दर्शयित्वा तु रामाय सीतायाः परिमार्गणे। वाक्यमन्वर्थमर्थज्ञः कबन्धः पुनरब्रवीत्॥
Having pointed out to Rāma the expedient for finding out Sītā the wise Kabandha began with the following significant words.
एष राम शिवः पन्था यत्रैते पुष्पिता द्रुमाः। प्रतीची दिशमाश्रित्य प्रकाशन्ते मनोरमाः॥ जम्बूप्रियालपनसा न्यग्रोधपक्षतिन्दुकाः। अश्वत्थाः कर्णिकारश्च चूताश्चान्ये च पादपाः॥ धन्वना नागवृक्षाश्च तिलका नक्तमालकाः। नीलाशोकाः कदम्बाश्च करवीराश्च पुष्पिताः॥ अग्निमुख्या अशोकाश्च सुरक्ताः पारिभद्रकाः। तानारुह्याथवा भूमौ पातयित्वा च तान् बलात्॥ फलान्यमृतकल्पानि भक्षयित्वा गमिष्यथः।
This is the way, O Rāma, leading to the mount Rsyamūka, where stand, beautifying the West, the Jambū (a) Priyāla, (b) Panasa, (c) Nyagrodha, (d) Plaksa, (e) Tinduka (1) ASvatha, (g) Karnikāra, (h) Cuta, (i) Naga (j) Tilaka, (k) Naktamālaka, (1) Neelaśokā, (m) Kadamba, (n) Karavīrā, (0) Agnimukhya, (p) Asoka, Raktacandan, (q) Paribhadraka, (r) and many other trees. Ascending those trees or lowering them by force on earth, do you proceed living on those fruits like to ambrosia. [a] A fruit-tree, the rose apple-lat. (Eugenia Jambolana). [b] A tree commonly Piyal-Lat. (Buchanania latifolia). [c] The bread fruit of Taka tree—Lat. (Artocarpus integrifolia). [d] The Indian fig-tree-Lat. (Ficus Indica). [e] Waved leaf fig-tree-Lat. Ficus infectoria). [f] A sort of ebony-Lat. (Diospyros glutinosa). [g] A holy fig-tree-Lat. (ficus religiosa). [h] The name of a tree commonly Kaniyar-Lat. Pterospermum acerifo lium). [I] The mango—Lat. (Mangifera Indica). [i] A small tree-Lat. (Mesua ferrca). [k] A kind of tree commonly Tila. [1] A tree Lat. (Galcdupaarborea, Rox). [m] Blue Asoka-Lat. (Fonesia Asock). [n] A plant commonly Kadamba-Lat. (Nauclea Kadamba). [o] A fragrant plant-Lat. (Oleander or Nerium, Odorum). [p] The marking nut plant-Lat. (Semecarpius anacardium). [q] Red Sandal. [r] The coral tree-Lat. (Erythrina fulgens).
तदतिक्रम्य काकुत्स्थ वनं पुष्पितपादपम्॥ नन्दनप्रतिमं त्वन्यत् कुरवस्तूत्तरा इव। सर्वकालफला यत्र पादपा मधुरस्रवाः॥ सर्वे च ऋतवस्तत्र वने चैत्ररथे यथा। फलभारनतास्तत्र महाविटपधारिणः।।८ शोभन्ते सर्वतस्तत्र मेघपर्वतसंनिभाः। तानारुह्याथवा भूमौ पातयित्वाथवा सुखम्॥ फलान्यमृतकल्पानि लक्ष्मणस्ते प्रदास्यति।
Passing by this forest, O Kākutstha, you shall reach another abounding in trees blooming with flowers like to the garden of celestials and Uttarkuru where in all the months of the year the trees produce fruits and honey and where all the seasons dwell as in the forest of Chaitraratha*. There stand beautifully many a tree lowered down with the burden of fruits, containing towering branches, dense as a collection of clouds or a mountain. Ascending those trees and lowering them, Lakşmaņa shall offer you, fruits like to ambrosia. The garden of the deity Kuvera. It is derived from Caitraratha a Gandharva in charge of the garden.
चङ्क्रमन्तौ वराशैलाशैलाच्छैलं वनाद् वनम्॥ ततः पुष्करिणीं वीरौ पम्पां नाम गमिष्यथः। अशर्करामविभ्रंशां समतीर्थामशैवलाम॥ राम संजातवालूकां कमलोत्पलशोभिताम्।
O heroes, ranging from forest to forest, from high mountains to hillocks, you shall get at the lake Pampā, void of gravels and acquatic plants and hence there is no danger of falling down to the people, having level watering-places, covered with sands and blooming with red and white lotuses.
तत्र हंसाः प्लवाः कौञ्चाः कुरराश्चैव राघव॥ वल्गुस्वरा निकूजन्ति पम्पासलिलगोचराः। नोद्विजन्ते नरान् दृष्ट्वा वधस्याकोविदाः पुराः॥
There emit forth musical notes, swans, frogs, cranes and ospreys sporting in the lake Pampā. They are not filled with terror in view of human beings, inexperienced as they are in the matter of destruction.
घृतपिण्डोपमान् स्थूलांस्तान् द्विजान् भक्षयिष्यथः। रोहितान् वक्रतुण्डांश्च नलमीनांश्च राघव॥ पम्पायामिषुभिर्मत्स्यास्तत्र राम वरान् हतान्। निस्त्वपक्षानयस्तप्तानकृशानेककण्टकान्॥ तव भक्त्या समायुक्तो लक्ष्मणः सम्प्रदास्यति। भृशं तान् खादतो मत्स्यान् पम्पायाः पुष्पसंचये॥ पद्मगन्धि शिवं वारि सुखशीतमनामयम्। उद्धृत्य स तदाक्लिष्टं रूप्यस्फटिकसंनिभम्॥ अथ पुष्करपर्णेन लक्ष्मणः पाययिष्यति। ।
O Rāghava do you fare on those plump birds like to a lump of clarified butter and diverse fishes such as Rohita, Vakratunda+, and Nala. O Rama, the devoted Laksmana, shall offer to you, various other best fishes, devoid of scale and fins, plump, filled with bones, having destroyed them with shafts and roasted them in fire. And after you had feasted on them, Lakşmaņa shall bring you water for drinking on a lotus leaf, smelling like a lotus, coming in contact with flowers, delicious, pleasantly cold, wholesome, void of impurities, transparent like silver and crystal. The Rohi fist-Lat. (cyprinus Rohita Ham). A kind of fish resembling a wheel in appearance. A kind of sprai, according to some, a shrimp or prawn.
स्थूलान् गिरिगुहाशय्यान् वानरान् वनचारिणः॥ सायाह्ने विचरन् राम दर्शयिष्यति लक्ष्मणः।
While roaming in the evening he shall point out to you fat monkeys ranging in the wood and lying in the hollows of mountains.
अपां लोभादुपावृत्तान् वृषभानिव नर्दतः॥ स्थूलान् पीतांश्च पम्पायां द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं नरोत्तम।
And you too, O best of men, shall behold those fat monkeys, who had drunk water, roaring like to oxen appearing on the banks of a river to drink water.
सायाह्ने विचरन् राम विटपी माल्यधारिणः॥ शिवोदकं च पम्पायां दृष्ट्वा शोकं विहास्यसि।
And rambling in the evening, you shall assuage your grief beholding the pleasant water of Pampā and blossoming trees.
सुमनोभिश्चितास्तत्र तिलका नक्तमालकाः॥ उत्पलानि च फुल्लानि पङ्कजानि च राघव। न तानि कश्चिन्माल्यानि तत्रारोपयिता नरः॥ न च वै ग्लानतां यान्ति न च शीर्यन्ति राघव। मतङ्गशिष्यास्तत्रासन्नृषयः सुसमाहिताः॥ तेषां भाराभितप्तानां वन्यमाहरतां गुरोः। ये प्रपेतुर्महीं तूर्णं शरीरात् स्वेदबिन्दवः॥ तानि माल्यानि जातानि मुनीनां तपसा तदा। स्वेदबिन्दुसमुत्थानि न विनश्यन्ति राघव ॥
There, O Rāghava, the Tilakas and Naktamālakas, crested with flowers and full blown white and red lotuses shall mitigate your sorrows. There live no person who wears garlands of those flowers. Garlands strung with those flowers never wither away, O Rāghava, because the disciples of the great ascetic Matariga lived there with concentrated hearts. Drops of perspiration, falling on the earth from the persons of those ascetics worn out with the burden of the wild fruits collected by them for their spiritual guide, have been transformed by virtue of their asceticism to these garlands. These garlands do never wither, O Rāghava, because of their origination from those drops of perspiration.
तेषां गतानामद्यापि दृश्यते परिचारिणी। श्रमणी शबरी नाम काकुत्स्थ चिरजीविनी॥ त्वां तु धर्मे स्थिता नित्यं सर्वभूतनमस्कृतम्। दृष्ट्वा देवोपमं राम स्वर्गलोकं गमिष्यति॥
Even at the present day, O Kakutstha, there live an immortal mendicant woman, by name Savari, who had waited in attendance upon those departed ones. Beholding you, O Rāma, who are adored of all creatures like to the Deity Himself, that mendicant woman, ever engaged in pious observances, shall attain to the abode of celestials.
ततस्तद्राम पम्पायास्तीरमाश्रित्य पश्चिमम्। आश्रमस्थानमतुलं गुह्यं काकुत्स्थ पश्यसि॥
O Rāma, turning to the western bank of Pampa, you shall, O Kakutstha, behold the incomparable and secret asylum of Matanga.
न तत्राक्रमितुं नागाः शक्नुवन्ति तदाश्रमे। ऋषेस्तस्य मतङ्गस्य विधानात् तच्च काननम्॥
Fearing the divine authority of that great ascetic Matanga, the elephants, though there are many, dare not cross the threshold of his asylum.
मतङ्गवनमित्येव विश्रुतं रघुनन्दन। तस्मिन् नन्दनसंकाशे देवारण्योपमे वने॥ नानाविहगसंकीर्णे रंस्यसे राम निर्वृतः।
O Rāghava, this forest is widely known as Matanga wood. You shall sport, O Rāma, with a delighted heart in that forest resembling the celestial garden-Nandana and filled with various birds.
ऋष्यमूकस्तु पम्पायाः पुरस्तात् पुष्पितद्रुमः॥ सुदुःखारोहणश्चैव शिशुनागाभिरक्षितः। उदारो ब्रह्मणा चैव पूर्वकालेऽभिनिर्मितः॥
There stands in front of Pampă the highly inaccessible mount Rşyamūka, ornamented with many a blossoming tree and guarded on all sides by little serpents. That mount is highly munificent. It was created by Brahmā in the days of yore.
शयानः पुरुषो राम तस्य शैलस्य मूर्धनि । यत् स्वप्ने लभते वित्तं तत् प्रबुद्धोऽधिगच्छति ॥ यस्त्वेनं विषमाचारः पापकर्माधिरोहति। तत्रैव प्रहरन्त्येनं सुप्तमादाय राक्षसाः॥
A person, sleeping on the summit of that hill and dreaming of an accession of wealth, really gets at it after the dream is over. A perpetrator of iniquitous deeds and engaged in impious observances ascending that hill, the Rākṣasas seize upon him, asleep, and bruise him.
ततोऽपि शिशुनागानामाक्रन्दः श्रूयते महान्। क्रीडतां राम पम्पायां मतङ्गाश्रमवासिनाम्॥
You shall hear the terrible roar of the young elephants ranging in the asylum of Matanga, situated on the banks of Pampā.
सक्ता रुधिरधाराभिः संहत्य परमद्विपाः। प्रचरन्ति पृथक्कीर्णा मेघवर्णास्तरस्विनः॥ ते तत्र पीत्वा पानीयं विमलं चारु शोभनम्। अत्यन्तसुखसंस्पर्श सर्वगन्धसमन्वितम्॥ निवृत्ताः संविगाहन्ते वनानि वनगोचराः।
You shall furthermore observe many a quickly moving, infuriated elephant, resembling clouds in hue and with red temporal juice oozing out of their heads, roaming here and there sometimes separately and again in a band. Those mighty elephants, roaming the forest, return to their woody homes, drinking the pleasant, pure and sweet smelling water of Pampā.
ऋक्षांश्च द्वीपिनश्चैव नीचकोमलकप्रभान्॥ रुरूनपेतानजयान् दृष्ट्वा शोकं प्रहास्यसि।
Do you assuage your grief, beholding there the bears, wolves and Rurus of a tender countenance like to sapphire, who are harmless and never afraid of human beings.
राम तस्य तु शैलस्य महती शोभते गुहा॥ शिलापिधाना काकुत्स्थ दुःखं चास्याः प्रवेशनम्।
There is a huge cave, O Rāma, in that mountain, covered on all sides with rocks and where it is very hard to enter.
तस्या गुहायाः प्राग्द्वारे महाशीतोदको हृदः॥ बहुमूलफलो रम्यो नानानगसमाकुलः।
At the entrance of that cave lies a beautiful, wide lake of cool water, hedged on all sides with trees abounding in fruits.
तस्यां वसति धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवः सह वानरैः॥ कदाचिच्छिखरे तस्य पर्वतस्यापि तिष्ठति।
There live with other monkeys the virtuoussouled Sugrīva, who sometimes reside on the summit of the hill.
कबन्धस्त्वनुशास्यैवं तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।॥ स्रग्वी भास्करवर्णाभः खे व्यरोचत वीर्यवान्।
Having thus addressed Rāma and Lakşmaņa, Kabandha, highly powerful resembling the sun in effulgence and wearing garlands appeared beautiful on the sky.
तं तु खस्थं महाभागं तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥ प्रस्थितौ त्वं व्रजस्वेति वाक्यमूचतुरन्तिके।
Thereupon Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, preparing to proceed spoke to that great one stationed in the sky, saying, Do you go'
गम्यतां कार्यसिद्धयर्थमिति तावब्रवीत् स च॥ सुप्रीतौ तावनुज्ञाप्य कबन्धः प्रस्थितस्तदा॥
Whereto Kabandha replied, saying Do you proceed to make good your end and bidding them adieu, who were well pleased, departed.
स तत् कबन्धः प्रतिपद्य रूपं वृतः श्रिया भास्वरसर्वदेहः। निदर्शयन् राममवेक्ष्य स्वस्थः सख्यं कुरुष्वेति तदाभ्युवाच ॥
Regaining his pristine beauty and shining in grace and effulgence that Kabandha, who was on the sky, fixing his looks upon Rāma, and pointing out to him his way, said Do you make friends with (Sugrīva).