Chapter 18

Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

VERSE 1

तथा विप्रेक्षमाणस्य वनम् पुष्पितपादपम्
विचिन्वतश्च वैदेहीम् किंचिच्चेषा निशाभवत्

tathā viprekṣamāṇasya vanam puṣpitapādapam
vicinvataśca vaidehīm kiṃcicceṣā niśābhavat

SYNONYMS

niśā: the night | abhavat: became | kiṃcicheśā: a little remaning | tathā viprekśamāṇasya: while (Hanuma) searched like that | vaidehīm: Seetha | vanam: in the garden | puṣpitapādapam: with flowers in blossom |

TRANSLATION

A little of the night was left while Hanuma was searching like that for Seetha in the garden with flowers in blossom.

VERSE 2

षडङ्गवेदविदुषाम् क्रतुप्रवरयाजिनाम्
शुश्राव ब्रह्मघोषान् स विरात्रे ब्रह्मरक्षसाम्

ṣaḍaṅgavedaviduṣām kratupravarayājinām
śuśrāva brahmaghoṣān sa virātre brahmarakṣasām

SYNONYMS

saḥ: That Hanuma | śuśrāva: heard | brahma ghoṣān: Vedic sounds | virātre: early in the morning | brahmarākśasām: of Brahma Rakshasas | ṣadaṅga veda viduṣām: well versed in six parts of Vedas | kratu pravara yājinām: who performed excellent sacrifices |

TRANSLATION

That Hanuma heard Vedic sounds early in the morning of Brahma Rakshasas well versed in six parts of Vedas and those who performed excellent sacrifices.

VERSE 3

अथ मङ्गलवादित्रशब्दैः श्रुतिमनोहरैः
प्रबुध्यत महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवो महाबलः

atha maṅgalavāditraśabdaiḥ śrutimanoharaiḥ
prabudhyata mahābāhurdaśagrīvo mahābalaḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: Thereafter | dasagrīvaḥ: Ravana | mahā bāhuḥ: with great arms | mahā balaḥ: with great prowess | prābudhyata: was woken | mangalavāditra śabdaiḥ: by the sounds of various auspicious musical instruments | śrutimanoharaiḥ: pleasing to the ear. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter Ravana with great arms and great prowess was woken by the sounds of various auspicious musical instruments pleasing to the ear.

VERSE 4

विबुध्य तु यथाकालम् राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्
स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरो वैदेहीमन्वचिन्तयात्

vibudhya tu yathākālam rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān
srastamālyāmbaradharo vaidehīmanvacintayāt

SYNONYMS

rākśasendraḥ: The king of rakshasas | pratāpavān: with great might | vibudhya: woke up | yathākālam: at the appropriate time | srasta mālyāmbara dharaḥ: wearing slippery flower garlands | anvacintayat: remembered | videhīm: about Seetha. |

TRANSLATION

The king of rakshasas with great might woke up at the appropriate hour wearing slippery flower garlands remembered about Seetha.

VERSE 5

भृशं नियुक्तस्तस्याम् च मदनेन मदोत्कटः
न स तं राक्षसः कामं शशाकात्मनि गूहितुम्

bhṛśaṃ niyuktastasyām ca madanena madotkaṭaḥ
na sa taṃ rākṣasaḥ kāmaṃ śaśākātmani gūhitum

SYNONYMS

tasyām: In that Seetha's matter | niyuktaḥ: directed | bḥṛśam: a lot | madanena: by the god of love | madotkaṭaḥ: excited by passion | saḥ rākśasaḥ: that Rakshasa | na śasāka: was not capable | gūhitum: to suppress | ātmani: in self | tam kāmam: that desire. |

TRANSLATION

In that Seetha's matter, directed a lot by the god of love and excited by passion, that Rakshasa was not capable to suppress in self that desire.

VERSE 6

स सर्वाभरणैर्युक्तो बिभच्छ्रियमनुत्तमाम्
तां नगैर्बहुभिर्जुष्टाम् सर्वपुष्पफलोपगैः

sa sarvābharaṇairyukto bibhacchriyamanuttamām
tāṃ nagairbahubhirjuṣṭām sarvapuṣpaphalopagaiḥ

SYNONYMS

yuktaḥ: together with | sarvābharaṇaiḥ: all ornaments | bibhrat: wearing | anuttamām śriyam: great glory | saḥ: that Ravana | juṣṭām: having | bahubhiḥ nagaiḥ: a lot of trees | sarvapuṣpaphalopagaiḥ: with all fruits and flowers. |

TRANSLATION

Together with all ornaments wearing great glory that Ravana entered that Ashoka garden having a lot of trees with all fruits and flowers.

VERSE 7

वृतां पुष्करिणीभिश्च नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम्
सदामदैश्च विहगैर्विचित्राम् परमाद्भुताम्

vṛtāṃ puṣkariṇībhiśca nānāpuṣpopaśobhitām
sadāmadaiśca vihagairvicitrām paramādbhutām

SYNONYMS

(ṟavana entered that āśoka garden) paramādbhutām: a great wonderful one | vṛtām: together | puṣkariṇībhiḥ: with lakes | nānā puṣpopaśobitām: shone by various flowers | vicitrām: brilliant | vihagaiḥ: with birds | sadā madaiḥ: always in rut. |

TRANSLATION

Ravana entered that great wonderful Ashoka garden together with lakes, shone by various flowers, brilliant with birds always in rut.

VERSE 8

ईहामृगैश्च विविधैर्जुष्टां डृष्टिमनोहरैः
वीथीः संप्रेक्षमाणश्च मणिकाञ्चनतोरणाः

īhāmṛgaiśca vividhairjuṣṭāṃ ḍṛṣṭimanoharaiḥ
vīthīḥ saṃprekṣamāṇaśca maṇikāñcanatoraṇāḥ

SYNONYMS

9| prāviśat: (Ravana) entered | aśokavanikāmeva: Ashoka garden | saṃprekśamāṇaśca: seeing | maṇikāṅcana toranāḥ: archways of gold and gems | juṣṭām: crowded | īhāmṛgaiśca: by artificial deer | vividhaiḥ: of various varieties | dṛṣṭimanoharaiḥ: ravishing the eyes and mind | nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇām: filled with animals of various kinds | vṛtām: together | prapatitaiḥ phalaiḥ: with fallen fruits | samtatadrumām: full of trees. |

TRANSLATION

Ravana entered Ashoka garden seeing archways of gold and gems crowded by artificial deer of various kinds ravishing eyes and mind, filled with animals of various kinds, together with fallen fruits and full of trees.

VERSE 10

अङ्गनाशतमात्रं तु तं व्रजन्तमनुव्रजत्
महेन्द्रमिव पौलस्त्यम्ं देवगन्धर्वयोषितः

aṅganāśatamātraṃ tu taṃ vrajantamanuvrajat
mahendramiva paulastyamṃ devagandharvayoṣitaḥ

SYNONYMS

vrajantam: while going | aṅganāśatamātram: only a hundred of women | anuvrajat: followed | tam paulastyam: that Ravana | devagandharvayośitaḥ: like Deva and Gandharva women | mahendram: (following) Indra. |

TRANSLATION

While He was going only a hundred of women followed that Ravana like Deva and Gandharva women following Indra.

VERSE 11

दीपिकाः काञ्चनीः काश्चिज्जगृहुस्तत्र योषितः
वालव्यजनहस्ताश्च तालवृन्तानि चापराः

dīpikāḥ kāñcanīḥ kāścijjagṛhustatra yoṣitaḥ
vālavyajanahastāśca tālavṛntāni cāparāḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra: there | kāścit: some | yoṣitaḥ: women | jagṛḥ: bore | dīpikāḥ: lamps | kāṅcanīḥ: of gold | aparāḥ: some others | tālavṛntāni: (carried) chowries vaalavyajana hastaashcha = (some others had) fans of Palmyra leaves in their hands. |

TRANSLATION

There some women bore lamps of gold; some others carried chowries; some others had fans of Palmyra leaves in their hands.

VERSE 12

काञ्चनैरपि भृङ्गारैर्जह्रुः सलिलमग्रतः
मण्डलागान् ब्रुसींश्चापि गृह्यान्याः पृष्ठतो
ययुः

kāñcanairapi bhṛṅgārairjahruḥ salilamagrataḥ
maṇḍalāgān brusīṃścāpi gṛhyānyāḥ pṛṣṭhato
yayuḥ

SYNONYMS

(ṣome vomen) juhruḥ: carried | salilam: water | bhṛngāraiḥ: in small vessels | kāṅcaniḥ: of gold | anyāḥ: some others | pṛṣṭhataḥ yayuḥ: followed in the back | gṛhya: taking | brusīṃścaiva: pillows | maṇḍalāgrān: with circular ends |

TRANSLATION

Some women carried water in small vessels of gold; some others followed in the back taking pillows with circular ends.

VERSE 13

काचिद्रत्नमयीं स्थालीं पूर्णां पानस्य ब्राजतम्
दक्षिणा दक्षिणेनैव तदा जग्राह पाणिना

kācidratnamayīṃ sthālīṃ pūrṇāṃ pānasya brājatam
dakṣiṇā dakṣiṇenaiva tadā jagrāha pāṇinā

SYNONYMS

kācit: one | bhāminī: woman | dakśinā: to the right (of Ravana) | jagrāḥ: held | dakśinenaiva pāṇinā: with her right hand | sthālīm: a vesel | pānasya: of liqour | ratnamayīm: with gem stones | pūrṇām: full (of liqour) |

TRANSLATION

One woman to the right of Ravana held with her right hand a vessel with gem stones filled with liqour.

VERSE 14

राजहंसप्रतीकाशं चत्रं पूर्णशशिप्रभम्
सौवर्णदण्डमपरा गृहीत्वा पृष्ठतो ययौ

rājahaṃsapratīkāśaṃ catraṃ pūrṇaśaśiprabham
sauvarṇadaṇḍamaparā gṛhītvā pṛṣṭhato yayau

SYNONYMS

aparā: another (woman) | pṛṣthataḥ yayau: went at back | gṛhītvā: taking | chatram: an umbrella | rājahamsapratīkāśam: equalling a royal swan | pūrnaśasiprabhām: with the radiance of full moon | sauvarṇadaṇḍam: with a golden handle. |

TRANSLATION

Another woman went at back taking an umbrella equalling a royal swan with the radiance of full moon with a golden handle.

VERSE 15

निद्रामदपरीताक्ष्यो रावनस्योत्तमाः स्त्रियः
अनुजग्मुः पतिं वीरम् घनम् विद्युल्लता इव

nidrāmadaparītākṣyo rāvanasyottamāḥ striyaḥ
anujagmuḥ patiṃ vīram ghanam vidyullatā iva

SYNONYMS

nidrāmada parītākśyo: With sleepy eyes | uttamāḥ striyaḥ: best women | rāvaṇasya: of Ravana | anujagmuḥ: followed | vīram patim: mighty husband | vidyullatāḥ ghanamiva: like lightning (following a) cloud. |

TRANSLATION

With sleepy eyes best women of Ravana followed mighty husband like lightning following a cloud.

VERSE 16

व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः समामृदितवर्णकाः
समागल्दितकेशान्ताः सस्वेदवदनास्तथा

vyāviddhahārakeyūrāḥ samāmṛditavarṇakāḥ
samāgalditakeśāntāḥ sasvedavadanāstathā

SYNONYMS

18| vyyaviddha keyūrāḥ: With displaced necklaces and armlets | samāmṛdita varṇakāḥ: with effaced cover (of sandal-paste) | samāgaḻita keśāntāḥ: with dishevelled hair | tathā: and also | sasveda vadanāḥ: with sweaty faces | ghūrṇantyaḥ: staggering | madaśeṣeṇa nidrayā ca: due to surviving trace of liqour and due to sleepiness | sveda kliṣṭaṅga kusumāḥ: with shrivelled flowers on perspiring bodies | sumālyākulamūrdhajāḥ: with dishevelled hair along with good garlands | madiralocanāḥ: with intoxicating eyes | nāryāḥ: women | priyāḥ bhāryāḥ: who were dear wives | anvayuḥ: followed | tam: that | nairṛtapatim: king of Rakshasas | prayāntam: who was going | bahumānācca: due to respect | kāmācca: and due to love. |

TRANSLATION

With displaced necklaces and armlets, with effaced cover of sandal-paste, with dishevelled hair, and also with sweaty faces, staggering due to surviving trace of liquor and due to sleepiness, with shrivelled flowers on perspiring bodies, with dishevelled hair along with good garlands, with intoxicating eyes, women who were dear wives followed that king of Rakshasas who was going due to respect and due to love.

VERSE 19

स च कामपराधीनः पतिस्तासां महाबलः
सीतासक्तमना मन्दो मन्दाञ्चितगतिर्बभौ

sa ca kāmaparādhīnaḥ patistāsāṃ mahābalaḥ
sītāsaktamanā mando mandāñcitagatirbabhau

SYNONYMS

patiḥ: husband | tāsām: of those (women) | mahābalaḥ: of great might | kāmaparādhīnaḥ: who was surrendered to lust | sa ca: that Ravana also | mandaḥ: (who was) dull witted | sītāsakta manāḥ: with his mind interested in Seetha | babhau: shone | mandāṅcita gatiḥ: with a slow and beautiful gait. |

TRANSLATION

Husband of those women, of great might, who was surrendered to lust, that Ravana also who was dull witted, with his mind interested in Seetha shone with a slow and beautiful gait.

VERSE 20

ततः काञ्चीनिनादं च नूपुराणाम् च निस्वनम्
शुश्राव परमस्त्रीणां स कपिर्मारुतात्मजः

tataḥ kāñcīninādaṃ ca nūpurāṇām ca nisvanam
śuśrāva paramastrīṇāṃ sa kapirmārutātmajaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: Thereafter | saḥ kapiḥ: that Hanuma | mārutātjamjām: the son of wind-god | suśrāva: heard | kāṅcīninādam: the sound of waist-bands | nūpurāṇam nisvanam ca: and the sound of anklets | paramastrīṇām: of those excellent women. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter that Hanuma, the son of wind-god heard the sound of waist-bands and the sound of anklets of those excellent women.

VERSE 21

तं चाप्रतिमकर्माणमचिन्त्यबलपौरुषम्
द्वारदेशमनुप्राप्तं ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः

taṃ cāpratimakarmāṇamacintyabalapauruṣam
dvāradeśamanuprāptaṃ dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ

SYNONYMS

hanumān: Hanuma | kapiḥ: the monkey | dadarśa: saw | tam ca: that Ravana also | apratima karmāṇam: performer of deeds without an equal | acintya bala pauruṣam: with unfathomable might and virility | anuprāptam: reaching | dvāra deśam: entrance region. |

TRANSLATION

Hanuma the monkey saw that Ravana also, performer of deeds without an equal, with unfathomable might and virility, reaching the entrance region.

VERSE 22

दीपिकाभिरनेकाभिः समन्तादवभासितम्
गन्धतैलावसिक्ताभिर्द्रियमाणाभिरग्रतः

dīpikābhiranekābhiḥ samantādavabhāsitam
gandhatailāvasiktābhirdriyamāṇābhiragrataḥ

SYNONYMS

gandha tailāvasiktābhḥ: Wettened by fragrant oil | dhriyamāṇābhiḥ: being carried | agrataḥ: in front | (ḥanuma sav ṟavana) avabhāsitam: being shone | samantāt: in all directions | anekābhiḥ: by many | dīpikābhiḥ: lamps |

TRANSLATION

Wettened by fragrant oil, being carried in front of Ravana, Hanuma saw Ravana being shone in all directions by many lamps.

VERSE 23

कामदर्पमदैर्युक्तं जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम्
समक्षमिव कन्दर्पमपविद्धशरासनम्

kāmadarpamadairyuktaṃ jihmatāmrāyatekṣaṇam
samakṣamiva kandarpamapaviddhaśarāsanam

SYNONYMS

(ḥanuma sav ṟavana) yuktam: together | kāmadarpamadaiḥ: with lust | jihmatāmrāyatekśaṇam: with wide red eyes which were slanted | samakśam kandarpamiva: like Manmadha | apaviddhaśarāsanam: with bow kept at a distance |

TRANSLATION

Hanuma saw Ravana together with lust, vanity and intoxication, with wide red eyes which were slanted, like the god of love in person with bow kept at a distance.

VERSE 24

मथितामृतफेनाभमरजोवस्त्रमुत्तमम्
सलीलमनुकर्षन्तं विमुक्तं सक्तमङ्गदे

mathitāmṛtaphenābhamarajovastramuttamam
salīlamanukarṣantaṃ vimuktaṃ saktamaṅgade

SYNONYMS

(ḥanuma sav ṟavana) salillam: playfully | anukarṣantam: readjusting | uttamam vastram: excellent (upper) garment | mathitāmṛtaphenābham: With the lustre of churned nectar froth | arajaḥ: without stain | vimuktam: slipping | aṅgade saktam: being entangled with armlet |

TRANSLATION

Hanuma saw Ravana playfully readjusting his excellent upper garment with the luster of churned nectar froth, without stain,slipping being entangled in armlet.

VERSE 25

तं पत्रविटपे लीनः अत्रपुष्पघनावृतह्
समीपमिव संक्रान्तं निध्यातुमुपचक्रमे

taṃ patraviṭape līnaḥ atrapuṣpaghanāvṛtah
samīpamiva saṃkrāntaṃ nidhyātumupacakrame

SYNONYMS

(ḥanuma) līnaḥ: blended | patraviṭape: in a branch full of leaves | patrapusśpaghanāvṛtaḥ: covered by groups of leaves and flowers | upacakrame: started | nidhyātum: to see | tam: that Ravana | samkrāntamiva: as though coming | samīpam: near (Him) |

TRANSLATION

Hanuma blended in a branch full of leaves covered by groups of leaves and flowers started to see that Ravana as though coming near Him.

VERSE 26

अवेक्षमाणस्तु ततो ददर्श कपिकुञ्जरः
रूपयौवनसंपन्ना रावणस्य वरस्तियः

avekṣamāṇastu tato dadarśa kapikuñjaraḥ
rūpayauvanasaṃpannā rāvaṇasya varastiyaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: Thereafter | kapikuṅjaraḥ: the best among Vanaras | avekaśamāṇaḥ: looking in all directions | dadarśa: saw | varastriyaḥ: best women | rāvaṇasya: of Ravana | rūpayauvanasampannāḥ: full of beauty and youth |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter Hanuma, the best among Vanaras looking in all directions saw best women of Ravana full of beauty and youth.

VERSE 27

ताभिः परिवृतो राजा सुरूपाभिर्महायशाः
तस्मृगद्विजसम्घष्टं प्रविष्टः प्रमदावनम्

tābhiḥ parivṛto rājā surūpābhirmahāyaśāḥ
tasmṛgadvijasamghaṣṭaṃ praviṣṭaḥ pramadāvanam

SYNONYMS

rājā: king | mahā yaśāḥ: of great fame | parivṛtaḥ: together | tābhiḥ: with those women | surūpābhiḥ: with good appearance | praviṣṭaḥ: entered | tat: that garden | mṛgadvijasaṃghuṣtam: resounded by animals and birds. |

TRANSLATION

King of great fame, Ravana, together with those women with good appearance entered that garden resounded by animals and birds.

VERSE 28

क्षीबो विचित्राभरणः शङ्कुकर्णो महाबलः
तेन विश्रवसः पुत्रः स दृष्टो राक्षसाधिपः

kṣībo vicitrābharaṇaḥ śaṅkukarṇo mahābalaḥ
tena viśravasaḥ putraḥ sa dṛṣṭo rākṣasādhipaḥ

SYNONYMS

29| saḥ rākśsādhipaḥ: that king of Rakshasas | kśībaḥ: who was intoxicated | vicitrābharaṇaḥ: with wonderful ornaments | saṅkukarṇaḥ: with pointed ears | viśravasaḥ putraḥ: son of Visravasa | candramāḥ iva: was like the moon | tārābhiḥ: together with stars | vṛtaḥ: together | paramanārībhiḥ: with best women | dṛṣtaḥ: was seen | tena: by that Hanuma | mahā kapiḥ: that great Vanara | mahā tejāḥ: with great brilliance | dadarśa: saw | tam: that Ravana | tejovantam: with glory. |

TRANSLATION

That king of Rakshasas who was intoxicated with wonderful ornaments, with pointed ears, son of Visravasa was like the moon together with stars, together with best women was seen by Hanuma. That great Vanara with great brilliance saw that Ravana with glory.

VERSE 30

रावणो।अयम् महाबाहुरिति संचिन्त्य वानरः
अवप्लुतो महातेजा हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः

rāvaṇo|ayam mahābāhuriti saṃcintya vānaraḥ
avapluto mahātejā hanumānmārutātmajaḥ

SYNONYMS

mārutātmajaḥ: The son of god of wind | vānaraḥ: Vanara | hanumān: Hanuma | mahā tejāḥ: of great brilliance | ayam: this | mahābāhuḥ: long armed one | rāvaṇaḥ: is Ravana | iti samcintya: thinking thus | avaplutaḥ: jumped down. |

TRANSLATION

The son of god of wind Vanara Hanuma of great brilliance thinking thus "This long armed one is Ravana", jumped down.

VERSE 31

स तथाप्युग्रतेजाः सन्निर्धूतस्तस्य तेजसा
पत्रगुह्यान्तरे सक्तो हनुमान् संवृतो।अभवत्

sa tathāpyugratejāḥ sannirdhūtastasya tejasā
patraguhyāntare sakto hanumān saṃvṛto|abhavat

SYNONYMS

tathā: thus | hanumān: Hanuma | ugra tejāḥ sannapi: (although) of terrible energy | nirdhūtaḥ: was overshadowed | tasya tejasā: by Ravana's brilliance | abhavat: (and) became | patra guhyāntare saktaḥ: rooted behind a group of leaves | samvṛtaḥ: and was concealed |

TRANSLATION

Thus Hanuma although of terrible energy was overshadowed by Ravana's brilliance and became rooted behind a group of leaves and was concealed.

VERSE 32

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे अष्टादशः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye sundarakāṇḍe aṣṭādaśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ rāvanaḥ: that Ravana | upāvartata: neared | tām: Seetha | asitakeśāntām: with black hair | suśroṇīm: with charming limbs | samhatastanīm: with well knit breasts | asitāpāṅgām: with black corners of eyes | didṛkśuḥ: wishing to see (Her) |

TRANSLATION

That Ravana neared Seetha with black hair, with charming limbs with well knit breasts, with black corners of eyes, wishing to see Her.