Sundara Kanda: Chapter 11

अवधूय च ता बुद्धिं बभूवावस्थितस्तदा। जगाम चापरां चिन्तां सीतां प्रति महाकपिः॥
Then resigning that line of thought, that mighty monkey, regaining his equanimity, set out in another direction of thought touching Sītā.

न रामेण वियुक्ता सा स्वप्तुमर्हति भामिनी। न भोक्तुं नाप्यलंकर्तुं न पानमुपसेवितुम्॥
Separated from Rāma, that lady is incapable of sleeping, or eating, or decorating (her person), or drinking.

नान्यं नरमुपस्थातुं सुराणामपि चेश्वरम्। न हि रामसमः कश्चिद् विद्यते त्रिदशेष्वपि॥
She is incapable of associating with any other person, although he were the sovereign of the celestials himself. And even in all heaven there is none who is equal to Rāma.

अन्येयमिति निश्चित्य भूयस्तत्र चचार सः। पानभूमौ हरिश्रेष्ठः सीतासंदर्शनोत्सुकः॥
"She is some other.” Assuring himself of this, that foremost of monkeys, eager to behold Sītā, again began to range in that place set apart for drinking.

क्रीडितेनापराः क्लान्ता गीतेन च तथापराः। नृत्येन चापराः क्लान्ता पानविप्रहतास्तथा॥
Some were tired out with sporting; some with singing; some with dancing; and some were fast asleep through intoxication.

मुरजेषु मृदङ्गेषु चेलिकासु च संस्थिताः। तथाऽऽस्तरणमुख्येषु संविष्टाश्चापराः स्त्रियः॥ अङ्गनानां सहस्रेण भूषितेन विभूषणैः। रूपसंलापशीलेन युक्तगीतार्थभाषिणा॥ देशकालाभियुक्तेन युक्तवाक्याभिधायिना।. रताधिकेन संयुक्तां ददर्श हरियूथपः॥
Some supported themselves on Murajas, Mşdangas, or Celikās; and some women were sleeping on excellent sheets. And that leader of monkey-bands saw (that place of drinking) filled with thousands of women, adorned with ornaments engaged in their sleep) in depicting each other's loveliness, and explaining the sense of songs; conversant with season and place; understanding the meanings of word chiming in with season and place;* and skilful at play. *All this, remarks Rāmānuja, appeared from their talk during sleep.

अन्यत्रापि वरस्त्रीणां रूपसंलापशायिनाम्। सहस्रं युवतीनां तु प्रसुप्तं स ददर्श ह॥
At other places also he saw thousands of superb and youthful dames fast asleep, employed in talking of each other's beauty.

देशकालाभियुक्तं तु युक्तवाक्याभिधायि तत्। रताविरतसंसुप्तं ददर्श हरियूथपः॥
That leader of monkey bands saw (women) versed in season and place, and understanding the meanings of words consonant with season and place.

तासां मध्ये महाबाहुः शुशुभे राक्षसेश्वरः। गोष्ठे महति मुख्यानां गवां मध्ये यथा वृषः॥
In the midst of them all, the lord of the Rāks asas looked splendid like an ox in a spacious stall in the midst of stately kine.

स राक्षसेन्द्रः शुशुभे ताभिः परिवृतः स्वयम्। करेणुभिर्यथारण्ये परिकीर्णो महाद्विपः॥
Surrounded by them, the Rākṣasa chief appeared beautiful like a gigantic elephant in a forest, surrounded by female elephants.

सर्वकामैरुपेतां च पानभूमिं महात्मनः। ददर्श कपिशार्दूलस्तस्य रक्षःपतेहे ॥ मृगाणां महिषाणां च वराहाणां च भागशः। तत्र न्यस्तानि मांसानि पानभूमौ ददर्श सः॥
In the abode of the huge-bodied Rākşasa chief, that tiger like monkey saw that place of drinking, furnished with every object of desire.

रौक्मेषु च विशालेषु भाजनेष्वप्यभक्षितान्। ददर्श कपिशार्दूलो मयूरान् कुक्कुटांस्तथा॥ वराहवाध्रीणसकान् दधिसौवर्चलायुतान्। शल्यान् मृगमयूरांश्च हनुमानन्ववैक्षत॥ कृकलान् विविधांश्छागाञ्छशकानर्धभक्षितान्। महिषानेकशल्यांश्च मेषांश्च कृतनिष्ठितान्॥ लेह्यानुच्चावचान् पेयान् भोज्यान्युच्चावचानि च। तथाम्ललवणोत्तंसैविविधै रागखाण्डवैः॥
In that place set apart for drinking, he saw heaps of the flesh of buffaloes, deer, and boars, arranged separately, And that tiger-like monkey saw in capacious golden vessels flesh of fowls and peacocks, which remained (after the repast). And Hanumãn saw the flesh of boars, and Vádhrinasas Salyas, deer and peacocks, seasoned with curds and Sauvarcala, and Krkalas, and goats of various kinds, flesh of hare half-fed-Ekasalyas, and buffaloes, all chopped and dressed; and lickable and drinkable viands sharp and mild; and edibles sharp and mild; and Rägakhāndavas# containing sugar and acid, capable of improving a vicious palate.

महानूपुरकेयूरैरपविद्धैर्महाधनैः। पानभाजनविक्षिप्तैः फलैश्च विविधैरपि॥ कृतपुष्पोपहारा भूरधिकां पुष्यति श्रियम्।
With large and costly stray bangles and bracelests; and scattered cans, and diverse kinds of fruit; and wreaths of flowers, the pavement attained exceeding beauty.

तत्र तत्र च विन्यस्तैः सुश्लिष्टशयनासनैः॥ पानभूमिर्विना वर्जाि प्रदीप्तेवोपलक्ष्यते।
And with elegantly jointed bedsteads, arranged (around), the scene of wassail appeared aflame without fire.

बहुप्रकारैर्विविधैर्वरसंस्कारसंस्कृतैः॥ मांसैः कुशलसंयुक्तैः पानभूमिगतैः पृथक् । दिव्या प्रसन्ना विविधाः सुराः कृतसुरा अपि॥ शर्करासवमाध्वीकाः पुष्पासवफलासवाः। वासचूर्णैश्च विविधैर्मुष्टास्तैस्तैः पृथक् पृथक् ॥ संतता शुशुभे भूमिर्माल्यैश्च बहुसंस्थितैः। हिरण्मयैश्च कलशैर्भाजनैः स्फाटिकैरपि॥ जाम्बूनदमयैश्चान्यैः करकैरभिसंवृता।
With meat consisting of many ingredients, fraught with diverse tastes, seasoned with many substances, and dressed by skilful cooks, arranged separately in the scene of revel; and with noble and pleasant wines, natural and artifical, asavas from sugar; and Madhvika' and āsavas from flowers and fruits; and impregnated separately with different kinds of fragrant dust, the pavement, furnished with innumerable garlands, surrounded with golden water vessels and crystal bowls, and golden water-pots, looked exceedingly beautiful.

राजतेषु च कुम्भेषु जाम्बूनदमयेषु च॥ पानश्रेष्ठां तथा भूमिं कपिस्तत्र ददर्श ह।
The monkey saw that foremost of all places set apart for drinking, containing silver and golden jars.

सोऽपश्यच्छातकुम्भानि सीधोमणिमयानि च॥ तानि तानि च पूर्णानि भाजनानि महाकपिः। क्वचिदर्धावशेषाणि क्वचित् पीतान्यशेषतः॥ क्वचिन्नैव प्रपीतानि पानानि स ददर्श ह।
That mighty monkey saw golden wine-vessels studded with gems, all filled with wine; and some with half full of liquor, some with their wine entirely exhausted, and some full of liquor.

क्वचिद् भक्ष्यांश्च विविधान् क्वचित् पानं विभागतः।।२८ । क्वचिदर्धावशेषाणि पश्यन् वै विचचार ह।
And (at some spots) he saw various kinds of viands, and at other wines ranged in rows, and at others the wine-vessels remaining half full.

शयनान्यत्र नारीणां शून्यानि बहुधा पुनः। परस्परं समाश्लिष्य काश्चित् सुप्तावराङ्गनाः॥
There were many bedsteads belonging to fair ones, remaining vacant; and at some places excellent women were sleeping touching each other.

काचिच्च वस्त्रमन्यस्य अपहत्योपगुह्य च। उपगम्याबला सुप्ता निद्राबलपराजिता॥
And at one place, a female, borne down by the force of sleep, forcibly possessing herself of another's cloth, and wrapping herself there with, went to the bed of that one, and was indulging in sleep.

तासामुच्छ्वासवातेनं वस्त्रं माल्यं च गात्रजम्। नात्यर्थं स्पन्दते चित्रं प्राप्य मन्मिवानिलम्॥
And with their breath, their variegated wreaths and the cloth on their persons were stirring gently, as if with a mild-blowing breeze.

चन्दनस्य च शीतस्य सीधोर्मधुरसस्य च। विविधस्य च माल्यस्य पुष्पस्य विविधस्य च ॥ बहुधा मारुतस्तस्य गन्धं विविधमुद्वहन्। स्नानानां चन्दनानां च धूपानां चैव मूर्छितः॥
Laden with the odours of cool sandal, and of sweet-tasting Sidhu; and of diverse wreaths and flowers, and with perfumes of various kinds, and entranced with (the aroma) of sandals suitable for use after ablution, and of dhupas, the air, impregnated with excellent scent, was there breathing around the car Puşpaka.

प्रववौ सुरभिर्गन्धो विमाने पुष्पके तदा। श्यामावदातास्तत्रान्याः काश्चित् कृष्णा वराङ्गनाः॥ काश्चित् काञ्चनवर्णाङ्गयः प्रमदा राक्षसालये।
And in the residence of the Rākşas, there were some wenches sable, yet exceedingly witching; and some were dark-hued; and the frames of some were of a golden brilliance.

तासां निद्रावशत्वाच्च मदनेन विमूर्च्छितम् ॥ पद्मिनीनां प्रसुप्तानां रूपमासीद् यथैव हि।
Their beauty, in consequence of their coming under the governance of sleep, and their being bereft of their senses by Madana, resembled that of lotuses in a sleep.

एवं सर्वमशेषेण रावणान्तःपुरं कपिः। ददर्श स महातेजा न ददर्श च जानकीम्॥
Thus that highly energetic monkey saw everything thoroughly in the inner apartment of Ravana, but he saw not Janaka's daughter.

निरीक्षमाणश्च ततस्ताः स्त्रियः स महाकपिः। जगाम महतीं शङ्कां धर्मसाध्वसशङ्कितः॥
Seeing those females, that mighty monkey, apprehending loss of righteousness, was seized with an exceeding great fear.

परदारावरोधस्य प्रसुप्तस्य निरीक्षणम्। इदं खलु ममात्यर्थं धर्मलोपं करिष्यति॥
Beholding a female, who is the religiously wedded wife of another, while she is asleep, verily cause loss of righteousness. *And therefore presumably incapable of taking care of herself.

न हि मे परदाराणां दृष्टिविषयवर्तिनी। अयं चात्र मया दृष्टः परदारपरिग्रहः॥
My sight surely never seek other's wives; but I have beheld this one that has ravished another's spouse.

तस्य प्रादुरभूच्चिन्ता पुनरन्या मनस्विनः। निश्चितैकान्तचित्तस्य कार्यनिश्चयदर्शिनी।४०।।
That intelligent one, intent on attaining a knowledge of things capable of being arrived at on grounds of judgement, again reflected effectively as to his course of action.

कामं दृष्टा मया सर्वा विश्वस्ता रावणस्त्रियः। न तु मे मनसा किंचिद् वैकृत्यमुपपद्यते॥
All these unsuspecting wives of Rāvana have been beheld by me; yet there are no signs that my mind has undergone any alteration.

मनो हि हेतुः सर्वेषामिन्द्रियाणां प्रवर्तने। शुभाशुभास्ववस्थासु तच्च मे सुव्यवस्थिम्।॥
In respect of the enlistment of the senses on behalf of any course of action good or evil, it is verily mind which is the cause; and herein my mind is righteously disposed.

नान्यत्र हि मया शक्या वैदेही परिमार्गितुम्। स्त्रियो हि स्त्रीषु दृश्यन्ते सदा सम्परिमार्गणे॥
I could not search for Vaidehī elsewhere; for in the matter of search, people always search for women even among women.

यस्य सत्त्वस्य या योनिस्तस्यां तत् परिमार्गते। न शक्यं प्रमदा नष्टा मृगीषु परिमार्गितुम्॥
People search for creatures among the species to which they happen to belong: none scarchets for a lost lady among female deer.

तदिदं मार्गितं तावच्छुद्धेन मनसा मया। रावणान्तःपुरं सर्वं दृश्यते न च जानकी ॥
Therefore have I with a pure heart explored the entire inner apartment of Rāvana; but Janaka's daughter I see not.

देवगन्धर्वकन्याश्च नागकन्याश्च वीर्यवान्। अवेक्षमाणो हनुमान् नैवापश्यत जानकीम्॥
Hanumān endowed with prowess saw the daughters of gods, and Yaksa, and Nagas; but he saw not Jānaki.

तामपश्यन् कपिस्तत्र पश्यंश्चान्या वरस्त्रियः। अपक्रम्य तदा वीरः प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे॥
And not seeing her, that hero, having beheld other magnificent dames, coming out of that place, set about searching for Sītā (afresh).

स भूयः सर्वतः श्रीमान् मारुतिर्यत्नमाश्रितः। आपानभूमिमुत्सृज्य तां विचेतुं प्रचक्रमे॥
Leaving the place of was sail, the graceful offspring of the Wind-god, taking extreme care, again began to search for Sītā all about (another quarter).