इत्युक्त्वा हनुमांस्तत्र चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बराम्। अब्रवीत् तां महाभागां तापसी धर्मचारिणीम्॥
Having said this to that female clad in a piece of black deer-skin, Hanumān asked that highly religious ascetic practising pious offices,
इदं प्रविष्टा सहसा बिलं तिमिरसंवृताम्। क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्ताः परिखिन्त्राश्च सर्वशः॥ महद् धरण्या विवरं प्रविष्टाः स्म पिपासिताः। इमांस्त्वेवंविधान् भावान् विविधानद्भुतोपमान्॥ दृष्ट्वा वयं प्रव्यथिताः सम्भ्रान्ता नष्टचेतसः। कस्येतै काञ्चना वृक्षास्तरुणादित्यसंनिभाः॥
Having rashly entered this cave enveloped in gloom, we have been exercised with hunger and thirst; and are extremely faint. And, having entered this mighty cave underneath the earth, we have become thirsty. And, seeing all these wonderful phenomena, we have become afflicted, and bewildered; and have lost our sense. To whom belong these golden trees resembling the infantine sun;
शुचीन्यभ्यवहाराणि मूलानि च फलानि च। काञ्चनानि विमानानि राजतानि गृहाणि च ॥ तपनीयगवाक्षाणि मणिजालावृतानि च। पुष्पिताः फलवन्तश्च पुण्याः सुरभिगन्धयः॥ इमे जाम्बूनदमयाः पादपाः कस्य तेजसा।
And the pure fruits and roots, and the houses and vehicles of gold and silver,-veiled in networks of jewels, and furnished with golden windows? And by whose energy are these golden trees (here), bearing flowers, crowned with fruits, grateful to the sight, and breathing rich odour?
काञ्चनानि च पद्मानि जातानि विमले जले॥ कथं मत्स्याश्च सौवर्णा दृश्यन्ते सह कच्छपैः। आत्मनस्त्वनुभावाद् वा कस्य वैतत्तपोबलम्॥ अजानतां नः सर्वेषां सर्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि।
And golden lotuses spring in in lucent water,-how golden fishes are discovered in it along with tortoises! Have these sprung from your power; or do they owe their existence to the ascetic energy of any other? It behoves you to relate all this to us who are ignorant of everything.
एवमुक्ता हनुमता तापसी धर्मचारिणी॥ प्रत्युवाच हनूमन्तं सर्वभूताहिते रता।
Thus addressed by Hanumān, the female ascetic practising righteousness, and engaged in the welfare of all beings, replied to Hanumān,
मयो नाम महातेजा मायावी वानरर्षभ॥ तेनेदं निर्मितं सर्वं मायया काञ्चनं वनम्।
O foremost of monkeys, there is one, named Maya, spreader of illusions. By him has this entire golden grove been constructed through his wonderful power of construction.
पुरा दानवमुख्यानां विश्वकर्मा बभूव ह॥ येनेदं काञ्चनं दिव्यं निर्मितं भवनोत्तमम्।
He that as reared this excellent golden grove, and this charming mansion, was formerly the Viśvakarmā* of the principal Dänavas. *The name of the celestial architect.
स तु वर्षसहस्राणि तपस्तप्त्वा महद्वने॥ पितामहाद् वरं लेभे सर्वमौशनसं धनम्।
Having for a thousand years thousand years practised austerities in this vast forest, he obtained a boon from the Great-father,-in virtue of which he had attained consummate mastery in his art, as well as absolute control over the materials required therein.
विधाय सर्वं बलवान् सर्वकामेश्वरस्तदा ॥ उवास सुखितः कालं कंचिदस्मिन् महावने।
Having accomplished everything, that powerful one, commanding every enjoyment, for a time happily dwelt in this mighty forest.
तमप्सरसि हेमायां सक्तं दानवपुङ्गवम्॥ विक्रम्यैवाशनिं गृह्य जघानेशः पुरंदरः।
Then he, happening to conceive a passion for an Apsara, Hema (by name), Purandara, vigorously wielding his thunder-bolt, struck him dead.
इदं च ब्रह्मणा दत्तं हैमायै वनमुत्तमम्॥ शाश्वतः कामभोगश्च गृहं चेदं हिरण्मयम्।
Then Brahmä conferred on Hemā this fine forest and this golden mansion, with the perpetual privilege of enjoying every pleasure herein.
दुहिता मेरुसावर्णेरहं तस्याः स्वयंप्रभा॥ इदं रक्षामि भवनं हेमाया वानरोत्तम।
I, Svayamprabhā by name,-the daughter of Merusāvarņi, guard this house of Hemā, O foremost of monkeys.
मम प्रियसखी हेमा नृत्तगीतविशारदा ॥ तया दत्तवरा चास्मि रक्षामि भवनं महत्।
Hemā, skilled in dance and song, is my dear friend. having received her blessing, I guard this vast forest.
किं कार्यं कस्य वा हेतोः कान्ताराणि प्रपद्यथ॥ कथं चेदं वनं दुर्गं युष्माभिरुपलक्षितम्।
What is your errand? And why is it that you have arrived at these lone woods? And how have you managed to see this inaccessible forest?
शुचीन्यभ्यवहाराणि मूलानि च फलानि च। भुक्त्वा पीत्वा च पानीयं सर्वं मे वक्तुमर्हसि ॥
Having partaken of these fruits and roots intended for use, and drunk, do you detail all this to me.