Sundara Kanda: Chapter 12

न तस्य मध्ये भवनस्य संस्थितो लतागृहांश्चित्रगृहान् निशागृहान्। जगाम सीतां प्रतिदर्शनोत्सुको न चैव तां पश्यति चारुदर्शनाम्॥
Remaining in that mansion, (Hanuman) desirous of getting a sight of Sītā graced with a fair presence, went into bowers, and picture galleries, and night-houses;* but her he did not find. *Intended for stay at night.

न चिन्तयामास ततो महाकपिः प्रियामपश्यन् रघुनन्दनस्य ताम्। ध्रुवं न सीता ध्रियते यथा न मे विचिन्वतो दर्शनमेति मैथिली॥
And not finding the beloved (spouse) of Raghu's son that mighty monkey reflected, “Surely Sītā is not alive, for although I have searched (through and through), yet Mithila's daughter I have failed to find."

सा राक्षसानां प्रवरेण बाला स्वशीलसंरक्षणतत्परा सती। अनेन नूनं प्रति दुष्टकर्मणा हता भवेदार्यपथे परे स्थिता॥
That girl solicitous for the preservation of her chastity, and staying in the prime path of virtuous woman, that chaste one has, for certain, been slain by this chief of the Rākṣasas, (ever) finding delight in iniquity.

विरूपरूपा विकृता विवर्चसो महानना दीर्घविरूपदर्शनाः। समीक्ष्य ता राक्षसराजयोषितो भयाद् विनष्टा जनकेश्वरात्मजा॥
Seeing the wives of the Rākṣasa inonarch, of frightful forms, monstrous; of lurid hue; having huge faces; with large horrid eyes, the daughter of Janaka has given up the ghost from fright.

सीतामदृष्ट्वा ह्यनवाप्य पौरुषं विहृत्य कालं सह वानरैश्चिरम्। न मेऽस्ति सुग्रीवसमीपगा गतिः सुतीक्ष्णदण्डो बलवांश्च वानरः ॥
Failing to see Sītā, and (thereby) annulling my prowess, and having long spent the appointed space in company with the monkeys, way have I none to present myself before Sugrīva, that monkey being puissant and given to meting out sharp chastisement.

दृष्टमन्तःपुरं सर्वं दृष्टा राक्षसयोषितः। न सीता दृश्यते साध्वी वृथा जातो मम श्रमः॥
Having searched the inner apartment through, and seen the wives of the Rākṣasa, I do not see the chaste Sită. Therefore vain is the trouble that I take.

किं नु मां वानराः सर्वे गतं वक्ष्यन्ति संगताः। गत्वा तत्र त्वया वीर किं कृतं तद् वदस्व नः॥
What, alas! shall the monkeys assembled tell me when I shall go (to them)? 'O hero, tell us what you have done, repairing there.'

अदृष्ट्वा किं प्रवक्ष्यामि तामहं जनकात्मजाम्। ध्रुवं प्रायमुपासिष्ये कालस्य व्यतिवर्तने ॥
And not having seen Janaka's daughter, what shall I answer? The term fixed (by Sugrīva) having been past, certainly meet it is that I should fast to death.

किं वा वक्ष्यति वृद्धश्च जाम्बवानङ्गदश्च सः। गतं पारं समुद्रस्य वानराश्च समागताः॥
And what shall the aged Jambhavan, and what shall Angada, say? And what, again, shall the assembled monkeys say to me when I shall have crossed over the main.

अनिर्वेदः श्रियो मूलमनिर्वेदः परं सुखम्। भूयस्तत्र विचेष्यामि न यत्र विचयः कृतः॥
But perseverance is the source of good fortune; and perseverance bring about supreme happiness. Search again I will, where I have not yet searched.

अनिर्वेदो हि सततं सर्वार्थेषु प्रवर्तकः। करोति सफलं जन्तोः कर्म यच्च करोति सः॥
Perseverance, for certain, ever bring people to all profitable objects. Whatever one dose with vigour, bear fruit.

तस्मादनिर्वेदकरं यत्नं चेष्टेऽहमुत्तमम्। अदृष्टांश्च विचेष्यामि देशान् रावणपालितान्॥
Therefore will I put forth fresh dear efforts vigorously. I will search such places held by Rāvana as I have not yet seen.

आपानशाला विचितास्तथा पुष्पगृहाणि च। चित्रशालाश्च विचिता भूयः क्रीडागृहाणि च ॥ निष्कुटान्तररथ्याश्च विमानानि च सर्वशः। इति संचिन्त्य भूयोऽपि विचेतुमुपचक्रमे॥ भूमीगृहांश्चैत्यगृहान् गृहातिगृहकानपि। उत्पतन् निपतंश्चापि तिष्ठन् गच्छन् पुनः क्वचित्॥ अपवृण्वंश्च द्वाराणि कपाटान्यवघट्टयन्। प्रविशन् निष्पतंश्चापि प्रपतन्त्रुत्पतन्निव॥
I have again searched the picture galleries and the sporting-structures, and edifices, and roads passing through gardens, as well as the car." Having thought thus, Hanuman again set about searching the subterranean abodes, religious buildings, and many-storied mansions. And flying up, and coming down, and staying, and going at places, and opening doors, and shutting others, and entering and issuing out, and falling down as if darting up, that mighty monkey began to range on all sides.

सर्वमप्यवकाशं स विचचार महाकपिः। चतुरङ्गुलमात्रोऽपि नावकाशः स विद्यते। रावणान्तःपुरे तस्मिन् यं कपिर्न जगाम सः॥
There was not even space measuring four fingers in that inner apartment of Rāvana, to which the monkey did not repair.

प्राकारान्तरवीथ्यश्च वेदिकाश्चैत्यसंश्रयाः। श्वभ्राश्च पुष्करिण्यश्च सर्वं तेनावलोकितम्॥
And he saw the abodes of the nobility, the daises, the trees by the crossings, the holes, and the tanks.

राक्षस्यो विविधाकारा विरूपा विकृतास्तथा। दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु सा जनकात्मजा॥
And Hanumān saw there Räksasas of various forms, frightful and deformed; but he saw not Janaka's daughter.

रूपेणाप्रतिमा लोके परा विद्याधरस्त्रियः। दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु राघवनन्दिनी॥
Hanuman there the the foremost and beautiful wives of Vidyadharas; but he saw not Rāghava's beloved Sītā.

नागकन्या वरारोहाः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाः। दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु सा जनकात्मजा॥
Hanumān saw there transcendentally beautiful women, daughter of Nāgas, having countenances resembling the moon; but he saw not Janaka's daughter. saw

प्रमथ्य राक्षसेन्द्रेण नागकन्या बलाद्धृताः। दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न सा जनकनन्दिनी॥
And Hanumān saw there daughter of Nāgas forcibly brought by the lord of the Rākşasas; but he saw not Janaka's daughter.

सो पश्यंस्तां महाबाहुः पश्यंश्चान्या वरस्त्रियः। विषसाद महाबाहुर्हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः॥
Having seen other beauteous females, and not seeing her, the mighty-armed son of the Windgod was oppressed with sandness.

उद्योगं वानरेन्द्राणां प्लवनं सागरस्य च। व्यर्थं वीक्ष्यानिलसुतश्चिन्तां पुनरुपागतः॥
Seeing that the endeavours of the monarch of monkeys, as well as the bounding over the main, had come to nought, the offspring of the Windgod was plunged in thought.

अवतीर्य विमानाच्च हनूमान्मारुतात्मजः। चिन्तामुपजगामाथ शोकोपहतचेतनः॥
Descending from the aerial car, Hanumān, son to the Wind-god, his senses deprived by sorrow, was again wrought up with anxiety.