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[Hanuman witnesses Ravana's strength at Lanka.]

स निर्जित्य पुरीं श्रेष्ठां लङ्कां तां कामरूपिणीम्।

विक्रमेण महातेजा हनुमान् कपिसत्तमः।।5.4.1।।

अद्वारेण च महाबाहुः प्राकारमभिपुप्लुवे।


कपिसत्तमः monkey chief, महातेजाः mighty, महाबाहुः of strong shoulders, सः हनुमान् that Hanuman, कामरूपिणीम् who can assume any form at free will, श्रेष्ठाम् excellent, तां लङ्काम् that deity of Lanka, विक्रमेण by his prowess, निर्जित्य having won, अद्वारेण by the rear entrance, प्राकारम् boundary, अभिपुप्लुवे leapt over.

Hanuman, the strongshouldered, mighty monkey chief having defeated the (presiding) deity of Lanka who could assume any form at her will, leaped over the boundary wall of the rear entrance of the excellent city by his prowess.
प्रविश्य नगरीं लङ्कां कपिराजहितंकरः।।5.4.2।।

चक्रेऽथ पादं सव्यं च शत्रूणां स तु मूर्धनि।


कपिराजहितंकरः one who wishes the welfare of the king of monkeys, सः he, लङ्कां नगरीम् Lanka city, प्रविश्य entered, अथ then, शत्रूणाम् of enemy, मूर्धनि forehead, सव्यं पादम् left foot, चक्रे placed.

Hanuman, a devotee of the king of monkeys entered the city of Lanka placing his left foot first on the forehead of the city and proceeded (by tradition one enters the enemy's dwelling by placing the left foot first to cause defeat of the enemy).
प्रविष्टः सत्त्वसम्पन्नो निशायां मारुतात्मजः।।5.4.3।।

स महापथमास्थाय मुक्तापुष्पविराजितम्।

ततस्तु तां पुरीं लङ्कां रम्यामभिययौ कपिः।।5.4.4।।


सत्त्वसम्पन्नः endowed with great strength, सः मारुतात्मजः that son of the Windgod, निशायाम् at night, मुक्तापुष्पविराजितम् set with flowers of pearls, महापथम् highway, आस्थाय having made way, प्रविष्टः entered, ततः then, कपिः monkey, ताम् that, रम्याम् enchanting, लङ्कां पुरीम् Lanka city, अभिययौ went.

The son of the Windgod, endowed with great strength, entered the enchanting Lanka and walked along the highway set with flowers of pearls.
हसितोत्कृष्टनिनदैस्तूर्यघोषपुरस्सरैः।

वज्रांकुशनिकाशैश्च वज्रजालविभूषितैः।।5.4.5।।

गृहमेघैः पुरी रम्या बभासे द्यौरिवाम्बुदैः।


हसितोत्कृष्टनिनदैः filled with sounds of laughter, तूर्यघोषपुरः सरैः reverberating with sounds of musical instruments, वज्रांकुशनिकाशैश्च by those comparable to the goads of diamonds, वज्रजालविभूषितैः adorned with diamond lattices, गृहमेघैः the houses like clouds, रम्या beautiful, पुरी city, अम्बुदैः with clouds, द्यौरिव like the sky, बभासे was shining.

The houses reverberating with sounds of laughter and of musical instruments, decorated with lattice windows of diamonds resembled the sky shining with clouds with a goad made of diamond (thunderbolt of Indra).
प्रजज्वाल ततो लङ्का रक्षोगणगृहैः शुभैः।।5.4.6।।

सिताभ्रसदृशैश्चित्रैः पद्मस्वस्तिकसंस्थितैः।

वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि सर्वतः सुविभूषिता।।5.4.7।।


ततः then, सिताभ्रसदृशैः resembling white clouds, चित्रैः with paintings, पद्मस्वस्तिकसंस्थितैः with lotus, swastika marks engraved, शुभैः by auspicious ones, रक्षोगणगृहैः by the houses of demons, वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि by auspicious houses, सर्वतः all over, सुविभूषिता very well decorated, प्रजज्वाल glittering.

The city of Lanka appeared radiant with its tall mansions resembling white clouds. The mansions had auspicious marks of lotus and swastika engraved on them and were opening in the direction of the south.
तां चित्रमाल्याभरणां कपिराजहितङ्करः।

राघवार्थं चरन् श्रीमान् ददर्श च ननन्द च।।5.4.8।।


कपिराजहितङ्करः the wellwisher of the vanara king (Sugriva), श्रीमान् prosperous, राघवार्थम् for Raghava, चरन् looked around, चित्रमाल्याभरणाम् with colourful garland, ताम् that city, ददर्श saw, च and, ननन्द च felt glad.

Glorious Hanuman, wellwisher of Sugriva, king of vanaras, looked around the city, decorated with colourful garlands. Surveying it for the cause of Raghava, he was greatly delighted.
भवनाद्भवनं गच्छन् ददर्श पवनात्मजः।

विविधाकृतिरूपाणि भवनानि ततस्ततः।।5.4.9।।


भवनात् from one building, भवनम् to another building, गच्छन् going, पवनात्मजः Hanuman, ततस्ततः here and there, विविधाकृतिरूपाणि different kinds of structures, भवनानि buildings, ददर्श saw.

Going from one building to another, Hanuman saw mansions of different kinds structures.
शुश्राव मधुरं गीतं त्रिस्थानस्वरभूषितम्।

स्त्रीणां मदसमृद्धानां दिवि चाप्सरसामिव।।5.4.10।।


दिवि in heaven, अप्सरसामिव just like apsaras, मदसमृद्धानाम् of intoxicated ones, स्त्रीणाम् of women, त्रिस्थान from the three levels namely chest, neck, head and three pitches known as Mandra, Madhya and Tara, स्वरभूषितम् decorated with swara (musical voice),
मधुरम् melodious, गीतम् song, शुश्राव heard.

He heard melodious songs of intoxicated women set to tune in three places namely chest, throat and head and three pitches known as mandra (slow) madhya (medium) and tara (high). The songs resembled those of the apsarasas well set in musical notes set to music.
शुश्राव काञ्चीनिनदं नूपुराणां च, निःस्वनम्।

सोपाननिनदांश्चैव भवनेषु महात्मनाम्।।5.4.11।।

अस्फोटितनिनादांश्च क्ष्वेलितांश्च ततस्ततः।


महात्मानाम् of great persons, भवनेषु in the mansions, काञ्चीनिनदम् sounds of bells worn on the waist, नूपुराणाम् anklets, निस्स्वनम् sounds, सोपाननिनदांश्चैव sounds of climbing steps, अस्फोटितनिनादांश्च sounds of clapping of hands, क्ष्वेलितांश्च sounds of people joking, ततस्ततः everywhere, शुश्राव heard.

Great Hanuman heard the jingling sounds of waist bells and anklets of women and sounds of great men climbing up and down flights of steps, sounds of clapping and joking everywhere in the mansions.
शुश्राव जपतां तत्र मन्त्रान् रक्षोगृहेषु वै।।5.4.12।।

स्वाध्यायनिरतांश्चैव यातुधानान् ददर्श सः।

रावणस्तवसंयुक्तान् गर्जतो राक्षसानपि।।5.4.13।।


तत्र there, रक्षोगृहेषु in the demons' houses, जपताम् of those chanting, मन्त्रान् sacred (verses) words, शुश्राव heard, सः he, स्वाध्यायनिरतान् of those engaged in the study of Vedas continuously, यातुधानान् of demons, ददर्श saw, रावणस्तवसंयुक्तान् those engaged in the eulogy of Ravana, गर्जतः of those shouting, राक्षसानपि even the demons, ददर्श saw.

He heard chantings of sacred verses in the houses of demons engaged in the study of the vedas. And heard demons singing loudly the eulogy of Ravana.
राजमार्गं समावृत्य स्थितं रक्षोबलं महत्।

ददर्श मध्यमे गुल्मे रावणस्य चरान् बहून्।।5.4.14।।


मध्यमे in the midst, गुल्मे in the city, राजमार्गम् highway, समावृत्य surrounding, स्थितम् stationed, महत् great, रक्षोबलम् army of demons, रावणस्य of Ravana, बहून् many, चरान् spies, ददर्श observed.

He observed large contingents of demons lining the highway and spies of Ravana stationed in the middle of the city.
दीक्षितान् जटिलान् मुण्डान् गोजिनाम्बरवाससः।

दर्भमुष्टिप्रहरणानग्निकुण्डायुघांस्तथा।।5.4.15।।

कूटमुद्गरपाणींश्च दण्डायुधधरानपि।

एकाक्षानेककर्णांश्च लम्बोदरपयोधरान्।।5.4.16।।

करालान् भुग्नवक्त्रांश्च विकटान् वामनांस्तथा।

धन्विनः खङ्गिनश्चैव शतघ्नीमुसलायुधान्।।5.4.17।।

परिघोत्तमहस्तांश्च विचित्रकवचोज्ज्वलान्।

नातिस्थूलान्नातिकृशान्नातिदीर्घातिह्रस्वकान्।।5.4.18।।

नातिगौरान्नातिकृष्णान्नातिकुब्जान्न वामनान्।

विरूपान् बहुरूपांश्च सुरूपांश्च सुवर्चसः।5.4.19।।

ध्वजीन् पताकिनश्चैव ददर्श विविधायुधान्।


दीक्षितान् priests, जटिलान् ascetics (with matted hair), मुण्डान् with shaven heads,
गोजिनाम्बरवासस: robed in cowhides, दर्भमुष्टिप्रहरणान् who held darbha grass, तथा so also, अग्निकुण्डायुधान् equipped with tools for fire sacrifice, कूटमुद्गरपाणीन् च holding iron mallets and hammers in hand, दण्डायुधधरानपि holding staff and spikes, एकाक्षान् singleeyed, एककर्णांश्च those with a single ear, लम्बोदरपयोधरान् with huge drooping stomachs and breasts, करालान् frightful, भुग्नवक्त्रांश्च with stooping faces, विकटान् of distorted forms, तथा similarly, वामनान् dwarfs, धन्विनः men armed with bows, खडिगनश्चैव with swords, शतघ्नीमुसलायुधान् with shataghni or pestle (club tripped with iron) like thunderbolt, परिघोत्तमहस्तांश्च ironbolt like hands, विचित्रकवचोज्ज्वलान् radiant with wonderful shields, नातिस्थूलान् not very stout, नातिकृशान् not very thin, नातिदीर्घातिह्रस्वकान् not very tall or short, नातिगौरान् not very fair, नातिकृष्णान् nor very dark, नातिकुब्जान् not so hunchbacked, न वामनान् neither very short, विरूपान् nor too hideous, बहुरूपांश्च in many forms, सुरूपांश्च goodlooking ones, सुवर्चसः of goodlooking countenance, ध्वजीन् holding banners, पताकिनश्चैव and flags, विविधायुधान् holding several kinds of weapons, ददर्श saw.

Going around Lanka, Hanuman witnessed all kinds of demons priests who were performing rituals, ascetics with matted hair, some with shaven heads, and some robed in cowhides. Some were holding fistfuls of darbha grass (as weapons), others held sacrificial tools (as weapons), some had mallets, some hammers and others had staff and spikes. Some looked frightful with a single eye, some with a single ear, some with drooping stomachs and sagging breasts and in distorted forms. Similarly some dwarfs and some wielding iron weapons, their bodies covered with wonderful shields some not very tall or short, not stout or thin, not very dark and not with hideous forms or mutilated bodies. Some had goodlooking countenances, some were seen holding posts and flags and weapons of several kinds.
शक्तिवृक्षायुधांश्चैव पट्टिसाशनिधारिणः।।5.4.20।।

क्षेपणीपाशहस्तांश्च ददर्श स महाकपिः।

स्रग्विणस्त्वनुलिप्तांश्च वराभरणभूषितान्।।5.4.21।।

नानावेषसमायुक्तान् यथास्स्वैरगतान् बहून्।

तीक्ष्णशूलधरांश्चैव वज्रिणश्च महाबलान्।।5.4.22।।


महाकपिः great monkey, शक्तिवृक्षायुथाश्चैव who held shaktis and trees as weapons, पट्टिसाशनिधारिणः who held three pointed spears and missiles, क्षेपणीपाशहस्तांश्च holding
slings from which missiles are thrown, स्रग्विणः some wearing garlands of flowers, अनुलिप्तांश्च smeared with unguents, वराभरणभूषितान् adorned with choicest ornaments, नानावेषसमायुक्तान् dressed in different ways, यथास्वैरगतान् those moving about freely, बहून् many, तीक्ष्णशूलधरांश्चैव holding sharp tridents, वज्रिणश्च armed with thunderbolts like weapons, महाबलान् very strong ones, ददर्श saw.

The great monkey saw the demons who held shaktis and trees as weapons (Shakti is a lance), some held threepointed spears, missiles and slings with which missiles are hurled. Some of them wore flower garlands, smeared unguents on their body and were bedecked with choicest ornaments. They were dressed in several ways and many of them moved freely. They were very strong and held sharp tridents and armed with thunderboltlike weapons.
शतसाहस्रमव्यग्रमारक्षं मध्यमं कपिः।

रक्षोधिपतिनिर्दिष्टं ददर्शान्तःपुराग्रतः।।5.4.23।।


कपिः vanara, अन्तःपुराग्रतः in front of the harem, रक्षोधिपतिनिर्दिष्टं ordered (stationed) by the lord of demons, शतसाहस्रम् one hundred thousand, अव्यग्रम् vigilant, मध्यमम् midst, आरक्षम् army, ददर्श saw.

Hanuman saw in front of the harem one hundred thousand strong, vigilant soldiers of a middle rank ordered by the lord of demons.
स तदा तद्गृहं दृष्ट्वा महाहाटकतोरणम्।

राक्षसेन्द्रस्य विख्यातमद्रिमूर्ध्नि प्रतिष्ठितम्।।5.4.24।।

पुण्डरीकावतंसाभिः परिखाभिरलङ्कृतम्।

प्राकारावृतमत्यन्तं ददर्श स महाकपिः।।5.4.25।।


सः that, महाकपिः great monkey, महाहाटकतोरणम् huge archway made of gold, अद्रिमूर्ध्नि as if touching the sky on the peak of the mountain, प्रतिष्ठितम् situated, विख्यातम् renowned, पुण्डरीकावतंसाभिः moats with white lotus flowers appearing like earornaments, परिखाभिः with moats, अलङ्कृतम् decorated, प्राकारावृतम् surrounded by a compound wall, राक्षसेन्द्रस्य
demon king's, तत् that, गृहम् home, तदा then, दृष्टवा observed, अत्यन्तम् all over, ददर्श saw

The great monkey observed the huge archway of the demon king's palace made of gold situated on top of the mountain as if scraping the sky, circled by moats full of white lotuses appearing as though the moats were decorated with earornaments. The whole city was encircled by a boundary wall.
त्रिविष्टपनिभं दिव्यं दिव्यनादनिनादितम्।

वाजिहेषितसङ्घुष्टं नादितं भूषणैस्तथा।।5.4.26।।

रथैर्यानैर्विमानैश्च तथा हयगजैः शुभैः।

वारणैश्च चतुर्थन्तैः श्वेताभ्रनिचयोपमैः।।5.4.27।।

भूषितं रुचिरद्वारं मत्तैश्च मृगपक्षिभिः।

रक्षितं सुमहावीर्यैर्यातुधानैः सहस्रशः।

राक्षसाधिपतेर्गुप्तमाविवेश महाकपिः।।5.4.28।।


महाकपिः great vanara, त्रिविष्टपनिभम् resembling heaven, दिव्यम् wonderful, वाजिहेषितसङ्घुष्टम् filled with neighing horses, तथा similarly, भूषणैः with ornaments, नादितम् vibrant, रथैः with chariots, यानैः with carriages, विमानैश्च with flying chariots, शुभैः with auspicious, हयगजैः horses and elephants, श्वेताभ्रनिचयोपमैः appearing like a heap of white clouds, चतुर्थर्न्तै: four tusked, वारणैश्च with elephants also, भूषितम् ornamented, मत्तै: intoxicated, मृगपक्षिभिः beasts and birds, रुचिरद्वारम् a beautiful entrance, सुमहावीर्यैः with demon's of great valour, सहस्रशः in their thousands, यातुधानैः by demons, रक्षितम् guarded, राक्षसाधिपतेः of the lord of demons, गुप्तम् secret, आविवेश entered.

And then the great vanara entered the wonderful mansion that resembled heaven. It was resonating with pleasing sounds of jingling ornaments made more noisy by the neighing of the horses. There were carriages, chariots, flying chariots, horses and elephants. The beautiful entrance was looking splendid with intoxicated animals and birds. That place looked splendid with fourtusked elephants resembling heaps of white clouds. The beautiful entrance was guarded by thousands of valiant demons.
सहेमजाम्बूनदचक्रवालं महार्हमुक्तामणिभूषितान्तम्।

परार्थ्यकालागुरुचन्दनाक्तं स रावणान्तःपुरमाविवेश।।5.4.29।।


सः he, सहेम with gold, जाम्बूनदचक्रवालम् walls polished with gold, महार्हमुक्तामणिभूषितान्तम् decorated with precious pearl strings throughout, परार्थ्यकालागुरुचन्दनाक्तम् sprinkled with best of fragrants of sandal, रावणान्तःपुरम् harem of Ravana, आविवेश entered.

Hanuman entered the harem of Ravana surrounded by walls of gold inlaid with precious pearls and other gems and sprinkled with excellent black agaru and sandal water.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे चतुर्थस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fourth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.