Sloka & Translation

[Hanuman goes in the guise of a pious mendicant to meet Rama and Lakshmana --- Rama wonders at Hanuman's knowledge --- Hanuman reveals his identity and the purpose of his meeting --- Rama agrees to see Sugriva]

vacō vijñāya hanumān sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ.

parvatādṛśyamūkāttu pupluvē yatra rāghavau৷৷4.3.1৷৷


hanumān Hanuman, mahātmanaḥ great self, sugrīvasya Sugriva's, vacaḥ words, vijñāya listening, ṛṣyamūkāt parvatāt from mountain Rishyamuka, rāghavau both (Rama and Lakshmana), yatra where, pupluvē leapt

Listening to great Sugriva, Hanuman leaped from mount Rishyamuka on to the location of the Raghavas.
kapirūpaṅ parityajya hanumānmārutātmajaḥ.

bhikṣurūpaṅ tatō bhējē śaṭhabuddhitayā kapiḥ4.3.2৷৷


tataḥ then, mārutātmajaḥ son of the wind-god, kapiḥ monkey, hanumān Hanuman, kapirūpam form of a monkey, parityajya left, śaṭhabuddhitayā with an ingenious mind, bhikṣurūpam guise of a mendicant, bhējē resorted and went

Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, with an ingenious mind assumed the guise of a mendicant.
tatassa hanumānvācā ślakṣṇayā sumanōjñayā.

vinītavadupāgamya rāghavau praṇipatya ca৷৷4.3.3৷৷

ābabhāṣē tadā vīrau yathāvatpraśaśaṅsa ca.


tataḥ then, hanumān Hanuman, vinītavat in humility, rāghavau to the Raghavas, upāgamya reached, praṇipatya ca offered reverential salutations, ślakṣṇayā gentle, sumanōjñayā pleasing to the mind, vācā words, ābabhāṣē spoke, tadā then, yathāvat duly, praśaśaṅsa ca eulogised

Approaching the Raghavas in all humility, valiant Hanuman offered them reverential salutations and addressed them in gentle and pleasing words.
sampūjya vidhivadvīrau hanumānmārutātmajaḥ.

uvāca kāmatō vākyaṅ mṛdu satyaparākramau4.3.4৷৷


mārutātmajaḥ son of the wind-god, hanumān Hanuman, satyaparākramau endowed with power of truth, vīrau heroes, vidhivat duly, sampūjya offered salutations, kāmataḥ feeling, mṛdu very gently, vākyam words, uvāca said

The valiant son of the Wind-god, Hanuman offered those heroes whose power came from their sense of truth due respect and spoke to them in all gentleness:
rājarṣidēvapratimau tāpasau saṅśitavratau.

dēśaṅ kathamimaṅ prāptau bhavantau varavarṇinau4.3.5৷৷

trāsayantau mṛgagaṇānanyāṅśca vanacāriṇaḥ4.3.6৷৷


rājarṣidēvapratimau comparable to royal sages and gods, saṅśitavratau strict followers of vows, tāpasau ascetics, varavarṇinau of fair complexion, bhavantau you are, mṛgān animals, anyān other, vanacāriṇaśca creatures roaming the forest, trāsayantau frightening them, imaṅ dēśam this place, katham how, prāptau come here?

'You both fair in complexion, resemble royal sages or gods. You appear like ascetics and pursue vows in austerity. How come, you are present here, as if to frighten the animals and other creatures roaming this forest?
pampātīraruhānvṛkṣān vīkṣamāṇau samantataḥ.

imāṅ nadīṅ śubhajalāṅ śōbhayantau tapasvinau4.3.7৷৷

dhairyavantau suvarṇābhau kau yuvāṅ cīravāsasau.

niḥśvasantau varabhujau pīḍayantāvimāḥ prajā:4.3.8৷৷


pampātīraruhān vṛkṣān trees on the bank of Pampa, samantataḥ all over, vīkṣamāṇau looking at, śubhajalām auspicious water, imām this, nadīm river, śōbhayantau enhancing the beauty, tapasvinau ascetics, dhairyavantau courageous, suvarṇābhau of golden complexion, cīravāsasau robed in bark, niḥśvasantau sighing, varabhujau with handsome shoulders, imāḥ these, prajāḥ creatures, pīḍayantau terrifying, yuvām youth

'Gazing at the trees on the bank of Pampa, you both appear in brilliant complexion as if to enhance the beauty of the auspicious river water. Though young, courageous and with handsome shoulders, you seem to sigh in exhaustion. And though you look like ascetics robed in bark, you seem to terrify these creatures.
siṅhaviprēkṣitau vīrau mahābalavikramau.

śakracāpanibhē cāpē gṛhītvā śatrusūdanau4.3.9৷৷

śrīmantau rūpasampannau vṛṣabhaśrēṣṭhavikramau.

hastihastōpamabhujau dyutimantau nararṣabhau4.3.10৷৷


siṅhaviprēkṣitau have the gaze of lions, vīrau heroes, mahābalavikramau both mighty strong warriors, śakracāpanibhē cāpē bows resembling rainbow, hītvā holding, śatrusūdanau destroyers of enemies, śrīmantau magnificient, rūpasampannau very handsome, vṛṣabhaśrēṣṭhavikramau endowed with the valour of excellent bulls, hastihastōpamabhujau shoulders like elephant trunks, dyutimantau bright nararṣabhau best among men

'Having the gaze of a lion, both of you are heroic in your stance. As each of you hold a bow resembling the rainbow, you seem to be mighty warriors eager to annihilate the enemies. With the valour of superior bulls and your shoulders resembling elephant's trunks, you look magnificent, handsome and brilliant. (No doubt,) you are the best among the humans.
prabhayā parvatēndrō.yaṅ yuvayōravabhāsitaḥ.

rājyārhāvamaraprakhyau kathaṅ dēśamihāgatau4.3.11৷৷


ayama this, parvatēndraḥ lord of mountains, yuvayōḥ young, prabhayā radiant, avabhāsitaḥ reflecting, rājyārhau deserve to be sovereigns, amaraprakhyau resembling gods, iha here, dēśam to this place, katham how, āgatau come

'You are young and radiant like the gods. This king of mountains (Rishyamuka) dazzles with your brilliance. Although you deserve to be sovereigns, how is it that you are here (into the forest)?
padmapatrēkṣaṇau vīrau jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇau.

anyōnyasadṛśau vīrau dēvalōkādivāgatau4.3.12৷৷

yadṛcchayēva samprāptau candrasūryau vasundharām.

viśālavakṣasau vīrau mānuṣau dēvarūpiṇau4.3.13৷৷

siṅhaskandhau mahōtsāhau samadāviva gōvṛṣau.


padmapatrēkṣaṇau having eyes like lotus petals, vīrau warriors, jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇau with matted hair, anyōnyasadṛśau resembling each other, dēvalōkāt from the world of gods, āgatau have come here, vīrau heroes, yadṛcchayā incidentally, vasundharām to the earth, samprāptau come, candrasūryāviva like Sun and Moon, viśālavakṣasau broad-chested, vīrau warriors, dēvarūpiṇau resembling gods, mānuṣau men, siṅhaskandhau having shoulders like that of a lion, mahōtsāhau very energetic, samadau majestic, gōvṛṣau iva bulls-like

'Both of you appear alike, with eyes like lotus petals and locks of matted hair. You look like heroes descending from the world of the gods. You look like the Sun and the Moon dropped incidentally on this earth. With shoulders like those of a lion and the majesty of energetic bulls, you broad-chested warriors appear like divine beings, though in fact humans.
āyatāśca suvṛttāśca bāhavaḥ parighōpamāḥ.

sarvabhūṣaṇabhūṣārhāḥ kimarthaṅ na vibhūṣitāḥ4.3.14৷৷


āyatāśca long, suvṛttāśca well-rounded, parighōpamāḥ like the iron clubs, sarvabhūṣaṇabhūṣārhāḥ worthy of all ornaments, bāhavaḥ shoulders, kimartham why is it, na vibhūṣitāḥ not bedecked.

'Your long arms and sphere-like shoulders appear as strong as iron clubs. Although they deserve to be decked with ornaments, how is it they are unadorned?
ubhau yōgyāvahaṅ manyē rakṣituṅ pṛthivīmimām.

sasāgaravanāṅ kṛtsnāṅ vindhyamēruvibhūṣitām4.3.15৷৷


ubhau both, aham I, imām this, sasāgaravanām with seas and forests, vindhyamēruvibhūṣitām adorned with mountains of Vindhya and Meru, kṛtsnām entire, pṛthivīm earth, rakṣitum to rule, yōgyau fit, manyē I think

'To me, you both deserve to rule the entire earth encompassed by seas and forests and adorned with mountains like Vindhya and Meru.
imē ca dhanuṣī citrē ślaṣṇē citrānulēpanē.

prakāśētē yathēndrasya vajrē hēmavibhūṣitē4.3.16৷৷


citrē wonderful, ślakṣṇē attractive ones, citrānulēpanē smeared with wonderful unguents, imē dhanuṣī ca both these bows too, indrasya Indra's, hēmavibhūṣitē decorated with gold, vajrē yathā like thunder-bolt, prakāśētē glow

'Smeared with wonderful unguents, (your) bows look very attractive. And they glow very much like Indra's golden thunderbolt.
sampūrṇā niśitairbāṇai stūṇāśca śubhadarśanāḥ4.3.17৷৷

jīvitāntakarairghōrai śśvasadbhiriva pannagaiḥ৷৷


śubhadarsanāḥ beautiful to look at, tūṇāśca quivers also, jīvitāntakaraiḥ those which can put an end to life, ghōraiḥ with terrible, śśvasadbhiriva like hissing, pannagairiva snakes, bāṇaiḥ with arrows, sampūrṇāśca totally filled with

'(Your) quivers also appear beautiful, for they are fully filled with sharp and deadly arrows which look like the hissing of dreadful snakes;
mahāpramāṇau vistīrṇau taptahāṭakabhūṣitau4.3.18৷৷

khaḍagāvētau virājētē nirmuktāvivapannagau৷৷


mahāpramāṇau of huge size, vistīrṇau long and broad, taptahāṭakabhūṣitau encrusted with shining pure gold, ētau these two, khaḍagau swords, nirmuktāviva pannagau like the snakes that have shed their sloughs, virājētē shine

'(Your) long and broad swords appear very huge in size. Being encrusted with pure gold, they glitter brilliant like snakes in hyberation.
ēvaṅ māṅ paribhāṣantaṅ kasmādvai nābhibhāṣathaḥ4.3.19৷৷

sugrīvō nāma dharmātmā kaścidvānarayūthapaḥ.

vīrō vinikṛtō bhrātrā jagadbhramati duḥkhitaḥ4.3.20৷৷


ēvam in that way, paribhāṣantam talking to you, mām to me, kasmāt why, nābhibhāṣathaḥ not replying, sugrīvō nāma Sugriva by name, vīraḥ warrior, dharmātmā righteous, kaścit some one, vānarayūthapaḥ chief of monkeys, bhrātrā by brother, vinikṛtaḥ is aggrieved, duḥkhitaḥ grieved, jagat world over, sa bhramati roaming about

'Why are you silent while I am talking? (I am here to apprise ) about a great and righteous warrior Sugriva, the chief of the troop of monkeys, sadly wandering all over the land here, banished by his brother;
ptō.haṅ prēṣitastēna sugrīvēṇa mahātmanā.

rājñā vānaramukhyānāṅ hanumānnāma vānaraḥ4.3.21৷৷


mahātmanā by the great, vānaramukhyānām best of monkeys, rājñā by the king, tēna sugrīvēṇa by such Sugriva, prēṣitaḥ I am sent, prāptaḥ came here, aham I, hanumānnāma Hanuman, vānaraḥ monkey

'I am a monkey called Hanuman. I am here sent by great king Sugriva, the best of monkeys.
yuvābhyāṅ saha dharmātmā sugrīvassakhyamicchati.

tasya māṅ sacivaṅ vittaṅ vānaraṅ pavanātmajam4.3.22৷৷

bhikṣurūpapraticchannaṅ sugrīvapriyakāmyayā.

ṛṣyamūkādiha prāptaṅ kāmagaṅ kāmarūpiṇam4.3.23৷৷


dharmātmā righteous , saḥ sugrīvaḥ that Sugriva, yuvābhyām with you both, sakhyama friendship, icchati desires, mām myself, sugrīvapriyakāmyayā for the well-being of Sugriva, bhikṣurūpapraticchannam disguised like a mendicant, tasya his, sacivam minister, ṛṣyamūkāt from Rishyamuka, iha here, prāptam reached, kāmagam can go whereever I desire, kāmarūpiṇam can assume whatever form I desire, pavanātmajam son of the wind-god, vānaram monkey, vittam you may know

'The righteous Sugriva wishes to make friendship with both of you. For his well-being I came here disguised as a mendicant from Rishyamuka mountain. I am a monkey, son of the Wind-god and minister to Sugriva. I can assume any form at my free will and go anywhere I like'.
ēvamuktvā tu hanumāṅstau vīrau rāmalakṣmaṇau.

vākyajñau vākyakuśalaḥ punarnōvāca kiñcana4.3.24৷৷


vākyajñau good at speaking, vākyakuśalaḥ eloguent, hanumān Hanuman, vīrau two heroes, tau both, rāmalakṣmaṇau Rama and Lakshmana, ēvam in that way, uktvā having said, punaḥ again, kiñcana anything more, nōvāca did not speak

The eloquent Hanuman, having spoken thus to both Rama and Lakshmana, good at speaking, said no more.
ētacchrutvā vacantasya rāmō lakṣmaṇamabravīt.

prahṛṣṭavadanaśśrīmānbhrātaraṅ pārśvataḥ sthitam4.3.25৷৷


śrīmān Illustrious, rāmaḥ Rama, tasya his, ētat all that, vacaḥ words, śrutvā having heard, prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ with cheerful face, pārśvataḥ nearby, sthitam stood, bhrātaram brother, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, abravīt said.

Having heard him, the Illustrious Rama cheerfully said to brother Lakshmana standing nearby:
sacivō.yaṅ kapīndrasya sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ.

tamēva kāṅkṣamāṇasya mamāntikamupāgataḥ4.3.26৷৷


kapīndrasya of the lord of monkeys, mahātmanaḥ of great self, sugrīvasya Sugriva's, sacivaḥ minister, ayam this, tamēva him only, kāṅkṣamāṇasya as I wish to see, mama to me, samīpam near by, iha here, āgataḥ has come

'Here is minister to Sugriva, the great chief of monkeys whom I wish to see.
tamabhyabhāṣa saumitrē! sugrīvasacivaṅ kapim.

vākyajñaṅ madhurairvākyaissnēhayuktamarindama!৷৷4.3.27৷৷


saumitrē O Saumitri, vākyajñam knows how to talk, snēhayuktam in a friendly way, arindamam conqueror of enemies, sugrīvasacivam Sugriva's minister, taṅ kapim this monkey, madhuraiḥ pleasant, vākyaiḥ words, abhibhāṣasva reply well .

'O Saumitri, conqueror of enemies! this monkey, Sugriva's minister, is skilled in friendly communication. Reply to him in words gentle and sweet.
nānṛgvēdavinītasya nāyajurvēddhāriṇaḥ.

nāsāmavēdaviduṣaśśakyamēvaṅ vibhāṣitum4.3.28৷৷


anṛgvēdaviduṣaḥ not trained in Rigveda, ēvam in that way, bhāṣitum to talk, na śakyam not possible, ayajurvēddhāriṇaḥ not a scholar in Yajurveda, na not, asāmavēdaviduṣaḥ not a scholar in Samaveda, na not

'Unless well-versed in Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda, for sure, it is not possible for anyone to articulate so well.
nūnaṅ vyākaraṇaṅ kṛtsnamanēna bahudhā śrutam.

bahu vyāharatā.nēna na kiñcidapaśabditam4.3.29৷৷


nūnam surely, anēna by him, kṛtsnam entire, vyākaraṇam grammar, bahudhā in many ways, śrutam studied, bahu much, vyāharatā spoken, anēna by him, kiñcit even a little, apaśabditam wrong pronunciation

'Surely, he seems to have studied well the whole of grammar, for there is not a single mispronunciation in his entire speech.
na mukhē nētrayōrvāpi lalāṭē ca bhruvōstathā.

anyēṣvapi ca gātrēṣu dōṣassaṅviditaḥ kvacit4.3.30৷৷


mukhē in his face, nētrayōrvāpi in the eyes or, lalāṭē on the forehead, tathā likewise, bhruvō between the eyebrows, anyēṣvapi ca or anywhere, gātrēṣu parts of body, kvacit even a little, dōṣaḥ fault, na saṅviditaḥ not found

avistaramasandigdhamavilambitamadrutam.

urasthaṅ kaṇṭhagaṅ vākyaṅ vartatē madhyamē svarē4.3.31৷৷


vākyam sentences, avistaram not too elaborate, asandigdham not ambiguous, avilambhitam not dragging, adrutam not fast, urastham raised in his chest, kaṇṭhagam from the throat, madhyamē medium, svarē tone

saṅskārakramasampannāmadrutāmavilambitām.

uccārayati kalyāṇīṅ vācaṅ hṛdayahāriṇīm4.3.32৷৷


saṅskārakramasampannām refined, adrutām not too fast, avilambitām not too slow, kalyāṇīm auspicious, hṛdayahāriṇīm captivating the heart, vācam language, uccārayati speaks

'His words are auspicious. They are refined. Neither fast nor slow, his utterances captivate the heart.
anayā citrayā vācā tristhānavyañjanasthayā.

kasya nārādhyatē cittamudyatāsērarērapi4.3.33৷৷


tristhānavyañjanasthayā delivered from the bottom of his chest, throat and head, citrayā with a wonderful, anayā by this, vācā by words, udyatāsēḥ holding a sword, arērapi of even an enemy, kasya whose, cittam mind, nārādhyatē will not be pleased?

'His colourful words flow from all the three sources: the bottom of his bosom, his throat and his head. Whose mind will not adore them even if one happens to be an enemy holding a sword?
ēvaṅ vidhō yasya dūtō na bhavētpārthivasya tu.

siddhyanti hi kathaṅ tasya kāryāṇāṅ gatiyō.nagha!4.3.34৷৷


anagha sinless, yasya whosoever, pārthivasya of a king, dūtaḥ ambassador, ēvaṅvidhaḥ in that way, na bhavēt not being, tasya his, gatayaḥ in the past, katham how, sidhyanti would have accomplished

'O sinless one, how can a king, whoever he be, not accomplish his goal in the past with such an ambassador?
ēvaṅ guṇagaṇairyuktā yasya syuḥ kāryasādhakāḥ.

tasya sidhyanti sarvā.rthā dūtavākyapracōditāḥ4.3.35৷৷


yasya whosoever, ēvaṅ guṇagaṇaiḥ such qualities, yuktāḥ are endowed, kāryasādhakāḥ who can accomplish tasks, syuḥ they may be, tasya his, sarvē all, ārthāḥ objects, dūtavākyapracōditāḥ guided by the ambassador's skill of speaking, sidhyanti will be achieved.

ēvamuktastu saumitrissugrīvasacivaṅ kapim.

abhyabhāṣata vākyajñō vākyajñaṅ pavanātmajam4.3.36৷৷


ēvam in that way, uktaḥ having been instructed, vākyajñaḥ skilled in speech, saumitriḥ Saumitri, vākyajñam good at speaking, pavanātmajam son of the wind-god, sugrīvasacivam minister of Sugriva, kapim monkey, abhyabhāṣata replied

Thus instructed, Saumitri who was equally skilled in speach replied to Sugriva's minister, son of the Wind-god
viditau nau guṇā vidvaṅtsugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ.

tamēva cā.vāṅ mārgāvassugrīvaṅ plavagēśvaram4.3.37৷৷


vidvan learned, mahātmanaḥ great, sugrīvasya Sugriva's, guṇāḥ virtues, nau for both of us, viditau are known, avām both of us, lpavagēśvaram lord of monkeys, tamēva him only, mārgāvaḥ are looking for

'O learned Hanuman! having heard about the virtues of great Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, we eagerly look forward to meeting him;
yathā bravīṣi hanumānsugrīvavacanādiha.

tattathā hi kariṣyāvō vacanāttava sattama4.3.38৷৷


sattama O virtuous one, hanuman Hanuman, iha here, sugrīvavacanāt by Sugriva's words, yathā those, bravīṣi you speak, tat that, tava your, vacanāt words, tathā so also, kariṣyāvaḥ we will do

'O virtuous Hanuman! we will do whatever you are saying, for it is the message of Sugriva.
tattasya vākyaṅ nipuṇaṅ niśamya

prahṛṣṭarūpaḥ pavanātmajaḥ kapiḥ.

manassamādhāya jayōpapattau

sakhyaṅ tadā kartumiyēṣa tābhyām4.3.39৷৷


pavanātmajaḥ Hanuman, kapiḥ monkey, tasya his, nipuṇam skilful, tat vākyam those words, niśamya listening, prahṛṣṭarūpaḥ pleased countenance, jayōpapattau on the success, manaḥ mind, samādhāya fixed, tadā then, tābhyām with both of them, sakhyam friendship, kartum to make, iyēṣa wishes

Pleased with Lakshmana's words spoken in a skilful manner, Hanuman, the monkey son of the Wind-god, resolved to make friendship with them.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē tṛtīyassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the third sarga of Kishkindakanda of the Holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.