Introduction

After befriending Rama Sugreeva promises him to bring back Seetha from whatever place she is held captive. He informs that he has seen Seetha travelling overhead in the sky while being abducted. He also says that the lady while being abducted has dropped her ornaments wrapping in her upper cloth at their place atop the mountain. Then Sugreeva shows the ornaments to Rama asking him to identify them. Rama recognises the ornaments and the upper cloth of Seetha, and angered at the scandalous act of abduction he avows to eradicate that demon along with his clansmen.

Verse 1, 2 & 3

पुनरेव अब्रवीत् प्रीतः राघवम् रघुनन्दनम् |
अयम् आख्याति ते राम सेवकः मन्त्रि सत्तमः || ४-६-१
हनुमान् यन् निमित्तम् त्वम् निर्जनम् वनम् आगतः |
लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा वसतः च वने तव ||४-६-२
रक्षसा अपहृता भार्या मैथिली जनक आत्मजा |
त्वया वियुक्ता रुदती लक्ष्मणेन च धीमता || ४-६-३

Then Sugreeva who is gladdened again spoke to Rama of Raghu’s dynasty, “My best minister and this servant of yours Hanuma informed me of the reason for which you have come to uninhabited forests along with your brother Lakshmana, and that while living in the forest, and when you and this courageous Lakshmana are not her alongside a demon stole your wife Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, wailing as she was. [4-6-3]

1, 2, 3. priitaH = gladdened; Sugreeva; raghu nandanam raaghavam = to Rama; punaH eva = again, thus; abraviit = said; raama = oh, Rama; tvam = you; bhraatraa = brother; lakshmaNena saha = Lakshmana, along with; yat nimittam = what, for; nir janam vanam = to uninhabited, forest; aagataH = have come; te = your; sevakaH = servant; mantri sattamaH = minister, the best; ayam = he; hanumaan = Hanuma; aakhyaati = has said; vane = in forest; vasataH = while living; tava = your; tvayaa = your; bhaaryaa = wife; dhiimataa = courageous one; lakshmaNena ca = without Lakshmana also; viyuktaa = not alongside of [her]; rudatii = wailing; janaka aatma jaa = King Janaka’s, daughter; maithilii = Maithilee [Seetha]; rakshasaa = by demon; apahR^itaa = stolen.

Verse 4

अन्तरम् प्रेप्सुना तेन हत्वा गृध्रम् जटायुषम् |
भार्या वियोगजम् दुःखम् प्रापितः तेन रक्ष्सा || ४-६-४

“And he also said about that arch demon’s killing an eagle named Jatayu on waiting for an opportunity, and his causing an agony in you by way of separating your wife. [4-6-4]

4. antaram = opportune time; prepsunaa = waiting for; tena = by an arch demon?; tena rakshasaa = by him, that demon; JaTaayusham gR^idhram hatvaa = one named Jataayu, eagle, on killing; bhaaryaa viyogajam = wife, separation; duhkham = agony; praapitaH = he caused to you; hanuma aakhyaati = Hanuma, has said.

Verse 5

भर्या वियोगजम् दुःखम् न चिरात् त्वम् विमोक्ष्यसे |
अहम् ताम् आनयिष्यामि नष्टाम् वेदश्रुतीम् इव || ४-६-५

“Before long you will get rid off your agony caused by the separation of wife, for I will fetch her very soon, like the retrieval Vedic Scriptures. [4-6-5]

5. tvam bharyaa viyogajam duHkham = you, wife, caused by separation, agony; na chiraat = not, long [before long]; vimokshyase = you will get rid off; aham = I; taam = her; aanayishyaami = will fetch; naSTaam = lost; veda shrutim = Veda, scriptures; yathaa = like.

Verse 6

रसातले वा वर्तन्तीम् वर्तन्तीम् वा नभः तले |
अहम् आनीय दास्यामि तव भार्याम् अरिन्दम || ४-६-६

“Oh! Enemy destroyer, Rama, I will fetch your wife to give her to you whether she is in netherworlds or even in empyrean worlds. [4-6-6]

6. arindama = oh, enemy destroyer Rama; rasaatale vartantiim vaa = in netherworlds, let her be abiding, either; nabhahtale = in empyrean worlds; vartantiim vaa = be in, or; aham = I will; aaniiya = will bring back; daasyaami tava = will give, you; bhaaryaam = your wife;

Verse 7

इदम् तथ्यम् मम वचः त्वम् अवेहि च राघव |
न शक्या सा जरयितुम् अपि सः इन्द्रैः सुर असुरैः || ४-६-७
तव भार्या महाबाहो भक्ष्यम् विष कृतम् यथा |

“You may know that this word of mine is definite oh, Raghava. Your wife is as good as an indigestible foodstuff made with poison, indigestive even to Indra, put together with all gods and demons. [4-6-7, 8a]

7, 8a. Raaghava; mama idam vacaH tathyam = my, this, word, is definite; tvam avehi = you, know it; mahaabaahuH = oh, dextrous one; tava bhaaryaa = your wife; saa = she is; viSakR^itam bhakshyam yathaa = with poison, [made-up] foodstuff, as with; sa IndraiH sura asuraiH api = along with Indra, by gods, or by demons, even; jarayitum = to digest; na shakyaa = not, possible she is.

Verse 8b , 9 & 10

त्यज शोकम् महाबाहो ताम् कान्ताम् आनयामि ते | ४-६-८
अनुमानात् तु जानामि मैथिली सा न संशयः |
ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रक्षसा रौउद्र कर्मणा || ४-६-९
क्रोशन्ती राम रामेति लक्ष्मणेति च विस्वरम् |
स्फुरन्ती रावणस्य अन्के पन्नगेन्द्र वधूः यथा || ४-६-१०

“Give-up your lamentation, oh, great-shouldered one, for I will bring back that lady for you. And by inference I know her… undoubtedly I have seen Maithilee while that demon with cruel deeds was abducting her… then she was crying piteously calling ‘Rama, Rama…’ and also calling ‘Lakshmana…’ and she was writhing in the flanks of Ravana like the wife of serpent’s lord… [4-6-8b, 9, 10]

8b, 9,10. mahaabaahuH = great-shouldered one; tyaja shokam = give-up, lamentation; te kaantaam taam aanayaami = your, lady, her, I will bring back; rakshasaa raudra karmanaa = by demon, with cruel, deeds; hriyamaaNaa = while being abducted; rama raama iti = Rama, Rama thus; Lakshmana iti ca = Lakshmana, thus, also; visvaram = piteously; kroshantii = crying; yathaa pannaga indra vadhuuH = as with, serpent, lord’s, wife; raavaNasya anke = in Ravana’s, flank; sphurantii = writhing; mayaa dR^iSTaa = by me, seen; saa maithilii = she, [is definitely,] Seetha; anumaanaat jaanaami = by inference, but, I know; tu na samshayaH = but, no, doubt.

Verse 11

आत्मना पञ्चमम् माम् हि दृष्ट्वा शैल तले स्थितम् |
उत्तरीयम् तया त्यक्तम् शुभानि आभरणानि च || ४-६-११

“Myself being the fifth one on the cliff of the mountain, on seeing me she dropped the upper cloth of her sari along with auspicious jewellery. [4-6-11]

11. shaila tale sthitam = on mountain’s, cliff, staying; aatmanaa = myself; pancamam = being the fifth one; maam dR^iSTvaa = me, on seeing; tayaa uttariiyam tyaktam = by her, her upper cloth, was dropped; shubhaani = auspicious; aabharaNaani ca = jewellery also.

Verse 12

तानि अस्माभिः गृहीतानि निहितानि च राघव |
आनयिष्यामि अहम् तानि प्रत्यभिज्ञातुम् अर्हसि || ४-६-१२

“We took those jewellery items and stored them, Raaghava… I will get them and it will be apt of you to identify them…” thus said Sugreeva to Rama. [4-6-12]

12. taani = them; asmaabhiH = we; gR^ihiitaani = took; nihitaani ca = stored, too; Raaghava; aham taani aanayiSyaami = I, them, will get; prati abhij~naatum arhasi = to identify, apt of you.

Verse 13

तम् अब्रवीत् ततः रामः सुग्रीवम् प्रिय वादिनम् |
आनयस्व सखे शीघ्रम् किम् अर्थम् प्रविलम्बसे || ४-६-१३

Then Rama said to that pleasant talker Sugreeva, “Get them quickly, my friend, what for you are delaying.” [4-6-13]

13. tataH = then; raamaH = Rama; tam priya vaadinam = to him, to that pleasant talker; sugriivam = to Sugreeva; abraviit = said thus; shiighram = quickly; aanayasva = get them; sakhe = my friend; kim artham = what, for; pravilambase = you are delaying.

Verse 14

एवम् उक्तः तु सुग्रीवः शैलस्य गहनाम् गुहाम् |
प्रविवेश ततः शीघ्रम् राघव प्रिय काम्यया || ४-६-१४

Thus said Sugreeva then entered the cavernous cave of that mountain quickly, to fulfil the yearning of Raghava. [4-6-14]

14. evam uktaH tu = thus, said to; Sugreeva; raaghava priya kaamyayaa = for Raghava’s, yearning, to fulfil; tataH = then shailasya = of the mountain’s; gahanaam = cavernous; guhaam = cave; shiighram = quickly; pravivesha = on entering.

Verse 15

उत्तरीयम् गृहीत्वा तु स तानि आभरणानि च |
इदम् पश्य इति रामाय दर्शयामास वानरः || ४-६-१५

On taking and bringing the parcel of that upper cloth with the auspicious jewellery, “This, you see…” saying thus that monkey started to show them to Rama. [4-6-15]

15. uttariiyam = upper cloth [the parcel]; gR^ihiitvaa tu = taken, also; shubhaani aabharanaani ca = auspicious, jewellery, also; idam pashya = this, you see; iti Raamaaya = thus, to Rama; vaanaraH = the monkey; darshayaamaasa = started to show.

Verse 16

ततो गृहीत्वा वासः तु शुभानि आभरणानि च |
अभवत् बाष्प सम्रुद्धः नीहारेण इव चन्द्रमाः || ४-६-१६

Then on taking that cloth and also the auspicious jewellery, Rama became like mist filled moon with overfilling tears. [4-6-16]

16. tataH = then; gR^ihiitvaa = on taking; tat vaasaH = that, cloth; shubhaani aabharanaani ca = auspicious, jewellery, too; abhavat = became; baaSpa samruddhaH = tears, obscured [overfilled]; niihaareNa iva candramaaH = by mist, like, the Moon.

Verse 17

सीता स्नेह प्रवृत्तेन स तु बाष्पेण दूषितः |
हा प्रिये इति रुदन् धैर्यम् उत्सृज्य न्यपतत् क्षितौ || ४-६-१७

But he who is blemished by tears that outpoured in all his friendship with Seetha, leaving off his courage fell on the ground wailing, ‘oh, dear… oh, dear…’ [4-6-17]

17. saH tu = he, but; siita sneha pravR^ittena = for Seetha’s, friendship, outpoured; baaSpeNa duuSitaH = by tears, blemished; haa priye = oh, dear; iti rudan = thus, wailing; dhairyam = courage; utsR^ijya = leaving off; nyapatat = fallen; kshitau = on ground.

Verse 18

हृदि कृत्वा स बहुशः तम् अलंकारम् उत्तमम् |
निशश्वास भृशम् सर्पः बिलस्थ इव रोषितः || ४-६-१८

The more he hugged those best decorative ornaments close to his heart, the more he hissed like a wrathful serpent in a snake pit. [4-6-18]

18. saH = he; alankaaram uttamam = decorative ornaments, the best ones; bahushaH = many times; hR^idi kR^itvaa = at heart, closely kept [on hugging]; roshitaH bilastha sarpaH iva = wrathful, in snake pit, serpent, as with; bhR^isham = much; nishashvaasa = sighed [hissed.]

Verse 19

अविच्छिन्न अश्रु वेगः तु सौमित्रिम् प्रेक्ष्य पार्श्वतः |
परिदेवयितुम् दीनम् रामः सम् उपचक्रमे || ४-६-१९

With the unending rush of tears he saw Lakshmana at his side and started to wail piteously. [4-6-19]

19. Rama; a vicChinna ashru vegaaH tu = un, ending, tears, with rush of; paarshvataH = at his side; Saumitrim = at Lakshmana; prekshya = on seeing; diinam = piteously; paridevayitum = to wail; sam upacakrame = he started to.

Verse 20

पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्या संत्यक्तम् ह्रियमाणया |
उत्तरीयम् इदम् भूमौ शरीराद् भूषणानि च || ४-६-२०

“Lakshmana, see this upper cloth and these ornaments too of Vaidehi, shed from her body and dropped onto the ground while she is being abducted. [4-6-20]

20. Lakshmana; hriyamaaNayaa = while being abducted; vaidehyaa = from Vaidehi’s; shariiraat = from body [on shedding]; bhuumau = onto ground; sam tyaktam = dropped; idam uttariiyam = this, upper cloth; bhuushaNaani ca = ornaments, too; pashya = you see.

Verse 21

शाद्वलिन्याम् ध्रुवम् भूम्याम् सीतया ह्रियमाणया |
उत्सृष्टम् भूषणाम् इदम् तथा रूपम् हि दृश्यते || ४-६-२१

“Seetha must have definitely dropped these ornaments onto pastureland, for they appear to be in their original shape, indeed.” So said Rama to Lakshmana. [4-6-21]

21. hriyamaaNayaa = when being abducted; siitayaa = by Seetha; idam bhuushaNam = these ornaments; utsR^iSTam = dropped; shaadvalinyaam = with green pastures; bhuumyaam = on the ground; dhruvam = undoubtedly; tathaa ruupam = in their original shape; dR^ishyate hi = are appearing, indeed.

Verse 22

एवम् उक्तसः तु रामेण लक्ष्मणो वाक्यम् इदम् अब्रवीत् |
न अहम् जानामि केयूरे न अहम् जानामि कुण्डले || ४-६-२२
नूपुरे तु अभिजनामि नित्यम् पाद अभिवंदनात् |

When Rama thus said Lakshmana said this, “I know not the bracelets and I know not the earrings But because I always salute her feet I know these anklets well…[4-6-22]

22. evam uktaH tu raameNa = thus said, but, by Rama; lashmanaH = Lakshmana; vaakyam idam abraviit = sentence, this said; aham keyuure na jaanaami = I, bracelets, do not, know; aham na jaanaami kunDale = I, do not, know, earrings; nityam paada abhivandanaat = always, to feet, because I salute; nuupure tu = anklets, but; abhijanaami = I know them well.

Verse 23 & 24

ततः तु राघवो वाक्यम् सुग्रीवम् इदम् अब्रवीत् || ४-६-२३
ब्रूहि सुग्रीव कम् देशम् ह्रियन्ती लक्षिता त्वया |
रक्षसा रौद्ररूपेण मम प्राणप्रिया प्रिया || ४-६-२४

” Then Rama sadly asked to Sugreeva, “tell me Sugreeva, towards which country that ferocious looking demon abducted my dear one dearest than my lives, as spotted by you… [4-6-23]

23. tataH = then; saH = he; Raaghava; sugriivam = to Sugreeva; diina = sadly; idam abraviit = this, spoke; Sugreeva; mama praaNa [praaNaiH] priyaa priyaa = than my, own life-like [more than my life,] dearer; dear one; rakshasaa raudra ruupeNa = by demon, ferocious, in look; kam desham hriyantii = towards which, country, while being abducted; lakshitaa tvayaa = spotted, by you; bruuhi = tell.

Verse 25

क्व वा वसति तत् रक्षज़ः महत् व्यसनदम् मम |
यन् निमित्तम् अहम् सर्वान् नाशयिष्यामि राक्षसान् || ४-६-२५

“For the sake of which demon I wish to eliminate whole of the demons, that troublemaker of mine, where does he live, either… [4-6-25]

25. aham = I; yat nimittam = in respect of which [demon]; sarvaan raakshasaan naasha yiSyaami = all, demons, I wish to eliminate; tat mama mahat vyasana dam = that, to me, great, woe, causer [troublemaker]; kva vaa vasati = where, either, lives.

Verse 26

हरता मैथिलीम् येन माम् च रोषयता ध्रुवम् |
आत्मनो जीवित अन्ताय मृत्यु द्वारम् अपावृतम् || ४-६-२६

“By whom Maithili is abducted and thus caused indignation in me, he has opened up the doors of his death suicidally. [4-6-26]

26. yena = by whom; maithiliim harataa = of Maithili, abductor of; maam roSayataa ca = me, caused indignation, even; dhruvam aatmanaH jiivita antaaya definitely, by himself, his life, to end [suicidally]; mR^ityu dvaaram apaavR^itam = death’s, doors, opened up.

Verse 27

मम दयित तमा हृता वनात् रजनिचरेण विमथ्य येन सा |
कथय मम रिपुम् तम् अद्य वै प्लवगपते यम सन्निधिम् नयामि || ४-६-२७

” Oh, king of the fly-jumpers, tell me which demon forcibly stole her, my dearest one than all, by molesting her in the forest, tell me about that enemy of mine, for sure I will lead him to the fore of Death today itself… [4-6-27]

27. plavagapate = fly-jumper’s, king; yena rajani chareNa = by which, night-walker; mama dayita tamaa = my, dearest than all; saa = she who is; vimathya vanaat hR^itaa = molesting, in forests, stolen; mama ripum tam kathaya = of my, enemy, about him, you tell; adya vai = today, for sure; yama sannidhim = Yama’s, fore of; nayaami = lead him, I will.