Sloka & Translation

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[Hanuman decides to meet Ravana and measure his strength]

sa ca vāgbhiḥ praśastābhirgamiṣyanpūjitastayā.

tasmāddēśādapakramya cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ৷৷5.41.1৷৷


gamiṣyan to depart, saḥ vānaraḥ that vanara, tayā by her, praśastābhiḥ with choicest, vāgbhiḥ with words, pūjitaḥ honoured, tasmāt from that, dēśāt from location, apakramya moved, cintayāmāsa started thinking.

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

trīnupāyānatikramya caturtha: iha vidyatē৷৷5.41.2৷৷


idaṅ kāryam this work, alpaśēṣam little more remains, iyam this, asitēkṣaṇā black-eyed lady, dṛṣṭā seen, trīn three expedients-negotiation, presentation and, dissension (Sama, Dana, Bheda), upāyān strategies, atikramya crossing, iha here, caturtha fourth (expedient) punishment (Danda), vidyatē remains.

na sāma rakṣassu guṇāya kalpatē na dānamarthōpacitēṣu yujyatē.

na bhēdasādhyā baladarpitā janāḥ parākramastvēva mamēha rōcatē৷৷5.41.3৷৷


rakṣassu with demons, sāma negotiation, guṇāya for any merit, na kalpatē does not lead, arthōpacitēṣu being wealthy, dānam gifts, na yujyatē not proper, baladarpitāḥ proud of their
strength, janāḥ people, bhēdasādhyāḥ will not yield by sowing seeds of dissension, na not, iha here, mama my, parākramastvēva only by valour, rōcatē pleases me.

'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.
na cāsya kāryasya parākramādṛtē viniścayaḥ kaścidihōpapadyatē.

hatapravīrā hi raṇē hi rākṣasāḥ kathañcidīyuryadihādya mārdavam৷৷5.41.4৷৷


iha here, asya of this, kāryasya of the task, parākramāt ṛtē other than power, viniścayaḥ a decision, kaścit even one, iha here, na upapadyatē not hold good, yat that, raṇē in fight, hatapravīrāḥ slay a few heroes, rākṣasāḥ ogres, adya to day, iha here, kathañcit somehow, mārdavam soften, īyuḥ will yield.

'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.
kāryē karmaṇi nirdiṣṭē yō bahūnyapi sādhayēt.

pūrvakāryāvirōdhēna sa kāryaṅ kartumarhati৷৷5.41.5৷৷


kāryē in a work to be accomplished, karmaṇi in a work, nirdiṣṭē when the work is entrusted, yaḥ he who, pūrvakāryāvirōdhēna without affecting the earlier work, bahūnyapi many, sādhayēt will achieve, saḥ he, kāryam task, kartum to do, arhati is fit.

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

yō hyarthaṅ bahudhā vēda sa samarthō.rthasādhanē৷৷5.41.6৷৷


iha here, svalpasya of a trivial task, api also, karmaṇaḥ of the task, sādhakaḥ effective, hētuḥ cause,
ēkaḥ one, na hi is not, yaḥ he who, artham as an object, bahudhā in many ways (means of doing), vēda knows, saḥ he, arthasādhanē in achieving the task, samarthaḥ capable.

'There are ways more than one even to perform a small work. And the capable know it.
ihaiva tāvatkṛtaniścayō hyahaṅ yadi vrajēyaṅ plavagēśvarālayam.

parātmasammardaviśēṣatattvavittataḥ kṛtaṅ syānmama bhartṛśāsanam৷৷5.41.7৷৷


aham I, ihaiva here itself, tāvat therefore, parātmasammardaviśēṣatattvavit by understanding the difference between the strength of enemy forces and our strength in war, plavagēśvarālayam abode of vanaras, vrajēyaṅ yadi if I go, tataḥ then, mama my, bhartṛśāsanam the orders of my lord, kṛtam executed, syāt well.

'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.
kathaṅ nu khalvadya bhavētsukhāgataṅ prasahya yuddhaṅ mama rākṣasaiḥ saha.

tathaiva khalvātmabalaṅ ca sāravatsammānayēnmāṅ ca raṇē daśānanaḥ৷৷5.41.8৷৷


adya today, mama for me, rākṣasaiḥ saha with ogres, prasahya enduring, yuddham war, kathaṅ nu how to, sukhāgatam happy coming, bhavēt may be, tathaiva in that way, ātmabalaṅ ca our strength, sāravat substantial, saḥ he, daśānanaḥ ca ten-headed Ravana's, mām me, raṇē in fight, mānayēt measure.

'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!
tatassamāsādya raṇē daśānanaṅ samantrivargaṅ sabalaprayāyinam.

hṛdi sthitaṅ tasya mataṅ balaṅ ca vai sukhēna mattvā.hamitaḥ punarvrajē৷৷5.41.9৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, samantrivargam along with the ministers, sabalaprayāyinam and army chiefs marching forward, daśānanam ten-headed Ravana, raṇē in war, samāsādya after finding out, tasya his, hṛdi in his mind, sthitam established, matam feeling, balaṅ ca vai strength, mattvā knowing, aham I, itaḥ from here, sukhēna happily, punaḥ again, vrajē can go.

'I can return happily only after I gauge the ten-headed Ravana's army in war, his strength, his companions including the ministers and his mind.
idamasya nṛśaṅsasya nandanōpamamuttamam.

vanaṅ nētramanaḥkāntaṅ nānādrumalatāyutam৷৷5.41.10৷৷


nṛśaṅsasya wicked Ravana's, asya his, idam this (Ashoka garden), nētramanaḥkāntam feast to the eyes and mind, nānādrumalatāyutam filled with different kinds of trees and creepers, uttamam excellent, vanam garden, nandanōpamam like the Nandana garden of Indra.

'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.
idaṅ vidhvaṅsayiṣyāmi śuṣkaṅ vanamivānalaḥ.

asminbhagnē tataḥ kōpaṅ kariṣyati daśānanaḥ৷৷5.41.11৷৷


śuṣkam dried up, vanam forest, analaḥ iva like fire, idam this, vidhvaṅsayiṣyāmi will destroy, asmin when this, bhagnē devastate, tataḥ then, daśānanaḥ Ravana, kōpam anger, kariṣyati will exhibit.

'I will devastate this garden, just as fire destroys a dried up forest. This will enrage Ravana.
tatō mahatsāśvamahārathadvipaṅ balaṅ samādēkṣyati rākṣasādhipaḥ.

triśūlakālāyasapaṭṭisāyudhaṅ tatō mahadyuddhamidaṅ bhaviṣyati৷৷5.41.12৷৷


tataḥ then, rākṣasādhipaḥ king of ogres, sāśvamahārathadvipam with horses, chariots and elephants, mahat great, triśūlakālāyasapaṭṭisāyudham armed with tridents, black iron spears, balam army,
samādēkṣyati will order, tataḥ then, idam this, mahat great, yuddham war, bhaviṣyati will take place.

'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.
ahaṅ tu taiḥ saṅyati caṇḍavikramai ssamētya rakṣōbhirasahya vikramaḥ.

nihatya tadrāvaṇacōditaṅ balaṅ sukhaṅ gamiṣyāmi kapīśvarālayam৷৷5.41.13৷৷


ahaṅ tu I on my part, caṇḍavikramaiḥ with those endowed with fierce strength, taiḥ with them, rakṣōbhiḥ by demons, saṅyati in fight, samētya colliding, asahyavikramaḥ irresistible valour, rāvaṇacōditam sent by Ravana, tat that, balam army, nihatya after destroying, sukham happily, kapīśvarālayam to the abode of vanaras, gamiṣyāmi I will go.

'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'.
tatō mārutavatkṛddhō mārutirbhīmavikramaḥ.

ūruvēgēna mahatā drumānkṣēptumathārabhat৷৷5.41.14৷৷


tataḥ then, bhīmavikramaḥ a vanara of fierce valour, mārutiḥ Maruti, kruddhaḥ furious one, atha and then, mahatā with great, ūruvēgēna with speed sprung from his thighs, mārutavat like the Wind-god, drumān trees, kṣēptum to uproot, ārabhat started.

Furious Maruti endowed with fierce valour started uprooting the trees with the speed sprung from his thighs like the Wind-god.
tatastu hanumānvīrō babhañja pramadāvanam.

mattadvijasamāghuṣṭaṅ nānādrumalatāyutam৷৷5.41.15৷৷


tataḥ then, vīraḥ hero, hanumān Hanuman, mattadvijasamāghuṣṭam filled with intoxicated birds, nānādrumalatāyutam with variety of trees and vines, pramadāvanam garden grown for women folk, babhañja felled.

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

cūrṇitaiḥ parvatāgraiśca babhūvāpriyadarśanam৷৷5.41.16৷৷


tat vanam that garden, mathitaiḥ with destroyed, vṛkṣaiḥ trees, bhinnaiḥ with breached, salilāśayaiḥ ponds, cūrṇitaiḥ powdered, parvatāgraiśca mountain peaks, apriyadarśanam unpleasant appearance, babhūva remained.

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

tāmraiḥ kisalayaiḥ klāntai: klāntadrumalatāyutam৷৷5.41.17৷৷

na babhau tadvanaṅ tatra dāvānalahataṅ yathā.

vyākulāvaraṇā rējurvihvalā iva tā latāḥ৷৷5.41.18৷৷


kalāntadrumalatāyutam with wilted vines and trees, tat vanam that garden, nānāśakuntavirutaiḥ with birds shrieking with different kinds of sounds, prabhinnaiḥ with smashed, salilāśayaiḥ with ponds of water, klāntai: withered, tāmraiḥ with red ones only, kisalayaiḥ with tender shoots, dāvānalahataṅraṇāḥ like burnt-in forest fire, tāḥ latāḥ those climbers, vihvalāḥ iva like women with their robes disarrayed, rējuḥ trembling in fear.

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.
latāgṛhaiścitragṛhaiśca nāśitairmahōragairvyālamṛgaiśca nirdhutaiḥ.

śilāgṛhairunmathitaistathā gṛhaiḥ praṇaṣṭarūpaṅ tadabhūnmahadvanam৷৷5.41.19৷৷


mahat great, tat vanam that garden, nāśitaiḥ ruined, latāgṛhaiḥ arbours, citragṛhaiḥ picture galleries, nirdhutaiḥ destroyed, mahōragaiḥ huge serpents, vyālamṛgaiśca and even with wild animals, tathā in the same manner, unmathitaiḥ scattered, śilāgṛhaiḥ stone houses, gṛhaiḥ with houses, praṇaṣṭarūpam disfigured, abhūt became.

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.
sā vihvalā.śōkalatāpratānā vanasthalī śōkalatāpratānā.

jātā daśāsyapramadāvanasya kapērbalāddhi pramadāvanasya৷৷5.41.20৷৷


daśāsyapramadāvanasya of that pleasure garden of the ten-headed Ravana, pramadāvanasya kapēḥ with the strength of the monkey who had set out to protect a lady (Sita), sā vanasthalī that garden, balāt by force, vihvalā destroyed, śōkalatāpratānā was spreading out creepers of sorrow, jātā appeared.

The pleasure-garden 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. pramadā+vanasya = of the pleasure garden, pramadā+avanasya of the hero who came to protect a lady.
sa tasya kṛtvārthapatērmahākapirmahadvyalīkaṅ manasō mahātmanaḥ.

yuyutsurēkō bahubhirmahābalaiśśiyā jvalaṅstōraṇamāsthitaḥ kapiḥ৷৷5.41.21৷৷


saḥ mahākapiḥ that great vanara, mahātmanaḥ of the great self, tasya his, arthapatēḥ of the lord of wealth, manasaḥ in mind, mahat great, vyalīkam unpleasantness, kṛtvā having caused, mahābalaiḥ mighty, bahubhiḥ many, ēkaḥ singlehanded, yuyutsuḥ ready to fight, śriyā blazing, jvalan glowing, tōraṇam exit doorway, āsthitaḥ stood.

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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē ēkacatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fortyfirst sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.