Sloka & Translation

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[Hanuman gives an account of the plight of Sita in Lanka -- incites the vanaras to be ready for the next course of action]

ētadākhyāya tatsarvaṅ hanumānmārutātmajaḥ.

bhūyassamupacakrāma vacanaṅ vaktumuttaram৷৷5.59.1৷৷


mārutātmajaḥ son of the Wind-god, hanumān Hanuman, sarvam entire, tat ētat all that, ākhyāya having narrated, bhūyaḥ whatever happened, uttaraṅ vacanam the good words, vaktum told, samupacakrāma again started telling.

Hanuman, son of the Wind-god having narrated in detail all that had happened again started disclosing further details৷৷
saphalō rāghavōdyōga ssugrīvasya ca sambhramaḥ.

śīlamāsādya sītāyā mama ca pravaṇaṅ manaḥ৷৷5.59.2৷৷


rāghavōdyōgaḥ Rama's exertions, sugrīvasya Sugriva's, sambhramaḥ enthusiasm, sītāyāḥ Sita's, śīlam conduct, āsādya attained, saphalaḥ successl, mama I am, manaśca in my mind, pravaṇam developed devotion.

"It is due to Rama's exertions, Sugriva's endeavour and Sita's conduct that I have been successful. My devotion to Sita has further deepened.
niyatassamudācārō bhaktirbhartari cōttamā.

yanna hanti daśagrīvaṅ sā mahātmā kṛtāgasam৷৷5.59.34.


mahātmā great soul, sā that, kṛtāgasam has done harm, daśagrīvam to Ravana, na hanti not killed, iti yat this being so, niyataḥ of good conduct, samudācāraḥ chaste, bhartari towards husband, uttamā high, bhaktiḥ devotion.

"Ravana is a great soul because, even though he has done harm to her, he is not killed. This is so because Sita being a chaste woman of good conduct and deep devotion towards her husband (she refrained from killing Ravana as she wanted her husband to do that.)
tasya tāṅ spṛśatō gātraṅ tapasā na vināśitam.

na tadagniśikhā kuryātsaṅspṛṣṭā pāṇinā satī৷৷5.59.4৷৷

janakasyātmajā kuryādyatkrōdhakaluṣīkṛtā.


tām her, spṛśataḥ with mere touch, tasya of her, gātram body, tapasā by penance, na vināśitam not destroyed, krōdhakaluṣīkṛtā if enraged (she) can destroy, janakasya Janaka's, ātmajā daughter, yat such, kuryāt she can do, tat that, pāṇinā by hand, saṅspṛṣṭāsatī touched with hand, agniśikhā like flame of fire, na kuryāt not done so.

"Sita can burn Ravana with the mere touch of her body but because of the power of his penance, he was not burnt even though he touched her hand. If enraged, Janaki can burn the whole world (by virtue of her chastity) in a way that even the flame of fire can not do. (But she desired that her husband should kill him.)
jāmbavatpramukhān sarvānanujñāpya mahāharīn৷৷5.59.5৷৷

asminnēvaṅ gatē kāryē bhavatāṅ ca nivēditē.

nyāyyaṅ sma saha vaidēhyā draṣṭuṅ tau pārthivātmajau৷৷5.59.6৷৷


bhavatām to you, nivēditē relating to you, asmin your, kāryē task, ēvaṅ gatē to go there, jāmbavatpramukhān with Jambavan and other important people, mahāharīn great vanara heroes, samanujñāpya with their permission, vaidēhyā saha along with Vaidehi, tau both, pārthivātmajau king's sons, draṣṭum to see, nyāyyaṅ sma is proper.

ahamēkō.pi paryāptassarākṣasagaṇāṅ purīm.

tāṅ laṅkāṅ tarasā hantuṅ rāvaṇaṅ ca mahābalam৷৷5.59.7৷৷


aham I, ēkō.pi alone, sarākṣasagaṇām all the demon troops, tāṅ laṅkāṅ purīm and that city of Lanka, mahābalam the great army, rāvaṇaṅ ca and Ravana, tarasā quickly, hantum can kill, paryāptaḥ is enough.

kiṅ puna ssahitō vīrairbalavadbhiḥ kṛtātmabhiḥ.

kṛtāstrai: plavagaiśśūrairbhavadbhivijayaiṣibhiḥ৷৷5.59.8৷৷


balavadbhiḥ strong, kṛtātmabhiḥ wise, kṛtāstrai: accomplished, śūraiḥ heroic, vijayaiṣibhiḥ those desiring victory, plavagaiḥ monkeys, bhavadbhiḥ are with you, sahitaḥ together, kiṅ punaḥ why speak again?

"When strong, wise and accomplished persons are there with me desiring victory why speak again?
ahaṅ tu rāvaṇaṅ yuddhē sasainyaṅ sapurassaram.

sahaputtraṅ vadhiṣyāmi sahōdarayutaṅ yudhi৷৷5.59.9৷৷


ahaṅ tu I also, yuddhē in war, sasainyam all the army, sapuraḥsaram his followers, saputtram his sons, sahōdarayutam his brothers, rāvaṇam of Ravana, yudhi in war, vadhiRṣyāmi can kill.

"I can also kill all the army, his followers, sons and brothers of Ravana in war.
brāhmamaindraṅ ca raudraṅ ca vāyavyaṅ vāraṇaṅ tathā.

yadi śakrajitō.strāṇi durnirīkṣāṇi saṅyugē৷৷5.59.10৷৷

tānyahaṅ vadhiṣyāmi haniṣyāmi ca rākṣasān.


brāhmam Brahma's, aindraṅ ca even Indra's, raudraṅ ca Rudra's, vāyavyam or Wind-god's, tathā similarly, vāruṇam Varuna's, śakrajitaḥ Indrajit, astrāṇi missiles, durnirīkṣāṇi though difficult to see, yadi such, tāni of them, saṅyugē in war, vadhiṣyāmi will kill, rākṣasān demon, haniṣyāmi ca and destroy them.

"Even if the missiles used by Indrajit are Brahmastra, Indrastra, Rudrastra, Vayavastra, Varunastra which are difficult to see. I will destroy them in war and kill them.
bhavatāmabhyanujñātō vikramō mē ruṇaddhi tam৷৷5.59.11৷৷

mayātulā visṛṣṭā hi śailavṛṣṭirnirantarā.

dēvānapi raṇē hanyātkiṅ punastānniśācarān৷৷5.59.12৷৷


bhavatām by you, abhyanujñātaḥ now permit me, mē I, vikramaḥ with my valour, tam them, ruṇaddhi shattered,mayā by me, visṛṣṭā sent forth, atulā matchless, nirantarā ceaseless, śailavṛṣṭiḥ shower of rocks, raṇē in war, dēvānapi even gods, hanyāt will die, tān those, niśācarān night-rangers, kiṅ punaḥ what to say ?

Now if I am permitted, I shall repulse them and destroy them with my valour. A ceaseless shower of rocks sent forth by me in war is enough to destroy even gods what to say about the night-rangers?
sāgarō.pyatiyādvēlāṅ mandaraḥ pracalēdapi.

na jāmbavantaṅ samarē kampayēdarivāhinī৷৷5.59.13৷৷


sāgaraḥ ocean, vēlām shore, atiyādapi exceeds also, mandaraḥ mountain Mandara, pracalēdapi may shake up, samarē in war, arivāhinī flow of enemies, jāmbavantam Jambavan, na kampayēt not move.

"The ocean may exceed its limits, the mountain Mandara may be shaken from its position but no hostile army can move Jambavan in war.
sarvarākṣasasaṅghānāṅ rākṣasā yē ca pūrvakāḥ.

alamēkō vināśāya vīrō vālisutaḥ kapiḥ৷৷5.59.14৷৷


vīraḥ hero, vālisutaḥ son of Vali, kapiḥ vanara, ēkaḥ alone, sarvarākṣasasaṅghānām all the demon hordes, pūrvakāḥ led, yē by him, vināśāya to destroy, alam enough.

panasasyōruvēgēna nīlasya ca mahātmanaḥ.

mandarō.pyavaśīryēta kiṅpunaryudhi rākṣasāḥ৷৷5.59.15.


panasasya Panasa's, mahātmanaḥ great soul, nīlasya ca even Nila, uruvēgēna by the speed of his thighs, mandarō.pi even Mandara mountain, avaśīryēta would be shattered, yudhi in battle, rākṣasāḥ demons, kiṅ punaḥ what to say again.

"Even the mountain Mandara would be shattered by great Panasa or Nila by the speed of their thighs. What to say in a battle against ogres?
sadēvāsurayakṣēṣu gandharvōragapakṣiṣu.

maindasya pratiyōddhāraṅ śaṅsata dvividasya vā৷৷5.59.16৷৷


sadēvāsurayakṣēṣu gods, and yakshas, gandarvōragapakṣiṣu gandharvas, nagas and birds, maindasya Mainda's, dvividasya vā or Dvivida, pratiyōddāram who can oppose in battle, śaṅsata tell me.

"Who among gods, yakshas, gandharvas, nagas and birds can contend Mainda or Dvivida in battle?Tell me.
aśviputrau mahābhāgāvētau plavagasattamau.

ētayōḥ pratiyōddāraṅ na paśyāmi raṇājirē৷৷5.59.17৷৷


aśviputrau sons of Aswini, ētau so also, mahābhāgau outstanding, plavagasattamau foremost fighters, raṇājirē proud of fighting war, ētayōḥ these people, pratiyōddāram to oppose, na paśyāmi I do not see any.

"The (two) sons of Aswini are outstanding and foremost fighters and proud of waging war. Who can oppose them? I do not see any one.
pitāmahavarōtsēkātparamaṅ darpamāsthitau.

amṛtaprāśināvētau sarvavānarasattamau৷৷5.59.18৷৷


pitāmahavarōtsēkāt by virtue of the boons received from Brahma, paramam very, darpam proud, āsthitau filled with, ētau both of them that way, vānarasattamau foremost of vanaras, amṛtaprāśinau have consumed nectar of immortality.

"By virtue of the boons received from Brahma, they are very proud. They have also consumed nectar of immortality and are foremost among vanaras.
aśvinōrmānanārthaṅ hi sarvalōkapitāmahaḥ.

sarvāvadhyatvamatulamanayōrdattavānpurā৷৷5.59.19৷৷


purā earlier, sarvalōkapitāmahaḥ Brahma the grandfather of all worlds, aśvinōḥ for Aswini sons, mānanārtham to honour, anayōḥ given, atulam immeasureable, sarvāvadhyatvam invulnerability, dattavān given.

"Earlier Brahma, the grandsire of all worlds has given the Aswini sons immeasurable invulnerability to honour them.
varōtsēkēna mattau ca pramathya mahatīṅ camūm.

surāṇāmamṛtaṅ vīrau pītavantau plavaṅgamau৷৷5.59.20৷৷


varōtsēkēna armed with the pride of boons, mattau ca and intoxicated, vīrau heroic, plavaṅgamau monkeys, surāṇām of suras, mahatīm vast, camūm pramathya army slain, amṛtam nectar of immortality, pītavantau drank.

"The heroic monkeys, proud of their boons became intoxicated it and slaughtered vast army and drank the nectar of immortality.
ētāvēva hi saṅkṛddhau savājirathakuñjarām.

laṅkāṅ nāśayituṅ śaktau sarvē tiṣṭhantu vānarāḥ৷৷5.59.21৷৷


saṅkṛddhau if they become angry, ētāvēva these two, savājirathakuñjarām the cavalry, chariots and elephants, laṅkām Lanka also, nāśayitum to destroy, śaktau have the power, sarvē all, vānarāḥ vanaras, tiṣṭhantu even if they stay away.

"If these two become angry they have the power to destroy Lanka, the cavalry, chariots and also the elephants even if the vanaras stay away.
mayaiva nihatā laṅkā dagdhā bhasmīkṛtā punaḥ.

rājamārgēṣu sarvatra nāma viśrāvitaṅ mayā৷৷5.59.22৷৷


laṅkā Lanka, mayaiva myself, nihatā burn, rājamārgēṣu in the royal path, sarvatra everywhere, mayā by me, nāma name, viśrāvitam become popular.

"I have burnt Lanka and have made my name popular even on the highways.
jayatyatibalō rāmō lakṣmaṇaśca mahābalaḥ.

rājā jayati sugrīvō rāghavēṇābhipālitaḥ৷৷5.59.23৷৷

ahaṅ kōsalarājasya dāsaḥ pavanasambhavaḥ.

hanumāniti sarvatra nāma viśrāvitaṅ mayā৷৷5.59.24৷৷


atibalaḥ mighty, rāmaḥ Rama, jayati will triumph, mahābalaḥ mighty, lakṣmaṇaśca and Lakshmana, rāghavēṇa by Rama, abhipālitaḥ protected, rājā king, sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, jayati will triumph, pavanasambhavaḥ son of the Wind-god, aham I, kōsalarājasya king of Kosala kingdom, dāsaḥ servant, hanumān Hanuman, iti this, mayā by me, nāma name, viśrāvitam announced.

"Mighty Rama and Lakshmana and King Sugriva protected by Rama are renowned for their valour. I am Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, a servant of Rama. This I announced.
aśōkavanikāmadhyē rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ.

adha stācchiṅśupāvṛkṣē sādhvī karuṇamāsthitā৷৷5.59.25৷৷

rākṣasībhiḥ parivṛtā śōkasaṅtāpakarśitā.

mēghalēkhāparivṛtā candralēkhēva niṣprabhā৷৷5.59.26৷৷.

acintayantī vaidēhī rāvaṇaṅ baladarpitam.


durātmanaḥ wicked, rāvaṇasya Ravana's, aśōkavanikāmadhyē in the midst of Ashoka garden, śiṅśupāvṛkṣē Simsupa tree, adhastāt under, sādhvī noble lady, rākṣasībhiḥ by ogresses, parivṛtā surrounded, śōkasantāpakarśitā tormented by tears, mēghalēkhāparivṛtā veiled by clouds, candralēkhēva like the Moonrays, niṣprabhā without brightness, baladarpitam glory, rāvaṇam Ravana, acintayantī not even thinking, vaidēhī Vaidehi, karuṇam piteous, āsthitā remained.

"In the wicked, Ravana's Ashoka garden under the Simsupa tree the noble lady Sita surrounded by ogresses, is sitting, tormented by tears. Her brightness is like the Moon's, veiled by flakes of clouds. She does not care for Ravana's glory. She is brooding over Rama only.
pativratā ca suśrōṇī avaṣṭabdhā ca jānakī৷৷5.59.27৷৷

anuraktā hi vaidēhī rāmaṅ sarvātmanā śubhā.

ananyacittā rāmē ca paulōmīva purandarē৷৷5.59.28৷৷


pativratā chaste woman, suśrōṇī who has beautiful hips, jānakī Janaki, avaṣṭabdhā though bound, śubhā auspicious, vaidēhī Vaidehi, sarvātmanā all her self, rāmam Rama only, anuraktā devoted, purandarē Indra, paulōmīva like Sachi the wife of Indra, rāmē only on Rama, ananyacittā always thinking.

"Chaste Sita of beautiful hips, an auspicious lady though bound is wholly devoted to Rama alone like Sachi, the wife of Indra who was bound by Nahusha.
tadēkavāsassaṅvītā rajōdhvastā tathaiva ca.

śōkasantāpadīnāṅgī sītā bhartṛhitē ratā৷৷5.59.29৷৷


tadēkavāsassaṅvītā wearing only one cloth, tathaiva ca with that only, rajōdhvastā filled with dust, śōkasantāpadīnāṅgī very sorrowful and piteous, sītā Sita, bhartṛhitē wishing the welfare of her husband, ratā remained.

"Wearing the same single cloth which she had worn before, filled with dust, Sita remained sorrowful and piteous wishing her husband's welfare.
sā mayā rākṣasīmadhyē tarjyamānā muhurmuhuḥ.

rākṣasībhirvirūpābhirdṛṣṭā hi pramadāvanē৷৷5.59.30৷৷

ēkavēṇīdharā dīnā bhartṛcintāparāyaṇā.

adhaśśayyā vivarṇāṅgī padminīva himāgamē৷৷5.59.31৷৷

rāvaṇādvinivṛttārthā martavyakṛtaniścayā.


virūpābhiḥ ugly-looking, rākṣasībhiḥ ogresses, muhurmuhuḥ again and again, tarjyamānā threatened, ēkavēṇīdharā with a single braid, dīnā pathetic, bhartṛcintāparāyaṇā thinking of her husband all the time, adhaḥ now, śayyā lying on floor, himāgamē in winter season, padminiva like the lotus, vivarṇāṅgī devoid of lustre, rāvaṇāt by Ravana, vinivṛttārthā turned away, martavyakṛtaniścayā decided to die, sā that she, mayā by me, rākṣasīmadhyē in the midst of ogresses, pramadāvanē in the pleasure garden, dṛṣṭā saw her.

"I saw Sita often threatened by ugly-looking ogresses. Wearing a single braid, she looked pathetic, thinking always about her husband, lying on the bare ground. She was like a lustreless lotus in winter. Spurning the advances by Ravana, she is rather determined to commit suicide.
kathañcinmṛgaśābākṣī viśvāsamupapāditā৷৷5.59.32৷৷

tataḥ saṅbhāṣitā caiva sarvamarthaṅ ca darśitā.

rāmasugrīvasakhyaṅ ca śrutvā prītimupāgatā৷৷5.59.33৷৷


mṛgaśābākṣī fawn-eyed woman, kathañcit little, viśvāsam confidence, upapāditā pacified, tataḥ then, saṅbhāṣitā caiva after conversing only, sarvam everything, arthaṅ ca with difficulty, darśitā presented, rāmasugrīvasakhyaṅ ca alliance of Rama and Sugriva, śrutvā after hearing, prītim happy, upāgatā became.

"I created a little confidence in the fawn-eyed lady by pacifying her and explaining her with great difficulty the alliance of Rama and Sugriva on hearing which she became happy.
nimittamātraṅ rāmastu vadhē tasya bhaviṣyati.

sā prakṛtyaiva tanvaṅgī tadviyōgācca karśitā৷৷5.59.35৷৷

pratipatpāṭhaśīlasya vidyēva tanumatāṅ gatā.


rāmastu Rama also, tasya his, vadhē killing, nimittamātraṅ instrumental, bhaviṣyati will be, prakṛtyaiva naturally, tanvaṅgī thin body, tadviyōgāt by the separation from her husband, karśitā ca and also emaciated, sā she, pratipatpāṭhaśīlasya just as a student on the new Moon day, vidyēva shrunken, tanumatām slender in body, gatā has become.

"To Rama, killing Ravana is easy (since Ravana's power of penance has already declined by his abduction of Sita). Separated from her husband she is naturally emaciated. She has become slender just like a student on the new Moon day (on the first day of study).
ēvamāstē mahābhāgā sītā śōkaparāyaṇā৷৷5.59.36৷৷

yadatra pratikartavyaṅ tatsarvamupapādyatām.


mahābhāgā noble lady, sītā Sita, astē being, ēvam in this way, śōkaparāyaṇā absorbed in grief, atra there, yat that, pratikartavyam what is to be done, tat that, sarvam all, upapādyatām you may do.

"Noble Sita is absorbed in grief. Let us do all that has to be done now."
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē ēkōnaṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftyninth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.