रथकुञ्जरवाजिमान् with chariots, elephants and horses, पुण्यशीलः foremost in merits, महाकीर्तिः renowned, इक्ष्वाकूणाम् in Ikshvaku race, महायशाः illustrious, दशरथो नाम called Dasaratha, राजा king.
Meaning
"There was an illustrious king called Dasaratha in Ikshvaku race, a master of chariots, elephants and horses. He was highly meritorious and renowned.
राजर्षीणाम् among sagelike kings, गुणश्रेष्ठः most virtuous one, तपसा in austerity, ऋषिभिः with sages, समः equal, चक्रवर्तिकुले in a dynasty of emperors, जातः born, बले in might, पुरन्दरसमः crusher of citadels like Indra.
Meaning
"He was the most virtuous among royal sages, equal to sages in austerity, born in the race of emperors and equal to Indra in might.
अहिंसारतिः committed to nonviolence, अक्षुद्रः magnanimous, घृणी compassionate, सत्यपराक्रमः one whose strength truth, इक्ष्वाकुवंशस्य of Ikshvaku family, मुख्यश्च chief, लक्ष्मीवान् prosperous, लक्ष्मिवर्धनः increaser of riches.
Meaning
"He was committed to nonviolence, magnanimous, compassionate and one whose strength was truth. He was not only a prosperous king of Ikshvaku family but also a promoter of prosperity of others too.
पार्थिवव्यञ्जनैः with signs of kingship, युक्तः endowed, पृथुश्रीः with vast wealth, पार्थिवर्षभः a bull among rulers, चतुरन्तायाम् surrounded by the sea, पृथिव्याम् on the earth, विश्रुतः well known, सुखदः provider of happiness (to people), सुखी happy man.
Meaning
"Endowed with signs of kingship and vast wealth, he was a bull among rulers of the vast earth, surrounded by the sea. A happy king himself, he was wellknown as a provider of happiness.
तस्य his, प्रियः beloved, ताराधिपनिभाननः of Moon like face, विशेषज्ञः scholar of all knowledge, सर्वधनुष्मताम् among all those wielders of bow, श्रेष्ठः foremost, रामो नाम called Rama, ज्येष्ठः पुत्रः eldest son.
Meaning
"His beloved eldest son Rama, whose countenance is like the full moon, is a scholar of all branches of knowledge and is foremost among the bowmen on earth.
rakṣitā svasya dharmasya svajanasya ca rakṣitā| rakṣitā jīvalokasya dharmasya ca parantapḥ||5.31.7||
Translation
परन्तपः scourage of foes, स्वस्य his, धर्मस्य of righteousness, रक्षिता a protector, स्वजनस्य of his kins, रक्षिता a protector, जीवलोकस्य of all living creatures, धर्मस्य च and of righteousness, रक्षिता protector.
Meaning
"The scourage of enemies, he is a protector of righteousness and of his kins and all living creatures. He is an embodiment of righteousness.
tasya satyābhisandhasya vṛddhasya vacanātpituḥ| sabhāryassaha ca bhrātrā vīrḥ pravrājito vanam||5.31.8||
Translation
सत्याभिसन्धस्य ever steadfast in truth, वृद्धस्य of the aged, पितुः father, तस्य his, वचनात् honouring the word, वीरः hero, सभार्यः along with wife, सह च भ्रात्रा and accompanied by his brother, वनम् forest, प्रव्राजितः went as a wanderer.
Meaning
"Honouring the word of his aged father who was ever steadfast in truth, Rama left for the forest along with his wife and brother.
tena tatra mahāraṇye mṛgayāṃ paridhāvatā| rākṣasā nihatāśśūrā bahavḥ kāmarūpiṇḥ||5.31.9||
Translation
तत्र there, महारण्ये in the thick forest, मृगयाम् hunting, परिधावता while chasing, तेन by him, शूराः warriors, कामरूपिणः those who can assume any form at their will, बहवः many, राक्षसाः demons, निहताः killed.
Meaning
"In the deep forest he went round hunting animals and killing the demon warriors who assumed any form at their free will.
ततः then, जनस्थानवधम् killing at Janasthana, हतौ killed, खरदूषणौ च Khara and Dooshana, श्रुत्वा having heard, वने in the forest, रामम् Rama, मृगरूपेण in the form of a deer, मायया by creating illusion, वञ्चयित्वा having deceived, रावणेन by Ravana, जानकी Janaki, अमर्षापहृता abducted out of anger.
Meaning
"Ravana having heard about the killing of all demons at Janasthana including Khara and Dooshana in the forest, deceived Rama in the guise of a deer and abducted Janaki in anger.
sa mārgamāṇastāṃ devīṃ rāmassītāmaninditām||5.31.11|| āsasāda vane mitrṃ sugrīvṃ nāma vānaram|
Translation
सः रामः that Rama, अनिन्दिताम् sinless, देवीम् goddesslike lady, तां सीताम् that Sita, मार्गमाणः looking for, वने in the forest, सुग्रीवं नाम called Sugriva, वानरम् monkey, मित्रम् friendship, आससाद met.
Meaning
"While looking for the goddesslike lady, the sinless Sita in the forest, Rama met a monkey called Sugriva and made friendship with him
ततः then, परपुरञ्जयः one who can win over enemy forts, महाबलः powerful, सः रामः that Rama, वालिनम् that Vali, हत्वा having killed, तत् that, कपिराज्यम् kingdom of the monkeys, सुग्रीवाय to Sugriva, प्रायच्छत् offered.
Meaning
"Rama, a powerful king, who can win enemy forts killed Vali and offered the monkey kingdom to Sugriva.
सुग्रीवेण by Sugriva, सन्दिष्टाः received orders, कामरूपिणः those who can assume any form, कपयः monkeys, सहस्रशः in thousands, सर्वासु all over, दिक्षु in directions, तां देवीम् that divine queen, विचिन्वन्ति are searching.
Meaning
"Having received Sugriva's orders thousands of monkeys who can assume any form went searching for that divine queen in all directions.
अहम् I am, सम्पातिवचनात् by the words of Sampati, वेगवान् swiftly, अस्याः for her, विशालाक्ष्याः largeeyed, हेतोः for the cause, शतयोजनम् a hundred yojanas, आयतम् wide, सागरम् ocean, प्लुतः leaped.
Meaning
"On hearing the words of Sampati I leaped the wide ocean swiftly crossing a hundred yojanas in quest of the largeeyed Sita.
yathārūpāṃ yathāvarṇāṃ yathālakṣmīvatīṃ ca niścitām||5.31.15|| aśrauṣṃ rāghavasyāhṃ seyamāsāditā mayā|
Translation
अहम् I, राघवस्य Raghava's, ताम् her, यथारूपाम् of a similar form, यथावर्णाम् of the same complexion, यथालक्ष्मी of similar glow, अश्रौषम् I heard, सा she, इयम् the same one, मया by me, आसादिता has been found.
Meaning
"Surely I have seen here a lady of similar body, of similar complexion, of similar glow and beauty as described by Rama".
असौ he, वानरपुङ्गवः chief of the vanaras, एवम् in that way, वाचम् word, उक्त्वा having spoken, विरराम stopped, जानकी चापि even Janaki, तत् that, श्रुत्वा having heard, परम् great, विस्मयम् wonder, आगता felt.
Meaning
Having spoken thus, the great vanara stopped speaking after that. Janaki was wonderstruck by the words of the vanara.
ततः then, वक्रकेशान्ता one who had hair curled up at the ends, भीरुः (timid) lady, क्लेशसंवृतम् covered with hanging hair, सा she, वदनम् face, उन्नम्य by raising, शिंशुपावृक्षम् Simsupa tree, ऐक्षत looked up.
Meaning
Then Sita looked up at the Simsupa tree timidly, her face covered with beautiful curly hair.
सीता Sita, कपेः Hanuman's, वचनम् word, निशम्य after hearing, सर्वाः all, दिशश्च directions, प्रदिशश्च and quarters, वीक्ष्य after observing, स्वयम् herself, सर्वात्मना self of all, रामम् Rama, अनुस्मरन्ती contemplating on, परमम् supreme, प्रहर्षम् joy, जगाम experienced.
Meaning
On hearing Hanuman's words Sita looked at all directions and quarters while quietly contemplating on Rama, the self of all and experienced supreme joy.
sā tiryagūrdhvṃ ca tathāpyadhastānnirīkṣamāṇā tamacintyabuddhim| dadarśa piṅgādhipateramātyṃ vātātmajṃ sūryamivodayastham||5.31.19||
Translation
सा she, तिर्यक् obliquely, ऊर्ध्वं च vertically, तथापि so also, अथस्तात् downward, निरीक्षमाणा observing, अचिन्त्यबुद्धिम् of unimaginable intelligence, पिङ्गाधिपतेः of king of monkeys, अमात्यम् minister, उदयस्थम् rising, सूर्यमिव like Sun, तं वातात्मजम् that son of the Windgod, ददर्श saw.
Meaning
She looked obliquely, up, and down and saw Hanuman of unimaginable intelligence, the minister of the monkey lord, son of the Windgod, who looked like the rising Sun. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे एकत्रिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the thirtyfirst sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.