Sundara Kanda, Sarga 12

स तस्य मध्ये भवनस्य मारुति र्लतागृहांश्चित्रगृहान्निशागृहान्। जगाम सीतां प्रति दर्शनोत्सुको न चैव तां पश्यति चारुदर्शनाम्।।5.12.1।।

sa tasya madhye bhavanasya māruti rlatāgṛhāṃścitragṛhānniśāgṛhān| jagāma sītāṃ prati darśanotsuko na caiva tāṃ paśyati cārudarśanām

Anxious to find Sita, Hanuman revisited the bowers of creepers, picture galleries and domitories located in the midst of the mansion, but did not find that beautiful Sita.

स चिन्तयामास ततो महाकपिः प्रियामपश्यन्रघुनन्दनस्य ताम्। ध्रुवं हि सीता म्रियते यथा न मे विचिन्वतो दर्शनमेति मैथिली।।5.12.2।।

sa cintayāmāsa tato mahākapiḥ priyāmapaśyanraghunandanasya tām| dhruvaṃ hi sītā mriyate yathā na me vicinvato darśanameti maithilī

The great monkey, unable to find the beloved of Rama thought Sita might not be surviving. So he started thinking, ' I could not see her even though I have searched all over'.

सा राक्षसानां प्रवरेण जानकी स्वशीलसंरक्ष्णतत्परा सती। अनेन नूनं प्रति दुष्टकर्मणा हता भवेदार्यपथे परे स्थिता।।5.12.3।।

sā rākṣasānāṃ pravareṇa jānakī svaśīlasaṃrakṣṇatatparā satī| anena nūnaṃ prati duṣṭakarmaṇā hatā bhavedāryapathe pare sthitā

'Janaki, follower of noble path, anxious to protect her chastity must have been killed by the wicked demon king.

विरूपरूपा विकृता विवर्चसो महानना दीर्घविरूपदर्शनाः। समीक्ष्य सा राक्षसराजयोषितो भयाद्विनष्टा जनकेश्वरात्मजा।।5.12.4।।

virūparūpā vikṛtā vivarcaso mahānanā dīrghavirūpadarśanāḥ| samīkṣya sā rākṣasarājayoṣito bhayādvinaṣṭā janakeśvarātmajā

'The daughter of Janaka might have collapsed out of fear, looking at the distorted faces of ugly, tall and monstrous demon maids of Ravana.

सीतामदृष्ट्वा ह्यनवाप्य पौरुषं विहृत्य कालं सह वानरैश्चिरम्। न मेऽस्ति सुग्रीवसमीपगा गतिः सुतीक्ष्णदण्डो बलवांश्च वानरः।।5.12.5।।

sītāmadṛṣṭvā hyanavāpya pauruṣaṃ vihṛtya kālaṃ saha vānaraiściram| na me'sti sugrīvasamīpagā gatiḥ sutīkṣṇadaṇḍo balavāṃśca vānaraḥ

'I have spent a long time with vanaras. I have not succeded in my efforts to find Sita. I dare not see Sugriva now without finding Sita and without fulfilling my task. Sugriva will punish me severely. There is no way out.'

दृष्टमन्तःपुरं सर्वं दृष्टा रावणयोषितः। न सीता दृश्यते साध्वीवृथा जातो मम श्रमः।।5.12.6।।

dṛṣṭamantaḥpuraṃ sarvaṃ dṛṣṭā rāvaṇayoṣitaḥ| na sītā dṛśyate sādhvīvṛthā jāto mama śramaḥ

'I have searched all over the harem. Ravana's women have been seen. (Yet) I have not been able to see noble Sita. My efforts have been wasted'.

किं नु मां वानराः सर्वे गतं वक्ष्यन्ति सङ्गताः। गत्वा तत्र त्वया वीर किं कृतं तद्वदस्व नः।।5.12.7।।

kiṃ nu māṃ vānarāḥ sarve gataṃ vakṣyanti saṅgatāḥ| gatvā tatra tvayā vīra kiṃ kṛtaṃ tadvadasva naḥ

'What will the vanaras say when I return? What should I speak when they ask me: O hero, what did you accomplish there?'

अदृष्ट्वा किं प्रवक्ष्यामि तामहं जनकात्मजाम्। ध्रुवं प्रायमुपैष्यन्ति कालस्य व्यतिवर्तने।।5.12.8।।

adṛṣṭvā kiṃ pravakṣyāmi tāmahaṃ janakātmajām| dhruvaṃ prāyamupaiṣyanti kālasya vyativartane

'Since the time limit has exceeded and Janaki is not spotted, surely the vanaras would sit and wait unto death. What am I going to say'?

किं वा वक्ष्यति वृद्धश्च जाम्बवानाङ्गदश्च सः। गतं पारं समुद्रस्य वानराश्च समागताः।।5.12.9।।

kiṃ vā vakṣyati vṛddhaśca jāmbavānāṅgadaśca saḥ| gataṃ pāraṃ samudrasya vānarāśca samāgatāḥ

'What will the elderly Jambavan say? What will young prince Angada and other vanaras collected there say when I reach the seashore to meet them'.

अनिर्वेदः श्रियो मूलमनिर्वेदः परं सुखम्। अनिर्वेदो हि सततं सर्वार्थेषु प्रवर्तकः।।5.12.10।।

anirvedaḥ śriyo mūlamanirvedaḥ paraṃ sukham| anirvedo hi satataṃ sarvārtheṣu pravartakaḥ

Wise Hanuman once again declared, 'being free from despair is the root cause of prosperity. Freedom from despondency gives supreme happiness and leads to success'.

करोति सफलं जन्तोः कर्म यत्तत्करोति सः। तस्मादनिर्वेदकृतं यत्नं चेष्टेऽहमुत्तमम्।।5.12.11।। भूयस्तावद्विचेष्यामि देशान्रावणपालितान्।

karoti saphalaṃ jantoḥ karma yattatkaroti saḥ| tasmādanirvedakṛtaṃ yatnaṃ ceṣṭe'hamuttamam bhūyastāvadviceṣyāmi deśānrāvaṇapālitān|

'The action of a living being certainly bears fruit. Therefore, I shall put forth my best effort without feeling despondent. I will once again search everywhere in Lanka ruled by Ravana'.

आपानशाला विचितास्तथा पुष्पगृहाणि च।।5.12.12।। चित्रशालाश्च विचिता भूयः क्रीडागृहाणि च। निष्कुटान्तररथ्याश्च विमानानि च सर्वशः।।5.12.13।।

āpānaśālā vicitāstathā puṣpagṛhāṇi ca citraśālāśca vicitā bhūyaḥ krīḍāgṛhāṇi ca| niṣkuṭāntararathyāśca vimānāni ca sarvaśaḥ

'I have searched the banquet halls, bowers of creepers, picture galleries and gymnasiums. I have searched everywhere through the paths of gardens and mansions, harems and the Pushpaka chariot also.

आपानशाला विचितास्तथा पुष्पगृहाणि च।।5.12.12।। चित्रशालाश्च विचिता भूयः क्रीडागृहाणि च। निष्कुटान्तररथ्याश्च विमानानि च सर्वशः।।5.12.13।।

āpānaśālā vicitāstathā puṣpagṛhāṇi ca citraśālāśca vicitā bhūyaḥ krīḍāgṛhāṇi ca| niṣkuṭāntararathyāśca vimānāni ca sarvaśaḥ

'I have searched the banquet halls, bowers of creepers, picture galleries and gymnasiums. I have searched everywhere through the paths of gardens and mansions, harems and the Pushpaka chariot also.

इति सञ्चिन्त्य भूयोऽपि विचेतुमुपचक्रमे। भूमीगृहांश्चैत्यगृहान् गृहातिगृहकानपि।।5.12.14।।

iti sañcintya bhūyo'pi vicetumupacakrame| bhūmīgṛhāṃścaityagṛhān gṛhātigṛhakānapi

Thinking thus, he started searching once again the basement cells, temples, homes within homes.

उत्पतन्निष्पतंश्चापि तिष्ठन्गच्छन् पुनः पुनः। अपावृण्वंश्च द्वाराणि कवाटान्यवघाटयन्।।5.12.15।। प्रविशन्निष्पतंश्चापि प्रपतन्नुत्पतन्नपि। सर्वमप्यवकाशं स विचचार महाकपिः।।5.12.16।।

utpatanniṣpataṃścāpi tiṣṭhangacchan punaḥ punaḥ| apāvṛṇvaṃśca dvārāṇi kavāṭānyavaghāṭayan praviśanniṣpataṃścāpi prapatannutpatannapi| sarvamapyavakāśaṃ sa vicacāra mahākapiḥ

The great vanara searched all over again and again jumping up and down, stopping for a while and moving, opening and closing doors, by crossing, entering and exiting, jumping up and down. Thus he moved about and searched whereever there was scope to search

उत्पतन्निष्पतंश्चापि तिष्ठन्गच्छन् पुनः पुनः। अपावृण्वंश्च द्वाराणि कवाटान्यवघाटयन्।।5.12.15।। प्रविशन्निष्पतंश्चापि प्रपतन्नुत्पतन्नपि। सर्वमप्यवकाशं स विचचार महाकपिः।।5.12.16।।

utpatanniṣpataṃścāpi tiṣṭhangacchan punaḥ punaḥ| apāvṛṇvaṃśca dvārāṇi kavāṭānyavaghāṭayan praviśanniṣpataṃścāpi prapatannutpatannapi| sarvamapyavakāśaṃ sa vicacāra mahākapiḥ

The great vanara searched all over again and again jumping up and down, stopping for a while and moving, opening and closing doors, by crossing, entering and exiting, jumping up and down. Thus he moved about and searched whereever there was scope to search

चतुरङ्गुलमात्रोऽपि नावकाशः स विद्यते। रावणान्तःपुरे तस्मिन् यं कपिर्न जगाम सः।।5.12.17।।

caturaṅgulamātro'pi nāvakāśaḥ sa vidyate| rāvaṇāntaḥpure tasmin yaṃ kapirna jagāma saḥ

Even a space of four fingers in the inner chambers of Ravana was not left out in his search for Sita.

प्राकारान्तररथ्याश्च वेदिकाश्चैत्यसंश्रयाः। दीर्घिकाः पुष्करिण्यश्च सर्वं तेनावलोकितम्।।5.12.18।।

prākārāntararathyāśca vedikāścaityasaṃśrayāḥ| dīrghikāḥ puṣkariṇyaśca sarvaṃ tenāvalokitam

He moved in the lanes inside the boundary walls, around the shrines, altars, wells and tanks whereever it was possible to look for.

राक्षस्यो विविधाकारा विरूपा विकृतास्तथा। दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु सा जनकात्मजा।।5.12.19।।

rākṣasyo vividhākārā virūpā vikṛtāstathā| dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu sā janakātmajā

Hanuman could see only ogresses of different typesugly, deformed but could not find the daughter of Janaka.

रूपेणाप्रतिमा लोके वरा विद्याधरस्त्रियः। दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु राघवनन्दिनी।।5.12.20।।

rūpeṇāpratimā loke varā vidyādharastriyaḥ| dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu rāghavanandinī

Hanuman could see even the women of vidyadharas who were matchless in beauty among women in the world but not Janaki the beloved of Raghava.

नागकन्या वरारोहाः पूर्णचन्र्दनिभाननाः। दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु सीता सुमध्यमा।।5.12.21।।

nāgakanyā varārohāḥ pūrṇacanrdanibhānanāḥ| dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu sītā sumadhyamā

Hanuman could see there moonfaced daughters of nagas with charming limbs but not the slimwaisted Sita.

प्रमथ्य राक्षसेन्द्रेण नागकन्या बलाद्धृताः। दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न सा जनकनन्दिनी।।5.12.22।।

pramathya rākṣasendreṇa nāgakanyā balāddhṛtāḥ| dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na sā janakanandinī

Hanuman saw the daghters of nagas kidnapped by Ravana forcibly after victory in war but not Sita, the delight of Janaka.

सोऽपश्यंस्तां महाबाहुः पश्यंश्चान्या वरस्त्रियः। विषसाद मुहुर्धीमान् हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः।।5.12.23।।

so'paśyaṃstāṃ mahābāhuḥ paśyaṃścānyā varastriyaḥ| viṣasāda muhurdhīmān hanumān mārutātmajaḥ

The longarmed Hanuman, son of the Windgod was able to see other great women but not Sita. So he became despondent.

उद्योगं वानरेन्द्राणां प्लवनं सागरस्य च। व्यर्थं वीक्ष्यानिलसुतश्चिन्तां पुनरुपागमत्।।5.12.24।।

udyogaṃ vānarendrāṇāṃ plavanaṃ sāgarasya ca| vyarthaṃ vīkṣyānilasutaścintāṃ punarupāgamat

The son of the Wind god, the great monkey realised the futility of his efforts in crossing the sea. He brooded again.

अवतीर्य विमानाच्च हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः। चिन्तामुपजगामाथ शोकोपहतचेतनः।।5.12.25।।

avatīrya vimānācca hanumān mārutātmajaḥ| cintāmupajagāmātha śokopahatacetanaḥ

Hanuman, son of the Windgod, came out of the aerial chariot, mind stricken with grief and started thinking again. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे द्वादशस्सर्गः। Thus ends the twelfth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.