स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा मनसा चाधिगम्य ताम्। अवप्लुतो महातेजाः प्राकारं तस्य वेश्मनः॥
Having reflected for a while and mentally met with her, that highly energetic one leapt from the wall of Rāvana's mansion on to that (of the Asoka wood).
स तु संहष्टसर्वाङ्गः प्राकारस्थो महाकपिः। पुष्पिताग्रान् वसन्तादौ ददर्श विविधान् दुमान्॥ सालानशोकान् भव्यांश्च चम्पकांश्च सुपुष्पितान्। उद्दालकान् नागवृक्षांश्चूतान् कपिमुखानपि ॥ तथाऽऽम्रवणसम्पन्नांल्लताशतसमन्वितान्। ज्यामुक्त इव नाराचः पुप्लुवे वृक्षवाटिकाम्॥
All his frame filled with delight, that mighty monkey, stationed on the wall, saw various trees having their tops furnished with flowers through spring and the other seasons, salas and Asokas, bhavyas, champakas, uddalakas, and Nāgas, and those bearing fruits resembling the mouths of monkeys; and those relative to mango woods, with hundreds of plants. And (Hanuman) leapt into the garden like an arrow let go from the bow string.
स प्रविश्य विचित्रां तां विहगैरभिनादिताम्। राजतैः काञ्चनैश्चैव पादपैः सर्वतो वृताम्॥ विहगै{गसङ्घश्च विचित्रां चित्रकाननाम्। उदितादित्यसंकाशां ददर्श हनुमान् बली॥ वृतां नानाविधैर्वृक्षैः पुष्पोपगफलोपगैः। कोकिलै ङ्गराजैश्च मत्तैर्नित्यनिषेविताम्।७।। प्रहृष्टमनुजां काले मृगपक्षिमदाकुलाम्। मत्तबर्हिणसंघुष्टां नानाद्विजगणायुताम्॥
Entering into the grove, variegated all over; resonant with the notes of birds, filled on all sides with golden and silver trees; many-hued with birds and beasts, containing dainty tracts of trees like to the risen Sun, the powerful Hanumān saw the place surrounded with various kinds of trees, having fruits and flowers; frequented by maddened coels and Bhramaras, with creatures expressing happiness by their movements, birds and beasts overflowing with spirits; echoing with the cries of peacocks; furnished with various species of fowls.
मार्गमाणो वरारोहां राजपुत्रीमनिन्दिताम्। सुखप्रसुप्तान् विहगान्बोधयामास वानरः॥
As he was searching for that surpassingly beautiful and blameless daughter of the king, that monkey awakened the monkeys that were sleeping sweetly..
उत्पतद्भिर्द्विजगणैः पक्षैर्वातैः समाहताः। अनेकवर्णा विविधा मुमुचुः पुष्पवृष्टयः॥
And blown against by the wind caused by the wings of the birds as they flew upwards, various and variegated trees showered down blossoms.
पुष्पावकीर्णः शुशुभे हनूमान्मारुतात्मजः। अशोकवनिकामध्ये यथा पुष्पमयो गिरिः॥
And in the midst of the Asoka wood, Hanumān, son to the Wind-god, covered over with flowers, looked lovely like a hill strewn with blossoms.
दिशः सर्वाभिधावन्तं वृक्षखण्डगतं कपिम्। दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि वसन्त इति मेनिरे॥
All creatures, beholding that monkey embosomed among trees and darting on all sides, took him for spring.
वृक्षेभ्यः पतितैः पुष्पैरवकीर्णा पृथग्विधैः। रराज वसुधा तत्र प्रमदेव विभूषिता॥
And strewn with several masses of blossoms loosened from the trees, the Earth appeared breateous like a damsel dight with ornaments.
तरस्विना ते तरवस्तरसा बहु कम्पिताः। कुसुमानि विचित्राणि ससृजुः कपिना तदा॥
And shaken in diverse ways by the motion of the light fleeting monkey, the tree showered many-hued flowers.
निर्धूतपत्रशिखराः शीर्णपुष्पफलद्रुमाः। निक्षिप्तवस्त्राभरणा धूर्ता इव पराजिताः॥
With their leaves and tops torn, and their flowers and fruits shrivelled up, the trees looked like worsted gamblers bereft of their clothes.
हनूमता वेगवता कम्पितास्ते नगोत्तमाः। पुष्पपत्रफलान्याशु मुमुचुः फलशालिनः॥
And shaken by Hanumān vehemently moving about, those excellent trees crowned with fruits, speedily cast off fruits, flowers and foliage.
विहङ्गसङ्घींनास्ते स्कन्धमात्राशया द्रुमाः। बभूवुरगमाः सर्वे मारुतेन विनिर्धताः॥
And moved by the Wind god's offspring, the trees with their trunks left, and forsaken by the fowls were incapable of harbouring any creatures.
विधूतकेशी युवतिर्यथा मृदितवर्णका। निपीतशुभदन्तोष्ठी नखैर्दन्तैश्च विक्षता॥ तथा लालहस्तैस्तु चरणाभ्यां च मर्दिता। तथैवाशोकवनिका प्रभग्नवनपादपा॥
And like youthful fair ones with hair dishevelled, their paste worn off, their upper lips with fair teeth sucked of their moisture; and having their persons torn with nails, and teeth; appeared 'the Asoka wood with its trees shattered; and itself ground with the tail, hands and legs (of Hanumān).
महालतानां दामानि व्यधमत्तरसा कपिः। यथा प्रावृषि वेगेन मेघजालानि मारुतः॥
That monkey with his vehemence scattered the clusters of shrubs, like the wind violently scattering clouds in the rainy reason.
स तत्र मणिभूमीश्च राजतीश्च मनोरमाः। तथा काञ्चनभूमीश्च विचरन् ददृशे कपिः॥
And ranging there, the monkey saw beautiful pavements, jewelled, silvern and golden.
वापीश्च विविधाकाराः पूर्णाः परमवारिणा। महामणिसोपानरुपपन्नास्ततस्ततः॥ मुक्ताप्रवालसिकताः स्फाटिकान्तरकुट्टिमाः। काञ्चनैस्तरुभिश्चित्रैस्तीरजैरुपशोभिताः॥
He saw there various pools filled with excellent water and having steps crusted with jewels. Their sandy soil was filled with pearls and corals, and the ground inside was made of crystal. And their banks were decked with diverse golden trees.
बुद्धपद्मोत्पलवनाश्चक्रवाकोपशोभिताः। नत्यूहरुतसंघुष्टा हंससारसनादिताः॥
They were beautified with full blown lotuses, waterlilies, Chakravakas and Natyuhas* and filled with the notes of swans and Sarasas. *A gallinule.
दीर्घाभिर्दुमयुक्ताभिः सरिद्भिश्च समन्ततः। अमृतोपमतोयाभिः शिवाभिरूपसंस्कृताः॥
They were encircled on all sides with big tanks having trees on their banks and water, clear and sweet like to nectar.
लताशतैरवतता: संतानकुसुमावृताः। नानागुल्मावृतवनाः करवीरकृतान्तराः॥
They were entwined with hundreds of creepers, covered with Santāna* flowers and filled with diverse groves and Karaviras serving the purpose of windows. *One of the trees of heaven. 'Literally the passages means "making a gap in that forest thickly filled with trees.” But Rāmānuja interprets thus and we have adopted his interpretaion.
ततोऽम्बुधरसंकाशं प्रवृद्धशिखरं गिरिम्। विचित्रकूट कूटैश्च सर्वतः परिवारितम्॥ शिलागृहैरवततं नानावृक्षसमावृतम्। ददर्श कपिशार्दूलो रम्यं जगति पर्वतम्॥
Thereupon that foremost of monkeys beheld there a mountain-the most picturesque in the world, resembling clouds, having high summits, covered on all sides with peaks and filled with hilly abodes and various trees.
ददर्श च नगात् तस्मान्नदी निपतितां कपिः। अङ्कादिव समुत्पत्य प्रियस्य पतितां प्रियाम् ॥ जलेन पतिताप्रैश्च पादपैरूपशोभिताम्। वार्यमाणामिव क्रुद्धां प्रमदां प्रियबन्धुभिः॥
That monkey beheld there a river falling down from the mountain like to a damsel falling down from the lap of her beloved. And the branches of the trees touching the water (of the stream) resembled a fair damsel prevented by her dear companions from forsaking the company of her beloved).
पुनरावृत्ततोयां च ददर्श स महाकपिः। प्रसन्नामिव कान्तस्य कान्तां पुनरुपस्थिताम्॥
And that great monkey beheld further down the stream turning back like to the damsel, pleased, going back to her dear one.
तस्यादूरात्स पद्मिन्यो नानाद्विजगणायुताः। ददर्श कपिशार्दूलो हनूमान्मारुतात्मजः॥
That foremost of monkeys, Hanumăn, the son of Maruti, beheld, at some distance, ponds filled with lotuses and various birds.
कृत्रिमा दीर्घिकां चापि पूर्णां शीतेन वारिणा। मणिप्रवरसोपानां मुक्तासिकतशोभिताम्॥
He saw a big artificial pond full of cool water having stairs crusted with excellent jewels and its sandy banks filled with pearls.
विविधैर्मृगसङ्घश्च विचित्रां चित्रकाननाम्। प्रासादैः सुमहद्भिश्च निर्मितैर्विश्वकर्मणा॥ काननैः कृत्रिमैश्चापि सर्वतः समलंकृताम्। ये केचित्पादपास्तत्र पुष्पोपगफलोपगाः॥ सच्छत्राः सवितर्दीकाः सर्वे सौवर्णवेदिकाः।
It was embellished on all sides) with various animals, diverse trees and big mansions made by Viśvakarmāt himself. It was adorned all around with artificial forests and all the trees there bore flowers and fruits, spreading their branches like to umbrellas and having golden and silvern pavements under them. 'The son of Brahma and artist of gods.
लताप्रतानैर्बहुभिः पर्णैश्च बहुभिर्वृताम्॥ काञ्चनी शिंशपामेकां ददर्श स महाकपिः। वृतां हेममयीभिस्तु वेदिकाभिः समन्ततः॥
And that great monkey beheld there one golden Singsapa* tree surrounded on all sides with golden pavements. 'A tree (Dalbergia Sisu).
सोऽपश्यद् भूमिभागांश्च नगप्रस्रवणानि च। सुवर्णवृक्षानपरान् ददर्श शिखिसंनिभान्॥
And he saw the glebe, the hill streams and many a golden trees resembling the fire.
तेषां दुमाणां प्रभया मेरोरिव महाकपिः। अमन्यत तदा वीरः काञ्चनोऽस्मीति सर्वतः॥
By the lustre of all those trees that heroic monkey appeared as if made of gold like to the Sun by the touch of the mount Sumeru.
तान्काञ्चनान्वृक्षगणान्मारुतेन प्रकम्पितान्। किङ्किणीशतनिर्घोषान्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमागमत् ॥ सुपुष्पिताग्रान् रुचिरांस्तरुणाङ्कुरपल्लवान्।
Having seen those beautiful golden trees, shaken by the wind and making a sound like that of a Kinkini; having flowery tops and new leaves he was greatly amazed.
तामारुह्य महावेगः शिंशपां पर्णसंवृताम्॥ इतो द्रक्ष्यामि वैदेहीं रामदर्शनलालसाम्। इतश्चेतश्च दुःखार्ता सम्पतन्तीं यदृच्छया।॥
And climbing that Singsapa tree enveloped with leaves that monkey, gifted with velocity, reflected— Perchance I may see Vaidehi, exercised with grief, anxious to behold Rāma and wandering hither and thither at her pleasure.
अशोकवनिका चेयं दृढं रम्या दुरात्मनः। चन्दनैश्चम्पकैश्चापि बकुलैश्च विभूषिता॥ इयं च नलिनी रम्या द्विजसङ्घनिषेविता। इमां सा राजमहिषी नूनमेष्यति जानकी॥
Certainly this is the picturesque Asoka forest of that vicious-souled one, embellished with sandal Champakas and Bakulas. Here is a beautiful pond abounding in lotuses, thronged with birds and forsooth shall that royal spouse Jānaki repair hither.
सा रामा राजमहिषी राघवस्य प्रिया सदा। वनसंचारकुशला ध्रुवमेष्यति जानकी॥ अथवा मृगशावाक्षी वनस्यास्य विचक्षणा। वनमेष्यति साद्येह रामचिन्तासुकर्शिता॥
She is the beloved queen of Rāghava and expert in walking in the garden. And separated from Rāma, certainly shall Jānakī repair hither. Or she having the eyes of a young antelope and adept in roaming in the forest, exercised with thought touching Rāma, shall come here.
रामशोकाभिसंतप्ता सा देवी वामलोचना। वनवासरता नित्यमेष्यते वनचारिणी॥
Or she having beautiful eyes and fond of ranging in the forest, racked with sorrow in consequence of Rāma's separation, dose always frequent this forest.* *The commentator, Rāmānuja interprets this bloka as explaining the cause of Sītā's frequenting the Asoka forest.
वनेचराणां सततं नूनं स्पृहयते पुरा। रामस्य दयिता चार्या जनकस्य सुता सती॥
Ere this, the chaste and worshipful spouse of Rāma–Janaka's daughter, used to love always the birds and animals of the forest.
संध्याकालमना: श्यामा ध्रुवमेष्यति जानकी। नदी चेमां शुभजलां संध्यार्थे वरवर्णिनी॥
(The morning has set in) and surely the beautiful and graceful daughter of Janaka fond of performing morning ablutions, shall come to this river of pure water to perform them. "Sandhyā literally means the point of time which connect day and night. It however, generally means the period after sunset and before the night sets. But here with reference to the speech which Hanumān began by the end of night, it means the morning.
तस्याश्चाप्यनुरूपेयमशोकवनिका शुभा। शुभायाः पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य पत्नी रामस्य संमता॥
Truly is this beautiful forest of Asoka the worthy abode of the beloved and chaste spouse of Rāma, the lord of men.
यदि जीवति सा देवी ताराधिपनिभानना। आगमिष्यति सावश्यमिमां शीतजलां नदीम्॥
If that one of moon-like countenance breathes forsooth shall she come to this river of cool water."
एवं तु गत्वा हनुमान् महात्मा प्रतीक्षमाणो मनुजेन्द्रपत्नीम्। अवेक्षमाणश्च ददर्श सर्वं सुपुष्पिते पर्णघने निलीनः॥
Having arrived there and anxiously expecting the appearance of the spouse of that lord of men, the high-souled Hanumān hiding himself (on the Singsapa tree) enveloped with flowers and leaves, beheld all.