Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथाम्ब मातर्जननीति तामसौ सम्बोध्य नीचैर्हनुमानवोचत। प्राप्तोऽस्म्यहं देवि नमस्तवान्तिकं रामस्य दूतो रघुवंशभास्वतः॥१॥
Brahmā said: Hanumān softly addressed her as “Mother, revered mother, life-giver,” and said, “Goddess, I bow to you. I have come into your presence as the messenger of Rāma, the sun of Raghu's lineage.
Passage 2
पतिस्ते लोकजननि राघवेन्द्रो जगत्पिता। माल्यवन्तं नाम गिरिमध्यास्ते सानुजोऽधुना॥२॥
“Mother of the world, your husband, lord of the Raghus and father of the universe, now dwells with his younger brother upon Mount Mālyavat.
Passage 3
सुग्रीवेण कपीन्द्रेण मैत्री तस्याभवद्दृढा। तवोदन्तं विजिज्ञासुः स आस्ते कपिभिः समम्॥३॥
“He has formed a firm friendship with Sugrīva, king of the monkeys, and waits among the monkeys, longing to learn news of you.
Passage 4
तस्यानेकमहापद्मकपिवीरवरूथिनी। इदानीं खलु सज्जास्ति दुष्टारिहननं प्रति॥४॥
“His army of heroic monkeys numbers many mahāpadmas and now stands ready to destroy the wicked enemy.
Passage 5
शब्दायन्ते कपिभटा आस्फोटितभुजद्वयाः। साहंकाररवाः सर्वे प्रभोराज्ञाप्रतीक्षणाः॥५॥
“The monkey warriors slap their two arms and make a tremendous sound. Roaring proudly, they all await the Lord's command.
Passage 6
एकैकः कपिवीरोऽत्र महाबलपराक्रमः। पर्याप्तो राक्षसानीकमथने स्वामिनो गिरा॥६॥
“Each monkey hero possesses immense strength and valor and, at the master's word, is sufficient to crush an army of rākṣasas.
Passage 7
राघवेन्द्रोऽपि भगवान् सानुजः सज्जकार्मुकः। सोत्साहः शरदा कर्तुं विपक्षेष्वभिषेणनम्॥७॥
“Lord Rāghavendra too, together with his brother and his bow made ready, is eager to march against his enemies when autumn comes.
Passage 8
अलं तदतिमात्रं ते शोकेन जनकात्मजे। अचिरेणैव जित्वारिं त्वामितो नेष्यति प्रभुः॥८॥
“Enough of this overwhelming grief, daughter of Janaka. Very soon the Lord will defeat the enemy and take you away from here.
Passage 9
अङ्गुलीयकमेतत्ते प्रभुणैव समर्पितम्। समाश्वसिहि मातस्त्वं दर्शनादस्य सम्प्रति॥९॥
“The Lord himself has sent you this signet ring. Mother, take heart now at the sight of it.”
Passage 10
इत्युक्ता जानकी तेन कपीन्द्रेण महाधिया। शनैरुन्मीलयामास चक्षुषी विरहालसे॥१०॥
Thus addressed by the profoundly wise monkey chief, Janakī slowly opened her eyes, wearied by separation.
Passage 11
रक्षोमायाभ्रमाशङ्कि तु न किंचित्तमवोचत। ततः स आह तां भूयो भृत्यो रघुपतेः कपिः॥११॥
Suspecting the delusion of rākṣasa sorcery, she said nothing to him. Then the monkey, servant of Raghupati, spoke to her again.
Passage 12
मातर्भृत्योऽस्मि नियतं साक्षाद्रघुपतेरहम्। भृशं तच्चरणाम्भोजद्वन्द्वलाञ्छितमस्तकः॥१२॥
“Mother, I am truly the direct servant of Raghupati; my head is deeply marked by the pair of his lotus feet.
Passage 13
नाहमन्यद्विजानामि राघवेन्द्राज्जगत्त्रये। एकमेव निजे मूर्ध्नि विधाय सुखितोऽस्म्यहम्॥१३॥
“In the three worlds I know no one other than Rāghavendra. Placing him alone upon my head, I live in happiness.
Passage 14
ये ते भरतसर्वस्वे पातकोघापहारके। त्रैलोक्यमण्डने तस्य पादुके शरणं मम॥१४॥
“His sandals, Bharata's entire treasure, destroyer of floods of sin and ornament of the three worlds, are my refuge.
Passage 15
जपामि रामनामाहं स्मरामि रघुपुङ्गवम्। भजामि नित्यं काकुत्स्थं वीक्षे दशरथात्मजम्॥१५॥
“I repeat Rāma's name, remember the foremost Raghu, worship Kākutstha always, and behold Daśaratha's son.
Passage 16
न रामात्परतस्तत्त्वं जानामि भुवनत्रये। राममेवाश्रये नित्यमिति मे व्रतमाहितम्॥१६॥
“I know no reality higher than Rāma in the three worlds. My established vow is to take refuge in Rāma alone forever. Rāma's Signet Ring
Passage 17
इदं गृहाण ते पत्या दत्तमप्रतिमं शुभम्। सुवर्णमाणिक्यमयं निजाङ्गुलिविभूषणम्॥१७॥
“Receive this incomparable and auspicious ornament of gold and rubies, worn upon your husband's own finger and given by him.
Passage 18
अनर्ध्यदिव्यरत्नांशुजालैः सर्वतमोऽपहम्। आश्वासनाय ननु ते कृच्छ्रादन्तिकमागतम्॥१८॥
“Its web of rays from priceless divine jewels dispels every darkness. It has reached you with difficulty precisely to give you assurance.
Passage 19
यत्सोढो विरहोऽनेन प्रभुणा दत्तपाणिना। तवैवार्थे जनकजे इति निश्चितु चेतसा॥१९॥
“Know certainly in your heart, daughter of Janaka, that the Lord who took your hand has endured this separation solely for your sake.”
Passage 20
इत्युक्तमात्रे जनकेन्द्रपुत्री समाददौ तस्य करात् सहर्षम्। तदङ्गुलीयं प्रियपाणिपद्मस्पर्शानुभूतिक्षममद्वितीयम्॥२०॥
As soon as he had spoken, Janaka's daughter joyfully took from his hand that unique ring, capable of conveying the felt touch of her beloved's lotus hand.
Passage 21
आदाय मुद्रां पृथुलोचनाश्रुधाराजलैस्तां सुचिरं निषिच्य। संयोज्य दृग्भ्यां शिरसोरसा च सुविस्मिता नूनमथ तां बभाषे॥२१॥
Taking the signet, she bathed it for a long time in streams of tears from her wide eyes, pressed it to her eyes, head, and breast, and then, filled with wonder, spoke to it. Sītā Addresses the Ring
Passage 22
मुदं रातीति मुद्रा ते यथार्थं नाम मुद्रिके। यन्मे वियोगमग्नाया अपि त्वत्तोऽभवन्मुदः॥२२॥
“O signet ring, your name mudrā, giver of joy, is true: though submerged in separation, I have received joy from you.
Passage 23
दुःखं मुद्रयसीति त्वं मुद्रैवासि ततोऽद्य मे। क्षणं वियोगदुःखस्य मुद्रणाद्रत्नमण्डिते॥२३॥
“You are indeed my seal today, for you seal away my sorrow, O jewel-adorned one, suppressing the pain of separation for a moment.
Passage 24
बाह्यमाभ्यन्तरं चापि मुद्रे नाशयसे तमः। प्रकाशितं वनं कृत्स्नं चित्तं मे च प्रसादितम्॥२४॥
“O signet, you dispel darkness both outwardly and within. You have illuminated the entire grove and made my mind serene.
Passage 25
चक्षुषोर्निहिता बाष्पैर्लिप्यसे सान्द्रपातिभिः। मूर्ध्नि चक्षुःपथाद्बाह्यां न सहे त्वामतिप्रियाम्॥२५॥
“Placed upon my eyes, you are covered by thick-falling tears; placed upon my head, you leave my sight, and I cannot bear for you, so beloved, to be outside it.
Passage 26
अथोरसि सुसंतप्ते विरहानलरश्मिभिः। प्रियपाणिसुखस्पृश्यां किं नु त्वां निदधाम्यहम्॥२६॥
“Shall I then place you upon my breast, scorched by rays from separation's fire—you who were pleasantly touched by my beloved's hand?
Passage 27
अतस्त्वामीशविरहं सोढ्वापीह समागताम्। निदध्यां क्व नु हे मुद्रे मत्प्राणगणजीवनीम्॥२७॥
“Where then shall I place you, O signet, life of all my vital breaths, who have endured separation from the Lord and come here?
Passage 28
अपि पाणिग्रहाद्भर्तुः सपत्न्यप्यसि मे परम्। त्वं नाम मुद्रिके भाति सौजन्यं तदपीह ते॥२८॥
“Because my husband holds you in his hand, you are even my co-wife; yet, O ring, your supreme generosity shines here.
Passage 29
यन्मदर्थे पतिं त्यक्त्वा सिन्धोः पारमुपागता। तन्मयापि त्वदर्थेऽयमात्मा नित्यं समर्पितः॥२९॥
“Because for my sake you left our husband and crossed the ocean, I too offer this self to you forever.” Sītā's Message and Crest Jewel
Passage 30
अथोवाच हनूमन्तं जानकी प्रभुसेवकम्। अपि मन्नाथभृत्यत्वं सुखमागतवानिह॥३०॥
Janakī then said to Hanumān, the Lord's servant, “Has your service to my lord brought you safely here?
Passage 31
मध्ये लवणपाथोधे राक्षसौघसमाकुले। दुर्गमे विषमे देशे सर्वप्राणिभयंकरे॥३१॥
“You have come into this inaccessible and perilous land amid the salt ocean, crowded with hosts of rākṣasas and terrifying to every creature.
Passage 32
अथो मम दशां विद्वन् प्रभोर्मे कथयिष्यसि। वाच्यः कथं वा संदेशस्तस्य मेऽध्यात्मसाक्षिणः॥३२॥
“Wise one, you will tell my lord of my condition. Yet what message need be spoken to him, the witness within my own self?
Passage 33
अन्तरात्मगतिं कृत्स्नां यदि वेत्ति स मे प्रभुः। तदलं मम संदेशैस्तस्मिन् प्रियतमे मुहुः॥३३॥
“If my Lord knows every movement of the inner self, then repeated messages to that dearest one are unnecessary.
Passage 34
एकं तु मम संदेश्यं वचो रघुपतेस्त्वया। मा जातु विस्मरेर्नाथ विशाला सहजावशः॥३४॥
“Still, you must carry this one statement of mine to Raghupati: ‘Lord, never forget me, helpless and far away.'
Passage 35
भृत्यास्मि तव दास्यास्मि पादपद्मद्वये भृशम्। या ते निर्मञ्छनायेश तत्पराशश्वदात्मना॥३५॥
“‘I am your servant, wholly devoted to service at your two lotus feet, forever intent on offering my very self before you, Lord.
Passage 36
राक्षसेन गृहीतां मां द्रुतं मोचय सम्प्रति। वीरेन्द्र करुणासिन्धो न विस्मर कदाचन॥३६॥
“‘Free me swiftly now, seized by the rākṣasa. Heroic lord, ocean of compassion, never forget me.'
Passage 37
इदं च हनुमन् ग्राह्यं मम मूर्ध्नि विभूषणम्। चूडारत्नं मदीशस्य निधेयं करपङ्कजे॥३७॥
“Hanumān, take this ornament from my head, my crest jewel, and place it in my Lord's lotus hand.
Passage 38
शीघ्रं च मोचनीयास्मि गिरिवन्म्लेच्छहस्तगा। वन्दीकृतातिदुष्टेन वध्येन स्वामिना मम॥३८॥
“My Lord must quickly free me, fallen into the barbarous hand that is hard as a mountain, imprisoned by this utterly wicked being who deserves death.”
Passage 39
ततः समाश्वास्य चिरं विदेहजां मरुत्सुतोऽस्याश्च शिरोविभूषणम्। प्रगृह्य नत्वा च स तां विनिर्गतो दशानने रोषभरेण लोहितः॥३९॥
Then the Wind's son reassured Videha's daughter at length, received the ornament from her head, bowed to her, and departed, flushed with a flood of anger against ten-headed Rāvaṇa.