तथा विप्रेक्षमाणस्य वनं पुष्पितपादपम्। विचिन्वतश्च वैदेही किंचिच्छेषा निशाऽभवत्॥
Beholding the forest filled with flowery trees and desiring to have a full view of her, he, wellnigh, spent the night.
षडङ्गवेदविदुषां क्रतुप्रवरयाजिनाम्। शुश्राव ब्रह्मघोषान् स विरात्रे ब्रह्मरक्षसाम्॥
At that late hour of the night, he heard the chantings of the Vedas by the Rákşasas, conversant with the six supplementary parts of the Vedas,* engaged in the performance of sacrificial rites and knowing Brahmā. *Grammar, Prosody, astronomy, pronounciation, the meaning of the unusual terms and the ritual of the Hindu religion.
अथ मङ्गलवादित्रैः शब्दैः श्रोत्रमनोहरैः। प्राबोध्यत महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवो महाबलः॥
And thereupon the mighty Ten-headed Rākṣasa, having huge arms, awoke with the sounds of those auspicious instruments, pleasant to ears.
विबुध्य तु महाभागो राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्। स्रस्तमाल्याम्बरधरो वैदेहीमन्वचिन्तयत्॥
Awaking, that great and powerful lord of Rākşasas, having his cloth and garlands loosened, began to think of Vaidehi.
भृशं नियुक्तस्तस्यां च मदनेन मदोत्कटः। न तु तं राक्षस: कामं शशाकात्मनि गुहितुम्॥
That Raksasa, puffed up with pride, was passionately attached to her and so he could not restrain his amour in him.
स सर्वाभरणैर्युक्तो बिभ्रच्छ्यिमनुत्तमाम्। तां नगैर्विविधैर्जुष्टां सर्वपुष्पफलोपगैः॥ वृतां पुष्करिणीभिश्च नानापुष्पोपशोभिताम्। सदा मत्तैश्च विहगैविचित्रां परमाद्भुतैः॥ ईहामृगैश्च विविधैर्वृतां दृष्टिमनोहरैः। वीथीः सम्प्रेक्षमाणश्च मणिकाञ्चनतोरणाम्॥ नानामृगगणाकीर्णां फलैः प्रपतितैर्वृताम्। अशोकवनिकामेव प्राविशत् संततदुमाम्॥
And so adorned with all ornaments, he, casting his looks on the roads containing jewelled and golden gates and appearing in grace, entered the forest of Asoka, filled with various trees containing fruits and flowers of all seasons and with ponds; beautified with various flowers, variegated with inebriete and wondrous birds; filled with various beautiful wolves; thronged with various deer and covered with fruits fallen on the earth.
अङ्गनाः शतमात्रं तु तं व्रजन्तमनुव्रजन्। महेन्द्रमिव पौलस्त्यं देवगन्धर्वयोषितः॥
And one hundred damsels followed in the train of the son of Pulastya like to the damsels of the celestials and Gandharvas following mahendra. 'Refers to Rāvana, Pulastya being his father.
दीपिकाः काञ्चनीः काश्चिज्जगृहुस्तत्र योषितः। वालव्यजनहस्ताश्च तालवृन्तानि चापराः॥
There among those fair ones, some carried torches with gold handles, chowries and some fans.
काञ्चनैश्चैव भृङ्गारैर्जहुः सलिलमग्रतः। मण्डलाग्रा बृसीश्चैव गृह्यान्याः पृष्ठतो ययुः॥
Some carrying water in golden jars headed the train while others carrying the golden throne covered with a coverlet followed it.
काचिद् रत्नमयीं पात्री पूर्णां पानस्य भ्राजतीम्। दक्षिणा दक्षिणेनैव तदा जग्राह पाणिना॥
And a favourite damsel carried in her right hand a jewelled drinking bowl filled with wine.
राजहंसप्रतीकाशं छत्रं पूर्णशशिप्रभम्। सौवर्णदण्डमपरा गृहीत्वा पृष्ठतो ययौ॥
Another carrying the white umbrella having golden ribs resembling the full moon and goose, followed in the train.
निद्रामदपरीताक्ष्यो रावणस्योत्तमस्त्रियः। अनुजग्मुः पतिं वीरं घनं विद्युल्लता इव ॥
And in this wise the excellent wives, of Rāvaņa, having their eyes rendered sleepy with sleep and wine, followed their heroic husband like to lightings following the cloud.
व्याविद्धहारकेयूराः समामृदितवर्णकाः। समागलितकेशान्ताः सस्वेदवदनास्तथा॥
Their necklaces and keyuras were displaced, paste fade, hair dishevelled and they had drops of sweat on their faces.
घूर्णन्त्यो मदशेषेण निद्रया च शुभाननाः। स्वेदक्लिष्टाङ्गकुसुमाः समाल्याकुलमूर्धजाः॥
With sleep and intoxication, were reeling those fair ones of beautiful countenances, having their hairs with garlands disbanded and their persons wet with perspiration.
प्रयान्तं नैर्ऋतपतिं नार्यो मदिरलोचनाः। बहुमानाच्च कामाच्च प्रियभार्यास्तमन्वयुः॥
And in this way those beloved wives, (of Ravana) having inebriate eyes, followed, out of amour and reverence, their husband.
सच कामपराधीनः पतिस्तासां महाबलः। सीतासक्तमना मन्दो मन्दाञ्चितगतिर्बभौ॥
And their might husband, brought under the control of amour and having his mind firmly attached to Şītā, proceeded slowly.
ततः काञ्चीनिनादं च नूपुराणां च निःस्वनम्। शुश्राव परमस्त्रीणां कपिर्मारुतनन्दनः॥
And that monkey, son of Maruta, heard the sound of kāñcīs and nūpuras of those excellent damsels.
तं चाप्रतिमकुर्वाणमचिन्त्यबलपौरुषम्। द्वारदेशमनुप्राप्तं ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः॥
And the monkey Hanumān also beheld Rāvana, of extraordinary deeds and of inconceivable prowess and strength, at the gate.
दीपिकाभिरनेकाभिः समन्तादवभासितम्। गन्धतैलावसिक्ताभिर्धियमाणाभिरग्रतः॥
His whole body was seen on all sides by the light of the lamps lighted with perfumed oil and carried by the Rākşasīs before.
कामदर्पमदैर्युक्तं जिह्मताम्रायतेक्षणम्। समक्षमिव कन्दर्पमपविद्धशरासनम्॥
He was inflamed with amour, pride and haughtiness and his expansive eyes were coppery and idle. And he appeared like Cupid himself just appearing in view, leaving behind his bow and arrows.
मथितामृतफेनाभमरजोवस्त्रमुत्तमम्। सपुष्पमवकर्षन्तं विमुक्तं सक्तमङ्गदे॥
Holding his excellent robe, covered with flowers, washed, set with jewels and white as the foam of the churned nectar, he placed it in its proper place.
तं पत्रविटपे लीनः पत्रपुष्पशतावृतः। समीपमुपसंक्रान्तं विज्ञातुमुपचक्रमे॥
Hanumăn, hiding himself on the tree, in the midst of many leaves and flowers, tried to recognise him as he approached.
अवेक्षमाणस्तु तदा ददर्श कपिकुञ्जरः। रूपयौवनसम्पन्ना रावणस्य वरस्त्रियः॥ ताभिः परिवृतो राजा सुरूपाभिर्महायशाः। तन्मृगद्विजसंघुष्टं प्रविष्टः प्रमदावनम्॥
Beholding him, that foremost of monkeys saw that highly famous king Rāvana, surrounded by his excellently beautiful and youthful wives, enter that forest of enjoyment filled with birds and animals.
क्षीबो विचित्राभरणः शङ्कुकर्णो महाबलः। तेन विश्रवसः पुत्रः स दृष्टो राक्षसाधिपः॥
There was a warder by name Sankukarņa in that forest—highly powerful, wearing various ornaments and addicted to drinking. And by him was seen that lord of Rākşasas—the son of Visrava.
वृतः परमनारीभिस्ताराभिरिव चन्द्रमाः। तं ददर्श महातेजास्तेजोवन्तं महाकपिः॥ रावणोऽयं महाबाहुरिति संचिन्त्य वानरः। सोऽयमेव पुरा शेते पुरमध्ये गृहोत्तमे। अवप्लुतो महातेजा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः॥
That highly energetic monkey beheld that effulgent (Rāvana) surrounded by excellent damsels like to moon encircled by stars. And beholding him the monkey reflected—“This must be Rāvana-for he is the person whom I saw sleeping in an excellent apartment in that city.” Thinking this, that highly effulgent son of Maruta-Hanuman leaped (high upon another branch).
स तथाप्युग्रतेजाः स निर्धूतस्तस्य तेजसा। पत्रे गुह्यान्तरे सक्तो मतिमान् संवृतोऽभवत्॥
And effulgent as he was, that highly intelligent monkey hid himself on a branch covered with leaves, being unable to stand before the effulgence of that Rākșasa.
स तामसितकेशान्तां सुश्रोणी संहतस्तनीम्। दिदृक्षुरसितापाङ्गीमुपावर्तत रावणः॥
Rāvana proceeded in that way, being anxious to behold the blue-eyed Sītā, having spacious breast, excellent hips and a lock of black hair.