Sundara Kanda — Sarga 53

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवो महात्मनः। देशकालहितं वाक्यं भ्रातुरुत्तरमब्रवीत्॥

Hearing those words of his, the high-souled ten-necked one spoke to his brother a speech consonant to season and place,

Sundara Kanda 53.1

सम्यगुक्तं हि भवता दूतवध्या विगर्हिता। अवश्यं तु वधायान्यः क्रियतामस्य निग्रहः॥

Properly had you spoken, to slay a messenger is improper. But let him be punished with any chastisement save slaying.

Sundara Kanda 53.2

कपीनां किल लालमिष्टं भवति भूषणम्। तदस्य दीप्यतां शीघ्रं तेन दग्धेन गच्छतु॥

Certainly the tail is a darling ornament to a monkey. Therefore let his tail be set on fire anon; and this having been consumed, let him go away.

Sundara Kanda 53.3

ततः पश्यन्त्वमुं दीनमङ्गवैरूप्यकर्शितम्। सुमित्रज्ञातयः सर्वे बान्धवाः ससुहृज्जनाः॥

Then shall his best friends and kindred and acquaintances see him crest-fallen, with his person deformed.

Sundara Kanda 53.4

तस्य तद् आज्ञापयद् राक्षसेन्द्रः परं सर्वं सचत्वरम्। लाङ्गेलेन प्रदीप्तेन रक्षोभिः परिणीयताम्॥

The lord of Rākşasas ordered, With his tail in flames, let this one be taken all round Lankā containing terraces.

Sundara Kanda 53.5

वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसाः कोपकर्कशाः। वेष्टन्ते तस्य लाङ्गूलं जीर्णैः कार्पासिकैः पटैः॥

Hearing his words, the Raksasas, cruel through wrath, cover up his (Hanumān's) tail with worn pieces of cotton cloth.

Sundara Kanda 53.6

संवेष्ट्यमाने लाङ्गले व्यवर्धत महाकपिः। शुष्कमिन्धनमासाद्य वनेष्विव हुताशनम्॥

Thereat, even as fire in a forest increase on getting dry fuel, the mighty monkey grew in dimensions on his tail being wrapped up.

Sundara Kanda 53.7

तैलेन परिषिच्याथ तेऽग्निं तत्रोपपादयन्। लाङ्गुलेन प्रदीप्तेन राक्षसांस्तानताडयत्॥ रोषामर्षपरीतात्मा बालसूर्यसमाननः।

Having soaked (the cloth) in oil, they set fire to it. Thereat with his soul overpowered with rage and hatred, and his countenance like the risen sun, he lashed them with his flaming tail.

Sundara Kanda 53.8

स भूयः संगतैः क्रूरै राक्षसैर्हरिपुङ्गवः॥ सहस्त्रीबालवृद्धाश्च जग्मुः प्रीतिं निशाचराः।

And those-rangers of the night-those Rākşasas-old and young and females-again bringing that foremost of monkey, grew exceedingly glad.

Sundara Kanda 53.9

निबद्धः कृतवान् वीरस्तत्कालसदृशीं मतिम्॥ कामं खलु न मे शक्ता निबद्धस्यापि राक्षसाः। छित्त्वा पाशान् समुत्पत्य हन्यामहमिमान् पुनः॥

That hero (being bound), entertained a purpose in harmony with the season. "Albeit bound, the Rākşasas cannot forsooth cope with me. Snapping these bonds, I shall, darting up, again slaughter these."

Sundara Kanda 53.10

यदि भर्तृहितार्थाय चरन्तं भर्तृशासनात्। निबध्नन्ते दुरात्मानो न तु मे निष्कृतिः कृता॥

Although agreeably to the mandate of their master these wicked-minded ones have bound me, yet have they not been able to clear scores with me.

Sundara Kanda 53.11

सर्वेषामेव पर्याप्तो राक्षसानामहं युधि। किं तु रामस्य प्रीत्यर्थं विषहिष्येऽहमीदृशम्॥

I can slay all these Rākşasas in battle; but I suffer this (maltreatment) for not marring the (pure delight) Rāma shall derive from my deed.

Sundara Kanda 53.12

लङ्का चारयितव्या मे पुनरेव भवेदिति। रात्रौ नहि सुदृष्टा मे दुर्गकर्मविधानतः॥

I shall once more range around Lankā. Let this be so. At night I could not satisfactorily examine the fortifications.* (Another meaning is:-lts places inaccessible on account of works.)

Sundara Kanda 53.13

अवश्यमेव द्रष्टव्या मया लङ्का निशाक्षये। कामं बनन्तु मे भूयः पुच्छस्योद्दीपनेन च॥ पीडां कुर्वन्ति रक्षांसि न मेऽस्ति मनसः श्रमः।

For certain, by me is to be beheld Lankā when night has departed. Let them bind me anew. The Rākşasas pain me by setting fire to my tail; but my mind dose not tire.

Sundara Kanda 53.14

ततस्ते संवृताकारं सत्त्ववन्तं महाकपिम्॥ परिगृह्य ययुर्हष्टा राक्षसाः कपिकुञ्जरम्। शङ्खभेरीनिनादैश्च घोषयन्तः स्वकर्मभिः॥

Then the Raksasas, rejoicing greatly, went off, taking that mighty monkey endowed with strength, an elephant (in prowess) among monkeys. And blowing conchs and trumpets, and bruiting it abroad by various actions, (Publishing Hanuman's penalty) those Raksasas of cruel deeds took (Hanumān) about the city (of Lankā).

Sundara Kanda 53.15

राक्षसाः क्रूरकर्माणश्चारयन्ति स्म तां पुरीम्। अन्वीयमानो रक्षोभिर्ययौ सुखमरिन्दमः॥ हनूमांश्चारयामास राक्षसानां महापुरीम्। यथापश्यद् विमानानि विचित्राणि महाकपिः॥ संवृतान् भूमिभागांश्च सुविभक्तांश्च चत्वरान्। रथ्याश्च गृहसंबाधाः कपिः शृङ्गाटकानि च॥ तथा रथ्योपरथ्याश्च तथैव च गृहान्तरान्।

And led by those Rākşasas, that subduer of enemies, Hanumān, experienced delight, and going about the mighty metropolis of the Rākşasas, the redoubted monkey surveyed variegated cars, enclosed court-yards, wellordered terraces, streets thronged with edifices, crossings, by-ways, and the interiors dwellings.

Sundara Kanda 53.16

चत्वरेषु चतुष्केषु राजमार्गे तथैव च॥ घोषयन्ति कपि सर्वे चार इत्येव राक्षसाः।

And on terraces and highways the Rākṣasas proclaim the monkey, saying, “This is a spy.'

Sundara Kanda 53.17

दीप्यमाने ततस्तस्य लाङ्कलाग्रे हनूमतः॥ राक्षस्यस्ता विरूपाक्ष्यः शंसुर्देव्यास्तदप्रियम्।

On Hanumān's tail being in flames, Rākṣasīs of frightful eyes related to that exalted lady (Sītā) tidings of this great mishap.

Sundara Kanda 53.18

यस्त्वया कृतसंवादः सीते ताम्रमुखः कपिः॥ लाफूलेन प्रदीप्तेन स एष परिणीयते।

O Sītā, the copper-faced monkey with whom you hadst held talk, is being led around with his tail flaming,

Sundara Kanda 53.19

श्रुत्वा तद् वचनं क्रूरमात्मापहरणोपमम्॥ वैदेही शोकसंतप्ता हुताशनमुपागमत्।

Hearing these cruel words, like to loss of life, Vaidehi, burning in grief, approached the Fire.

Sundara Kanda 53.20

मङ्गलाभिमुखी तस्य सा तदासीन्महाकपेः॥ उपतस्थे विशालाक्षी प्रयता हव्यवाहनम्।

And wishing for the welfare of the mighty monkey, that large eyed lady with an intent mind began to pray to that bearer of sacrificial offerings,

Sundara Kanda 53.21

यद्यस्ति पतिशुश्रूषा यद्यस्ति चरितं तपः॥ यदि वा त्वेकपत्नीत्वं शीतो भव हनूमतः।

If I have served my lord, if I bear a character, if I have ascetic merit, if I have been the wife of one alone, then prove you cool to Hanumān.

Sundara Kanda 53.22

ततस्तीक्ष्णार्चिरव्यग्रः प्रदक्षिणशिखोऽनलः। जज्वाल मृगशावाक्ष्याः शंसन्निव शुभं कपेः॥ हनूमज्जनकश्चैव पुच्छानलयुतोऽनिलः। ववौ स्वास्थ्यकरो देव्याः प्रालेयानिलशीतलः॥

Thereat, as if communicating the welfare of the monkey to that one having eyes like those of a young deer, the Fire flamed up. And Hanumān's sire, albeit furnished with fire and a tail, blew ice-cold before that worshipful one, breathing health (to Hanumān).

Sundara Kanda 53.23

दह्यमाने च लाफूले चिन्तयामास वानरः। प्रदीप्तोऽग्निरयं कस्मान मां दहति सर्वतः॥

On his tail flaming, the monkey reflected, "This fire is flaming. Why dose it not then burn me all over"?

Sundara Kanda 53.24

दृश्यते च महाज्वालः करोति च न मे रुजम्। शिशिरस्येव सम्पातो लाङ्गूलाग्रे प्रतिष्ठितः॥

I see it of exceeding brightness yet it pain me not. (On the contrary), at the end of my tail it seem like a mass of ice.

Sundara Kanda 53.25

अथवा तदिदं व्यक्तं यद् दृष्टं प्लवता मया। रामप्रभावादाश्चर्यं पर्वतः सरितां पतौ॥

Or this is clearly due to Rāma's power, even like the wonder (that I witnessed) while bounding over the main-the mountain under the lord of streams. (Mainaka)

Sundara Kanda 53.26

यदि तावत् समुद्रस्य मैनाकस्य च धीमतः। रामार्थं सम्भ्रमस्तादृक्किमग्निर्न करिष्यति॥

If the Ocean and the intelligent Maināka could show such regard for Råma, what may not the Fire do (for him?)

Sundara Kanda 53.27

सीतायाश्चानृशंस्येन तेजसा राघवस्य च। पितुश्च मम सख्येन न मां दहति पावकः॥

Fire dose not burn me for Sītā's (absolute) goodness, for Rāghava's prowess, and for (his friendship with my sire.

Sundara Kanda 53.28

भूयः स चिन्तयामास मुहूर्ते कपिकुञ्जरः। कथमस्मद्विधस्येह बन्धनं राक्षसाधमैः॥ प्रतिक्रियास्य युक्ता स्यात् सति मह्यं पराक्रमे।

Then the elephantine monkey again reflected for a while, “Why should one like me suffer one's self to be bound by vile Rākşasas? Therefore it is meet that I should, displaying my prowess, avenge (this wrong)."

Sundara Kanda 53.29

ततश्छित्त्वा च पाशान् वेगवान् वै महाकपिः॥ उत्पपाताथ वेगेन ननाद च महाकपिः।

Thereat that vehement and mighty monkey snapped his bonds, and furiously springing into the sky, the terrible monkey uttered a shout. anon one

Sundara Kanda 53.30

पुरद्वारं ततः श्रीमाशैलशृङ्गमिवोन्नतम्॥ विभक्तरक्षःसम्बाधमाससादानिलात्मजः।

Then the graceful son of the Wind-god arrived at the gate of the city resembling a hill, where Rākşasas there were none.

Sundara Kanda 53.31

स भूत्वा शैलसंकाशः क्षणेन पुनरात्मवान्॥ ह्रस्वतां परमां प्राप्तो बन्धनान्यवशातयत्। विमुक्तश्चाभवच्छ्रीमान् पुनः पर्वतसंनिभः॥

After having attained the magnitude of a mountain, that self-controlled diminished himself and cast off his bonds. And having freed himself, the graceful one again became mountain-like.

Sundara Kanda 53.32

वीक्षमाणश्च ददृशे परिघं तोरणाश्रितम्। स तं गृह्य महाबाहुः कालायसपरिष्कृतम्। रक्षिणस्तान् पुनः सर्वान् सूदयामास मारुतिः॥

And eyeing around, he saw a bolt standing against the gate. And that mighty-armed one, the Wind-god's son, taking up that bolt of burnished iron, again slaughtered the guards.

Sundara Kanda 53.33

स तान् निहत्वा रणचण्डविक्रमः समीक्षमाणः पुनरेव लङ्काम्। प्रदीप्तलाकॅलकृतार्चिमाली प्रकाशितादित्य इवार्चिमाली॥

Having slain the warders, that one of terrific prowess crowned with a luminous wreath forged from his flaming tail, and appearing like the sun garlanded with glory, once again cast his eyes over Lanka.

Sundara Kanda 53.34