Sundara Kanda: Chapter 17

ततः कुमुदखण्डाभो निर्मलं निर्मलोदयः। प्रजगाम नभश्चन्द्रो हंसो नीलमिवोदकम्॥
Thereupon the Moon, white as water-lily and of clear appearance proceeded far down the welkin like to a goose traversing the blue waters.

साचिव्यमिव कुर्वन् स प्रभया निर्मलप्रभः। चन्द्रमा रश्मिभिः शीतैः सिषेवे पवनात्मजम्॥
With a view to befriend him, the Moon of clear rays, sprinkled the Wind-God's son, with cool beams.

स ददर्श ततः सीतां पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्। शोकभारैरिव न्यस्तां भारै वमिवाम्भसि॥
And thereupon he beheld Sītā, having a moon-like countenance, plunged in grief like to a laden boat sunk in water.

दिदृक्षमाणो वैदेहीं हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः। स ददर्श विदूरस्था राक्षसी?रदर्शनाः॥
While beholding Vaidehī, Hanumān, the son of Maruta, observed at some distance, a number of grim-visaged Raksasis.

एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा। अकर्णां शङ्ककर्णां च मस्तकोच्छ्वासनासिकाम्॥
Some had one ear, some one eye, some had big ears some was without ears; some had formidable ears and some had a nose projecting upwards.

अतिकायोक्तमाङ्गीं च तनुदीर्घशिरोधराम्। ध्वस्तकेशी तथाकेशी केशकम्बलधारिणीम्॥
And some had the upper part of their bodies unusually long and bulky, some had a long and slender neck, some had dishevelled hair, and some one's person was so thickly covered with hairs, that she appeared to have been cloaked in a blanket.

लम्बकर्णललाटां च लम्बोदरपयोधराम्। लम्बोष्ठी चिबुकोष्ठी च लम्बास्यां लम्बजानुकाम्॥
Some had long ears some had a long forehead, some had a long belly, some had long breasts; some had long lips; some had their lips and chins stuck together, some had a long countenance and some had long knees.

ह्रस्वां दीर्घा च कुब्नां च विकटां वामनां तथा। कराला भुग्नवक्त्रां च पिङ्गाक्षी विकृताननाम्॥
Some one was of-short stature, some was tall, some crooked, some grim-visaged, some dwarfish, some one was of terribly dark colour; some had a disfigured countenance; some had coppery eyes and a fearful face.

विकृताः पिङ्गलाः कालीः क्रोधनाः कलहप्रियाः। कालायसमहाशूलकूटमुद्गधारिणी:॥
Some were terrible-looking, some coppercoloured, some black, some angry and some fond of quarrelling with each other; and some had iron darts, hammers and mallets in their hands.

वराहमृगशार्दूलमहिषाजशिवामुखाः। गजोष्ट्रहयपादाश्च निखातशिरसोऽपराः॥
Some had a face like that of a boar, some had a face like that of a deer, some like that of a tiger, some like that of a buffalo, some like that of a goat, and some like that of a jackal; some had legs like those of a camel, some had those of an elephant, some those of a horse and some had their heads placed on their breasts.

एकहस्तैकपादाश्च खरकर्ण्यश्वकर्णिकाः। गोकर्णीर्हस्तिकर्णीश्च हरिकर्णीस्तथापराः॥
Some one had only one hand some had only one leg. Some had ears like those of a horse, some like those of a cow, some like those of an ass, some like those of an elephant and others had ears like those of a lion.

अतिनासाश्च काश्चिच्च तिर्यङ्नासा अनासिकाः। गजसंनिभनासाश्च ललाटोच्छ्वासनासिकाः॥
Some had very big noses, some had crooked and others were without any; some had noses like those of an elephant and others had their noses on their foreheads.

हस्तिपादा महापादा गोपादाः पादचूलिकाः। अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवा अतिमात्रकुचोदरीः॥
Some had their legs like those of elephants some had very huge legs; some and like those of a cow, some had on their legs locks of hair like to pillars, some had a terribly huge head, some had big breasts and others had spacious bellies, Some had faces and eyes beyond ordinary proportions.

अतिमात्रास्यनेत्राश्च दीर्घजिह्वाननास्तथा। अजामुखीर्हस्तिमुखी!मुखी: सूकरीमुखीः॥ हयोष्ट्रखरवक्त्राश्च राक्षसी_रदर्शनाः।
Some had a long face and tongue. And some had the face of a goat, some that of an elephant some that of a cow, some that of a boar some that of a horse and some that of an ass.

शूलमुद्गरहस्ताश्च क्रोधनाः कलहप्रियाः॥ कराला धूम्रकेशिन्यो राक्षसीर्विकृताननाः। पिबन्ति सततं पानं सुरामांससदाप्रियाः॥ मांसशोणितदिग्धाङ्गीमा॑सशोणितभोजनाः। ता ददर्श कपिश्रेष्ठो रोमहर्षणदर्शनाः॥
Some of the Rākşasīs were grim-visaged and some hot-natured, quarrelsome and had darts andmaces in their hands. And some terrible Răks asīs of disfigured countenances, had smokycoloured hairs. And they were all continually drinking wine, always fond of liquor and meat, and all their bodies were sprinkled with blood for their living on gore and flesh.

स्कन्धवन्तमुपासीनाः परिवार्य वनस्पतिम्। तस्याधस्ताच्च तां देवीं राजपुत्रीमनिन्दिताम्॥ लक्षयामास लक्ष्मीवान् हनूमाञ्जनकात्मजाम्। निष्प्रभां शोकसंतप्तां मलसंकुलमूर्धजाम्॥
And that foremost of monkeys found all these grim-visaged Rākşasīs seated around that mighty tree enveloped with branches. And the graceful Hanuman observed at the foot of that tree that worshipful and blameless daughter of the king Janaka. She was bereft of all effulgence, racked with grief and all her hairs were soiled with dirt. no

क्षीणपुण्यां च्युतां भूमौ तारां निपतितामिव। चारित्रव्यपदेशाढ्यां भर्तृदर्शनदुर्गताम्॥
She appeared like a star fallen down on the earth on the wane of virtue. And famed though she was all over the world for her chastity, it was difficult for her now to see her husband.

भूषणैरुत्तमैीनां भर्तृवात्सल्यभूषिताम्। राक्षसाधिपसंरुद्धां बन्धुभिश्च विनाकृताम्॥ वियूथां सिंहसंरुद्धां बद्धां गजवधूमिव। चन्द्ररेखां पयोदान्ते शारदाभ्रेरिवावृताम् ॥
She had excellent ornaments-her attachment to her husband was the only ornament. She was imprisoned by the lord of Rākşasas and separated from all her friends, she appeared like a she elephant separated from her band and bound and attacked by a lion, and like the rays of the Moon enveloped with clouds at the expire of the rainy season,

क्लिष्टरूपामसंस्पर्शादयुक्तामिव वल्लकीम्। स तां भर्तृहिते युक्तामयुक्तां रक्षसां वशे॥ अशोकवनिकामध्ये शोकसागरमाप्लुताम्। ताभिः परिवृतां तत्र सग्रहामिव रोहिणीम् ॥
Her beauty was greatly faded (in consequence of her husband's separation) like to a stringed instrument for want of a player. And ever engaged in her husband's welfare she was thoroughly unworthy of being brought under the control of the Rākşasas. Being sunk in the abyss of grief and encircled by those Rākşasīs she appeared in the forest of Asoka like to Rohiņi possessed by Rāhu.

ददर्श हनुमांस्तत्र लतामकुसुमामिव। सा मलेन च दिग्धाङ्गी वपुषा चाप्यलंकृता। मृणाली पङ्कदिग्धेव विभाति च न भाति च ॥
And Hanuman beheld her there like a creeper divested of flowers. And having her person soiled with dirt and shorn of all ornaments she appeared in her hidden grace like to a lotus covered with clay.

मलिनेन तु वस्त्रेण परिक्लिष्टेन भामिनीम्। संवृतां मृगशावाक्षीं ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः॥
The monkey Hanumān, beheld that damsel, having the eyes of a young antelope, clothed with a soiled and shattered cloth.

तां देवीं दीनवदनामदीनां भर्तृतेजसा। रक्षितां स्वेन शीलेन सीतामसितलोचनाम्।।२७
And though the countenance of that worshipful one was shorn of all grace, her heart did not loose its loftiness in consequence of her husband's prowess.

तां दृष्ट्वा हनुमान् सीतां मृगशावनिभेक्षणाम्। मृगकन्यामिव त्रस्तां वीक्षमाणां समन्ततः॥ दहन्तीमिव निःश्वासैर्वृक्षान् पल्लवधारिणः। संघातमिव शोकानां दुःखस्योर्मिमिमिवोत्थिताम्॥ तां क्षामां सुविभक्ताङ्गी विनाभरणशोभिनीम्। प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे मारुतिः प्रेक्ष्य मैथिलीम्॥
And Sītā, of dark-blue eyes, was protected by virtue of her own character. And beholding Sītā, having the eyes of a young antelope, and terrified and casting her looks hither and thither like a hind and burning down the trees enveloped with leaves by her breath; like to a mass of grief and an upheaval of sorrow; having well-proportioned limbs, and appearing graceful without ornaments, Maruti attained to an excess of delight.

हर्षजानि च सोऽश्रूणि तां दृष्ट्वा मदिरेक्षणाम्। मुमोच हनुमांस्तत्र नमश्चक्रे च राघवम्॥
And beholding her having inebriate eyes, Hanumān shed tears of delight and bowed to Rāghava.

नमस्कृत्वाथ रामाय लक्ष्मणाय च वीर्यवान्। सीतादर्शनसंहष्टो हनुमान् संवृतोऽभवत्॥
Having offered his obeisance to Räma and Lakşmaņa the powerful Hanumān, greatly delighted in seeing Sītā, remained there hidden.