bhujaga aacaritaam guptaam shubhaam bhogavatiim iva |

taam savidyut ghana aakiirnaam jyotih maarga nisevitaam || 5-3-5

canda maaruta nirhraadaam yathaa indrasya amaraavatiim |

shaatakumbhena mahataa praakaarena abhisamvritaam || 5-3-6

kinkinii jaala ghosaabhih pataakaabhih alamkritaam |

aasaadya sahasaa hristah praakaaram abhipedivaan || 5-3-7

Quickly approaching that city of Lanka which was protected by Rakshasas, like the auspicious city of Bhogavati being protected by serpents moving about, spread with cloud illumined by flashes of lightening, served by pathways of stars, with a light breeze like the Indra's city of Amaravati, surrounded by a wall with a golden hue, decorated by flags with sounds from groups of small bells. He became happy and leapt up the wall.

vismaya aavista hridayah puriim aalokya sarvatah |

jaambuunadamayaih dvaaraih vaiduurya krita vedikaih || 5-3-8

mani sphatika muktaabhih mani kuttima bhuusitaih |

tapta haataka niryuuhaih raajata amala paanduraih || 5-3-9

vaiduurya tala sopaanaih sphaatika antara paamsubhih |

caaru samjavana upetaih kham iva utpatitaih shubhaih || 5-3-10

kraunca barhina samghuste raaja hamsa nisevitaih |

tuurya aabharana nirghosaih sarvatah pratinaaditaam || 5-3-11

vasvokasaaraa pratimaam samiiksya nagariim tatah |

kham iva utpatitaam lankaam jaharsa hanumaan kapih || 5-3-12

Seeing the city everywhere Hanuma became surprised at heart. Thereafter Hanuma the monkey, became happy seeing the doors which were of golden color, with platforms of cat's eye gems, inlaid with diamonds, crystals and pearls, embellished with floors of gems, graced with elephants made of refined gold, crowned with spotless white silver, stairs studded with cat's eye gems, with inside walls made of crystal free from dust, provided with lovely assembly halls, with sounds of Krouncha birds and peacocks, served by royal swans, looking as though flying toward the sky, with auspicious houses resounding everywhere with the sounds of clarinets [instruments] and ornaments, equaling the city of Vasvankasara, as though flying towards the sky.

taam samiiksya puriim lankaam raaksasa adhipateh shubhaam |

anuttamaam riddhi yutaam cintayaam aasa viiryavaan || 5-3-13

Seeing that city of Ravana, which was best among cities, a wealthy city, a beautiful and auspicious city, that powerful Hanuma thought thus.

na iyam anyena nagarii shakyaa dharsayitum balaat |

raksitaa raavana balaih udyata aayudha dhaaribhih || 5-3-14

"It is not possible for anyone else to oppose this city, by strength alone, which is being guarded by armies of Ravana with raised weapons."

kumuda angadayoh vaa api susenasya mahaa kapeh |

prasiddhaa iyam bhavet bhuumih mainda dvividayoh api || 5-3-15

This land may be conquerable by Kumuda or Angada, to the great monkey Sushena or to Mainda or Dvivida.

vivasvatah tanuujasya hareh ca kusha parvanah |

riksasya ketu maalasya mama caiva gatih bhavet || 5-3-16

There may be access to this land to the son of Sun God Sugreeva, to the monkey Kusaparvana, to the chief among monkeys Riksha and to me.

samiiksya tu mahaa baahah raaghavasya paraakramam |

laksmanasya ca vikraantam abhavat priitimaan kapih || 5-3-17

Considering the long armed Sri Rama's strength and Lakshmana's valor, Hanuma became happy.

taam ratna vasana upetaam kostha aagaara avatamsakaam |

yantra agaara staniim riddhaam pramadaam iva bhuusitaam || 5-3-18

taam nasta timiraam diipaih bhaasvaraih ca mahaa grihaih |

nagariim raaksasa indrasya dadarsha sa mahaa kapih || 5-3-19

That great monkey saw that city of king of rakshasas like a wealthy woman decorated with diamonds for her clothes, with various storage houses as earrings, with amouries for her breasts. Due to the lamps that illuminated the radiant great houses, all darkness was lost.

atha saa harishaarduulam pravishantim mahaabalam |

nagarii svena ruupena dadarsha pavanaatmajam || 5-3-20

Thereafter, the guardian of that city, in her own form, saw Hanuma, the best among monkeys and the mighty one, entering.

saa tam harivaram drishhtvaa lankaa raavanapaalitaa |

svayamevotthitaa tatra vikritaananadarshanaa || 5-3-21

Seeing that best among monkeys Hanuma there, that Lanka ruled by Ravana, rose up herself with a horrific appearance of face an eyes.

purastatka pivaryasya vaayusuunoratishhthata |

mujnchamaanaa mahaanaadamabraviitpavanaatmajam || 5-3-22

She stood in front of the best among Vanaras Hanuma. She made a great sound and spoke to Hanuma thus.

kastvam kena cha kaaryena iha praapto vanaalaya |

kathaya sveha yattattvam yaavatpraanaa dharanti te || 5-3-23

"O one who lives in gardens! Who are you? For what reason did you come here? As long as your lives are sustained, tell me the truth here before that."

na shakyam khalviyam lankaa praveshhtum vaanara tvayaa |

rakshitaa raavanabalairabhiguptaa samantatah || 5-3-24

"O Vanara! It is indeed not possible for you to enter this city of Lanka which is protected by Ravana's forces and strongly guarded all around."

atha taamabraviidviiro hanumaanagratah sthitaam |

kathayishhyaami te tattvam yanmam tvam pariprichchhasi || 5-3-25

Thereafter the mighty Hanuma spoke to Lanka standing in front of Him as follows : "Whatever matter you are asking me, I will tell you that truthfully."

kaa tvam viruupanayanaa puradvaare.avatishhthasi |

kimartham chaapi maam ruddhvaa nirbhartsayasi daarunaa || 5-3-26

"You are standing at the entrance to the city. O one with ugly eyes! Who are you? O horrible one! Stopping me, for what reason are you threatening me?"

hanumadvachanam shrutvaa lankaa saa kaamaruupinii |

uvaacha vachanam kruddhaa parushham pavanaatmajam || 5-3-27

Listening to Hanuma's words, that Lanka, with ability to achieve desired form, became angry and spoke these strong words to Hanuma.

aham raakshasaraajasya raavanasya mahaatmanah |

aajjnaapratiikshaa durdharshhaa rakshaami nagariimimaam || 5-3-28

"I protect this city, being invincible. I wait for the orders of the king of demons Ravana, the great one."

na shakyaa maamavajjnaaya praveshhtum nagarii tvayaa |

adya praanaih parityaktah svapsyase nihato mayaa || 5-3-29

"After humiliating me it is not possible for you to enter the city. Being beaten by me, you will leave life and have a permanent sleep."

aham hi nagarii lankaa svayameva plavangama |

sarvatah parirakshaami hyetatte kathitam mayaa || 5-3-30

"O Vanara! I am protecting this city of Lanka in all directions. This matter has been already told to you by me."

lankaayaa vachanam shrutvaa hanumaan maarutaatmajah |

yatnavaansa harishreshhthah sthitashshaila ivaaparah || 5-3-31

The son of Vayu and best among Vanaras heard Lanka's words and stood up like a second mountain, with a purpose.

sa taam striiruupavikritaam drishhtvaa vaanarapungavah |

aababhaashhe.atha medhaavi sattvaan plavagarshhabhah || 5-3-32

Thereafter that Hanuma the wise one, with great strength, best among those who can fly and best among Vanaras, saw that city of Lanka in the form of an ugly woman and spoke thus.

drakshyaami nagariim lankaam saattapraakaaratoranaam |

ityarthamiha sampraaptah param kautuuhalam hi me || 5-3-33

"I should like to see the city of Lanka with its palaces, defensive walls and archways. I came here for that reason. I am very curious to see them."

vanaanyupavanaaniiha lankaayaah kaananaani cha |

sarvato grihamukhyaani drashhtumaagamanam hi me || 5-3-34

"My arrival here is indeed to see Lanka's gardens, parks, forests and important houses all over."

tasya tadvachanam shrutvaa lankaa saa kaamaruupinii |

bhuuya eva punarvaakyam babhaashhe parushhaaksharam || 5-3-35

Listening to Hanuma's words, Lanka with the ability to assume desired form, spoke harsh words stronger than before.

maamanirjatya durbaddhe raakshaseshvarapaalitaa |

na shakyamadya te drashhtum puriiyam vanaraadhama || 5-3-36

"O lowly Vanara with an evil mind! It is not possile for you to see this city ruled by king of rakshasas, without first defeating me."

tatah sa kapishaarduulastaamuvaacha nishaachariim |

drishhvaa puriimimaam bhadre punaryaasye yathaagatam || 5-3-37

Then that tiger among Vanaras Hanuma spoke to that demon: "O auspicious one! After seeing this city I will return back again to where I came from."

tatah kritvaa mahaanaadam saa vai lankaa bhayaavaham |

talena vaanarashreshhtham taadayaamaasa vegitaa || 5-3-38

Thereafter that Lanka made a great sound causing terror and hit Hanuma, the best among Vanaras, with her palm quickly.

tatah sa kapishaardulo lankaayaa taadito bhrisham |

nanaada sumahaanaadam viiryavaan pavanaatmajah || 5-3-39

Then that tiger among Vanaras, the powerful son of Vayu, being hit powerfully by Lanka made a great sound.

tatah samvartayaamaasa vaamahastasya so.anguliih |

mushhtinaabhijaghuunainaam hanumaan krodhamuurchitah || 5-3-40

strii cheti manyamaanena naatikrodhah svayam kritah |

Thereafter that Hanuma became dizzy with anger and folded his fingers of left hand. He then hit her with His fist. "She is a woman" - thinking thus He did not show much anger by Himself.

saa tu tena prahaarena vihvalaangii niishaacharii || 5-3-41

papaata sahasaa bhuumau vikritaananadarshanaa |

That demon fell on land immediately by that hit with a distressed body and appeared with a horrific face.

tatastu hanumaan praajjnastaam drishhtvaa vinipaatitaam || 5-3-42

kripaam chakaara tejasvii manyamaanah striyam tu taam |

Thereafter the intellectual and glorious Hanuma saw her fallen down and thinking her to be woman, showed kindness.

tato vai bhrishasamvignaa lankaa gadgadaaksharam || 5-3-43

uvaachaagarvitam vaakyam hanuumantam plavangamam |

Thereafter that Lanka being very gloomy spoke with a faltering tone without pride these words to Hanuma the Vanara.

prasiida sumahaabaaho traayasva harisattama || 5-3-44

samaye saumya tishhthanti sttvavanto mahaabalaah |

"O long armed one! O best among Vanaras! Get propitiated and protect me. O gentle one! Those with great strength and courage always stand firm on tradition."

aham tu nagarii lankaa svayameva plavangama || 5-3-45

nirjitaaham tvayaa viira vikramena mahaabala |

"O Vanara! I am myself the city of Lanka. O strong one! O courageous one! I am defeated by your strength."

idam tu tathyam shrinu vai bruvantya me hariishvara || 5-3-46

svayambhuvaa puraa dattam varadaanam yathaa mama |

"O lord of Vanaras! In earlier times I had been given a boon by Lord Brahma. Hear from me about this matter."

yadaa tvaam vaanarah kashchidvikramaadvashamaanayet || 5-3-47

tadaa tvayaa hi vijjneyam rakshasaam bhayaamaagatam |

"Let this be known by you - whenever a Vanara conquers you with his might, then a fear will come for Rakshasas."

sa hi m samayah saumya praapto.aya tava drshanaat || 5-3-48

svayambhuuvihitah satyo na tasyaasti vyatikramah |

"O gentle one! With your appearance now, that time has come for me. Ordinance of Brahma is the truth and is immutable."

siitaanimittamm raajjnastu raavanasya duraatmanah || 5-3-49

vidhatsva sarvakaaryaani yaani yaaniha vaajnchasi |

"The destruction has come for Ravana the evil minded king and to all Rakshasas due to Seetha."

tatpravishya harishreshhtham puriim raavanapaalitaam || 5-3-50

vidhatsva sarvakaaryaan yaani yaaniiha vaajnchasi |

"O best among Vanaras! For that reason, enter the city of Lanka ruled by Ravana and do here whatever tasks you want to."

pravishya shaapopahataam hariishvara |

shubhaam puriim raakshasaraajapaalitaam |

yadrichchhayaa tvam janakaatmajaam satiim |

vimaarga sarvatra gato yathaasukham || 5-3-51

"O lord of Vanaras! Enter the auspicious city of Lanka stuck by the curse, ruled by the king of Rakshasas, roam everywhere and search for the chaste wife Seetha according to your comfort."

iti shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye sundarakaannde tritayah sargah

Thus completes the 3rd chapter of Sundara Kanda in Valmiki Ramayana, the first poem.

Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate

References

Durga, Kishore Kopalle, and K. M. K. Murthy. (2001). Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty.

Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.

Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.