Sundara Kanda — Sarga 31

एवं बहुविधां चिन्तां चिन्तयित्वा महामतिः। संश्रवे मधुरं वाक्यं वैदेह्या व्याजहार ह॥

Meditating thus the highly intelligent monkey speh in accents, sweet and in such a tone as they mighty be, heard by Vaidehī.

Sundara Kanda 31.1

राजा दशरथो नाम रथकुञ्जरवाजिमान्। पुण्यशीलो महाकीर्तिरिक्ष्वाकूणां महायशाः॥

There reigned a noble and pious king named Dasaratha, highly glorious among the Ikşvākus, the lord of the warrior-cars, steeds and elephants.

Sundara Kanda 31.2

अहिंसारतिरक्षुद्रो घृणी सत्यपराक्रमः। मुख्यस्येक्ष्वाकुवंशस्य लक्ष्मीवॉल्लक्ष्मिवर्धनः॥ पार्थिवव्यजनैर्युक्तः पृथुश्रीः पार्थिवर्षभः। पृथिव्यां चतुरन्तायां विश्रुतः सुखदः सुखी॥

Devoid of envy, high-minded, kind, having truth for his prowess, the foremost of the Ikşvāku race, wealthy and the enhancer of wealth; gifted with royal marks; highly beautiful; the foremost of the kings; famous all over the world of many occans; the conferrer of happiness and himself happy.

Sundara Kanda 31.3

तस्य पुत्रः प्रियो ज्येष्ठस्ताराधिपनिभाननः। रामो नाम विशेषज्ञः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम्॥

His eldest and most beloved son was the Moon-bright Rāma, wise and the foremost of those who know the science of the bended bow.

Sundara Kanda 31.4

रक्षिता स्वस्य वृत्तस्य स्वजनस्यापि रक्षिता। रक्षिता जीवलोकस्य धर्मस्य च परंतपः॥

He was the protector of his own character, of his own kinsmen, of the whole world of creation and of virtue and subduer of foes.

Sundara Kanda 31.5

तस्य सत्याभिसंधस्य वृद्धस्य वचनात् पितुः। सभार्यः सह च भ्राता वीरः प्रव्रजितो वनम्॥

And banished by his old and truthful sire's commands, that hero, along with his wife and brother (Laksmana) repaired to the forest.

Sundara Kanda 31.6

तेन तत्र महारण्ये मृगयां परिधावता। राक्षसा निहताः शूराः बहवः कामरूपिणः॥

And while roaming a-hunting in the forest he slew many a heroic Raksasa wearing shapes at will.

Sundara Kanda 31.7

जनस्थानवधं श्रुत्वा निहतौ खरदूषणौ। ततस्त्वमर्षापहृता जानकी रावणेन तु॥

And having heard of the destruction of the Rākşasas of Janasthāna and of Khara and Duşaņa, the illusive Rāvana, assuming shapes at will, beguiling Rāma, it the forest, stole away his consort-the Janaka's daughter.

Sundara Kanda 31.8

वञ्चयित्वा वने रामं मृगरूपेण मायया। स मार्गमाणस्तां देवीं रामः सीतामनिन्दिताम्॥

And roaming the country around in quest of the blameless and worshipful Sītā, Rāma found a firm friend in Sugrīva.

Sundara Kanda 31.9

आससाद वने मित्रं सुग्रीवं नाम वानरम्। ततः स वालिनं हत्वा रामः परपुरंजयः॥ आयच्छत् कपिराज्यं तु सुग्रीवाय महात्मने।

And bringing about the destruction of Vāli, Räma, the conqueror of others' cities, conferred the monkey-kingdom upon the high-souled Sugriva.

Sundara Kanda 31.10

सुग्रीवेणाभिसंदिष्टा हरयः कामरूपिणः॥ दिक्षु सर्वासु तां देवीं विचिन्वन्तः सहस्रशः।

And by Sugrīva's decree, thousands of monkeys, wearing shapes at will, have been searching that worshipful dame in various directions.

Sundara Kanda 31.11

अहं सम्पातिवचनाच्छतयोजनमायतम्॥ तस्याहेतोविशालाक्ष्याः समुद्रं वेगवान् प्लुतः।

And by Sampāti's counsel and for that largeeyed dame, I have leapt a hundred leagues across the deep.

Sundara Kanda 31.12

यथारूपां यथावर्णां यथालक्ष्मवती च ताम्॥ अश्रौषं राघवस्याहं सेयमासादिता मया। विररामैवमुक्त्वा स वाचं वानरपुङ्गवः॥

I have at last got her. And such were the form, grace and the marks that Rāghava mentioned to me. Having said this, the foremost of the monkeys ceased.

Sundara Kanda 31.13

जानकी चापि तच्छ्रुत्वा विस्मयं परमं गता। ततः सा वक्रकेशान्ता सुकेशी केशसंवृतम्। उन्नम्य वदनं भीरुः शिंशपामन्ववैक्षत ॥

And greatly wondered was Sītā hearing those words. Thereupon that timid dame, having good curling hair, raising up her face covered with hairs, looked up to the Singshapă tree.

Sundara Kanda 31.14

निशम्य सीता वचनं कपेश्च दिशश्च सर्वाः प्रदिशश्च वीक्ष्य। स्वयं प्रहर्षं परमं जगाम सर्वात्मना राममनुस्मरन्ती॥

Hearing the words of the monkey and casting her eyes to all directions and quarters, Sītā attained an excess of delight, being engaged in thoughts, concerning Rāma.

Sundara Kanda 31.15

निरीक्षमाणा तमचिन्त्यबुद्धिम्। ददर्श पिङ्गाधिपतेरमात्यं वातात्मजं सूर्यमिवोदयस्थम्॥

And looking around her and upwards, she beheld, like to the rising sun, the Wind god's son, gifted with inconceivable intellect, the minister of the king of monkeys.

Sundara Kanda 31.16