Sundara Kanda · Sarga 10 of 68 · 54 verses
Ravana Asleep; Mandodari
Looking around, Hanuman sees there a chief couch, godlike, of crystal, adorned with jewels, furnished with fine seats inlaid with ivory and gold and with beryl, with costly spreads. In one part he sees a white umbrella with divine garlands, like the lord of the stars, and a supreme seat surrounded with gold, radiant as fire, spread with garlands of ashoka, fanned all round by women with yak-tail fans, fragrant with many perfumes and fine incense, covered with the finest spreads and sheepskin, adorned all round with strings of fine garlands. On it the great monkey sees the hero, lord of the rakshasas, asleep on the shining bed: like a cloud, his bright earrings blazing, red-eyed, mighty-armed, wearing cloth of gold, his limbs anointed with fragrant red sandal, like a cloud in the sky red with twilight and streaked with lightning, covered with divine ornaments, handsome, able to take any form, like Mandara asleep with its trees, woods and thickets; having played and stopped at night, adorned with fine ornaments, dear to the rakshasa maidens, the giver of happiness to the rakshasas, sleeping after drinking. Coming near Ravana, breathing like a serpent, the best of monkeys is deeply alarmed and draws back as if very frightened. Then, climbing a step and taking shelter behind an altar, the great monkey looks at the drunken tiger among rakshasas. The lovely bed of the sleeping king of the rakshasas shines like a great waterfall where a scent-elephant lies. He sees the great one’s arms flung out, bound with golden armlets, like Indra’s banners: bearing wounds made by the pressing of Airavata’s tusk-tips, their thick shoulders scored by the thunderbolt, wounded by Vishnu’s discus; thick, with well-formed, equal shoulders, joined, full of strength, with well-marked nails and thumbs, marked with fine rings; compact, like iron bars, round, like elephants’ trunks, flung out on the white bed like five-headed serpents; well anointed and well adorned with costly sandal, cool and fragrant, the colour of hare’s blood; pressed by the finest women, served by the finest perfumes, the arms that made yakshas, serpents, gandharvas, gods and danavas cry out. The monkey sees his two arms lying on the bed like two great angry serpents asleep in a cave of Mandara. With those two full arms, the lord of the rakshasas, like a mountain, shines like Mandara with two peaks. From the great mouth of the sleeping king of the rakshasas comes his breath, fragrant with mango, punnaga and the finest bakula, mixed with the taste of fine food and preceded by the smell of drink, as if filling the house. Shining with a golden crown, many-coloured with pearls and gems, slipped aside, his face bright with earrings, shining with a chest broad, thick and long, with a necklace smeared with red sandal; his eyes like blood; well covered with a costly white silk loosened about him and a yellow upper garment; like a heap of black beans, hissing like a serpent, like an elephant asleep at the edge of the great waters of the Ganga; lit on four sides by four golden lamps, all his limbs illuminated like a cloud by hosts of lightning. At his feet, in the house of the lord of the rakshasas who loves his wives, the leader of monkey troops sees his wives, their faces bright as the moon, adorned with fine earrings, their garlands and ornaments unfaded. The monkey sees women skilled in dance and music who had been on the king’s arms and lap, wearing fine ornaments, lying there. At the women’s ears he sees earrings and armlets of refined gold with diamond and beryl centres. With their moon-like faces and lovely swinging earrings, the chariot shines like the sky with hosts of stars. Wearied by drink and exertion, the slender-waisted women of the king of the rakshasas sleep here and there. One, who shines in dancing, lovely, sleeps with all her lovely limbs arranged in tender dance poses. One sleeps embracing her vina, like a lotus carried down a great river clinging to a boat. Another, black-eyed, sleeps with a small drum under her arm, like a loving mother with her baby son. A lovely-breasted one, lovely in every limb, sleeps with a kettledrum laid on her, like a woman embracing her lover after a long time. One, lotus-eyed, sleeps embracing her vina like a lover holding her dearest. Another, skilled in dance, sleeps holding her vipanchi, overcome by sleep, like a woman with her lover. Another, with intoxicated eyes, sleeps hugging her drum with her golden, soft, full limbs. A slender, blameless one, wearied by drink, sleeps with a panava held in the noose of her arms under her armpit. Another sleeps holding a dindima, like a woman embracing a young calf. A lotus-eyed woman sleeps, bewildered by drink, having pressed an adambara in the embrace of her arms. Another lovely woman sleeps with her water jar flung aside, like a spring garland of mixed flowers that has been sprinkled. One weak woman sleeps, overcome by the power of sleep, holding her breasts like golden pitchers with her hands. Another, lotus-eyed, her face like the full moon, sleeps, dizzy with drink, embracing another fair-hipped woman. Fine women sleep clasping wonderful instruments and pressing them to their breasts, like lovers their beloved.
Then, on a lovely bed set apart, the monkey sees a beautiful woman lying, well adorned with ornaments set with pearls and gems, as if adorning the excellent palace with her own beauty: fair, golden in complexion, beloved, mistress of the inner apartments, Mandodari, lying there, lovely in form. Seeing her so adorned, mighty-armed Hanuman, son of the wind, guesses from her wealth of beauty and youth, “This is Sita,” and, filled with great joy, the leader of monkey troops rejoices. He slaps his arms, kisses his tail, rejoices, plays, sings, comes and goes, climbs the pillars and drops to the ground, showing his own monkey nature.
Press › to begin with verse 1.
तत्र दिव्योपमं मुख्यं स्फाटिकं रत्नभूषितम् । अवेक्षमाणो हनुमान् ददर्श शयनासनम् ॥ १ ॥
There, looking around, Hanuman saw a chief couch and seat, godlike, of crystal, adorned with jewels,
Commentary on the whole sarga
Ravana Asleep; Mandodari 1 min read.
Read the commentary
दान्तकाञ्चनचित्रांगैर्वैदूर्यैश्च वरासनैः । महार्हास्तरणोपेतैरुपपन्नं महाधनैः ॥ २ ॥
furnished with fine seats with limbs many-coloured with ivory and gold, and with beryl, joined with costly spreads, of great value.
तस्य चैकतमे देशे दिव्यमालोपशोभितम् । ददर्श पाण्डुरं छत्रं ताराधिपतिसंनिभम् ॥ ३ ॥
And in one part of it he saw a white umbrella, adorned with divine garlands, like the lord of the stars;
जातरूपपरिक्षिप्तं चित्रभानोः समप्रभम् । अशोकमालाविततं ददर्श परमासनम् ॥ ४ ॥
surrounded with gold, of radiance equal to fire, spread with garlands of ashoka: he saw the supreme seat,
वालव्यजनहस्ताभिर्वीज्यमानं समन्ततः । गन्धैश्च विविधैर्जुष्टं वरधूपेन धूपितम् ॥ ५ ॥
being fanned all round by women with yak-tail fans in hand, joined with many perfumes, perfumed with fine incense,
परमास्तरणास्तीर्णमाविकाजिनसंवृतम् । दामभिर्वरमाल्यानां समन्तादुपशोभितम् ॥ ६ ॥
spread with the finest spreads, covered with sheepskin, adorned on every side with strings of fine garlands.
तस्मिञ्जीमूतसंकाशं प्रदीप्तोज्ज्वलकुण्डलम् । लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुं महारजतवाससम् ॥ ७ ॥
On it, like a cloud, with blazing, bright earrings, red-eyed, mighty-armed, wearing great cloth of gold,
लोहितेनानुलिप्तांगं चन्दनेन सुगन्धिना । संध्यारक्तमिवाकाशे तोयदं सतडिद्गुणम् ॥ ८ ॥
his limbs anointed with fragrant red sandal, like a cloud in the sky red with twilight, with lightning,
वृतमाभरणैर्दिव्यैः सुरूपं कामरूपिणम् । सवृक्षवनगुल्माढ्यं प्रसुप्तमिव मन्दरम् ॥ ९ ॥
covered with divine ornaments, handsome, taking forms at will, like Mandara asleep, rich in trees, woods and thickets,
क्रीडित्वोपरतं रात्रौ वराभरणभूषितम् । प्रियं राक्षसकन्यानां राक्षसानां सुखावहम् ॥ १० ॥
having played and stopped at night, adorned with fine ornaments, dear to the rakshasa maidens, bringing happiness to the rakshasas,
पीत्वाप्युपरतं चापि ददर्श स महाकपिः । भास्वरे शयने वीरं प्रसुप्तं राक्षसाधिपम् ॥ ११ ॥
and having drunk and stopped: the great monkey saw the hero, the lord of the rakshasas, asleep on the shining bed.
निःश्वसन्तं यथा नागं रावणं वानरोत्तमः । आसाद्य परमोद्विग्नः सोपासर्पत् सुभीतवत् ॥ १२ ॥
Coming near Ravana, breathing like a serpent, the best of monkeys, supremely alarmed, drew back as if very frightened.
अथारोहणमासाद्य वेदिकान्तरमाश्रितः । क्षीबं राक्षसशार्दूलं प्रेक्षते स्म महाकपिः ॥ १३ ॥
Then, reaching a step, resorting to the space behind an altar, the great monkey looked at the drunken tiger among rakshasas.
शुशुभे राक्षसेन्द्रस्य स्वपतः शयनं शुभम् । गन्धहस्तिनि संविष्टे यथा प्रस्रवणं महत् ॥ १४ ॥
The lovely bed of the sleeping lord of the rakshasas shone like a great waterfall where a scent-elephant lies.
काञ्चनांगदसंनद्धौ ददर्श स महात्मनः । विक्षिप्तौ राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भुजाविन्द्रध्वजोपमौ ॥ १५ ॥
He saw the arms of that great soul, the lord of the rakshasas, bound with golden armlets, flung out, like Indra’s banners,
ऐरावतविषाणाग्रैरापीडनकृतव्रणौ । वज्रोल्लिखितपीनांसौ विष्णुचक्रपरिक्षतौ ॥ १६ ॥
with wounds made by the pressing of the tips of Airavata’s tusks, with thick shoulders scored by the vajra, wounded by Vishnu’s discus,
पीनौ समसुजातांसौ संगतौ बलसंयुतौ । सुलक्षणनखांगुष्ठौ स्वंगुलीयकलक्षितौ ॥ १७ ॥
thick, with equal, well-formed shoulders, joined, endowed with strength, with well-marked nails and thumbs, marked by fine rings,
संहतौ परिघाकारौ वृत्तौ करिकरोपमौ । विक्षिप्तौ शयने शुभ्रे पञ्चशीर्षाविवोरगौ ॥ १८ ॥
compact, shaped like iron bars, round, like elephants’ trunks, flung out on the white bed like five-headed serpents,
शशक्षतजकल्पेन सुशीतेन सुगन्धिना । चन्दनेन परार्घ्येन स्वनुलिप्तौ स्वलंकृतौ ॥ १९ ॥
well anointed, well adorned with costly sandal like hare’s blood, very cool, fragrant,
उत्तमस्त्रीविमृदितौ गन्धोत्तमनिषेवितौ । यक्षपन्नगगन्धर्वदेवदानवराविणौ ॥ २० ॥
pressed by the finest women, served by the finest perfumes, making yakshas, serpents, gandharvas, gods and danavas cry out:
ददर्श स कपिस्तस्य बाहू शयनसंस्थितौ । मन्दरस्यान्तरे सुप्तौ महाही रुषिताविव ॥ २१ ॥
the monkey saw those two arms of his set on the bed, like two great angry snakes asleep within Mandara.
ताभ्यां स परिपूर्णाभ्यामुभाभ्यां राक्षसेश्वरः । शुशुभेऽचलसंकाशः शृंगाभ्यामिव मन्दरः ॥ २२ ॥
With those two full arms, the lord of the rakshasas, like a mountain, shone like Mandara with two peaks.
चूतपुंनागसुरभिर्बकुलोत्तमसंयुतः । मृष्टान्नरससंयुक्तः पानगन्धपुरःसरः ॥ २३ ॥
Fragrant with mango and punnaga, joined with the finest bakula, joined with the taste of fine food, preceded by the smell of drink,
तस्य राक्षसराजस्य निश्चक्राम महामुखात् । शयानस्य विनिःश्वासः पूरयन्निव तद् गृहम् ॥ २४ ॥
from the great mouth of that king of the rakshasas, as he lay, came out his breath, as if filling that house.
मुक्तामणिविचित्रेण काञ्चनेन विराजिता । मुकुटेनापवृत्तेन कुण्डलोज्ज्वलिताननम् ॥ २५ ॥
Shining with a golden crown, many-coloured with pearls and gems, slipped aside, his face blazing with earrings,
रक्तचन्दनदिग्धेन तथा हारेण शोभिना । पीनायतविशालेन वक्षसाभिविराजिता ॥ २६ ॥
shining with a chest thick, long and wide, with a shining necklace smeared with red sandal,
पाण्डुरेणापविद्धेन क्षौमेण क्षतजेक्षणम् । महार्हेण सुसंवीतं पीतेनोत्तरवाससा ॥ २७ ॥
with eyes like blood, well covered with a costly white silk loosened about him, and with a yellow upper garment,
माषराशिप्रतीकाशं निःश्वसन्तं भुजंगवत् । गांगे महति तोयान्ते प्रसुप्तमिव कुञ्जरम् ॥ २८ ॥
like a heap of black beans, hissing like a serpent, like an elephant asleep at the edge of the great water of the Ganga,
चतुर्भिः काञ्चनैर्दीपैर्दीप्यमानं चतुर्दिशम् । प्रकाशीकृतसर्वांगं मेघं विद्युद्गणैरिव ॥ २९ ॥
lit by four golden lamps on four sides, all his limbs made bright, like a cloud by hosts of lightning:
पादमूलगताश्चापि ददर्श सुमहात्मनः । पत्नीः स प्रियभार्यस्य तस्य रक्षःपतेर्गृहे ॥ ३० ॥
and gone to the root of his feet, he saw the wives of that very great soul, the lord of the rakshasas, who loves his wives, in his house,
शशिप्रकाशवदना वरकुण्डलभूषणाः । अम्लानमाल्याभरणा ददर्श हरियूथपः ॥ ३१ ॥
with faces bright as the moon, adorned with fine earrings, with unfaded garlands and ornaments: the leader of monkey troops saw them.
नृत्यवादित्रकुशला राक्षसेन्द्रभुजाङ्कगाः । वराभरणधारिण्यो निषण्णा ददृशे कपिः ॥ ३२ ॥
Skilled in dance and music, gone to the arms and lap of the lord of the rakshasas, wearing fine ornaments, seated: the monkey saw them.
वज्रवैदूर्यगर्भाणि श्रवणान्तेषु योषिताम् । ददर्श तापनीयानि कुण्डलान्यंगदानि च ॥ ३३ ॥
At the ends of the women’s ears he saw earrings and armlets of refined gold, with diamond and beryl within.
तासां चन्द्रोपमैर्वक्त्रैः शुभैर्ललितकुण्डलैः । विरराज विमानं तन्नभस्तारागणैरिव ॥ ३४ ॥
With their moon-like faces, lovely, with swinging earrings, that celestial chariot shone like the sky with hosts of stars.
मदव्यायामखिन्नास्ता राक्षसेन्द्रस्य योषितः । तेषु तेष्ववकाशेषु प्रसुप्तास्तनुमध्यमाः ॥ ३५ ॥
Wearied by drink and exertion, those women of the lord of the rakshasas, slender-waisted, slept in those various places.
अंगहारैस्तथैवान्या कोमलैर्नृत्यशालिनी । विन्यस्तशुभसर्वांगी प्रसुप्ता वरवर्णिनी ॥ ३६ ॥
And so another, shining in dance, of fine complexion, slept with all her lovely limbs placed in tender dance gestures.
काचिद् वीणां परिष्वज्य प्रसुप्ता सम्प्रकाशते । महानदीप्रकीर्णेव नलिनी पोतमाश्रिता ॥ ३७ ॥
Some sleeping one, embracing her vina, shines like a lotus scattered by a great river, clinging to a boat.
अन्या कक्षगतेनैव मड्डुकेनासितेक्षणा । प्रसुप्ता भामिनी भाति बालपुत्रेव वत्सला ॥ ३८ ॥
Another, black-eyed, sleeping with a madduka drum gone under her arm, the lovely woman shines like a loving mother with a baby son.
पटहं चारुसर्वांगी न्यस्य शेते शुभस्तनी । चिरस्य रमणं लब्ध्वा परिष्वज्येव कामिनी ॥ ३९ ॥
A lovely-breasted one, lovely in all limbs, lies having placed a kettledrum, like a loving woman embracing her lover gained after long.
काचिद् वीणां परिष्वज्य सुप्ता कमललोचना । वरं प्रियतमं गृह्य सकामेव हि कामिनी ॥ ४० ॥
Some lotus-eyed one sleeps embracing her vina, like a loving woman holding her best, dearest one with desire.
विपञ्चीं परिगृह्यान्या नियता नृत्यशालिनी । निद्रावशमनुप्राप्ता सहकान्तेव भामिनी ॥ ४१ ॥
Another, controlled, shining in dance, holding a vipanchi, came under the power of sleep, like a lovely woman with her lover.
अन्या कनकसंकाशैर्मृदुपीनैर्मनोरमैः । मृदंगं परिविद्ध्यांगैः प्रसुप्ता मत्तलोचना ॥ ४२ ॥
Another, with intoxicated eyes, sleeps having pressed a mridanga with her golden, soft, full, lovely limbs.
भुजपाशान्तरस्थेन कक्षगेन कृशोदरी । पणवेन सहानिन्द्या सुप्ता मदकृतश्रमा ॥ ४३ ॥
With a panava standing within the noose of her arms, gone under her armpit, the slender-waisted, blameless one sleeps, wearied by drink.
डिण्डिमं परिगृह्यान्या तथैवासक्तडिण्डिमा । प्रसुप्ता तरुणं वत्समुपगुह्येव भामिनी ॥ ४४ ॥
Another, holding a dindima, and likewise clinging to the dindima, sleeps like a lovely woman embracing a young calf.
काचिदाडम्बरं नारी भुजसम्भोगपीडितम् । कृत्वा कमलपत्राक्षी प्रसुप्ता मदमोहिता ॥ ४५ ॥
Some lotus-eyed woman sleeps, bewildered by drink, having made the adambara pressed by the enjoyment of her arms.
कलशीमपविद्ध्यान्या प्रसुप्ता भाति भामिनी । वसन्ते पुष्पशबला मालेव परिमार्जिता ॥ ४६ ॥
Another lovely woman, sleeping, having thrown aside her pitcher, shines like a many-coloured garland of flowers in spring, sprinkled.
पाणिभ्यां च कुचौ काचित् सुवर्णकलशोपमौ । उपगुह्याबला सुप्ता निद्राबलपराजिता ॥ ४७ ॥
Some weak woman sleeps, conquered by the strength of sleep, having embraced with her hands her breasts like golden pitchers.
अन्या कमलपत्राक्षी पूर्णेन्दुसदृशानना । अन्यामालिंग्य सुश्रोणीं प्रसुप्ता मदविह्वला ॥ ४८ ॥
Another, lotus-eyed, her face like the full moon, sleeps, dizzy with drink, having embraced another fair-hipped woman.
आतोद्यानि विचित्राणि परिष्वज्य वरस्त्रियः । निपीड्य च कुचैः सुप्ताः कामिन्यः कामुकानिव ॥ ४९ ॥
Fine women, embracing wonderful instruments and pressing them with their breasts, slept, as loving women their lovers.
तासामेकान्तविन्यस्ते शयानां शयने शुभे । ददर्श रूपसम्पन्नामथ तां स कपिः स्त्रियम् ॥ ५० ॥
Then the monkey saw, lying on a lovely bed set apart from them, that woman endowed with beauty,
मुक्तामणिसमायुक्तैर्भूषणैः सुविभूषिताम् । विभूषयन्तीमिव च स्वश्रिया भवनोत्तमम् ॥ ५१ ॥
well adorned with ornaments joined with pearls and gems, as if adorning the excellent house with her own beauty,
गौरीं कनकवर्णाभामिष्टामन्तःपुरेश्वरीम् । कपिर्मन्दोदरीं तत्र शयानां चारुरूपिणीम् ॥ ५२ ॥
fair, of golden complexion, beloved, mistress of the inner apartments: the monkey saw Mandodari lying there, of lovely form.
स तां दृष्ट्वा महाबाहुर्भूषितां मारुतात्मजः । तर्कयामास सीतेति रूपयौवनसम्पदा । हर्षेण महता युक्तो ननन्द हरियूथपः ॥ ५३ ॥
Seeing her adorned, the mighty-armed son of the wind guessed, “This is Sita,” from her wealth of beauty and youth. Joined with great joy, the leader of monkey troops rejoiced.
आस्फोटयामास चुचुम्ब पुच्छं ननन्द चिक्रीड जगौ जगाम । स्तम्भानरोहन्निपपात भूमौ निदर्शयन् स्वां प्रकृतिं कपीनाम् ॥ ५४ ॥
He slapped his arms, kissed his tail, rejoiced, played, sang, went; he climbed the pillars and fell to the ground, showing his own nature as a monkey.