Sundara kanda 11 & 12

Chapter 11

Realizing that the woman he saw at Ravana's house was not Seetha, Hanuma begins to search again for Seetha.

avadhuuya ca taam buddhim babhuuva avasthitaH tadaa |
jagaama ca aparaam cintaam siitaam prati mahaa kapiH || 5-11-1

The great Hanuma then removing that thought became with the right mind and had another thought about Seetha.

na raameNa viyuktaa saa svaptum arhati bhaaminii |
na bhoktum na api alamkartum na paanam upasevitum || 5-11-2
na anyam naram upasthaatum suraaNaam api ca iishvaram |
na hi raama samaH kashcid vidyate tridasheSv api || 5-11-3
anyaa iyam iti nishcitya paana bhuumau cacaara saH |

That Seetha is not suitable to sleep separated from Rama, will not eat, will not decorate also, not suited to drink a beverage, to reach another man even though if he were Indra because there is indeed no one equaling Rama even among gods. This is another woman - thus deciding that Hanuma paced in that banqueting hall.

kriiDitena aparaaH klaantaa giitena ca tathaa paraaH || 5-11-4
nR^ittena ca aparaaH klaantaaH paana viprahataaH tathaa |

Some women were tired from erotic dalliance and then some other women were tired from singing; some others were weary from dance and were unconscious from consumption of liquor.

murajeSu mRdangeSu piiThikaasu ca samsthitaaH || 5-11-5
tathaa aastaraNa mukhyyeSu samviSTaaH ca aparaaH striyaH |

Some women were stationed on tabors, on Mrudangas, on seats, some other women rested on chief carpets.

aN^ganaanaam sahasreNa bhuuSitena vibhuuSaNaiH || 5-11-6
ruupa samllaapa shiilena yukta giita artha bhaaSiNaa |
desha kaala abhiyuktena yukta vaakya abhidhaayinaa || 5-11-7
rata abhirata samsuptam dadarsha hari yuuthapaH |

The warrior among Vanaras saw a thousand of women decorated by jewellery with a nature of talking about beauty, conversing about the correct meaning of songs being sung, behaving according to time and place, wont to speak appropriate words, indulged in sleep after sexual dalliance.

taasaam madhye mahaa baahuH shushubhe raakSasa iishvaraH || 5-11-8
goSThe mahati mukhyaanaam gavaam madhye yathaa vR^iSaH |

In the middle of that group of women, Ravana with great arms shone like a bull in the middle of cows in a big cow-pen.

sa raakSasa indraH shushubhe taabhiH parivR^itaH svayam || 5-11-9
kareNubhir yathaa araNyam parikiirNo mahaa dvipaH |

That Ravana himself surrounded by those women, shone like a great elephant surrounded by she elephants in a great forest.

sarva kaamair upetaam ca paana bhuumim mahaatmanaH || 5-11-10
dadarsha kapi shaarduulaH tasya rakSaH pater gR^ihe |

The best among Vanaras saw in that wealthy Ravana's house a bar also, consisting of all desirables.

WEDNESDAY

mR^igaaNaam mahiSaaNaam ca varaahaaNaam ca bhaagashaH || 5-11-11
tatra nyastaani maamsaani paana bhuumau dadarsha saH |

Hanuma saw there in that bar, meat of dear and of buffalo, of wild boar kept separately.

raukmeSu ca vishaleSu bhaajaneSv ardha bhakSitaan || 5-11-12
dadarsha kapi shaarduula mayuuraan kukkuTaamH tathaa |

The best among Vanaras saw half eaten peacocks and chicken in wide vessels of golden colour.

varaaha vaardhraaNasakaan dadhi sauvarcala aayutaan || 5-11-13
shalyaan mRga mayuuraamH ca hanuumaan anvavaikSata |

Hanuma observed meat of pigs and goats, porcupines, deer and peacocks preserved in curds and sochal salt.

kR^ikaraan vividhaan siddhaamH cakoraan ardha bhakSitaan || 5-11-14
mahiSaan eka shalyaamH ca chaagaamH ca kR^ita niSThitaan |
lekhyam ucca avacam peyam bhojyaani vividhaani ca || 5-11-15

Hanuma saw birds called Krakara cooked ready to be eaten in variety of ways, birds called Chakoras half eaten, wild buffalos, fishes called ekashleya, goats, food to be licked of various kinds, beverages and various foods.

tathaa amla lavaNa uttamsair vividhai raaga SaaDavaiH |
haara nuupura keyuurair apaviddhair mahaa dhanaiH || 5-11-16
paana bhaajana vikSiptaiH phalaiH ca vividhair api |
kR^ita puSpa upahaaraa bhuur adhikam puSyati shriyam || 5-11-17

In the same way that floor was obtaining glory greatly with Ragas and Shadabas seasoned with sour and salty sauces, with necklaces, anklets and armlets of great value thrown around, with various fruits left in drinking vessels, with flowers sprinkled.

tatra tatra ca vinyastaiH sushliSTaiH shayana aasanaiH |
paana bhuumir vinaa vahnim pradiiptaa iva upalakSyate || 5-11-18

That bar was seen as though radiant without fire, with couches and chairs well arranged and placed there and there.

bahu prakaarair vividhair vara samskaara samskR^itaiH |
maamsaiH kushala samyuktaiH paana bhuumi gataiH pR^ithak || 5-11-19

Many meats of different kinds cultured with various best seasonings, well arranged separately obtained that bar.

divyaaH prasannaa vividhaaH suraaH kR^ita suraa api |
sharkara aasava maadhviikaaH puSpa aasava phala aasavaaH || 5-11-20
vaasa cuurNaiH ca vividhair mR^iSTaaH taiH taiH pR^ithak pR^ithak |

Excellent and clear various liquors, a liquor called Sura, liquor made of sugar, liquor made of honey, liquor made of flowers and liquors made of fruits also, artificially made liquors - those and those were cultured separately with various fragrant powders.

THURSDAY

samtataa shushubhe bhuumir maalyaiH ca bahu samsthitaiH || 5-11-21
hiraNmayaiH ca karakair bhaajanaiH sphaaTikair api |
jaambuunadamayaishchaanyaaH karakairabhivamvR^itaa || 5-11-22

The floor shone filled by flower garlands in a variety of forms, with various vessels of golden hue and also made of crystal, filled with other small vessels of golden colour.

raajateSu ca kumbheSu jaambuunadamayeSu ca |
paana shreSTham tadaa bhuuri kapiH tatra dadarsha ha || 5-11-23

Hanuma saw indeed then lot of best quality liquor in pots of silver and of golden colour.

so apashyat shaata kumbhaani shiidhor maNimayaani ca |
raajataani ca puurNaani bhaajanaani mahaa kapiH || 5-11-24

That great Hanuma saw vessels full of liquor of golden colour, embedded with gem stones and also of silver hue.

kvacid ardha avasheSaaNi kvacit piitaani sarvashaH |
kvacin na eva prapiitaani paanaani sa dadarsha ha || 5-11-25

That Hanuma saw indeed at some places drinks half filled and at some places completely drunk and some places not at all drunk.

kvacid bhakSyaamH ca vividhaan kvacit paanaani bhaagashaH |
kvacid anna avasheSaaNi pashyan vai vicacaara ha || 5-11-26

Hanuma paced about seeing at some places various eatables and at some places drinks separately, and at some places remnants of cooked rice.

kvacit prabhinnaiH karakaiH kvacid aaloDitair ghaTaiH |
kvacit sampR^ikta maalyaani jalaani ca phalaani ca || 5-11-27

Hanuma saw some places with vessels broken, some places with pots in shambles, some places with water together with flower garlands and fruits.

shayanaani atra naariiNaam shuunyaani bahudhaa punaH |
parasparam samaashliSya kaashcit suptaa vara anganaaH || 5-11-28

Here couches again of women were varied and clean, some best women slept there hugging one another.

kaacic ca vastram anyasyaa apahRtya upaguhya ca |
upagamya abalaa suptaa nidraa bala paraajitaa || 5-11-29

Some women conquered by the power of sleep pulled other sleeping women's clothing and slept covering themselves.

taasaam ucchvaasa vaatena vastram maalyam ca gaatrajam |
na atyartham spandate citram praapya mandam iva anilam || 5-11-30

Clothing and garland on the throats of those women was moving slightly and wonderfully as though obtaining air from the air of breath.

FRIDAY

candanasya ca shiitasya shiidhor madhu rasasya ca |
vividhasya ca maalyasya puSpasya vividhasya ca || 5-11-31
bahudhaa maarutaH tatra gandham vividham udvahan |

There wind blew carrying in a lot of directions, a variety of fragrances of cool sandal-paste and of sweet liquor, of various flower garlands and of various kinds of agallocum fumes.

snaanaanaam candanaanaam ca dhuupaanaam caiva muurchitaH |
pravavau surabhir gandho vimaane puSpake tadaa || 5-11-32

Then the blossoming fragrance from the baths and sandal paste and from agallocum fumes blew spreading all around in that Pushpaka plane.

shyaama avadaataaH tatra anyaaH kaashcit kR^iSNaa vara anganaaH || 5-11-33
kaashcit kaancana varNa angyaH pramadaa raakSasa aalaye |

There in that Ravana's house, some women had fair and white complexion some best women were black, some women had a body of golden complexion.

taasaam nidraa vashatvaac ca madanena vimuurchitam || 5-11-34
padminiinaam prasuptaanaam ruupam aasiid yathaiva hi |

Appearance of those sleeping women, tired from being possessed by sleep and from lust, was like lotuses sleeping.

evam sarvam asheSeNa raavaNa antaH puram kapiH || 5-11-35
dadarsha sumahaa tejaa na dadarsha ca jaanakiim |

Hanuma with great radiance thus saw entire Ravana's house completely but did not see Seetha.

niriikSamaaNaH ca tataH taaH striyaH sa mahaa kapiH || 5-11-36
jagaama mahatiim cintaam dharma saadhvasa shankitaH |

Then that Hanuma seeing those women obtained great anguish being in doubt because of fear in the matter of dharma.

SATURDAY

para daara avarodhasya prasuptasya niriikSaNam || 5-11-37
idam khalu mama atyartham dharma lopam kariSyati |

 “My seeing sleeping house of other people's wives will do a great deficit to dharma.”

na hi me para daaraaNaam dR^iSTir viSaya vartinii ||5-11-38
ayam ca atra mayaa dR^iSTaH para daara parigrahaH |

 “My sight is indeed not in the matter of other wives here. These other’s wives have been seen by me.”

tasya praadur abhuuc cintaa punar anyaa manasvinaH || 5-11-39
nishcita eka anta cittasya kaarya nishcaya darshinii |

To that Hanuma with an excellent mind, with a fixed and concentrated mind, was born another thought again, showing a fixed resolve in the task at hand.

kaamam dR^iSTvaa mayaa sarvaa vishvastaa raavaNa striyaH || 5-11-40
na tu me manasaH kimcid vaikR^ityam upapadyate |

 “All Ravana's women who were in faith could have been seen by me; to my mind there indeed was not even a little disturbance”.

mano hi hetuH sarveSaam indriyaaNaam pravartate || 5-11-41
shubha ashubhaasv avasthaasu tac ca me suvyavasthitam |

 “Among auspicious or inauspicious states in the behavior of all senses mind is the reason. My that mind is very steady.”

na anyatra hi mayaa shakyaa vaidehii parimaargitum || 5-11-42
striyo hi striiSu dRshyante sadaa samparimaargaNe |

 “By me it is not possible to search Seetha at another place. Always during search women will be seen among other women.”

yasya sattvasya yaa yoniH tasyaam tat parimaargyate || 5-11-43
na shakyam pramadaa naSTaa mR^igiiSu parimaargitum |

 “To an animal of whatever race that animal is searched in that race; a woman missing is not possible to be searched among female deer.”

tad idam maargitam taavat shuddhena manasaa mayaa || 5-11-44
raavaNa antaH puram saram dR^ishyate na ca jaanakii |

 “For that reason all this Ravana's house has been search by me with a pure mind Seetha alone cannot be seen.”

deva gandharva kanyaaH ca naaga kanyaaH ca viiryavaan || 5-11-45
avekSamaaNo hanumaan na eva apashyata jaanakiim |

The strong Hanuma observing girls from devas, gandharvas and girls from nagas did not see Janaki.

taam apashyan kapiH tatra pashyamH ca anyaa vara striyaH || 5-11-46
apakramya tadaa viiraH pradhyaatum upacakrame |

The powerful Hanuma not seeing Her there and seeing other best women then started to think deeply going far from there.

sa bhuuyastu param shriimaan maarutiryatnamaasthitaH || 5-11-47
apaanabhuumimutsR^ijya tadvichetum prachakrame |

That Hanuma the glorious one adopting a great task again left that bar and began to search that house.

ityaarshhe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe ekaadashaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 11th chapter in Sundara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

SUNDAY

Chapter 12

In this chapter Hanuma gets discouraging thoughts about Seetha. He thinks that Seetha might be dead. He thus gets into depression for a moment.

sa tasya madhye bhavanasya vaanaro |
lataa gRhaamH citra gR^ihaan nishaa gR^ihaan |
jagaama siitaam prati darshana utsuko |
na ca eva taam pashyati caaru darshanaam || 5-12-1

That Hanuma interested in sight of Seetha, in the middle of that building, went towards houses made of plant creepers, art houses, and nocturnal houses but did not see Her with a beautiful appearance.

sa cintayaam aasa tato mahaa kapiH |
priyaam apashyan raghu nandanasya taam |
dhruvam nu siitaa mriyate yathaa na me |
vicinvato darshanam eti maithilii || 5-12-2

That great Hanuma then later not seeing that Seetha dear to Rama thought thus: “to me searching Seetha in whatever way appearance not being obtained, from that Seetha definitely has died.”

saa raakSasaanaam pravareNa baalaa |
sva shiila samrakSaNa tat paraa satii |
anena nuunam pratiduSTa karmaNaa |
hataa bhaved aarya pathe pare sthitaa || 5-12-3

 “That Seetha standing in the best traditional path being chaste interested, in preserving her character must have been killed by the king of these Rakshasas who performed evil deeds - this is certain.”

viruupa ruupaa vikR^itaa vivarcaso |
mahaa aananaa diirgha viruupa darshanaaH |
samiikSya saa raakSasa raaja yoSito |
bhayaad vinaSTaa janaka iishvara aatmajaa|| 5-12-4

 “That daughter of King Janaka died of fear seeing the wives of Ravana with crooked appearances - horrible ones without radiance with great faces with long and crooked eyes.”

siitaam adRSTvaa hi anavaapya pauruSam |
vihRtya kaalam saha vaanaraiH ciram |
na me asti sugriiva samiipagaa gatiH |
sutiikSNa daNDo balavaamH ca vaanaraH || 5-12-5

 “Without seeing Seetha, not obtaining destiny and wandering for a long time together with Vanaras, to me there is not a path to go near Sugreeva. Sugreeva has a sharp punishment and also is strong.”

dR^iSTam antaH puram sarvam dR^iSTvaa raavaNa yoSitaH |
na siitaa dR^ishyate saadhvii vR^ithaa jaato mama shramaH || 5-12-6

 “All inner city has been seen. Women of Ravana have been seen. The chaste Seetha has not been seen. My effort became wastefull.”

kim nu maam vaanaraaH sarve gatam vakSyanti samgataaH |
gatvaa tatra tvayaa viira kim kR^itam tad vadasva naH || 5-12-7

 “To me who has gone back all Vanaras after meeting what they would say? O strong one! Going there, what has been done by you? Tell that to us.”

adR^iSTvaa kim pravakSyaami taam aham janaka aatmajaam |
dhruvam praayam upeSyanti kaalasya vyativartane || 5-12-8

 “Without seeing that Seetha what can I say? Due to passing of time, definitely they will obtain fire.”

kim vaa vakSyati vRddhaH ca jaambavaan angadaH ca saH |
gatam paaram samudrasya vaanaraaH ca samaagataaH || 5-12-9

 “To me who had gone for the other shore of the ocean what will the old Jambavan say? What would that Angada and vanaras who meet say?”

anirvedaH shriyo muulam anirvedaH param sukham |
anirvedo hi satatam sarva artheSu pravartakaH || 5-12-10

 “Non-depression /enthusiasm / perseverance is root of development. Absence of despondency is the greatest comfort. Self reliance always is indeed the promoter in all matters.”

karoti saphalam jantoH karma yac ca karoti saH |
tasmaad anirveda kRtam yatnam ceSTe aham uttamam || 5-12-11
adR^iSTaamH ca viceSyaami deshaan raavaNa paalitaan |

 “Whatever action a human does that action of man is made to be successful by non-depression. For that reason I will perform a best effort together with non-depression. I will search all those regions ruled by Ravana not yet seen.”

Te be successful one has to pursue an act with enthusiasm, perseverance and without getting depressed by initial setbacks or failures.. This is true both in case of achieving  temporal goals and also to get the self realization.

MONDAY

aapaana shaalaa vicitaaH tathaa puSpa gR^ihaaNi ca || 5-12-12
citra shaalaaH ca vicitaa bhuuyaH kriiDaa gR^ihaaNi ca |
niSkuTa antara rathyaaH ca vimaanaani ca sarvashaH || 5-12-13

 “Bars have been searched; in the same way flower houses, art houses have been searched; again pleasure houses, pathways in the middle of gardens, buildings in all directions have been searched.”

iti samcintya bhuuyo api vicetum upacakrame |
bhuumii gR^ihaamH caitya gR^ihaan gR^iha atigR^ihakaan api || 5-12-14

Thus thinking Hanuma began to search again undergrounds, houses at the beginning of street intersections and also small houses faraway from the main houses.

utpatan nipatamH ca api tiSThan gacchan punaH kvacit |
apaavR^iNvamH ca dvaaraaNi kapaaTaani avaghaTTayan || 5-12-15
pravishan niSpatamH ca api prapatann utpatann api |
sarvam api avakaasham sa vicacaara mahaa kapiH || 5-12-16

The great Hanuma flying again and again and jumping down, standing up, walking, opening doors, pushing doors and entering inside, coming out, climbing down, climbing up wandered all opportunity.

catur angula maatro api na avakaashaH sa vidyate |
raavaNa antaH pure tasmin yam kapir na jagaama saH || 5-12-17

That Hanuma in that city of Ravana - whatever region he did not go that region was not there even for four angulas.

praakara antara rathyaaH ca vedikaH caitya samshrayaaH |
shvabhraaH ca puSkariNyaH ca sarvam tena avalokitam || 5-12-18

Streets between fort walls, platforms together with the intersection of four streets, wells, lakes all these had been seen by him.

raakSasyo vividha aakaaraa viruupaa vikR^itaaH tathaa |
dR^iSTaa hanuumataa tatra na tu saa janaka aatmajaa || 5-12-19

Rakshasa women of various forms, with crooked forms and horrific forms had been seen there by Hanuma but not that Seetha.

ruupeNa apratimaa loke varaa vidyaa dhara striyaH |
dR^iTaa hanuumataa tatra na tu raaghava nandinii || 5-12-20

The best Vidhyadhara women incomparable by beauty in the world had been seen there by Hanuma, but not Seetha.

naaga kanyaa vara aarohaaH puurNa candra nibha aananaaH |
dR^iSTaa hanuumataa tatra na tu siitaa sumadhyamaa || 5-12-21

Naaga women with beautiful buttocks, with faces equaling full moon had been seen by Hanuma there, but not Seetha with a beautiful waist.

pramathya raakSasa indreNa naaga kanyaa balaadd hR^itaaH |
dR^iSTaa hanuumataa tatra na saa janaka nandinii || 5-12-22

Naaga women who had been stolen forcefully, being defeated by Ravana had been seen there by Hanuma, not that Seetha

so apashyamH taam mahaa baahuH pashyamH ca anyaa vara striyaH |
viSasaada mahaa baahur hanuumaan maaruta aatmajaH || 5-12-23

That Hanuma with great arms, the wise one, the son of Vayu not seeing that Seetha and seeing other women became depressed again and again.

udyogam vaanara indraaNam plavanam saagarasya ca |
vyartham viikSya anila sutaH cintaam punar upaagamat || 5-12-24

Seeing the effort of the best Vanaras and the crossing of ocean as being wasted, Hanuma got depression again.

avatiirya vimaanaac ca hanuumaan maaruta aatmajaH |
cintaam upajagaama atha shoka upahata cetanaH || 5-12-25

Thereafter the son of Vayu Hanuma got down from Pushpaka, obtained thought with a mind overcome with grief.