Chapter 18
Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty
तथा विप्रेक्षमाणस्य वनम् पुष्पितपादपम्
विचिन्वतश्च वैदेहीम् किंचिच्चेषा निशाभवत्
tathā viprekṣamāṇasya vanam puṣpitapādapam
vicinvataśca vaidehīm kiṃcicceṣā niśābhavat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
A little of the night was left while Hanuma was searching like that for Seetha in the garden with flowers in blossom.
षडङ्गवेदविदुषाम् क्रतुप्रवरयाजिनाम्
शुश्राव ब्रह्मघोषान् स विरात्रे ब्रह्मरक्षसाम्
ṣaḍaṅgavedaviduṣām kratupravarayājinām
śuśrāva brahmaghoṣān sa virātre brahmarakṣasām
SYNONYMS
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.
अथ मङ्गलवादित्रशब्दैः श्रुतिमनोहरैः
प्रबुध्यत महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवो महाबलः
atha maṅgalavāditraśabdaiḥ śrutimanoharaiḥ
prabudhyata mahābāhurdaśagrīvo mahābalaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter Ravana with great arms and great prowess was woken by the sounds of various auspicious musical instruments pleasing to the ear.
विबुध्य तु यथाकालम् राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्
स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरो वैदेहीमन्वचिन्तयात्
vibudhya tu yathākālam rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān
srastamālyāmbaradharo vaidehīmanvacintayāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The king of rakshasas with great might woke up at the appropriate hour wearing slippery flower garlands remembered about Seetha.
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
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.
स सर्वाभरणैर्युक्तो बिभच्छ्रियमनुत्तमाम्
तां नगैर्बहुभिर्जुष्टाम् सर्वपुष्पफलोपगैः
sa sarvābharaṇairyukto bibhacchriyamanuttamām
tāṃ nagairbahubhirjuṣṭām sarvapuṣpaphalopagaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Together with all ornaments wearing great glory that Ravana entered that Ashoka garden having a lot of trees with all fruits and flowers.
वृतां पुष्करिणीभिश्च नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम्
सदामदैश्च विहगैर्विचित्राम् परमाद्भुताम्
vṛtāṃ puṣkariṇībhiśca nānāpuṣpopaśobhitām
sadāmadaiśca vihagairvicitrām paramādbhutām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana entered that great wonderful Ashoka garden together with lakes, shone by various flowers, brilliant with birds always in rut.
ईहामृगैश्च विविधैर्जुष्टां डृष्टिमनोहरैः
वीथीः संप्रेक्षमाणश्च मणिकाञ्चनतोरणाः
īhāmṛgaiśca vividhairjuṣṭāṃ ḍṛṣṭimanoharaiḥ
vīthīḥ saṃprekṣamāṇaśca maṇikāñcanatoraṇāḥ
SYNONYMS
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.
अङ्गनाशतमात्रं तु तं व्रजन्तमनुव्रजत्
महेन्द्रमिव पौलस्त्यम्ं देवगन्धर्वयोषितः
aṅganāśatamātraṃ tu taṃ vrajantamanuvrajat
mahendramiva paulastyamṃ devagandharvayoṣitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While He was going only a hundred of women followed that Ravana like Deva and Gandharva women following Indra.
दीपिकाः काञ्चनीः काश्चिज्जगृहुस्तत्र योषितः
वालव्यजनहस्ताश्च तालवृन्तानि चापराः
dīpikāḥ kāñcanīḥ kāścijjagṛhustatra yoṣitaḥ
vālavyajanahastāśca tālavṛntāni cāparāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
There some women bore lamps of gold; some others carried chowries; some others had fans of Palmyra leaves in their hands.
काञ्चनैरपि भृङ्गारैर्जह्रुः सलिलमग्रतः
मण्डलागान् ब्रुसींश्चापि गृह्यान्याः पृष्ठतो
ययुः
kāñcanairapi bhṛṅgārairjahruḥ salilamagrataḥ
maṇḍalāgān brusīṃścāpi gṛhyānyāḥ pṛṣṭhato
yayuḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Some women carried water in small vessels of gold; some others followed in the back taking pillows with circular ends.
काचिद्रत्नमयीं स्थालीं पूर्णां पानस्य ब्राजतम्
दक्षिणा दक्षिणेनैव तदा जग्राह पाणिना
kācidratnamayīṃ sthālīṃ pūrṇāṃ pānasya brājatam
dakṣiṇā dakṣiṇenaiva tadā jagrāha pāṇinā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
One woman to the right of Ravana held with her right hand a vessel with gem stones filled with liqour.
राजहंसप्रतीकाशं चत्रं पूर्णशशिप्रभम्
सौवर्णदण्डमपरा गृहीत्वा पृष्ठतो ययौ
rājahaṃsapratīkāśaṃ catraṃ pūrṇaśaśiprabham
sauvarṇadaṇḍamaparā gṛhītvā pṛṣṭhato yayau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Another woman went at back taking an umbrella equalling a royal swan with the radiance of full moon with a golden handle.
निद्रामदपरीताक्ष्यो रावनस्योत्तमाः स्त्रियः
अनुजग्मुः पतिं वीरम् घनम् विद्युल्लता इव
nidrāmadaparītākṣyo rāvanasyottamāḥ striyaḥ
anujagmuḥ patiṃ vīram ghanam vidyullatā iva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
With sleepy eyes best women of Ravana followed mighty husband like lightning following a cloud.
व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः समामृदितवर्णकाः
समागल्दितकेशान्ताः सस्वेदवदनास्तथा
vyāviddhahārakeyūrāḥ samāmṛditavarṇakāḥ
samāgalditakeśāntāḥ sasvedavadanāstathā
SYNONYMS
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.
स च कामपराधीनः पतिस्तासां महाबलः
सीतासक्तमना मन्दो मन्दाञ्चितगतिर्बभौ
sa ca kāmaparādhīnaḥ patistāsāṃ mahābalaḥ
sītāsaktamanā mando mandāñcitagatirbabhau
SYNONYMS
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.
ततः काञ्चीनिनादं च नूपुराणाम् च निस्वनम्
शुश्राव परमस्त्रीणां स कपिर्मारुतात्मजः
tataḥ kāñcīninādaṃ ca nūpurāṇām ca nisvanam
śuśrāva paramastrīṇāṃ sa kapirmārutātmajaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter that Hanuma, the son of wind-god heard the sound of waist-bands and the sound of anklets of those excellent women.
तं चाप्रतिमकर्माणमचिन्त्यबलपौरुषम्
द्वारदेशमनुप्राप्तं ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः
taṃ cāpratimakarmāṇamacintyabalapauruṣam
dvāradeśamanuprāptaṃ dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hanuma the monkey saw that Ravana also, performer of deeds without an equal, with unfathomable might and virility, reaching the entrance region.
दीपिकाभिरनेकाभिः समन्तादवभासितम्
गन्धतैलावसिक्ताभिर्द्रियमाणाभिरग्रतः
dīpikābhiranekābhiḥ samantādavabhāsitam
gandhatailāvasiktābhirdriyamāṇābhiragrataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Wettened by fragrant oil, being carried in front of Ravana, Hanuma saw Ravana being shone in all directions by many lamps.
कामदर्पमदैर्युक्तं जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम्
समक्षमिव कन्दर्पमपविद्धशरासनम्
kāmadarpamadairyuktaṃ jihmatāmrāyatekṣaṇam
samakṣamiva kandarpamapaviddhaśarāsanam
SYNONYMS
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.
मथितामृतफेनाभमरजोवस्त्रमुत्तमम्
सलीलमनुकर्षन्तं विमुक्तं सक्तमङ्गदे
mathitāmṛtaphenābhamarajovastramuttamam
salīlamanukarṣantaṃ vimuktaṃ saktamaṅgade
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hanuma saw Ravana playfully readjusting his excellent upper garment with the luster of churned nectar froth, without stain,slipping being entangled in armlet.
तं पत्रविटपे लीनः अत्रपुष्पघनावृतह्
समीपमिव संक्रान्तं निध्यातुमुपचक्रमे
taṃ patraviṭape līnaḥ atrapuṣpaghanāvṛtah
samīpamiva saṃkrāntaṃ nidhyātumupacakrame
SYNONYMS
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.
अवेक्षमाणस्तु ततो ददर्श कपिकुञ्जरः
रूपयौवनसंपन्ना रावणस्य वरस्तियः
avekṣamāṇastu tato dadarśa kapikuñjaraḥ
rūpayauvanasaṃpannā rāvaṇasya varastiyaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter Hanuma, the best among Vanaras looking in all directions saw best women of Ravana full of beauty and youth.
ताभिः परिवृतो राजा सुरूपाभिर्महायशाः
तस्मृगद्विजसम्घष्टं प्रविष्टः प्रमदावनम्
tābhiḥ parivṛto rājā surūpābhirmahāyaśāḥ
tasmṛgadvijasamghaṣṭaṃ praviṣṭaḥ pramadāvanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
King of great fame, Ravana, together with those women with good appearance entered that garden resounded by animals and birds.
क्षीबो विचित्राभरणः शङ्कुकर्णो महाबलः
तेन विश्रवसः पुत्रः स दृष्टो राक्षसाधिपः
kṣībo vicitrābharaṇaḥ śaṅkukarṇo mahābalaḥ
tena viśravasaḥ putraḥ sa dṛṣṭo rākṣasādhipaḥ
SYNONYMS
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.
रावणो।अयम् महाबाहुरिति संचिन्त्य वानरः
अवप्लुतो महातेजा हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः
rāvaṇo|ayam mahābāhuriti saṃcintya vānaraḥ
avapluto mahātejā hanumānmārutātmajaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The son of god of wind Vanara Hanuma of great brilliance thinking thus "This long armed one is Ravana", jumped down.
स तथाप्युग्रतेजाः सन्निर्धूतस्तस्य तेजसा
पत्रगुह्यान्तरे सक्तो हनुमान् संवृतो।अभवत्
sa tathāpyugratejāḥ sannirdhūtastasya tejasā
patraguhyāntare sakto hanumān saṃvṛto|abhavat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus Hanuma although of terrible energy was overshadowed by Ravana's brilliance and became rooted behind a group of leaves and was concealed.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे अष्टादशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye sundarakāṇḍe aṣṭādaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Ravana neared Seetha with black hair, with charming limbs with well knit breasts, with black corners of eyes, wishing to see Her.