Sundara Kanda, Sarga 41

स च वाग्भिः प्रशस्ताभिर्गमिष्यन्पूजितस्तया। तस्माद्देशादपक्रम्य चिन्तयामास वानरः।।5.41.1।।

sa ca vāgbhiḥ praśastābhirgamiṣyanpūjitastayā| tasmāddeśādapakramya cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ

Having been honoured and praised by Sita's words, Hanuman prepared to depart from Sita's presence.

अल्पशेषमिदं कार्यं दृष्टेयमसितेक्षणा। त्रीनुपायानतिक्रम्य चतुर्थ: इह विद्यते।।5.41.2।।

alpaśeṣamidaṃ kāryaṃ dṛṣṭeyamasitekṣaṇā| trīnupāyānatikramya caturtha: iha vidyate

This task is all but finished now that this dark-eyed lady has been found; having passed over the first three expedients, here the fourth—punishment—remains.

न साम रक्षस्सु गुणाय कल्पते न दानमर्थोपचितेषु युज्यते। न भेदसाध्या बलदर्पिता जनाः पराक्रमस्त्वेव ममेह रोचते।।5.41.3।।

na sāma rakṣassu guṇāya kalpate na dānamarthopaciteṣu yujyate| na bhedasādhyā baladarpitā janāḥ parākramastveva mameha rocate

'With demons, negotiation is of no use. They are wealthy, they need no gifts. Proud of their stregth, the demons will not yield to dissension. I think only by using power it can be done.

न चास्य कार्यस्य पराक्रमादृते विनिश्चयः कश्चिदिहोपपद्यते। हतप्रवीरा हि रणे हि राक्षसाः कथञ्चिदीयुर्यदिहाद्य मार्दवम्।।5.41.4।।

na cāsya kāryasya parākramādṛte viniścayaḥ kaścidihopapadyate| hatapravīrā hi raṇe hi rākṣasāḥ kathañcidīyuryadihādya mārdavam

'Other than power, there is no way to accomplish the task of ascertaining their strength. If I slay a few strong ogres somehow they may soften a little and yield.

कार्ये कर्मणि निर्दिष्टे यो बहून्यपि साधयेत्। पूर्वकार्याविरोधेन स कार्यं कर्तुमर्हति।।5.41.5।।

kārye karmaṇi nirdiṣṭe yo bahūnyapi sādhayet| pūrvakāryāvirodhena sa kāryaṃ kartumarhati

'He, who can perform tasks in addition to the objective accomplished without affecting it, is really worthy.

न ह्येकस्साधको हेतुस्स्वल्पस्यापीह कर्मणः। यो ह्यर्थं बहुधा वेद स समर्थोऽर्थसाधने।।5.41.6।।

na hyekassādhako hetussvalpasyāpīha karmaṇaḥ| yo hyarthaṃ bahudhā veda sa samartho'rthasādhane

'There are ways more than one even to perform a small work. And the capable know it.

इहैव तावत्कृतनिश्चयो ह्यहं यदि व्रजेयं प्लवगेश्वरालयम्। परात्मसम्मर्दविशेषतत्त्ववित्ततः कृतं स्यान्मम भर्तृशासनम्।।5.41.7।।

ihaiva tāvatkṛtaniścayo hyahaṃ yadi vrajeyaṃ plavageśvarālayam| parātmasammardaviśeṣatattvavittataḥ kṛtaṃ syānmama bhartṛśāsanam

'If I ascertain the difference in the strength of enemies and vanaras in war here itself and return to Kishkinda, the abode of vanaras, then I would have executed the orders of my lord properly.

कथं नु खल्वद्य भवेत्सुखागतं प्रसह्य युद्धं मम राक्षसैः सह। तथैव खल्वात्मबलं च सारवत्सम्मानयेन्मां च रणे दशाननः।।5.41.8।।

kathaṃ nu khalvadya bhavetsukhāgataṃ prasahya yuddhaṃ mama rākṣasaiḥ saha| tathaiva khalvātmabalaṃ ca sāravatsammānayenmāṃ ca raṇe daśānanaḥ

'How can I have enduring war with the ogres today? How will my visit to this place end in happy return? Only in a combat this tenheaded Ravana will guage his strength and mine

ततस्समासाद्य रणे दशाननं समन्त्रिवर्गं सबलप्रयायिनम्। हृदि स्थितं तस्य मतं बलं च वै सुखेन मत्त्वाऽहमितः पुनर्व्रजे।।5.41.9।।

tatassamāsādya raṇe daśānanaṃ samantrivargaṃ sabalaprayāyinam| hṛdi sthitaṃ tasya mataṃ balaṃ ca vai sukhena mattvā'hamitaḥ punarvraje

'I can return happily only after I gauge the tenheaded Ravana's army in war, his strength, his companions including the ministers and his mind.

इदमस्य नृशंसस्य नन्दनोपममुत्तमम्। वनं नेत्रमनःकान्तं नानाद्रुमलतायुतम्।।5.41.10।।

idamasya nṛśaṃsasya nandanopamamuttamam| vanaṃ netramanaḥkāntaṃ nānādrumalatāyutam

'This Ashoka garden of Ravana filled with different kinds of trees and creepers is a feast to the eyes and mind. It is an excellent garden like the Nandana garden of Indra.

इदं विध्वंसयिष्यामि शुष्कं वनमिवानलः। अस्मिन्भग्ने ततः कोपं करिष्यति दशाननः।।5.41.11।।

idaṃ vidhvaṃsayiṣyāmi śuṣkaṃ vanamivānalaḥ| asminbhagne tataḥ kopaṃ kariṣyati daśānanaḥ

'I will devastate this garden, just as fire destroys a dried up forest. This will enrage Ravana.

ततो महत्साश्वमहारथद्विपं बलं समादेक्ष्यति राक्षसाधिपः। त्रिशूलकालायसपट्टिसायुधं ततो महद्युद्धमिदं भविष्यति।।5.41.12।।

tato mahatsāśvamahārathadvipaṃ balaṃ samādekṣyati rākṣasādhipaḥ| triśūlakālāyasapaṭṭisāyudhaṃ tato mahadyuddhamidaṃ bhaviṣyati

'Then the demon king will order the horses, chariots and elephants and army equipped with tridents and spears to march against me. A great war will take place.

अहं तु तैः संयति चण्डविक्रमै स्समेत्य रक्षोभिरसह्य विक्रमः। निहत्य तद्रावणचोदितं बलं सुखं गमिष्यामि कपीश्वरालयम्।।5.41.13।।

ahaṃ tu taiḥ saṃyati caṇḍavikramai ssametya rakṣobhirasahya vikramaḥ| nihatya tadrāvaṇacoditaṃ balaṃ sukhaṃ gamiṣyāmi kapīśvarālayam

'I will fight with the ogres sent by Ravana, endowed with fierce strength and irresistible valour. After destroying their army I will go to the abode of vanaras happily'.

ततो मारुतवत्कृद्धो मारुतिर्भीमविक्रमः। ऊरुवेगेन महता द्रुमान्क्षेप्तुमथारभत्।।5.41.14।।

tato mārutavatkṛddho mārutirbhīmavikramaḥ| ūruvegena mahatā drumānkṣeptumathārabhat

Furious Maruti endowed with fierce valour started uprooting the trees with the speed sprung from his thighs like the Windgod.

ततस्तु हनुमान्वीरो बभञ्ज प्रमदावनम्। मत्तद्विजसमाघुष्टं नानाद्रुमलतायुतम्।।5.41.15।।

tatastu hanumānvīro babhañja pramadāvanam| mattadvijasamāghuṣṭaṃ nānādrumalatāyutam

Then Hanuman felled a variety of trees and vines inhabited by intoxicated birds in the beautiful garden meant for womenfolk.

तद्वनं मथितैर्वृक्षैर्भिन्नैश्च सलिलाशयैः। चूर्णितैः पर्वताग्रैश्च बभूवाप्रियदर्शनम्।।5.41.16।।

tadvanaṃ mathitairvṛkṣairbhinnaiśca salilāśayaiḥ| cūrṇitaiḥ parvatāgraiśca babhūvāpriyadarśanam

That garden looked ugly with uprooted trees, breached ponds and powdered mountain peaks.

नानाशकुन्तविरुतैः प्रभिन्नैस्सलिलाशयैः। ताम्रैः किसलयैः क्लान्तै: क्लान्तद्रुमलतायुतम्।।5.41.17।। न बभौ तद्वनं तत्र दावानलहतं यथा। व्याकुलावरणा रेजुर्विह्वला इव ता लताः।।5.41.18।।

nānāśakuntavirutaiḥ prabhinnaissalilāśayaiḥ| tāmraiḥ kisalayaiḥ klāntai: klāntadrumalatāyutam na babhau tadvanaṃ tatra dāvānalahataṃ yathā| vyākulāvaraṇā rejurvihvalā iva tā latāḥ

Vines and trees wilted, birds shrieking, the embankments of ponds destroyed, its tender coppery red shoots withered, the garden looked as though it is burnt by forest fire and the climbers looked like women shivering in fear with their robes disarrayed.

नानाशकुन्तविरुतैः प्रभिन्नैस्सलिलाशयैः। ताम्रैः किसलयैः क्लान्तै: क्लान्तद्रुमलतायुतम्।।5.41.17।। न बभौ तद्वनं तत्र दावानलहतं यथा। व्याकुलावरणा रेजुर्विह्वला इव ता लताः।।5.41.18।।

nānāśakuntavirutaiḥ prabhinnaissalilāśayaiḥ| tāmraiḥ kisalayaiḥ klāntai: klāntadrumalatāyutam na babhau tadvanaṃ tatra dāvānalahataṃ yathā| vyākulāvaraṇā rejurvihvalā iva tā latāḥ

Vines and trees wilted, birds shrieking, the embankments of ponds destroyed, its tender coppery red shoots withered, the garden looked as though it is burnt by forest fire and the climbers looked like women shivering in fear with their robes disarrayed.

लतागृहैश्चित्रगृहैश्च नाशितैर्महोरगैर्व्यालमृगैश्च निर्धुतैः। शिलागृहैरुन्मथितैस्तथा गृहैः प्रणष्टरूपं तदभून्महद्वनम्।।5.41.19।।

latāgṛhaiścitragṛhaiśca nāśitairmahoragairvyālamṛgaiśca nirdhutaiḥ| śilāgṛhairunmathitaistathā gṛhaiḥ praṇaṣṭarūpaṃ tadabhūnmahadvanam

The great garden lay disfigured, with the arbours and the picture galleries ruined, huge serpents and wild animals scattered, with stone houses and sheds destroyed.

सा विह्वलाऽशोकलताप्रताना वनस्थली शोकलताप्रताना। जाता दशास्यप्रमदावनस्य कपेर्बलाद्धि प्रमदावनस्य।।5.41.20।।

sā vihvalā'śokalatāpratānā vanasthalī śokalatāpratānā| jātā daśāsyapramadāvanasya kaperbalāddhi pramadāvanasya

The pleasuregarden of Ravana appeared as though it was spreading the creepers of sorrow, since it was totally destroyed by the monkey who had set out to protect a woman. प्रमदावनस्य of the pleasure garden, प्रमदाअवनस्य of the hero who came to protect a lady.

स तस्य कृत्वार्थपतेर्महाकपिर्महद्व्यलीकं मनसो महात्मनः। युयुत्सुरेको बहुभिर्महाबलैश्शिया ज्वलंस्तोरणमास्थितः कपिः।।5.41.21।।

sa tasya kṛtvārthapatermahākapirmahadvyalīkaṃ manaso mahātmanaḥ| yuyutsureko bahubhirmahābalaiśśiyā jvalaṃstoraṇamāsthitaḥ kapiḥ

The great vanara having perpetrated mischief, rousing anger in the mind of the great lord of wealth, stood at the exit doorway ready to combat singlehanded with many warriors in that mighty army blazing in glory. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे एकचत्वारिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fortyfirst sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.