Sundara Kanda: Chapter 4

स निर्जित्य पुरीं लङ्कां श्रेष्ठां तां कामरूपिणीम्। विक्रमेण महातेजा हनूमान् कपिसत्तमः॥ अद्वारेण महावीर्यः प्राकारमवपुप्लुवे। निशि लङ्कां महासत्त्वो विवेश कपिकुञ्जरः॥
Having by his vigour vanquished the excellent City of Lankā capable of wearing forms at will, that exceedingly energetic foremost of monkeys, Hanumān, endued with prodigious prowess, Ieaped sheer over a wall, where doorway there was none; and that elephantine monkey gifted with great strength entered Lankā by night.

प्रविश्य नगरी लङ्कां कपिराजहितंकरः। चक्रेऽथ पादं सव्यं च शत्रूणां स तु मूर्धनि ॥
Entering the city of Larkā that one (ever) compassing the welfare of the monkey-king, set his left foot on the heads of his foes. * *The literal meaning is that, leaping over the wall, Hanumān, first set his left foot on the hostile soil; and this act of his, as tending to the discomfiture of the foe, is looked upon by the author in the light of Hanumān setting his left foot on the heads of the Rāks asas. The setting of the left foot on an enemy's dominions, is considered by the scriptures as very inauspicious.

प्रविष्टः सत्त्वसम्पन्नो निशायां मारुतात्मजः। स महापथमास्थाय मुक्तपुष्पविराजितम्॥
Entering in by night, the offspring of the Wind-god furnished with strength, proceeded along the high-way strewn with blossoms.

ततस्तु तां पुरीं लङ्कां रम्यामभिययौ कपिः। हसितोत्कृष्टनिनदैस्तूर्यघोषपुरस्कृतैः॥ वज्राङ्कुशनिकाशैश्च वज्रजालविभूषतैः। गृहमेधैः पुरी रम्या बभासे द्यौरिवाम्बुदैः॥
The monkey held his way in the charming city of Lankā, resounding with grateful sounds mixed with laughter, and ringing with trumpet blasts. And with multitudes of mansions marked with the thunderbolt and the hook, and adorned with diamond windows, the charming metropolis looked splendid, like the welkin with clouds.

प्रजज्वाल तदा लङ्का रक्षोगणगृहैः शुभैः। सिताभ्रसदृशैश्चित्रैः पद्मस्वस्तिकसंस्थितैः॥ वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि सर्वतः सुविभूषितैः।
Then Lankā, with handsome and variegated mansions of Rākṣasas, resembling white clouds and arranged like lotus-leaves; and adorned on all sides with structures superscribed 'Vardhamāna,' shone forth in all it glory.

तां चित्रमाल्याभरणां कपिराजहितंकरः॥ राघवार्थे चरञ्श्रीमान् ददर्श च ननन्द च।
And that graceful one serving in the interests of the king of monkeys, ranging for Rāma's behoof, beheld (Lankā) adorned with variegated wreaths; and was highly delighted.

भवनाद् भवनं गच्छन् ददर्श कपिकुञ्जरः॥ विविधाकृतिरूपाणि भवनानि ततस्ततः। शुश्राव रुचिरं गीतं त्रिस्थानस्वरभूषितम्॥ स्त्रीणां मदनविद्धानां दिवि चाप्सरसामिव। शुश्राव काञ्चीनिनदं नूपुराणां च निःस्वनम्॥
Moving from house to house, that foremost of monkeys observed on all sides various dwellings of diverse forms and colour, and heard charming songs chanted in the three octaves* by damsels maddened with amour, resembling celestial Apsaras. *The three octaves referred to are Mandra or the base tone, Madhyma or the middle tone, and Tara or the high tone. These constitute the entire diapason of Hindu Music..

सोपाननिनदांश्चापि भवनेषु महात्मनाम्। आस्फोटितनिनादांश्च क्ष्वेडितांश्च ततस्ततः॥
He also heard the jingling of zones and the clash of bangles; and sounds of footsteps on stairs of edifices belonging to high-souled ones; and sounds proceeding from clapping hands; and the roaring of lions here and there.

शुश्राव जपतां तत्र मन्त्रान् रक्षोगृहेषु वै। स्वाध्यायनिरतांश्चैव यातुधानान् ददर्श सः॥
And (Hanumān) heard there in the mansions of the Rākṣas, Mantras recited by persons engaged therein, and those occupied in Vaidika studies.

रावणस्तवसंयुक्तान् गर्जतो राक्षसानपि। राजमार्ग समावृत्य स्थितं रक्षोगणं महत्॥
And (Hanumān) saw goblins and Rākşasas storming and eulogizing Rāvana; and mighty swarms of Rākṣas stationed, covering the highway.

ददर्श मध्यमे गुल्मे राक्षसस्य चरान् बहून्। दीक्षिताञ्जटिलान् मुण्डान् गोजिनाम्बरवाससः॥ दर्भमुष्टिप्रहरणानग्निकुण्डायुधांस्तथा। कूटमुद्ररपाणींश्च दण्डायुधधरानपि॥ एकाक्षानेकवर्णाश्च लम्बोदरपयोधरान्। करालान् भुग्नवस्त्रांश्च विकटान् वामनांस्तथा॥ धन्विनः खङ्गिनश्चैव शतघ्नीमुसलायुधान्। परिघोत्तमहस्तांश्च विचित्रकवचोज्ज्वलान्॥ नातिस्थूलान् नातिकृशान् नातिदीर्घातिह्रस्वकान्। नातिगौरान् नातिकृष्णान्नातिकुब्जान्न वामनान्॥ विरूपान् बहुरूपांश्च सुरूपांश्च सुवर्चसः। ध्वजिनः पताकिनश्चैव ददर्श विविधायुधान्॥
In the central courtyard, he found innumerable spies of the Raksasa (Ravana), some initiated, some bearing matted locks, some with their heads shaven, and some clad in cow-skins, some in cloths and some going stark naked; and (he found there persons) carrying handfuls of darbha for their weapons, and (having) the sacrificial fire-place for their arms; and those bearing in their hands clubs and concealed weapons,' or holding rods as their arms, or having a single eye or a single complexion, or having a single breast dangling down; and those looking dreadful with uneven attire; and dwarfs frightful to behold; and bowmen; and swordsmen; and (warriors) carrying sataghnís and clubs for their arms; those Searing excellent Parighas in their hands, or blazing in curious mail; person not exceedingly fat, or exceedingly lean; not unduly tall, or unduly short; not extremely fair, or extremely dark; not unduly crooked, or unduly dwarfish; and those deformed, or many-formed, endowed with beauty, or possessing splendour; standard bearers; and flag bearers. 1. Kuta. The commentator says the word stands for a particular kind of weapons. Wilson has concealed weapon for its English equivalent. 2. The same complexion gives sense. But I render the passage literally. 2. Bhugnavastrān.-Perhaps the text is corrupt. Bhugnavaktran-persons of deformed faces-would render sense. or

शक्तिवृक्षायुधांश्चैव पट्टिशाशनिधारिणः। क्षेपणीपाशहस्तांश्च ददर्श स महाकपिः॥ स्रग्विणस्त्वनुलिप्तांश्च वराभरणभूषितान्। नानावेषसमायुक्तान् यथास्वैरचरान् बहून्॥
And (Hanuman) saw also various weapons; and those having for their arms darts and vrikshas, or bearing patticas and asanis, or having Kshepanis* and nooses in their hands, saw that mighty monkey, or wearing wreaths, or having their persons daubed with pastes, or adorned with nobel ornaments, or clad in various kinds of raiment; and many a one ranging wherever he listed. *A short arrow thrown from the hand, or shot

तीक्ष्णशूलधरांश्चैव वज्रिणश्च महाबलान्। शतसाहस्रमव्यग्रमारक्षं मध्यमं कपिः॥ रक्षोऽधिपतिनिर्दिष्टं ददर्शान्तःपुराग्रतः।
And those holding sharpened javelins; and mighty ones bearing Vajras; and hundreds and thousands of warriors garrisoned in the central courtyard and engaged in vigilantly guarding the central courtyard and engaged in vigilantly guarding the interior, having been directed by the lord of the Raksas, saw the monkey.

स तदा तद् गृहं दृष्ट्वा महाहाटकतोरणम्॥ राक्षसेन्द्रस्य विख्यातमद्रिमूर्ध्नि प्रतिष्ठितम्। पुण्डरीकावतंसाभिः परिखाभिः समावृतम्॥ प्राकारावृतमत्यन्तं ददर्श स महाकपिः। त्रिविष्टपनिभं दिव्यं दिव्यनादविनादितम्॥ वाजिह्वेषितसंघुष्टं नादितं भूषणैस्तथा। रथैर्यानैर्विमानैश्च तथा हयगजैः शुभैः॥ वारणैश्च चतुर्दन्तैः श्वेताभ्रनिचयोपमैः। भूषितै रुचिरद्वारं मत्तैश्च मृगपक्षिभिः॥
Having seen that edifice situated in front of the inner apartment, that mighty monkey saw the famous mansion of the Rākşasa chief, pinnacled or the mountain-top, with huge golden arches over the gateway; surrounded by a moat enriched with pale lotuses; and completely guarded by a wall; resembling heaven, itself; magnificent; resonant with grateful sounds; resounding with the neighing of horses and wondrous steeds; and adorned with cars and vehicles, chariots and dainty horse: elephants, and four-tusked elephants* resembling masses of white clouds; and possessing graceful gateways. Elephants of the size of horses.

रक्षितं सुमहावीर्यातुधानैः सहस्रशः। राक्षसाधिपतेर्गुप्तमाविवेश गृहं कपिः॥
The monkey entered the palace protected by the Rākṣasa chief, guarded by maddened beasts and birds, and thousands of gobbling endowed with exceeding great prowess.

स हेमजाम्बूनदचक्रवालं महार्हमुक्तामणिभूषितान्तम्। परार्ध्यकालागुरुचन्दनाहँस रावणान्तःपुरमाविवेश ॥
He (Hanumān) entered Rāvana's inner apartment girt round with a wall consisting of blazing gold and Jambúnada;* having its top decorated with costly gems and pearls; and worshipped with excellent black Aguru and sandal. * Jambunada is a kind of gold having sixteen diverse colours.