Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— वीराधिवीरौ तौ दूरात्तमायान्तमपश्यताम्। महाबलं महासत्त्वं हनुमन्तं कपीश्वरम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: From afar, those heroes beyond heroes saw mighty and high-spirited Hanumān, lord of the monkeys, approaching them.
Passage 2
मेरुशृङ्गप्रतीकाशं तडिद्धाटकवर्चसम्। गगनोच्छ्रितलाङ्गूलमाजानुभुजशोभितम्॥२॥
He resembled a peak of Meru, shone like lightning and gold, raised his tail toward the sky, and was splendid with arms reaching to his knees.
Passage 3
हारकुण्डलकेयूरकाञ्चीवलयभूषितम्। तेजःप्रदीप्तनयनं दीव्यत्प्रांशुतमाकृतिम्॥३॥
He was adorned with a necklace, earrings, armlets, a girdle, and bracelets; his eyes blazed with energy and his very tall form shone brilliantly.
Passage 4
रक्तवस्त्रसमाबद्धमल्लकच्छविभूषितम्। उदयत्पूर्णचन्द्राभमुखदीधितिशालिनम्॥४॥
He wore red cloth bound in a wrestler's loincloth, and the radiance of his face resembled the rising full moon.
Passage 5
स आगत्य समीपे तौ ववन्दे कपिपुङ्गवः। एषोऽस्मि हनुमान्नाम वायुपुत्रोऽञ्जनीसुतः॥५॥
The foremost monkey came near and bowed to them. “I am Hanumān, son of the wind and son of Añjanī.
Passage 6
वन्दे वां पुरुषश्रेष्ठौ कौ युवां वदतं मम। सुग्रीवेण कपीन्द्रेण प्रेषितो भवदन्तिकम्॥६॥
“I bow to you both, best of men. Tell me who you are. Sugrīva, lord of the monkeys, has sent me into your presence.
Passage 7
प्रवृत्तिं चापि युवयोर्ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। अधिज्यधनुषौ वीरौ युवां किं कर्तुमिच्छथः॥७॥
“I wish to learn the truth of your circumstances. Heroes with bows strung, what do you intend to do?
Passage 8
जानामि युवयोर्मैत्रीमासाद्य कपिपुङ्गवः। विवासितोऽपि स्वस्थानात् सपत्नं जेतुमिच्छति॥८॥
“I know that, upon gaining your friendship, the foremost monkey—though banished from his own home—hopes to conquer his enemy.
Passage 9
भवन्तौ खलु लक्ष्येते अप्रमेयबलौ भुवि। तेजसाप्रतिमौ वीरौ सिंहविक्रान्तिशालिनौ॥९॥
“You two plainly appear to possess immeasurable strength upon earth—heroes unequaled in splendor and endowed with a lion's stride.
Passage 10
मन्ये भवेऽस्मिन् युवयोः सादृश्यं नैव कुत्रचित्। युवां सेवितुमिच्छामि कायेन मनसा गिरा॥१०॥
“I think that nowhere in this world can anyone resembling you two be found. I wish to serve you with body, mind, and speech.” Recognition, Welcome, and Embrace
Passage 11
यौ तर्कितौ युवां दूरात्तावेव यदि निश्चितम्। सिद्ध एव कपीन्द्रस्य तदा साधुमनोरथः॥११॥
“If you are indeed the two whom we identified from afar, then the monkey lord's worthy desire is already fulfilled.”
Passage 12
निशम्य कपिमुख्यस्य तथा हनुमतो वचः। उवाच रघुशार्दूलो विहस्य प्रणयान्वितम्॥१२॥
Hearing these words of Hanumān, foremost of monkeys, the tiger of the Raghus smiled and spoke affectionately.
Passage 13
महाबल महासत्त्व वायुसूनोऽञ्जनीसुत। एह्येहि त्वाहमिच्छामि परिरब्धुं सहानुजः॥१३॥
“Mighty and high-spirited son of the wind, son of Añjanī, come, come! My younger brother and I wish to embrace you.”
Passage 14
इत्युक्त्वा सानुजो रामः परिरेभेऽञ्जनीसुतम्। अथ द्रुमतले सम्यक् सन्निषण्णास्त्रयोऽपि ते॥१४॥
Having said this, Rāma and his younger brother embraced Añjanī's son. Then all three sat together beneath a tree.
Passage 15
तावुभौ पुरुषश्रेष्ठौ तृतीयः स कपीश्वरः। उवाच रघुशार्दूलस्तं सम्बोध्य कृतादरः॥१५॥
There sat those two excellent men, with the monkey lord as the third. The tiger of the Raghus respectfully addressed him. Rāma Explains His Search for Sītā
Passage 16
स्वागतं ते कपिश्रेष्ठ महाबलपराक्रम। त्वया मैत्रीमहं कर्तुमिच्छामि पुरुषर्षभ॥१६॥
“Welcome, best of monkeys, mighty in strength and valor. Noble being, I wish to establish friendship with you.
Passage 17
विचरन्तं वने विद्धि सुतं दशरथस्य माम्। रामं भूरिपरिक्लिष्टं प्रियाविश्लेषदुःखतः॥१७॥
“Know me, wandering in the forest, as Daśaratha's son Rāma, deeply tormented by the pain of separation from my beloved.
Passage 18
सुमित्रायाश्च तनयो लक्ष्मणोऽयं ममानुजः। ननु भाग्यवशादेव लब्धस्त्वं मित्रमावयोः॥१८॥
“This is Sumitrā's son Lakṣmaṇa, my younger brother. Surely by the power of good fortune, you have been gained as a friend by us both.
Passage 19
ननु रक्षोधिनाथेन प्रिया मेऽपहृता वने। रहःस्था चोरवृत्त्यैव जिघांसुस्तमहं द्रुतम्॥१९॥
“The lord of the rākṣasas abducted my beloved in the forest while she was alone, acting like a thief. I wish to kill him swiftly.
Passage 20
बलान्निहत्य तं वीरं मम पत्न्यपहारकम्। आनिनीषुः प्रियामस्मि सहायाश्चेद्भवादृशाः॥२०॥
“I intend to slay by force that warrior who stole my wife and bring my beloved back—if helpers such as you stand with me.” Hanumān Offers Sugrīva's Alliance
Passage 21
श्रुत्वा रघुवरस्य वाक्यमाञ्जनेयो मुदान्वितः। उवाच स्मितसंशोभिवदनाम्बुरुहः स तम्॥२१॥
Hearing the best of the Raghus speak, Añjanī's son was filled with joy. His lotus face bright with a smile, he answered Rāma.
Passage 22
अहो राम रघुश्रेष्ठ विश्वाराम दयानिधे। वितर्कितं यथा तेन सुग्रीवेण महात्मना। तत्तथाभूतमेवैतदहोभाग्यं महद्धि नः॥२२॥
“Ah, Rāma, best of the Raghus, repose of the universe and treasury of compassion! Everything is exactly as noble Sugrīva surmised. How great our good fortune is!
Passage 23
त्वां विना भुवने कोऽन्य ईदृशं तेज उद्वहेत्। अहो भाग्यं वनस्यास्य यस्मिन्नुपगतो भवान्॥२३॥
“Who else in the world but you could bear such splendor? How fortunate is this forest, to which you have come!
Passage 24
अहो भाग्यं कपीन्द्रस्य मैत्रीमिच्छति यस्त्वया। अहो भाग्यं ममाप्यद्धा दास्यमिच्छामि यस्तव॥२४॥
“How fortunate is the monkey lord, who desires friendship with you! How fortunate am I also, for I truly desire to serve you!
Passage 25
सुग्रीवस्य कपीन्द्रस्य भ्राता ननु महाबलः। वाली नाम बलात्तेन तस्य प्राणप्रिया हृता॥२५॥
“The monkey lord Sugrīva has a mighty brother named Vālin, who forcibly took Sugrīva's wife, dearer to him than life.
Passage 26
विवासितश्च किष्किन्धानगर्याः स पराजितः। इत्येष तव साहाय्यमन्विच्छति कपीश्वरः॥२६॥
“Defeated, Sugrīva was driven out of the city of Kiṣkindhā. Thus this lord of the monkeys seeks your help.
Passage 27
सपत्नं तस्य बलिनं पराभूय रणे भवान्। तं स्थापयति चेद्राज्ये तत्सिद्धोऽस्य मनोरथः॥२७॥
“If you defeat his powerful enemy in battle and establish Sugrīva in the kingdom, his desire will be fulfilled.
Passage 28
तदनेकमहापद्मवानराणां चमूस्तव। कार्यसिद्ध्यैव भवेन्नूनं प्राणैरपि रघूद्वह॥२८॥
“Then his army of many mahāpadmas of monkeys will surely devote even its lives to accomplishing your purpose, bearer of the Raghu line.
Passage 29
एवं चेत्पुरुषश्रेष्ठ तदा रक्षोऽधिपः कियान्। निहत्य तं खलं शीघ्रमानयिष्यसि निजप्रियाम्॥२९॥
“If this is so, best of men, how formidable can the rākṣasa lord be? You will quickly kill that villain and bring back your own beloved.
Passage 30
प्रेषितोऽहं कपीन्द्रेण त्वत्सकाशमिहागतः। इच्छामि तेन भवतः सखित्वं गुणवत्तरम्॥३०॥
“Sent by the monkey lord, I have come here into your presence. I desire a most excellent friendship between him and you.”
Passage 31
इत्युक्तः पवनसुतेन रामचन्द्रो भक्तिप्रह्वेणाशु संजाततोषः। तन्मैत्रीं समभिलषन् हृदा मनस्वी कान्ताहेतोः खिन्नचेता उवाच॥३१॥
Thus addressed by the wind-god's son, who bowed before him in devotion, Rāmacandra was at once delighted. The noble-minded Lord, desiring that friendship in his heart yet distressed on account of his beloved, began to speak.