दशग्रीवः tennecked one, महात्मनः greatsoul, भ्रातुः brother's, तस्य his, देशकालहितम् in keeping with the laws of the land, तत् वचनम् that word, श्रुत्वा after hearing, उत्तरम् in return, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke.
Meaning
The tenheaded Ravana heard his brother, the greatsoul Vibhishana's timely advice which was in keeping with the laws of the land and replied.
samyaguktṃ hi bhavatā dūtavadhyā vigarhitā| avaśyṃ tu vadhādanyḥ kriyatāmasya nigrahḥ||5.53.2||
Translation
भवता by you, सम्यक् very well, उक्तं हि indeed spoken, दूतवध्या killing of emissary, विगर्हिता is censured, वधात् other than killing, अन्यः other, निग्रहः punishment, अस्य his, अवश्यम् surely, क्रियताम् may be done.
Meaning
"Indeed, you have spoken very well.Killing of emissary is censured (in sastras). Surely we will impose suitable punishment other than killing.
kapīnāṃ kila lāṅgūlamiṣṭṃ bhavati bhūṣaṇam| tadasya dīpyatāṃ śīghrṃ tena dagdhena gacchatu||5.53.3||
Translation
कपीनाम् for the monkeys, लाङ्गूलम् tail, इष्टम् is dear, भूषणम् is an ornament, भवति किल indeed is, अस्य his, तत् that, शीघ्रम् at once, दीप्यताम् may be set fire to, दग्धेन with the burning, तेन by that, गच्छतु let go.
Meaning
"The tail is dear to the monkeys and it is an ornament for them. Set fire to it at once and let him go with his burning tail.
ततः then, पश्यन्त्विमं let them see, समित्रज्ञातय: including his friends and relatives, बान्धवाः kith and kin, ससुहृज्जनाः persons close to him, दीनमङ्गवैरूप्यकर्शितम् disfigured and deformed by such handicap, प्रदीप्तेन by the flamimg, लाङ्गूलेन by the tail, रक्षोभिः by the demons, सचत्वरम् the road junctions, सर्वम् all over, पुरम् the city, परिणीयताम् take him round, राक्षसेन्द्रः demon king, आज्ञापयत् ordered.
Meaning
"Then all his friends, relatives and his kinsmen will see his disfigured and handicapped form. The demon king having ordered thus, the monkey was taken by the ogres round the junctions of the roads all over the city with his tail on fire.
लाङ्गूले while that tail, संवेष्ट्यमाने was being swathed, महाकपिः great vanara, वनेषु in the woods, शुष्कम् dried, इन्धनम् firewood,आसाद्य caught, हुताशनः इव like the fire, व्यवर्धत grew in size.
Meaning
While the tail was being swathed, the great vanara grew in size like wild fire fed with dry firewood.
अथ and then, ते those, तैलेन with oil, परिषिच्य having soaked, तत्र there, अग्निम् in fire, अभ्यपातयन् threw fire at his tail, बालसूर्यसमाननः his face looking like the rising Sun, रोषामर्षपरीतात्मा overtaken with anger and indignation, प्रदीप्तेन burning, लाङ्गूलेन by the tail, तान् राक्षसान् those demons, अपातयत् struck.
Meaning
The demons soaked the tail and set fire to it. His face burning in anger shone like the rising Sun and his mind seized with indignation, he struck them with the burning tail.
lāṅgūlṃ sampradīptṃ tu draṣṭuṃ tasya hanūmatḥ||5.53.9|| sahastrībālavṛddhāśca jagmuḥ prītā niśācarāḥ|
Translation
तस्य हनूमतः of that Hanuman, सम्प्रदीप्तम् burning, लाङ्गूलम् tail, द्रष्टुम् to see, निशाचराः the demons, प्रीताः joyfully, सहस्त्रीबालवृद्धाश्च including children, women and the old, जग्मुः went out to see.
Meaning
All the demons including the shedemons and their children and the elders went out joyfully to see the burning tail of Hanuman.
sa bhūyḥ saṅgataiḥ krūrairrākṣasairharisattamḥ||5.53.10|| nibaddhḥ kṛtavānvīrastatkālasadṛśīṃ matim|
Translation
वीरः hero, सः हरिसत्तमः that great monkey, सङ्गतैः (ogres) collected around him, क्रूरैः cruel, राक्षसैः with ogres, भूयः again, निबद्धः bound, तत्कालसदृशीम् appropriate to the moment, मतिम् thought, कृतवान् thought over thus.
Meaning
When the cruel demons collected together and bound him once again the heroic Hanuman thought what was appropriate to the moment.
kāmṃ khalu na me śaktā nibaddhasyāpi rākṣasāḥ||5.53.11|| chittvā pāśān samutpatya hanyāmahamimānpunḥ|
Translation
रक्षसाः ogres, निबद्धस्यापि even if they bind, मे me, न शक्ताः are not able, कामं खलु indeed, अहम् I, पुनः again, पाशान् bonds, छित्त्वा after severing, समुत्पत्य leap, इमान् these, हन्याम् I will kill.
Meaning
'Even though these ogres are not capable, they have bound me. Indeed I will leap (into the air) once again and sever my bonds and kill them.
yadi bharturhitārthāya carantṃ bhartṛśāsanāt||5.53.12|| badhnantyete durātmano na tu me niṣkṛtiḥ kṛtā|
Translation
भर्तुः of my lord's, हितार्थाय for the welfare, चरन्तम् while moving, एते दुरात्मनः these evil minded ones, भर्तृशासनात् by the order of their lord, बध्नन्ति यदि if they are binding, मे to me, निष्कृतिः escape, न कृता not be able to do
Meaning
'These evilminded demons bind me, ordered by their lord. When I am moving here for the welfare of my master, I will not let them escape৷৷
युधि in battle, अहम् I, सर्वेषामेव for all of them, राक्षसानाम् for the ogres, पर्याप्तः enough, किन्तु but, रामस्य Rama's, प्रीत्यर्थम् for his pleasure, अहम् I, ईदृशम् such, लङ्का Lanka, पुनरेव once again, चारयितव्या going about, भवेत् will be, इति in this way, विषहिष्ये I will tolerate.
Meaning
'I am strong enough to destroy all the demons in a battle. I am enduring this humiliation in order to make Rama happy. In this way I will get a chance to see Lanka once again.
rātrau na hi sudṛṣṭā me durgakarmavidhānatḥ| avaśyameva draṣṭavyā mayā laṅkā niśākṣaye||5.53.15||
Translation
लङ्का Lanka, दुर्गकर्मविधानतः acquiring knowledge of the fortification of the city, रात्रौ in the night, सुदृष्टा well observed, न हि not indeed, निशाक्षये at the end of the night, मया by me, अवश्यमेव surely, द्रष्टव्या should be seen.
Meaning
'Indeed I saw Lanka at night for which I could not acquire proper knowledge about the fortification of the city. Surely it should be seen by me now after the night has passed.
kāmṃ baddhasya me bhūyḥ pucchasyoddīpanena ca| pīḍāṃ kurvantu rakṣāṃsi na me'sti manasaśśramḥ||5.53.16||
Translation
भूयः again, बद्धस्य bound, मे for me, पुच्छस्य tail, उद्दीपनेन च by burning the same, रक्षांसि demons, कामम् surely, पीडाम् torment, कुर्वन्तु they may as they wish, मे me, मनसः mind, श्रमः exhausted, नास्ति not experienced.
Meaning
'Let the demons torture me freely by setting fire to my tail. Let them bind me. I am not exhausted.
ततः then, ते राक्षसाः those ogres, हृष्टाः joyfully, संवृताकारम् contracted, सत्त्ववन्तम् very powerful, कपिकुञ्जरम् elephant among monkeys, महाकपिम् great vanara, परिगृह्य after capturing, ययुः set forth.
Meaning
Then the ogres set forth joyfully capturing the very powerful elephant among the monkeys, the great vanara who had contracted his body.
śaṅkhabherīninādaistṃ ghoṣayantḥ svakarmabhiḥ| rākṣasāḥ krūrakarmāṇaścārayanti sma tāṃ purīm||5.53.18||
Translation
क्रूरकर्मणः cruel in action, राक्षसाः ogres, तम् him, शङ्खभेरीनिनादैश्च by sounding conches and beating drums, स्वकर्मभिः with their actions, घोषयन्तः while announcing, तां पुरीम् that city, चारयन्ति स्म paraded him.
Meaning
The cruel demons started blowing conches and beating drums. They paraded him in the city announcing their deeds.
अरिन्दमः subduer of enemies, हनुमान् Hanuman, रक्षोभिः by the ogres, अन्वीयमानः being followed, सुखम् happily, ययौ went, राक्षसानाम् of the demons, महापुरीम् great city, चारयामास ranged forth.
Meaning
Hanuman, the subduer of enemies ranged forth happily while he was followed by the demons in the great city.
अथ and then, महाकपिः great vanara, विचित्राणि wonderful, विमानानि towering mansions, संवृतान् secure all over, भूमिभागांश्च on the streets, सुविभक्तान् well laid out, चत्वरान् squares, अपश्यत् saw.
Meaning
The great vanara saw wonderful, towering mansions, secure, mammoth buildings all over and welllaid out squares on the streets.
पवनात्मजः son of the Windgod, कपिः monkey, गृहसम्बाधाः with houses, वीथीः streets, शृङ्गाटकानि च beautiful tall mansions, तथा similarly, रथ्योपरथ्याश्च highways and byways, तथैव च and similarly, गृहकान्तरान् interior paths, मेघसङ्काशान् appearing like clouds, गृहांश्च houses, ददर्श saw.
Meaning
The son of the Windgod saw the streets with beautiful, tall mansions and houses appearing like clouds, highways and byways and secret routes.
सर्वे all, राक्षसाः demons, चत्वरेषु at cross roads, चतुष्केषु at altars with four pillars, तथैव च like that, राजमार्गे royal road, कपिम् monkey, चारीकः इति that he is a spy, घोषयन्ति announcing.
Meaning
All the demons went forth through cross roads, altars built on four pillars and royal roads announcing that he (Hanuman) was a spy.
strībālavṛddhāḥ nirjagmustatra tatra kutūhalāt||5.53.23|| tṃ pradīpitalāṅgūlṃ hanumantṃ didṛkṣavḥ|
Translation
प्रदीपितलाङ्गूलम् with blazing tail, तं हनुमन्तम् at Hanuman, दिदृक्षवः desirous to have a glance, स्त्रीबालवृद्धाः women, children and the aged, तत्र तत्र here and there, कुतूहलात् out of eagerness, निर्जग्मुः came out.
Meaning
With eagerness to have a glance at Hanuman's blazing tail, women, children and the aged here and there came out of eagerness to see him.
ततः then, तत्र there, हनूमतः Hanuman's, लाङ्गूलाग्रे when the tip of the tail, दीप्यमाने was set on fire, विरूपाक्ष्यः uglyeyed women, ताः राक्षस्यः the shedemon, देव्याः to divine Sita, अप्रियम् unpleasant, तत् that, शंसुः informed.
Meaning
When the tip of Hanuman's tail was set on fire, the uglyeyed shedemon. Carried the unpleasant news to divine Sita.
yastvayā kṛtasṃvāda ssīte tāmramukhḥ kapiḥ||5.53.25|| lāṅgūlena pradīptena sa eṣa pariṇīyate|
Translation
सीते O Sita, यः he who, ताम्रमुखः red face, कपिः monkey, त्वया by you, कृतसंवादः who conversed with you, स एषः that person, प्रदीप्तेन set on fire, लाङ्गूलेन with tail, परिणीयते taken round.
Meaning
"O Sita the redfaced monkey who conversed with you is being paraded in the streets with his tail set on fire".
वैदेही Vaidehi, आत्मापहरणोपमम् equally distressing as her abduction, क्रूरम् cruel, तत् that, वचनम् word, श्रुत्वा after hearing, शोकसन्तप्ता burning with grief, हुताशनम् firegod, उपागमत् invoked.
Meaning
Distressed on hearing the news which was as cruel as her own abduction Sita started burning with grief and invoked the firegod.
तदा then, सा that Sita, महाकपेः of the great monkey, तस्य मङ्गलाभिमुखी wishing auspicious events, आसीत् became, विशालाक्षी largeeyed lady, प्रयता with her mind, हव्यवाहनम् Firegod, उपतस्थे invoked.
Meaning
Wishing the great monkey well, the largeeyed Sita invoked the Firegod in her heart.
पतिशुश्रूषा service to my husband, अस्ति यदि if rendered, तपः austerities, चरितम् practised, अस्ति यदि if I am, एकपत्नीत्वम् loyal to my husband, अस्ति च and so यदि if it be, त्वम् you, हनूमतः for Hanuman, शीतः cool, भव be.
Meaning
"O Firegod if I have served my husband, if I have practised austerities, and if I am loyal to my husband, be cool to Hanuman.
धीमतः of the wise, तस्य Rama's, मयि towards me, किञ्चित् even a little, अनुक्रोशः compassion, अस्ति यदि if he has, मे my, भाग्यशेषः any good luck, यदि वा if there is, हनूमतः to Hanuman, शीतः cool, भव be.
Meaning
"If wise Rama has some compassion for me, if there is any residue of good luck for me, to Hanuman be cool O Firegod.
yadi māṃ vṛttasampannāṃ tatsamāgamalālasām||5.53.30|| sa vijānāti dharmātmā śīto bhava hanūmatḥ|
Translation
धर्मात्मा righteous, सः he, माम् to me, वृत्तसम्पन्नाम् pure in mind, तत्समागमलालसाम् that I am longing to unite with him, विजानाति यदि if he believes, हनूमतः to Hanuman, शीतः cool, भव be.
Meaning
"O Firegod if Rama is righteous, if I am pure in mind, and if I am longing to unite with him, be cool to Hanuman.
आर्यः noble one, सत्यसङ्गरः who is true to his promise in warfare, सुग्रीवः Sugriva, अस्मात् from, दुःखाम्बुसंरोधात् from this ocean of agony, माम् me, तारयेद्यदि is going to rescue, हनूमतः for Hanuman, शीतः cool, भव be.
Meaning
"If Sugriva is true to his promise to fight (for me), if he should be able to rescue me from this ocean of agony let Hanuman be cool (not consumed by fire.)"
ततः then, अनलः Firegod, मृगशाबाक्ष्याः to the fawneyed lady, कपेः to the monkey, शिवम् auspicious, शंसन्निव as if assuring, तीक्ष्णार्चिः with intense flame, प्रदक्षिणशिखः with tips of flames moving, अव्यग्रः steadily, जज्वाल glowed.
Meaning
Then the tips of the intense flame appeared steadily moving to the fawneyed Sita indicating the firegod's auspiciousness and safety to Hanuman.
हनुमज्जनकः the father of Hanuman, Windgod अनिलः the Firegod, पुच्छानलयुतः burning tail of Hanuman, देव्याः to the divine lady, स्वास्थ्यकरः to calm her down, प्रालेयानिलशीतलः cool like the wind blowing from the snow, ववौ blew.
Meaning
"The Windgod accompanying Hanuman's firelit tail also blew cool like the wind from snow, to calm the mind of the divine lady.
dahyamāne ca lāṅgūle cintayāmāsa vānarḥ||5.53.34|| pradīpto'gnirayṃ kasmānna māṃ dahati sarvatḥ|
Translation
लाङ्गूले when the tail, दह्यमाने when it was ablaze, वानरः vanara, चिन्तयामास thought, सर्वतः on every side, प्रदीप्तः kindled अयम् this अग्निः fire, माम् me, कस्मात् why not me, न दहति is not burning.
Meaning
When the tail was burning, the vanara wondered how the fire ablaze on every side was not burning him:
dṛśyate ca mahājvālḥ karoti na ca me rujam||5.53.35|| śiśirasyeva saṅghāto lāṅgūlāgre pratiṣṭhitḥ|
Translation
महाज्वालः huge flame, दृश्यते seeing, मे my, रुजम् न करोति च is not hurting me, लाङ्गूलाग्रे at the end of my tail, शिशिरस्य like the coolness, सङ्घातः like mass of ice, प्रतिष्ठितः इव is placed.
Meaning
'This huge flame is not hurting me. It is as though a mass of ice is placed at the end of my tail. (The fire did not torture nor extend beyond the tip of my tail.)
अथवा or else, यत् such an incident, प्लवता while I leaped, मया by me, रामप्रभावात् by the power of Rama, पर्वत: a mountain, सरितां पतौ foating in the ocean, आश्चर्यम् wonderful, दृष्टम् saw, तत इदम् that this, व्यक्तम् now It is clear.
Meaning
'It must be due to the power of Rama, by which I found a wonderful mountain emerging from the sea to give me protection while I was crossing the ocean. Now evidently this is due to Rama's power (that my tail is not burning me).
yadi tāvatsamudrasya mainākasya ca dhīmatḥ||5.53.37|| rāmārthṃ sambhramastādṛkkimagnirna kariṣyati|
Translation
समुद्रस्य for the ocean, धीमतः of the wise, मैनाकस्य for Mainaka, रामार्थम् for the cause of Rama, तादृक् such, सम्भ्रमः यदि if there was anxiety, अग्निः fire, किम् what, न करिष्यति not do?
Meaning
'If the anxiety of the ocean and the wise Mainaka mountain is to serve Rama what is it that the fire cannot do?
sītāyāścānṛśṃsyena tejasā rāghavasya ca||5.53.38|| pituśca mama sakhyena na māṃ dahati pāvakḥ|
Translation
सीतायाः Sita's, अनृशंस्येन by the steadfast chaste character, राघवस्य Rama's, तेजसा by lustre, मम पितुः my father's, सख्येन with friend, पावकः fire, माम् me, न दहति not burning.
Meaning
'Because of Sita's steadfast loyalty, Rama's power and my father's friendship with the Firegod, the fire is not burning me.'
bhūyassa cintayāmāsa muhūrtṃ kapikuñjarḥ||5.53.39|| utpapātātha vegena nanāda ca mahākapiḥ|
Translation
कपिकुञ्जरः an elephantmonkey, सः महाकपिः the great monkey, भूयः once more, चिन्तयामास thought, अथ then, वेगेन with speed, उत्पपात sprang up, ननाद च roarshouted aloud.
Meaning
Once more a thought came to the great Hanuman,the elephant among monkeys. He sprang up and shouted loud.
ततः then, श्रीमान् the illustrious, अनिलात्मजः the son of the Windgod (Hanuman), शैलशृङ्गमिव like the peak of a mountain, उन्नतम् lofty, विभक्तरक्षस्सम्बाधम् turned away the demons, पुरद्वारम् entrance of the city, आससाद reached.
Meaning
Then the illustrious Hanuman reached the entrance of the lofty city, which was like the peak of a mountain and turned away the demons.
sa bhūtvā śailasaṅkāśḥ kṣaṇena punarātmavān||5.53.41|| hrasvatāṃ paramāṃ prāpto bandhanānyavaśātayat|
Translation
आत्मवान् assumed original form, सः that, शैलसङ्काशः appearing like a mountain, भूत्वा becoming, क्षणेन in a moment, ह्रस्वताम् very small, प्राप्तः became, बन्धनानि all bondage, अवशातयत् casting off.
Meaning
From his mountainlike form he assumed his original small figure within a moment casting off the bonds.
श्रीमान् illustrious, विमुक्तश्च relieved of bondage, पुनः again, पर्वतसन्निभः grew like a mountain, अभवत् became, वीक्षमाणश्च looking around, तोरणाश्रितम् near the archway, परिघम् iron club, ददृशे saw.
Meaning
Illustrious Hanuman was relieved of the bond and once again grew to a mountain size. Looking around he saw an iron club near the archway.
sa tṃ gṛhya mahābāhuḥ kālāyasapariṣkṛtam||5.53.43|| rakṣiṇastān punassarvānsūdayāmāsa mārutiḥ|
Translation
महाबाहुः strongarmed, सः मारुतिः that Maruti, कालयासपरिष्कृतम् made of black Iron, तम् the club, पुनः again, गृह्य seizing, सर्वान् all, तान् रक्षिणः all the guards, सूदयामास killed.
Meaning
Seizing the black Iron club again, the strongarmed Hanuman killed all the demon guards.
sa tānnihattvā raṇacaṇḍavikrama ssamīkṣamāṇḥ punareva laṅkām| pradīptalāṅgūlakṛtārcimālī prakāśatāditya ivārcimālī||5.53.44||
Translation
रणचण्डविक्रमः of fearsome valour in war, सः he, तान् those, निहत्त्वा having killed, पुनरेव once again, लङ्काम् at Lanka, समीक्षमाणः while gazing, प्रदीप्तलाङ्गूलकृतार्चिमाली garlanded by the flames of his tail, अर्चिमाली garlanded by rays, आदित्य इव just like Sun, प्रकाशत shining.
Meaning
Hanuman, who was of fearsome valour in war with the demons, having killed them, gazed at Lanka once again. Garlanded by the flames of his tail around, he shone like the Sun covered with garlands of rays. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fiftythird sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.