अथ प्रस्थाप्य स हरीन् सुग्रीवो दक्षिणां दिशम्। अब्रवीन्मेघसंकाशं सुषेणं नाम वानरम्॥ तारायाः पितरं राजा श्वशुरं भीमविक्रमम्। अब्रवीत् प्राञ्जलिवाक्यमभिगम्य प्रणम्य च॥ महर्षिपुत्रं मारीचमर्चिष्मन्तं महाकपिम्। वृतं कपिवरैः शूरैर्महेन्द्रसदृशद्युतिम्॥ बुद्धिविक्रमसम्पन्नं वैनतेयसमद्युतिम्। मरीचिपुत्रान् मारीचानचिर्माल्यान् महाबलान्॥ ऋषिपुत्रांश्च तान् सर्वान्प्रतीचीमादिशद् दिशम्। द्वाभ्यां शतसहस्राभ्यां कपीनां कपिसत्तमाः॥ सुषेणप्रमुखा यूयं वैदेही परिमार्गथ।
Having despatched those monkeys in a southern direction, Sugrīva spoke to the monkey named Susena, resembling a mass of clouds. Approaching his father-in-law, Tara's father, possessed of dreadful prowess, the king, bowing and with joined hands, spoke to him. And Sugriva commanded the Maharsi's son, Marica, and the mighty ape Archishmat, surrounded by the heroic foremost of monkeys,-possessing the splendour of Mahendra, gifted with sense and vigour; and resembling the offspring himself of Vinată in brightness; and Mārīci's son,-the Mārīcas—the mighty Archirmālyas,-all these sons of the saint*. (to march) towards the West, saying,-You monkey-chiefs, let twice hundred thousand monkeys led by Sușeņa (set out) to search Vaidehi. Märīci.
सौराष्ट्रान् सहबाह्रीकांश्चन्द्रचित्रांस्तथैव च॥ स्फीताञ्जनपदान् रम्यान् विपुलानि पुराणि च। पुंनागगहनं कुक्षिं बकुलोद्दालकाकुलम्॥ तथा केतकखण्डांश्च मार्गध्वं हरिपुङ्गवाः। प्रत्यक्स्रोतोवहाश्चैव नद्यः शीतजला: शिवाः॥ तापसानामरण्यानि कान्तारगिरयश्च ये।
You foremost of monkeys, do you explore the Saurastras, the Bahlikas, the Candracitrās, and (other) populous and fair provinces and spacious cities, and Kuksi, dense with Punnāgas,* and filled with Bakulas and Uddālakas; as well as the tracts covered with Ketaka and auspicious streams bearing their cool waters westwards; and the forests of ascetics; and mountains embosoming woods. *Rottleria Tinctoria.
तत्र स्थलीमरुप्राया अत्युच्चशिशिराः शिलाः॥ गिरिजालावृतां दुर्गा मार्गित्वा पश्चिमां दिशम्। ततः पश्चिममागम्य समुद्रं द्रष्टुमहर्थ॥ तिमिनक्राकुलजलं गत्वा द्रक्ष्यथ वानराः। ततः केतकखण्डेषु तमालगहनेषु च॥ कपयो विहरिष्यन्ति नारिकेलवनेषु च। तत्र सीतां च मार्गध्वं निलयं रावणस्य च॥
There having explored tracts resembling deserts, and cold cliffs towering high, and the West, covered with mountain ranges, and extremely difficult of access,-and proceeding at a little more to the west, it behoves you a view of the sea. And proceeding on, you monkeys, you shall see (the ocean), whose waters abound in whales and alligators, you monkeys.* Then the apes shall sport in tracts covered by Ketakas, and dense with Tamālas and woods of coconuts. There shall you look for $ītā and the mansion of Rāvana, *The grammar of these slokas is exceedingly vicious; and it has cost the Translator no small amount of labour to assign the necessary logical nexus in a good many praces:
वेलातलनिविष्टेषु पर्वतेषु वनेषु च। मुरचीपत्तनं चैव रम्यं चैव जटापुरम्॥ अवन्तीमङ्गलेषां च तथा चालक्षितं वनम्। राष्ट्राणि च विशालानि पत्तनानि ततस्ततः॥
In hills and woods on the shores of the sea; and (explore) Muracipattana, and the delightful Jațāpura, and Avantī, and Angalepā, as well as in the wood (called) Alaksita, and spacious monarchies, and emporiums.
सिन्धुसागरयोश्चैव संगमे तत्र पर्वतः। महान् सोमगिरि म शतशृङ्गो महाद्रुमः॥ तत्र प्रस्थेषु रम्येषु सिंहा पक्षगमाः स्थिताः। तिमिमत्स्यगजांश्चैव नीडान्यारोपयन्ति ते॥
There is a mighty mountain where the Sindhu falls into the sea, Somagiri by name; having an hundred summits and tall trees. In its plateaus there are certain birds (called) Sinhas. These lift up to their nests whales and elephants.
तानि नीडानि सिंहानां गिरिशृङ्गगताश्च ये। दृप्तास्तृप्ताश्च मातङ्गास्तोयदस्वननिःस्वनाः॥ विचरन्ति विशालेऽस्मिंस्तोयपूर्णे समन्ततः।
The proud elephants carried to the nests and remaining on the summits of the mountain, possessing the roar of clouds, having been gratified (with food), range around this extensive table-land filled with water.
तस्य शृङ्ग दिवस्पर्श काञ्चनं चित्रपादपम्॥ सर्वमाशु विचेतव्यं कपिभिः कामरूपिभिः।
The monkeys, capable of wearing shapes at will, should swiftly search its golden summit towering to the sky and filled with graceful trees.
कोटिं तत्र समुद्रस्य काञ्चनीं शतयोजनाम्॥ दुर्दशां पारियात्रस्य गत्वा द्रक्ष्यथ वानराः।
Proceeding further, the monkeys shall behold the golden summit of Pāriyātra rising from the sea and extending over an hundred Yojanas.
कोट्यस्तत्र चतुर्विंशद् गन्धर्वाणां तपस्विनाम्॥ वसन्त्यग्निनिकाशानां घोराणां पापकर्मणाम्। पावकार्चिः प्रतीकाशाः समवेताः समन्ततः॥
There dwell all around in a body four and twenty kotis of ascetic Gandharvas, resembling fire, dreadful, practicising impiety, and like to flames of fire.
नात्यासादयितव्यास्ते वानरैर्भीमविक्रमैः। नादेयं च फलं तस्माद्देशात् किंचित् प्लवङ्गमैः॥
The monkeys of dreadful prowess should not present themselves before those, nor should they take any fruits from that country.
दुरासदा हि ते वीराः सत्त्ववन्तो महाबलाः। फलामूलानि ते तत्र रक्षन्ते भीमविक्रमाः॥
Those heroes are hard to approach; and they are truthful and possessed of great might. And there they of dreadful prowess stow away their fruits and roots.
तत्र यत्नश्च कर्तव्यो मार्गितव्या च जानकी। नहि तेभ्यो भयं किंचित् कपित्वमनुवर्तताम्॥
There you should heedfully search for Jānakī. you have no fear whatever from them; do you only follow your native nature as monkeys.
तत्र वैदूर्यवर्णाभो वज्रसंस्थानसंस्थितः। नानागुमलताकीर्णो वज्रो नाम महागिरिः॥ श्रीमान् समुदितस्तत्र योजनानां शतं समम्। गुहास्तत्र विचेतव्या प्रयत्नेन प्लवङ्गमाः॥
There, in hue like lapises, abounding in various kinds of trees and plants, is a mighty hill of an adamantine basis, called Vajra; beautiful, famous, and measuring an hundred Yojanas in height and area. There let the monkeys carefully explore the caves.
चतुर्भागे समुद्रस्य चक्रवान् नाम पर्वतः। तत्र चक्रं सहस्रारं निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा ॥
On the fourth side of the Ocean is a mountain named Cakravān. There Viśvakarmā forged the discus (called) Sahasrāra.
तत्र पञ्चजनं हत्वा हयग्रीवं च दानवम्। आजहार ततश्चक्रं शङ्ख च पुरुषोत्तमः॥
There, slaying Panchajana and the Dānava, Hayagriva*, the best of male beings obtained the discus as well as the conch. *Lit. horse-necked.
तस्य सानुषु रम्येषु विशालासु गुहासु च। रावणः सह वैदह्या मार्गितव्यस्ततस्ततः॥
In those beautiful plateous and huge caves, you should everywhere search for Rāvana with Videha's daughter.
योजनानि चतुःषष्टिर्वराहो नाम पर्वतः। सुवर्णशृङ्गः सुमहानगाधे वरुणालये॥
Sunk in the depths of the sea, is a very great mountain named Varāha, having golden peaks and measuring four and sixty yojanas.
तत्र प्राग्ज्योतिषं नाम जातरूपमयं पुरम्। यस्मिन् वसति दुष्टात्मा नरको नाम दानवः ॥
In it is a city named Prāgjyotişa, all of gold. There dwells the wicked Dänava named Naraka.* *i.e. in the Varadha hill.
तत्र सानुषु रम्येषु विशालासु गुहासु च। रावणः सह वैदेह्या मार्गितव्यस्ततस्ततः॥
There do you everywhere search for Rāvana along with Vaidehi in the beautiful plateaus and huge caves.
तमतिक्रम्य शैलेन्द्र काञ्चनान्तरदर्शनम्। पर्वतः सर्वसौवर्णो धाराप्रस्रवणायुतः॥
Passing beyond that foremost of mountains, whose sight betrays the secret of its bowels being freighted with gold, (you shall come upon) the mountain Sarvasauvarna, furnished with fountains and cascades.
तं गजाश्च वराहाश्च सिंहा व्याघ्राश्च सर्वतः। अभिगर्जन्ति सततं तेन शब्देन दर्पिताः॥
Coming to it, elephants, and boars, and lions, and tigers, on all sides roar ceaselessly, wrought up by the echoes their own cries have produced.
यस्मिन् हरिहयः श्रीमान् महेन्द्रः पाकशासनः। अभिषिक्तः सुरै राजा मेघो नाम स पर्वतः॥
This is the mountain named Megha, where the graceful green-horsed vanquisher of Pāka, Mahendra, was installed king by the gods.
तमतिक्रम्य शैलेन्द्र महेन्द्रपरिपालितम्। षष्टिं गिरिसहस्राणि काञ्चनानि गमिष्यथ॥ तरुणादित्यवर्णानि भ्राजमानानि सर्वशः। जातरूपमयैर्वृक्षैः शोभितानि सुपुष्पितैः॥
Having passed by that mountain protected by Mahendra, you shall repair to sixty thousand hills of gold; in hue like the infant sun, and blazing on all sides and embellished by blossoming golden trees,
तेषां मध्ये स्थितो राजा मेरुरुत्तमपर्वतः। आदित्येन प्रसन्नेन शैलो दत्तवरः पुरा ॥ तेनैवमुक्तः शैलेन्द्रः सर्व एव त्वदाश्रयाः। मत्प्रसादाद् भविष्यन्ति दिवा रात्रौ च काञ्चनाः॥ त्वयि ये चापि वत्स्यन्ति देवगन्धर्वदानवाः। ते भविष्यन्ति भक्ताश्च प्रभया काञ्चनप्रभाः॥
In the midst of them is established as king, Meru, best of mountains, formerly the Sun being well pleased, conferred a boon on this mountain, and he addressed the mountain, saying,—'By my grace all the hills that are under your protection, shall be golden day and night; and also those gods Gandharvas and Dānvas that shall dwell in you, shall be filled with reverence for me and to the boot attain a golden glory.'
विश्वेदेवाश्च वसवो मरुतश्च दिवौकसः। आगत्य पश्चिमां संध्यां मेरुमुत्तमपर्वतम्॥ आदित्यमुपतिष्ठन्ति तैश्च सूर्योऽभिपूजितः। अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानामस्तं गच्छति पर्वतम्।॥
Coming to the excellent mountain Meru. Viśvadevas, the Vasus, the Maruts and the celestials, adore the Sun in the western twilight. Adored by them, the Sun, becoming invisible, repaireth to the Setting hill*. The commentator remarks: Although not expressly stated, it is implied that the islands to the west of it are also to be searched.
योजनानां सहस्राणि दश तानि दिवाकरः। मुहूर्तार्धन तं शीघ्रमभियाति शिलोच्चयम्॥
In half a muhurta, the Sun swiftly passes over this (mountain), measuring, as it does, ten thousand Yojanas.
शृङ्गे तस्य महद्दिव्यं भवनं सूर्यसंनिभम्। प्रासादगणसम्बाधं विहितं विश्वकर्मणा॥ शोभितं तरुभिश्चित्रै नापक्षिसमाकुलैः। निकेतं पाशहस्तस्य वरुणस्य महात्मनः॥
On its peak rises an edifice; resembling the sun (in splendour); consisting of palatial mansions built by Viśvakarmā; and graced by goodly trees rife with various birds,-the residence of the high-souled Varuna, bearing the noose in his hand.
अन्तरा मेरुमस्तं च तालो दशशिरा महान्। जातरूपमयः श्रीमान् भ्राजते चित्रवेदिकः॥
Between Meru and the Setting hill, towers a tall palm having ten heads. Golden and graceful, it shineth on a variegated dais.
तेषु सर्वेषु दुर्गेषु सरस्सु च सरित्सु च। रावणः सह वैदेह्या मार्गितव्यस्ततस्ततः॥
In all these, difficult of access, as also in rivers and tanks, you should thoroughly search for Rāvana along with Vaidehī.
यत्र तिष्ठति धर्मज्ञस्तपसा स्वेन भावितः। मेरुसावर्णिरित्येष ख्यातो चै ब्रह्मणा समः॥ ।।
There dwells there the righteous and famous Merusāvarani, sanctified by virtue of his own ascesticism, and like to Brahmā himself*. *Like to Prajāpati dwelling by Mahameru.
प्रष्टव्यो मेरुसावर्णिमहर्षिः सूर्यसंनिभः। प्रणम्य शिरसा भूमौ प्रवृत्तिं मैथिली प्रति॥
Bowing down your heads to the earth, you should ask the Maharși Merusăvarņi, resembling the sun, touching Mithila's daughter.
एतावज्जीवलोकस्य भास्करो रजनीक्षये। कृत्वा वितिमिरं सर्वमस्तं गच्छति पर्वतम्॥
On the departure of night, the sun dispels the darkness of the world to this extent, and then enters the Setting hill.
एतावद् वानरैः शक्यं गन्तुं वानरपुङ्गवाः। अभास्करममर्यादं न जानीमस्ततः परम्॥
You foremost of monkeys, the monkeys are able to proceed thus far. Beyond this, of what is sunless and boundless I know nothing.
अवगम्य तु वैदेहीं निलयं रावणस्य च अस्तं पर्वतमासाद्य पूर्णे मासे निवर्तत। ५२।।
Having come to Vaidehi and Rāvana's mansions, and arrived at the Setting-hill, do you return of the month being complete.
ऊर्ध्वमासान्न वस्तव्यं वसन् वध्यो भवेन्मम। सहैव शूरो युष्माभिः श्वशुरो मे गमिष्यति॥
You must not stay above a month; and if you do, you must be slain by me. And along with you goeth that hero, my father-in-law.
श्रोतव्यं सर्वमेतस्य भवद्भिदिष्टकारिभिः। गुरुरेष महाबाहुः श्वशुरो मे महाबलः॥
You, abiding by his orders, should listen to all that he sayeth. My mighty-armed father-in-law, gifted with great strength, is my spiritual preceptor.
भवन्तश्चापि विक्रान्ताः प्रमाणं सर्व एव हि। प्रमाणमेनं संस्थाप्य पश्यध्वं पश्चिमां दिशम्॥ कृतकृत्या भविष्यामः कृतस्य प्रतिकर्मणा।।
All of you possessed of prowess, yourselves certainly constitute the measure whereby to ascertain the wisdom or otherwise of a course. Making this one also into a measure, survey the western quarter. Having requited the good that has been done to us, we shall attain our end.
अतोऽन्यदपि यत्कार्यं कार्यस्यास्य प्रियं भवेत्। सम्प्रधार्य भवद्भिश्च देशकालार्थसंहितम्॥
De you also determine what else is agreeable (to Rāma), and in consonance with place, season and profit, should be performed by you in the matter of this business.
ततः सुषेणप्रमुखाः प्लवङ्गमाः सुग्रीववाक्यं निपुणं निशम्य। आमन्त्र्य सर्वे प्लवगाधिपा ते जग्मुर्दिशं तां वरुणाभिगुप्ताम्॥
Then those monkeys-the monkey-chiefs headed by Sușeņa, having heard Sugrīva's deft speech, set out for the quarter protected by Varuna.