Introduction

Hanuma’s search for Seetha, together with Angada and others is started. They search certain mountains and forests belonging to Vindhya, but in vain. They enter many uninhabited forests and places. Angada kills a demon presuming him to be Ravana. Their hearts sadden when their search became futile at these places.

 

Verse 1

सह तार अंगदाभ्याम् तु सहसा हनुमान् कपिः |
सुग्रीवेण यथा उद्दिष्टम् तम् देशम् उपचक्रमे || ४-४८-१

Hanuma, the monkey, quickly started along with Angada, Lt. Tara, and others to that province which Sugreeva has indicated, namely the south. [4-48-1]

1. kapiH hanumaan = the monkey, Hanuma; taara angadaabhyaam saha = Lt. Tara, Angada and others, along with; sahasaa = quickly; sugriiveNa yathaa uddiSTam = by Sugreeva, as, indicated; tam desham [gantum] upacakrame = that, province, [to go to,] started out.

 

Verse 2 & 3

स तु दूरम् उपागम्य सर्वैः तैः कपि सत्तमैः |
ततो विचित्य विन्ध्यस्य गुहाः च गहनानि च || ४-४८-२
पर्वताग्र नदी दुर्गान् सरांसि विपुल द्रुमान् |
वृक्ष खण्डान् च विविधान् पर्वतान् वन पादपान् || ४-४८-३

Arriving at a remote place with all of those powerful monkeys, then Hanuma searched the caves and forests of Vindhya Mountains, and on their mountaintops, at impassable places, at rivers and lakes, and in stands of trees with beamy trees, also on diverse mountains, forests and trees. [4-48-2, 3]

2, 3. saH = he Hanuma; sarvaiH taiH kapi sattamaiH = with all, of them, monkey, powerful ones; duuram upaagamya = remote [place,] arriving at; tataH = then; vindhyasya guhaaH ca gahanaani ca = Vindhya mountain’s, caves, also, forests, also; vicitya = having searched; parvata agra nadii durgaan = mountain, tops, [and] rivers, impassable ones; saraamsi = lakes; vipula drumaan vR^ikSa khaNDaan ca = wide, trees, trees, stands of, also – forest areas having beamy trees; vividhaan parvataan vana paadapaan = diverse, mountains, forests, trees; he searched.

Verse 4

अन्वेषमाणाः ते सर्वे वानराः सर्वतो दिशम् |
न सीताम् ददृशुर् वीरा मैथिलीम् जनक आत्मजाम् || ४-४८-४

Though all of those brave vanara-s have searched in all directions they have not noticed the princess of Mithila and the daughter of Janaka, namely Seetha. [4-48-4]

4. viiraaH te vaanaraaH = brave ones, those, vanara-s; sarve sarvataH disham = all, in all, quarters; anveSamaaNaaH = while searching; maithiliim janaka aatmajaam siitaam = Maithili, Janaka’s, daughter, Seetha; na dadR^ishuH = not, seen.

Verse 5

ते भक्षयन्तो मूलानि फलानि विविधानि अपि |
अन्वेषमाणा दुर्धर्षा न्यवसन् तत्र तत्र ह || ४-४८-५

Feeding upon unalike fruits and tubers, sojourning here and there, those invulnerable vanara-s conducted their search. [4-48-5]

5. durdharSaa te = invulnerable, those – vanara-s; vividhaani muulaani phalaani api = various [unalike,] tubers, fruits, even; bhakSayantaH = on eating; anveSamaaNaa = during their search; tatra tatra nyavasan ha = there, there, sojourned, indeed.

Verse 6

स तु देशो दुर्अन्वेषो गुहा गहनवान् महान् |
निर्जलम् निर्जनम् शून्यम् गहनम् घोर दर्शनम् || ४-४८-६

But that province is an inscrutable one, deeply caved, deeply forested, much less of water and still less of people, a void and an impenetrable one with a ghastly look. [4-48-6]

6. guhaa gahanavaan = having caves, forests; saH mahaan deshaH tu = that, great, province, on its part; dur anveSaH = difficult, to search – inscrutable one; nir jalam = without, water; nir janam = without, people; shuunyam = a void; gahanam ghora darshanam = forest [impenetrable,] ghastly, for a sight.

Verse 7

ता दृशानि अन्या अपि अरण्यानि विचित्य भृइश पीडिताः |
स देशः च दुर्अन्वेष्यो गुहा गहनवान् महान् || ४-४८-७

They are highly tormented when they vainly searched there, and even in another province that is also of the same kind, waterless and people-less, and an unreachable one, abstrusely caved and forested. [4-48-7]

7. taa dR^ishaani = that sort of – province; anyaa araNyaani api = other, forests, even; vicitya = having searched; bhR^iisha piiDitaaH = muchly, tormented [for Seetha is unseen]; guhaa gahanavaan mahaan = having caves, forests, abstruse one; saH deshaH ca = that, province, also; dur anveSyaH = un, searchable.

Verse 8

त्यक्त्वा तु तम् ततः देशम् सर्वे वै हरि यूथपाः |
देशम् अन्यम् दुराधर्षम् विविशुः च अकुतो भयाः || ४-४८-८

Then all of those monkey commanders gave up that province and entered another impermeable province as they are fearless from any quarter. [4-48-8]

8. sarve hari yuuthapaaH = all, monkey, commanders; tataH tam desham tyaktvaa = then, that – province, giving up; a kutaH bhayaaH = not, in anyway, fearing ones; duraadharSam anyam desham vivishuH impermeable one, another, province, they entered into; vai = indeed.

Verse 9

यत्र वन्ध्य फला वृक्षा विपुष्पाः पर्ण वर्जिताः |
निस्तोयाः सरितो यत्र मूलम् यत्र सुदुर्लभम् || ४-४८-९

Whereat the trees are infertile for fruiting, destitute of leaves and flowers, and whereat the brooks are deprived of waters, and whereat it is highly impossible to get even tubers, there they entered. [4-48-9]

9. yatra = whereat; vR^ikSaaH vandhya phalaa = trees, with infertile, fruits – fruitless trees; vi puSpaaH = without, flowers; parNa varjitaaH = leaves, destitute of; yatra = where; saritaH = brooks nis toyaaH = deprived of, waters; yatra = where; muulam = tubers; su dur labham = highly, impossible, to get.

Verse 10

न सन्ति महिषा यत्र न मृगा न च हस्तिनः |
शार्दूलाः पक्षिणो वा अपि ये च अन्ये वन गोचराः || ४-४८-१०

Where there are no buffalos, no elephants, no animals, nor even birds or tigers, or no other forest moving beings are there, for they do not have their feed there, they entered such a province. [4-48-10]

10. yatra = where; mahiSaa na santi = buffalos, not, are there; mR^igaaH na = animals, not there; hastinaH shaarduulaaH = elephants, tigers; na = not there; pakSiNaH vaa api = birds, or, even; vana gocaraaH = forest moving beings; ye anye ca = those, any other [animals,] also; na = not there.

Verse 11 & 12a

न च अत्र वृक्षा न ओषध्यो न वल्ल्यो न अपि वीरुधः |
स्निग्ध पत्राः स्थले यत्र पद्मिन्यः फुल्ल पंकजाः || ४-४८-११
प्रेक्षणीयाः सुगन्धाः च भ्रमरैः च वर्जिताः |

Where there are no useful trees, nor herbal plants, nor climbing plants on trees, nor creeping plants on earth, and lotus-lakes which will be normally pleasing for sight have no soft leaves, nor bloomed lotuses on their creepers, and even honeybees are discarding them as they are not richly fragranced, in such a province those vanara-s have entered. [4-48-11,12a]

11, 12a. yatra = where; vR^ikshaa na = [useful] trees, are not there; oSadhyaH na = herbal plants, not; vallyaH na = climber-plants, not; viirudhaH = plants creeping on ground; na api = not, even; atra = there; snigdha patraaH = soft, leaves [of lotuses]; sthale = in the place [where they grow]; padminyaH = lotus-creepers; phulla panka jaaH = bloomed, from mud, birthed [lotuses birthed in lakes]; su gandhaaH ca = richly, fragranced, also; prekSaNiiyaaH = pleasing fro sight; bhramaraiH ca = by honeybees, also; varjitaaH = discarded.

Verse 12b & 13a

कण्डुर् नाम महाभागः सत्य वादी तपो धनः || ४-४८-१२
महर्षिः परम अमर्षी नियमैः दुष्प्रधर्षणः |

A highly fortunate, veracious, ascetically wealthy sage known as Kandu is there in that province, and that great sage is a highly short-tempered, and an impossible one to subjugate by virtue of his own self-discipline. [4-48-12b, 13a]

12b, 13a. satya vaadii = veracious one; mahaabhaagaH = highly fortunate one; tapaH dhanaH = by asceticism, wealthy; parama amarSii = highly, short-tempered one; niyamaiH = by his self-discipline; duS pra dharSaNaH = impossible, verily, one to subjugate; kaNDuH naama = Kandu, known as; maharSiH = great-sage; [tatra aasiit = there, he is.]

Verse 13b & 14a

तस्य तस्मिन् वने पुत्रो बालको दश वार्षिकः || ४-४८-१३
प्रणष्टो जीवित अन्ताय क्रुद्धः तेन महामुनिः |

In that forest that sage lost his son, a ten-year-old boy, as that boy’s life ended there by which that great sage is infuriated. [4-48-13b, 14a]

13b, 14a. tasmin vane = in that, forest; tasya = his – sage’s; dasha vaarSikaH = ten, year old one; putraH baalaka = son, a boy; jiivita antaaya praNaSTaH = by the end of, lost, life [boy]; tena = by that; mahaa muniH kruddhaH = great, sage, is infuriated.

Verse 14b & 15a

तेन धर्माअत्मना शप्तम् कृत्स्नम् तत्र महद् वनम् || ४-४८-१४
अशरण्यम् दुराधर्षम् मृग पक्षि विवर्जितम् |

Thereby that virtue-souled sage cursed that great forest in it entirety to become an uninhabitable and impermeable forest abandoned by birds and animals. [4-48-14b, 15a]

14b, 15a. tatra = thereby; mahat kR^itsnam vanam = great [forest,] in entirety, forest; a sharaNyam = not, inhabitable; duraadharSam = impermeable [forest]; mR^iga pakSi vivarjitam = by animals, birds, completely, abandoned; to become like that; tena dharmaaatmanaa shaptam = by him, by that virtue-souled one, cursed.

Verse 15b & 16a

तस्य ते कानन अन्तान् तु गिरीणाम् कन्दराणि च || ४-४८-१५
प्रभवाणि नदीनाम् च विचिन्वन्ति समाहिताः |

But those monkeys conscientiously searched such a forest up to its fringes, including its mountains, caves, fountains, and rivers. [4-48-15b, 16a]

15b, 16a. te = those [monkeys]; samaahitaaH = conscientiously; tasya = its [that forest’s]; kaanana antaan tu = forest, up to its fringes, but; giriiNaam kandaraaNi ca = mountains, caves, even; nadiinaam = of rivers; prabhavaaNi ca = fountains, also; vicinvanti = searched.

Verse 16b & 17a

तत्र च अपि महात्मानो न अपश्यन् जनक आत्मजाम् || ४-४८-१६
हर्तारम् रावणम् वा अपि सुग्रीव प्रिय कारिणः |

But not finding the daughter of Janaka or even her kidnapper Ravana there, those monkeys who are the perfecters of that which is acceptable to Sugreeva, have entered another fearsome forest. [4-48-16b, 17a]

16b, 17a. mahaatmaanaH = noble-mined ones [monkeys]; sugriiva priya kaariNaH = to Sugreeva, acceptable deeds, perfecters of; tatra ca api = there, also, even; janaka aatmajaam = Janaka’s, daughter; hartaaram raavaNam vaa api = kidnapper, Ravana, or, even; na apashyan = while not, on seeing; they entered another forest.

Verse 17b & 18a

ते प्रविश्य तु तम् भीमम् लता गुल्म समावृतम् || ४-४८-१७
ददृशुः भीम कर्माणम् असुरम् सुर निर्भयम् |

On entering another fearsome forest which is overly encompassed with climbers and shrubberies they saw a demon of fiendish deeds who is fearless of gods. [4-48-17b, 18a]

17b, 18a. te = they; lataa gulma sam aavR^itam = with climbers, shrubberies, overly encompassed with; bhiimam = fearsome [another forest]; pravishya = on entering; bhiima karmaaNam = of fiendish, deeds; sura nir bhayam = from gods, un, fearing; asuram dadR^ishuH = a demon, they saw.

Verse 18b & 19a

तम् दृष्ट्वा वनरा घोरम् स्थितम् शैलम् इव असुरम् || ४-४८-१८
गाढम् परिहिताः सर्वे दृष्ट्वा तम् पर्वत उपमम् |

All of those vanara-s are amazed to see that fiendish demon standing similar to a mountainous boulder, and apprehending an imminent danger on observing that mountain similar demon, those vanara-s have tightly girthed their wrestler’s girdle-cloth. [4-48-18b, 19a]

18b, 19a. sarve vanaraa = all of the, vanara-s; shailam iva sthitam = boulder, like, standing; ghoram tam asuram dR^iSTvaa = fiendish, him, at demon, on seeing; they are amazed; parvata upamam = mountain, similar [demon]; tam dR^iSTvaa = him, on seeing; gaaDham pari hitaaH = tightly, around, girthed – their wrestler’s girdle-cloth.

Verse 19b & 20a

सो अपि तान् वानरान् सर्वान् नष्टाः स्थ इति अब्रवीत् बली || ४-४८-१९
अभ्यधावत सम्क्रुद्धो मुष्टिम् उद्यम्य संगतम् |

Even that mighty demon shouting at all vanara-s, ‘you are all dead… stay,’ rushed towards them shoving up his clenched fist. [4-48-19b, 20a]

19b. 20a. balii = mighty one [demon]; saH api = he [demon,] even; naSTaaH = you [are all are] dead; stha = stay; iti = thus; taan sarvaan vaanaraan abraviit = to them, to all vanara-s, said – shouting; sam kruddhaH = highly, frenzied; sangatam muSTim udyamya = clenched, fist, shoving up; abhyadhaavata = towards [monkeys,] rushed.

Verse 20b & 21a

तम् आपतन्तम् सहसा वालि पुत्रो अंगदः तदा || ४-४८-२०
रावणो अयम् इति ज्ञात्वा तलेन अभिजघान ह |

Angada, the son of Vali, then presumed him who is onrushing as Ravana and saying, ‘he is Ravana…’ he quickly thwacked that demon indeed with his palm. [4-48-20b, 21a]

20b, 21a. tadaa vaali putraH angadaH = then, Vali’s, son, Angada; aa patantam tam = coming, falling upon, at him; ayam raavaNaH iti j~naatvaa = he is, Ravana, thus, knowing [presuming]; sahasaa talena abhijaghaana ha = quickly, with his palm, thwacked, indeed.

Verse 21b & 22a

स वालि पुत्र अभिहतो वक्त्रात् शोणितम् उद्वमन् || ४-४८-२१
असुरो न्यपतत् भूमौ पर्यस्त इव पर्वतः |

When Vali’s son whacked him that demon spewed forth blood from his throat and fell onto ground alike an inverted mountain. [4-48-21b, 22a]

21b, 22a. vaali putra abhihataH = by Vali’s, son, one who is whacked; saH asuraH = he, that demon; vaktraat shoNitam ud vaman = from throat, blood, up spewed [spewed forth]; paryasta = upside down – inverted; bhuumau = on ground; parvataH iva = mountain, alike; nyapatat = fell down.

Verse 22b & 23a

ते तु तस्मिन् निर् उच्छ्वासे वानरा जित काशिनः || ४-४८-२२
व्यचिन्वन् प्रायशः तत्र सर्वम् तत् गिरि गह्वरम् |

When that demon breathed his last all of those monkeys with triumphal shimmer have wellnigh searched everywhere, and even in that cave of that mountain where that demon appeared, presuming that cave belonged to Ravana. [4-48-22b, 23a]

22b, 23a. tasmin = he [demon]; nir ucChvaase = without, exhales [breathed his last]; jita kaashinaH = with triumphal, shimmer; te = those [monkeys]; tatra = there; praayashaH = wellnigh; sarvam tat giri gahvaram vyacinvan = all, that [demon’s,] mountain, cave, they searched.

Verse 23b & 24a

विचितम् तु ततः सर्वम् सर्वे ते कानन ओकसः || ४-४८-२३
अन्यत् एव अपरम् घोरम् विविशुर् गिरि गह्वरम् |

Then all those forest dwelling monkeys searched everywhere else, and like that they entered another horrible cave which is nearby. [4-48-23b, 24a]

23b, 24a. sarve te kaanana okasaH = all, those, forest, as their dwelling – monkeys; vicitam tu sarvam = searched, but, all [everywhere else]; tataH = then; anyat eva = another, like that; ghoram = horrible one aparam = nearby one; giri gahvaram = mountain, cave; vivishuH = entered.

Verse 24

ते विचित्य पुनः खिन्ना विनिष्पत्य समागताः |
एकांते वृक्ष मूले तु निषेदुर् दीन मानसाः || ४-४८-२४

On searching that cave they came out saddened as their search is futile, and coming together they sat down at the base of a lonely tree downheartedly as their efforts are unsuccessful in searching Seetha. [4-48-24]

24. te punaH vicitya = they, again, on searching; khinnaaH = saddened; viniSpatya = came out; samaagataaH = came together; diina maanasaaH = saddened, at heart – downheartedly; ekaante vR^ikSa muule = at a lonely, tree, at its base; niSeduH = sat down.