमब्रवीत्।।5.34.1।।


हरिपुङ्गवः monkey leader, हनुमान् Hanuman, दुःखात् with sadness, दुःखाभिभूतायाः overwhelmed with grief, तस्याः to her, तत् those, वचनम् words, श्रुत्वा after hearing, सान्त्वम् comforting, उत्तरम् reply, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Hearing the words of Sita who was overwhelmed with grief, the monkey leader Hanuman felt sad and thus spoke comforting her:
अहं रामस्य सन्देशाद्देवि दूतस्तवागतः।

वैदेहि कुशली रामस्त्वां च कौशलमब्रवीत्।।5.34.2।।


देवि O queen, वैदेहि Vaidehi, अहम् I am, रामस्य Rama's, सन्देशात् by order, तव your, दूतः messenger, आगतः reached, कुशली is well, रामः Rama, त्वां च and you, कुशलम् welfare, अब्रवीत् wished you.

"By the command of Rama I am here as a messenger. He is keeping well. He is well and wishes you well.
यो ब्रह्ममस्त्रं वेदांश्च वेद वेदविदांवरः।

स त्वां दाशरथी रामो देवि कौशलमब्रवीत्।।5.34.3।।


देवि O godlike lady, वेदविदाम् mastered the Vedas, वरः choicest, यः he is, ब्रह्मम् अस्त्रम् weapon of Brahma (Brahmastra), वेदांश्च and Vedas, वेद knows, सः he, दाशरथिः son of Dasaratha, रामः Rama, त्वाम् you, कौशलम् welfare, अब्रवीत् conveyed.

"O godlike lady Rama, son of Dasaratha, master of the Vedas, wielder of Brahmastra wishes you well.
लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजा भर्तुस्तेऽनुचरः प्रियः।

कृतवान्शोकसन्तप्तश्शिरसा तेऽभिवादनम्।।5.34.4।।


महातेजाः very mighty, ते भर्तुः your husband, प्रियः dear, अनुचरः follower, लक्ष्मणश्च Lakshmana also, शोकसन्तप्तः immersed in grief, शिरसा with his head in obeisance, ते to you, अभिवादनम् offers salutations, कृतवान् has done.

"The mighty Lakshmana too, a dear brother and follower of your husband is immersed in grief, and sends salutations to you."
सा तयोः कुशलं देवी निशम्य नरसिंहयोः।

प्रीतिसंहृष्टसर्वाङ्गी हनुमन्तमथाब्रवीत्।।5.34.5।।


सा देवी that queen, तयोः of both of them, नरसिंहयोः of lions among men, कुशलम् wellbeing, निशम्य on hearing, प्रीतिसंहृष्टसर्वाङ्गी overtaken by joy experienced in all her limbs, अथ then, हनुमन्तम् Hanuman, अब्रवीत् spoke.

On hearing the wellbeing of Rama and Lakshman, lions among men, Sita experienced thrill all over her body. She then spoke to Hanuman:
कल्याणी बत गाथेयं लौकिकी प्रतिभाति मा।

एति जीवन्तमानन्दो नरं वर्षशतादपि।।5.34.6।।


जीवन्तम् who lives, नरम् human being, वर्षशतादपि a hundred years, आनन्दः happiness, एति comes, इयम् this, लौकिकी popular, गाथा adage, कल्याणी is auspicious, मा to me, प्रतिभाति appears.

"The adage that 'joy comes to a living being even though it be at the end of a hundred years' is popular. It appears true in my case".
तया समागते तस्मिन्प्रीतिरुत्पादिताऽद्भुता।

परस्परेण चालापं विश्वस्तौ तौ प्रचक्रतुः।।5.34.7।।


समागते when the meeting took place, तस्मिन् in him, तथा like that, अद्भुता wonderful, प्रीतिः pleasure, उत्पादिता was created, तौ in both, विश्वस्तौ confiding in the other, परस्परेण each to the other, आलापं च converse, चक्रतुः started.

Hanuman thus created a sense of wonderful joy in her as they came together. Both of them started to converse restoring confidence in each other.
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हनुमान्हरियूथपः।

सीतायाश्शोकदीनायास्समीपमुपचक्रमे।।5.34.8।।


हरियूथपः leader of the monkey troops, हनुमान् Hanuman, शोकदीनायाः of the piteous lady stricken with grief, तस्याः her, सीतायाः Sita's, तत् that, वचनम् word, श्रुत्वा after hearing, समीपम् close by, उपचक्रमे moved.

Hearing the reply of Sita, who was crying piteously, stricken with grief, the monkey leader, Hanuman moved close to her.
यथा यथा समीपं स हनुमानुपसर्पति।

तथा तथा रावणं सा तं सीता परिशङ्कते।।5.34.9।।


सः हनुमान् Hanuman, यथा यथा slowly that way, समीपम् near, उपसर्पति started moving, तथा तथा in the same way, सा सीता that Sita, तम् him, रावणम् Ravana, परिशङ्कते suspected.

As Hanuman started slowly drawing close, Sita suspected he might be Ravana.
अहो धिग्दुष्कृतमिदं कथितं हि यदस्य मे।

रूपान्तरमुपागम्य स एवायं हि रावणः।।5.34.10।।


अहो Oh, धिक् fie upon, मे to myself, इदम् this, अस्य to him, कथितम् story, दुष्कृतम् that which should not have been said, अयम् he, रूपान्तरम् in cognito, उपागम्य has come, सः रावणः हि verily he is Ravana.

"Ohshame on me. I have told him my story which should not have been said. This is verily Ravana come in a disguise".
तामशोकस्य शाखां सा विमुक्त्वा शोककर्शिता।

तस्यामेवानवद्याङ्गी धरण्यां समुपाविशत्।।5.34.11।।


अनवद्याङ्गी who has flawless limbs, सा she, अशोकस्य Ashoka tree's, ताम् that, शाखाम् branch, विमुक्त्वा later leaving, शोककर्शिता emaciated out of sorrow, तस्याम् on that, धरण्यामेव on the ground, समुपाविशत् sat near.

So saying Sita of flawless limbs, emaciated with grief, left the branch of Ashoka tree held by her and squatted on the ground.
हनुमानपि दुःखार्तां तां दृष्ट्वा भयमोहिताम्।

अवन्दत महाबाहुस्ततस्तां जनकात्मजाम्।।5.34.12।।

सा चैनं भयवित्रस्ता भूयो नैवाभ्युदैक्षत।


महाबाहुः longarmed one, हनुमानपि Hanuman too, दुःखार्ताम् sorrowful lady, भयमोहिताम् deluded with fear, ताम् her, दृष्ट्वा on seeing, ततः then, तां जनकात्मजाम् the daughter of Janaka, अवन्दत prostrated, सा च and she, भयवित्रस्ता trembling with fear, एनम् him, भूयः again, नाभ्युदैक्षत did not look at him.

The longarmed Hanuman saw Sita, who was stricken with grief and deluded with fear. He prostrated to her. But out of fear she did not look at him.
तं दृष्ट्वा वन्दमानं तु सीता शशिनिभानना।।5.34.13।।

अब्रवीद्धीर्घमुच्छवस्य वानरं मधुरस्वरा।


शशिनिभानना moonfaced lady, सीता Sita, तम् him, वन्दमानम् prostrating, दृष्ट्वा on seeing, दीर्घम् deep, उच्छवस्य after breathing out, मधुरस्वरा in a sweet voice, वानरम् to vanara, अब्रवीत् said.

On seeing the vanara prostrated, the moonfaced lady, sighed deeply and spoke to him in a sweet voice:
मायां प्रविष्टो मायावी यदि त्वं रावणस्स्वयम्।।5.34.14।।

उत्पादयसि मे भूयस्सन्तापं तन्न शोभनम्।


त्वम् you, मायाम् disguised, प्रविष्टः entered, मायावी trickster, स्वयम् yourself, रावणः यदि if you are Ravana, मे to me, भूयः again, सन्तापम् grief, उत्पादयसि you have created, तत् that, शोभनम् न not good.

"If you are that trickster Ravana who appears incognito before me, it is not good for you. You are causing grief again.
स्वं परित्यज्य रूपं यः परिव्राजकरूपध्रुत्।

जनस्थाने मया दृष्टस्त्वं स एवासि रावणः।।5.34.15।।


यः रावणः that Ravana, स्वं रूपम् his own form, परित्यज्य after giving up, परिव्राजकरूपवान् taking the form of a mendicant, जनस्थाने in Janasthana, मया by me, दृष्टः seen, त्वं you, स एव असि you are the same one.

"You are the same Ravana who took the guise of a mendicant, giving up your real form and came to Janasthana.
उपवासकृशां दीनां कामरूप निशाचर।

सन्तापयसि मां भूयस्सन्तप्तां तन्न शोभनम्।।5.34.16।।


कामरूप one who can assume any form, निशाचर nightstalker, उपवासकृशां an emaciated lady, सन्तप्तां a lady stricken with grief, दीनां pitiable, माम् me, भूयः again, सन्तापं grief, सन्तापयसि you are making me sorrowful, तत् that, शोभनं न not good for you.

"Oh you are one who can assume any form at will. You are a nightstalker. It is not good for you to cause pain to me who is already emaciated through fasting, who is pitiable and who is already afflicted.
अथवा नैतदेवं हि यन्मया परिशङ्कितम्।।5.34.17।।

मनसो हि मम प्रीतिरुत्पन्ना तव दर्शनात्।


अथवा or may be, मया by me, यत् that which, परिशङ्कितम् that I am suspecting, एतत् because, एवम् all this, न हि not true, तव your, दर्शनात् by your presence, मम my, मनसः mind, प्रीतिः pleased, उत्पन्ना हि is generated.

"May be my suspicion is not correct Because I am experiencing pleasure in my mind in your presence.
यदि रामस्य दूतस्त्वमागतो भद्रमस्तु ते।।5.34.18।।

पृच्छामि त्वां हरिश्रेष्ठ प्रिया रामकथा हि मे।


त्वम् you, रामस्य Rama's, दूतः messenger, आगतः यदि if you have come here, ते to you, भद्रम् be auspicious, अस्तु be, हरिश्रेष्ठ O great vanara, मे to me, रामकथा Rama'story, प्रिया हि dear, त्वाम् you, पृच्छामि I ask you.

"O great vanara, If on the other hand you have come here as Rama's messenger I wish you well. I love Rama's story. Tell me.
गुणान्रामस्य कथय प्रियस्य मम वानर।।5.34.19।।

चित्तं हरसि मे सौम्य नदीकूलं यथा रयः।


वानर vanara, मम my, प्रियस्य dear lord's, रामस्य Rama's, गुणान् virtues, कथय you may tell me, सौम्य O gentle one, नदीकूलम् river bank, रयः यथा like the current of water, मे my, चित्तम् mind, हरसि you are luring.

"O vanara Rama's virtues are dear to me to hear. O gentle one just as the current of the river wears away its banks, my mind is lured by your presence.
अहो स्वप्नस्य सुखता याहमेवं चिराहृता।।5.34.20।।

प्रेषितं नाम पश्यामि राघवेण वनौकसम्।


स्वप्नस्य of a dream, सुखता pleasure, अहो Oh, चिराहृता kept dreaming for a long time, या that, राघवेण by Rama, प्रेषितं नाम person sent, वनौकसम् vanara, एवम् that way, पश्यामि I am seeing.

"Oh I have been seeing the person sent by Rama in my dream for a long time. This is a pleasant dream to me.
स्वप्नेऽपि यद्यहं वीरं राघवं सहलक्ष्मणम्।।5.34.21।।

पश्येयं नावसीदेयं स्वप्नोऽपि मम मत्सरी।


अहम् I, स्वप्नेऽपि even in a dream, सहलक्ष्मणम् along with Lakshmana, वीरम् heroic, राघवम् Rama, पश्येयं यदि if I can see, नावसीदेयम् I will not be despondent, मम my, स्वप्नोऽपि even the dream, मत्सरी inimical to me.

"Even if I can see the heroic Rama together with Lakshmana in my dream my pain will be gone. Even the dream is inimical to me (I cannot sleep and thus cannot dream.)
नाहं स्वप्नमिमं मन्ये स्वप्ने दृष्ट्वा हि वानरम्।।5.34.22।।

न शक्योऽभ्युदयः प्राप्तुं प्राप्तश्चाभ्युदयो मम।


अहम् I am, इमम् this, स्वप्नम् dream, न मन्ये I do not think so, स्वप्ने in a dream, वानरम् vanara, दृष्ट्वा having seen, अभ्युदयः welfare, प्राप्तुम् to attain, न शक्यः not possible, मम to
me, अभ्युदयः pleasure, प्राप्तश्च is experienced.

"I do not think it is a dream. Pleasure cannot be experienced by seeing a vanara in a dream. I experience pleasure now (seeing a monkey in a dream is a bad omen).
किन्नु स्याचित्तमोहोऽयं भवेद्वातगतिस्त्वियम्।।5.34.23।।

उन्मादजो विकारो वा स्यादियं मृगतृष्णिका।


अयम् this, चित्तमोहः delusion in the mind, स्यात् किं नु why do I feel like this? इयम् this kind of, वातगतिः mental inbalance, भवेत् may be, उन्मादजः developed due to madness, विकारो वा or else is it a change?, इयम् this, मृगतृष्णिका a mirage, स्यात् may be.

"Can this be a delusion of my mind or a mental imbalance (resulting in movement of the mind in the body). Is it a malady born of my madness? Or is it a mirage?
अथवा नायमुन्मादो मोहोऽप्युन्मादलक्षणः।।5.34.24।।

सम्बुध्ये चाहमात्मानमियं चापि वनौकसम्।


अथवा if not, अयम् this, उन्मादः insanity, उन्मादलक्षणः sign of insanity, मोहोऽपि delusion also, न not, अहम् I, आत्मानम् myself, इमम् this, वनौकसम् vanara, सम्बुध्ये recognise.

"No, this cannot be insanity. nor even delusion. But I recognise this vanara well"
इत्येवं बहुधा सीता सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्।।5.34.25।।

रक्षसां कामरूपत्वान्मेने तं राक्षसाधिपम्।


सीता Sita, इत्येवम् in this manner, बलाबलम् strength and weakness, बहुधा in many ways, सम्प्रधार्य after considering, रक्षसाम् of demons, कामरूपत्वात् taking any form at will, तम् him, राक्षसाधिपम् king of demons, मेने he thought.

Considering the strength and weakness of demons in that manner Sita thought that Hanuman was none other than the king of demons who can asume any form at will.
एतां बुद्धिं तदा कृत्वा सीता सा तनुमध्यमा।।5.34.26।।

न प्रतिव्याजहाराथ वानरं जनकात्मजा।


तदा then, तनुमध्यमा lady with a fair waist, जनकात्मजा Janaka's daughter, सा सीता that Sita, एताम् in this way, बुद्धिम् thought, कृत्वा having entertained, अथ then, वानरम् to vanara, न प्रतिव्याजहार did not respond.

Having entertained such thoughts, Sita, the lady with a fairwaist, daughter of Janaka, did not respond to the vanara.
सीतायाश्चिन्तितं बुद्ध्वा हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः।।5.34.27।।

श्रोत्रानुकूलैर्वचनैस्तदा तां संप्रहर्षयत्।


मारुतात्मजः son of the Windgod, हनुमान् Hanuman, सीतायाः Sita's, चिन्तितम् thought, बुद्ध्वा understood, तदा then, ताम् her, श्रोत्रानुकूलैः pleasing to hear, वचनैः by the words, सम्प्रहर्षयत् pleased.

Hanuman, son of the Windgod understood what was going on in Sita's mind and spoke pleasing words that brought joy in her.
आदित्य इव तेजस्वी लोककान्तश्शशी यथा।।5.34.28।।

राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवो वैश्रवणो यथा।

विक्रमेणोपपन्नश्च यथा विष्णुर्महायशाः।।5.34.29।।


आदित्य इव like the Sun, तेजस्वी glorious, शशी यथा like the Moon, लोककान्तः brings delight to the whole world, देवः god, वैश्रवणो यथा like Vaisravana, सर्वस्य of all, लोकस्य of the worlds, राजा king, महायशाः is renowned, विष्णुः यथा like Visnu, विक्रमेण in valour, उपपन्नश्च endowed .

"Rama is glorious as the Sun, brings delight to the whole world like the Moon, is the
king of kings like Vaisravana, and renowned like Visnu endowed with valour.
सत्यवादी मधुरवाग्देवो वाचस्पतिर्यथा।

रूपवान्सुभग श्रीमान् कन्दर्प इव मूर्तिमान्।।5.34.30।।


सत्यवादी truthful in speech, देवः god, वाचस्पतिर्यथा like Brihaspati, मधुरवाक् sweet tongued, रूपवान् handsome, सुभगः graceful, श्रीमान् prosperous, मूर्तिमान् a personification, कन्दर्पः इव like Kamadeva.

"He is truthful in speech like Brihaspati, prosperous (like Kubera), sweettongued, handsome, graceful like Kamadeva.
स्थानक्रोधः प्रहर्ता च श्रेष्ठो लोके महारथः।

बाहुच्छायामवष्टब्धो यस्य लोको महात्मनः।।5.34.31।।


स्थानक्रोधः who shows anger to the proper person, प्रहर्ता च who punishes, लोके the world, श्रेष्ठः supreme, महारथः great charioteer, लोकः in the world, यस्य whose, महात्मनः of the great self, बाहुच्छायामवष्टब्धो under the shadow of whose shoulders refuge is taken.

"He shows anger to one who deserves it, he is the foremost charioteer of the world and he is a great self under the shadow of whose shoulders the whole world takes refuge.
अपकृष्याश्रमपदान्मृगरूपेण राघवम्।

शून्ये येनापनीतासि तस्य द्रक्ष्यसि यत्फलम्।।5.34.32।।


येन since, राघवम् Rama, मृगरूपेण in the form of a deer, आश्रमपदात् from the hermitage, अपकृष्य were abducted, शून्ये isolated place, अपनीता you are borne away, असि you, तस्य its, यत्फलम् result, द्रक्ष्यसि you will see.

"You will see the consequences of the action of Ravana who abducted you deceitfully in the form of deer when Rama was away from the hermitage.
न चिराद्रावणं संख्ये यो वधिष्यति वीर्यवान्।

रोषप्रमुक्तैरिषुभिर्ज्वलद्भिरिव पावकैः।।5.34.33।।

तेनाहं प्रेषितो दूत स्त्वत्सकाशमिहागतः।

त्वद्वियोगेन दुःखार्त स्स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्।।5.34.34।।


वीर्यवान् heroic, यः who, नचिरात् soon, रोषप्रमुक्तै: released in great anger, ज्वलद्भिः by burning, पावकैः इव like fire, इषुभि with arrows, संख्ये in war, रावणम् Ravana, वधिष्यति would slay, तेन therefore, दूतः envoy, प्रेषितः sent, इह here, त्वत्सकाशम् your presence, आगतः I have come, त्वद्वियोगेन due to separation from you, दुःखार्तः filled with sorrow, सः he, त्वाम् to you, कौशलम् welfare, अब्रवीत् asking.

"Heroic Rama will soon release many scorching, fiery arrows in anger and kill Ravana. I seek your permission as an envoy of Rama. Filled with grief by your separation, he has made inquiries about your welfare.
लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजास्सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः।

अभिवाद्य महाबाहुस्स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्।।5.34.35।।


महातेजाः brilliant, सुमित्रानन्दस्सवर्धनः delight of Sumitra, महाबाहुः longarmed one, सः लक्ष्मणश्च Lakshmna, त्वाम् to you, अभिवाद्य offering salutations, कौशलम् welfare, अब्रवीत् enquired.

"The brilliant, longarmed Lakshmana, delight of Sumitra enquires about your welfare and offers salutations to you.
रामस्य च सखा देवि सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः।

राजा वानरमुख्यानां स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्।।5.34.36।।


देवि O goddesslike lady, रामस्य Rama's, सखा friend, वानरमुख्यानाम् of vanara chiefs, राजा king, सुग्रीवो नाम called Sugriva, सः वानरः that vanara, त्वाम् you, कौशलम् wellbeing, अब्रवीत्
asked.

"O goddess like lady Rama's friend Sugriva, king of vanara chieftans inquires about your wellbeing.
नित्यं स्मरति रामस्त्वां ससुग्रीव स्सलक्ष्मणः।

दिष्ट्या जीवसि वैदेहि राक्षसीवशमागता।।5.34.37।।


ससुग्रीवः together with Sugriva, सलक्ष्मणः and Lakshmna, रामः Rama, त्वाम् you, नित्यम् always, स्मरति remembers, वैदेहि Vaidehi, राक्षसीवशम् under the clutches of shedemons, आगता come, दिष्ट्या luckily, जीवसि you are alive.

"O Vaidehi Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva always remember you. Luckily you are alive even though you are under the clutches of shedemons.
नचिराद्द्रक्ष्यसे रामं लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम्।

मध्ये वानरकोटीनां सुग्रीवं चामितौजसम्।।5.34.38।।


रामम् Rama, महाबलम् mighty, लक्ष्मणं Lakshmana, वानरकोटीनाम् among crores of vanaras, मध्ये in the midst, अमितौजसम् of a hero of unlimited prowess, सुग्रीवं च also Sugriva, नचिरात् very soon, द्रक्ष्यसे you will see.

"Very soon you will see mighty Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva of unlimited prowess surrounded by crores of vanaras.
अहं सुग्रीवसचिवो हनुमान्नाम वानरः।

प्रविष्टो नगरीं लङ्कां लङ्घयित्वा महोदधिम्।।5.34.39।।


अहम् I am, सुग्रीवसचिवः minister of Sugriva, हनुमान्नाम called Hanuman, वानरः a vanara, महोदधिम् great ocean, लङ्घयित्वा having leaped, लङ्कां नगरीम् city of Lanka, प्रविष्टः I have entered.

"I am Sugriva's minister known as Hanuman, a vanara who entered the city of Lanka after leaping over the great ocean.
कृत्वा मूर्ध्नि पदन्यासं रावणस्य दुरात्मनः।

त्वां द्रष्टुमुपयातोऽहं समाश्रित्य पराक्रमम्।।5.34.40।।


दुरात्मनः cruelminded, रावणस्य Ravana's, मूर्ध्नि: on the head, पदन्यासम् placing my foot, कृत्वा of having done, पराक्रमम् valour, समाश्रित्य using, अहम् I, त्वाम् you, द्रष्टुम् to see, उपयातः came here.

"Setting my foot with my valour on the head of the cruelminded Ravana, using my valour, I came here to see you.
नाहमस्मि तथा देवि यथा मामवगच्छसि।

विशङ्का त्यज्यतामेषा श्रद्धत्स्व वदतो मम।।5.34.41।।


देवि O goddesslike lady, माम् me, यथा as, अवगच्छसि you suppose, अहम् I, तथा like that, नास्मि I am not, एषा such, विशङ्का suspicion, त्यज्यताम् shake off, वदतः as I speak, मम my, श्रद्धत्स्व you may trust.

"O goddesslike lady I am not a deceitful person as you suppose me to be. Shake off your suspicion as I speak to you and trust me."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the thirtyfourth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.