valmiki ramayana – sundara kanda – chapter 9 hanuman...

“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 9

of 16

Hanuman Searches Ravana’s Palace Summary

This chapter further describes the inner buildings of Ravana's house. Hanuma passes

through a hall filled with Ravana's wives.

Chapter [Sarga] 9 in Detail

tasya aalaya varisthasya madhye vipulam aayatam |

dadarsha bhavana shrestham hanuumaan maaruta aatmajah || 5-9-1

Hanuma, the son of Vayu, saw a best tall building and a wide one in the middle of that

best group of houses.

ardha yojana vistiirnam aayatam yojanam hi tat |

bhavanam raaksasa indrasya bahu praasaada samkulam || 5-9-2

That building of Ravana filled with many edifices was half a Yojana long and one Yojana

tall.

maargamaanah tu vaidehiim siitaam aayata locanaam |

sarvatah paricakraama hanuumaan ari suudanah || 5-9-3

Hanuma, the destructor of enemies, moved around in all directions searching for Seetha

the wide eyed daughter of King of Videha



of 16

uttamam raakshasaavaasam hanumaanavalokayan |

aasasaadaatha lakshmiivaan raakshasendraniveshanam || 5-9-4

catur visaanair dviradaih trivisaanaih tathaiva ca |

pariksiptam asambaadham raksyamaanam udaayudhaih || 5-9-5

Thereafter, Hanuma the glorious one neared and observed the best residence of

Rakshasas and the house of Ravana, containing elephants with four tusks and also those with

three tusks, those with two tusks and still not crowded. It was protected by soldiers bearing raised

weapons.

raaksasiibhih ca patniibhii raavanasya niveshanam |

aahrtaabhih ca vikramya raaja kanyaabhir aavrtam || 5-9-6

tan nakra makara aakiirnam timimgila jhasa aakulam |

vaayu vega samaadhuutam pannagair iva saagaram || 5-9-7

That building surrounded by the wives of Ravana, by demonesses, and princesses

brought by strength, was like an ocean filled with crocodiles, big fishes, sharks and other fishes,

moved by the speed of wind, and together with serpents.

yaa hi vaishvarane laksmiir yaa ca indre hari vaahane |

saa raavana grhe sarvaa nityam eva anapaayinii || 5-9-8

Whatever wealth is at Kubera, whatever riches at Indra with green horses, all that

affluence was at Ravana's house. That wealth was always without reduction.

yaa ca raajnah kuberasya yamasya varunasya ca |

taadrshii tad vishistaa vaa rddhii rakso grhesv iha || 5-9-9

Whatever was the fortune of Kubera the King of Yakshas, of Yama and of Varuna, the

same fortune or even greater treasure was at this house of Ravana.



of 16

tasya harmyasya madhyastham veshma ca anyat sunirmitam |

bahuniryuuha samkiirnam dadarsha pavana aatmajah || 5-9-10

Hanuma saw another house in the middle of that house, a well built one consisting of

many elephants in rut.

brahmano arthe krtam divyam divi yad vishva karmanaa |

vimaanam puspakam naama sarva ratna vibhuusitam ||5-9-11

parena tapasaa lebhe yat kuberah pitaamahaat |

kuberam ojasaa jitvaa lebhe tad raaksasa iishvarah || 5-9-12

Whatever wonderful airplane by the name of Pushpaka, decorated with all kinds of

precious stones, made by Visvakarma in heaven for lord Brahma, whatever plane Kubera

obtained by great austerity from Lord Brahma, Ravana obtained that plane by prowess defeating

Kubera.

iihaa mrga samaayuktaih kaarya svara hiranmayaih |

sukrtair aacitam stambhaih pradiiptam iva ca shriyaa || 5-9-13

meru mandara samkaashair ullikhadbhir iva ambaram |

kuuta agaaraih shubha aakaaraih sarvatah samalamkrtam || 5-9-14

Supported by pillars decorated with images of wolves, with silver and golden hue and

which were well made, radiant with splendor, decorated all around with rooms equaling Mount

Meru and Mount Mandara, as though touching the sky with an auspicious shape.

jvalana arka pratiikaasham sukrtam vishva karmanaa |

hema sopaana samyuktam caaru pravara vedikam || 5-9-15

Well made by Visvakarma and resembling Fire and Sun in splendor, with stairways made

of gold and with beautiful and best platforms;



of 16

jaala vaata ayanair yuktam kaancanaih sthaatikair api |

indra niila mahaa niila mani pravaravedikam || 5-9-16

With windows and ventilation holes made of gold and also made of crystal, with platforms

made of sapphires and emeralds;

vidrumena vichitrena manibhishcha mahaadhanaih |

vistulaabhishcha muktaabhistalenaabhiviraajitam || 5-9-17

Shone by floors embellished with corals of strange hue and with precious stones of great

value, with pearls without comparison;

chandanena cha raktena tapaniiyanibhena cha |

supunyagandhinaa yuktamaadityatarunopamam || 5-9-18

Reddish and resembling gold, together with sandal wood having a good smell and

brilliant like the Sun at noon;

kuutaagaarairvaraakaarairvividhaih samalamkritam |

vimaanam puspakam divyam aaruroha mahaa kapih || 5-9-19

The great Hanuma alighted the best airplane called Pushpaka with an excellent form

decorated by rows of upper floors.

tatrasthah sa tadaa gandham paana bhaksya anna sambhavam |

divyam sammuurchitam jighran ruupavantam iva anilam || 5-9-20

That Hanuma then being there, smelled a wonderful sweet fragrance like wind with an

appearance, created from drinks and foods, including cooked rice diffused on all sides.



of 16

sa gandhah tam mahaa sattvam bandhur bandhum iva uttamam |

ita ehi iti uvaaca iva tatra yatra sa raavanah || 5-9-21

That sweet smell was as though saying thus to that Hanuma: "Come here!", like a relative

to a best relative pointing to there wherever that Ravana was.

tatah taam prasthitah shaalaam dadarsha mahatiim shubhaam |

raavanasya manah kaantaam kaantaam iva vara striyam || 5-9-22

Hanuma started thereafter there (in that direction) and saw an auspicious great hall,

close to heart of Ravana, like a delightful best woman.

mani sopaana vikrtaam hema jaala viraajitaam |

sphaatikair aavrta talaam danta antarita ruupikaam || 5-9-23

That hall was made of stairways embedded with diamonds, decorated with golden

windows, with a floor embellished with crystal, with shapes made from ivory in the middle.

muktaabhih ca pravaalaih ca ruupya caamii karair api |

vibhuusitaam mani stambhaih subahu stambha bhuusitaam || 5-9-24

Well decorated with pearls, corals and also with silver and gold and with diamond

studded pillars and also decorated with many pillars.

namrairrijubhiratyuchchaih samantaatsuvibhuushhitaih |

stambhaih paksair iva atyuccair divam samprasthitaam iva || 5-9-25

By pillars slightly bent with no distortion, which were very tall and well decorated all over,

that hall was as though starting for sky with very high wings.



of 16

mahatyaa kuthaya aastriinam prthivii laksana ankayaa |

prithiviim iva vistiirnaam saraastra grha maaliniim || 5-9-26

Covered by a wonderful large carpet with all earth's characteristics like rivers, mountains,

oceans, forests, painted over, that hall was like the vast earth together with states and rows of

houses.

naaditaam matta vihagair divya gandha adhivaasitaam |

para ardhya aastarana upetaam rakso adhipa nisevitaam || 5-9-27

It was resounded by birds in heat, made fragrant by excellent perfumes, hung with best

tapestries and inhabited by the king of rakshasas

dhuumraam agaru dhuupena vimalaam hamsa paanduraam |

citraam puspa upahaarena kalmaasiim iva suprabhaam || 5-9-28

It was made Smokey by the fumes of agallocum. It was a pure one white like a swan,

wonderful by the decoration of flowers, like divine cow with a great radiance.

manah samhlaada jananiim varnasya api prasaadiniim |

taam shoka naashiniim divyaam shriyah samjananiim iva || 5-9-29

That excellent hall was causing happiness to heart, causing a fair complexion, destroying

sorrow and was as though producing prosperity.

indriyaani indriya arthaih tu panca pancabhir uttamaih |

tarpayaam aasa maataa iva tadaa raavana paalitaa || 5-9-30

Like a mother, then that hall governed by Ravana caused satisfaction to all five sensory

organs with all the excellent five objects of the senses.



of 16

svargo ayam deva loko ayam indrasya iyam purii bhavet |

siddhir vaa iyam paraa hi syaad iti amanyata maarutih || 5-9-31

Hanuma thought thus: "This is heaven! This is indeed the abode of Devas! This is a city

of Indra. This might be the result of a great austerity."

pradhyaayata iva apashyat pradiipaamh tatra kaancanaan (hiatus!)|

dhuurtaan iva mahaa dhuurtair devanena paraajitaan || 5-9-32

Like gamblers defeated by greater gamblers in gambling, Hanuma saw golden hued

lamps being still, as though in thought.

diipaanaam ca prakaashena tejasaa raavanasya ca |

arcirbhir bhuusanaanaam ca pradiiptaa iti abhyamanyata || 5-9-33

Hanuma thought thus: "This building shines by the light of lamps and the brilliance of

Ravana and also due to the radiance of jewelry."

tato apashyat kuthaa aasiinam naanaa varna ambara srajam |

sahasram vara naariinaam naanaa vesa vibhuusitam || 5-9-34

Thereafter Hanuma saw a thousand of best women sitting on the rug with clothing of

various colors and decorated in a variety of ways.

parivrtte ardha raatre tu paana nidraa vasham gatam |

kriiditvaa uparatam raatrau susvaapa balavat tadaa || 5-9-35

Then at the turn of midnight, those women slept deeply resting after playing during night,

with a deep sleep caused by liquor.



of 16

tat prasuptam viruruce nihshabda antara bhuusanam |

nihshabda hamsa bhramaram yathaa padma vanam mahat || 5-9-36

That sleeping group of women, adorned with jewels which were not making sound, shone

like a great park of lotuses with calm swans and bees.

taasaam samvrta dantaani miilita aksaani maarutih |

apashyat padma gandhiini vadanaani suyositaam || 5-9-37

Hanuma saw faces of those best women, with teeth covered by lips with closed eyes and

with lotus fragrance.

prabuddhaani iva padmaani taasaam bhuutvaa ksapaa ksaye |

punah samvrta patraani raatraav iva babhuh tadaa || 5-9-38

At that time, those faces shone which became like lotuses in blossom during day time

and again were like lotuses with closed petals at night.

imaani mukha padmaani niyatam matta satpadaah |

ambujaani iva phullaani praarthayanti punah punah || 5-9-39

Hanuma thought that drunken bees definitely are desiring again and again these lotus

faces like lotuses in blossom.

iti vaa amanyata shriimaan upapattyaa mahaa kapih |

mene hi gunatah taani samaani salila udbhavaih || 5-9-40

The glorious great Hanuma thought as above by recourse to reason. He also thought

thus "Those faces equal lotuses by their qualities such as beauty, fragrance, and others".



of 16

saa tasya shushubhe shaalaa taabhih striibhir viraajitaa |

shaaradii iva prasannaa dyauh taaraabhir abhishobhitaa || 5-9-41

That hall of Ravana's being shone by those women, glittered like a calm cloudless sky in

autumn shone by stars.

sa ca taabhih parivrtah shushubhe raaksasa adhipah |

yathaa hi udu patih shriimaamh taaraabhir abhisamvrtah || 5-9-42

That lord of Rakshasas surrounded by those women shone like the radiant moon

surrounded by stars.

yaah cyavante ambaraat taaraah punya shesa samaavrtaah |

imaah taah samgataah krtsnaa iti mene harih tadaa || 5-9-43

Then Hanuma thought thus: "Whatever meteors together with residue of piety fall down

from the sky, all those meteors had been together as these women".

taaraanaam iva suvyaktam mahatiinaam shubha arcisaam |

prabhaa varna prasaadaah ca virejuh tatra yositaam || 5-9-44

There the luster, complexion and grace of those women clearly resembled great stars

which emitted an auspicious radiance.

vyaavrtta guru piina srak prakiirna vara bhuusanaah |

paana vyaayaama kaalesu nidraa apahrta cetasah || 5-9-45

Those women with disheveled [marked by disorder or disarray] large thick garlands and

scattered excellent jewels during the time of drinking, dancing etc., were with consciousness

stolen by sleep.



of 16

vyaavrtta tilakaah kaashcit kaashcid udbhraanta nuupuraah |

paarshve galita haaraah ca kaashcit parama yositah || 5-9-46

Best women with disturbed sacred marks (tilaka) on forehead became with displaced

anklets, became with necklaces fallen off to side.

mukhaa haara vrtaah ca anyaah kaashcit prasrasta vaasasah |

vyaaviddha rashanaa daamaah kishorya iva vaahitaah || 5-9-47

Some other women became tied with pearl necklaces; some others became with tied-up

waist ornaments (and) resembled young female horses who had walked long.

sukundala dharaah ca anyaa vicchinna mrdita srajah |

gaja indra mrditaah phullaa lataa iva mahaa vane || 5-9-48

Some others wearing nice earrings with flower garlands that were torn and disturbed,

resembled creepers, tread upon by an elephant in a big forest.

candra amshu kirana aabhaah ca haaraah kaasaamcid utkataah |

hamsaa iva babhuh suptaah stana madhyesu yositaam || 5-9-49

Big pearl necklaces with the radiance of moon-rays in the middle of breasts of some

other women shone like sleeping swans.

aparaasaam ca vaiduuryaah kaadambaa iva paksinah |

hema suutraani ca anyaasaam cakra vaakaa iva abhavan || 5-9-50

And of some other women, necklaces made with cat's eye gems resembled birds called

Kadambas and for some others golden chains were like Chakrawaka birds.



of 16

hamsa kaarandava aakiirnaah cakra vaaka upashobhitaah |

aapagaa iva taa rejur jaghanaih pulinair iva || 5-9-51

Those women with buttocks resembling sand dunes, shone like rivers filled with swans

and birds called Karandas and decorated by Chakrawaka birds.

kinkinii jaala samkaashaah taa hema vipula ambujaah |

bhaava graahaa yashah tiiraah suptaa nadya iva aababhuh || 5-9-52

Those sleeping women shone like rivers with their smiles as flower buds, with golden

jewelry as big lotuses, with their behaviors as crocodiles, with fame as banks.

mridusv angesu kaasaamcit kuca agresu ca samsthitaah |

babhuuvur bhuusanaani iva shubhaa bhuusana raajayah || 5-9-53

Auspicious lines of decoration which were on smooth parts of some other women and on

nipples were like jewelry.

amshu kaantaah ca kaasaamcin mukha maaruta kampitaah |

upari upari vaktraanaam vyaadhuuyante punah punah || 5-9-54

Edges of clothing (worn by them) disturbed by air from breathing of some other women,

were being fluttered again and again on their faces.

taah paataakaa iva uddhuutaah patniinaam rucira prabhaah |

naanaa varna suvarnaanaam vaktra muulesu rejire || 5-9-55

Those edges of clothes with various beautiful colors, shone at the base of Ravana's

wives' throats like hoisted flags of beautiful shine.



of 16

vavalguh ca atra kaasaamcit kundalaani shubha arcisaam |

mukha maaruta samsargaan mandam mandam suyositaam || 5-9-56

Here ear-rings of some beautiful women with a good glory also moved lightly due to the

air from breathing of those women.

sharkara aasava gandhah sa prakrtyaa surabhih sukhah |

taasaam vadana nihshvaasah siseve raavanam tadaa || 5-9-57

Then comforting breath from the faces of those women, by nature fragrant with the smell

of liquor made of Sarkara [sugar], served Ravana.

raavana aanana shankaah ca kaashcid raavana yositah |

mukhaani sma sapatniinaam upaajighran punah punah || 5-9-58

Some women of Ravana smelled co-wives' faces again and again imagining them to be

face of Ravana.

atyartham sakta manaso raavane taa vara striyah |

asvatantraah sapatniinaam priyam eva aacaramh tadaa || 5-9-59

Those best women with greatly devoted mind in Ravana, then not being on own will,

brought delight only to their co-wives.

baahuun upanidhaaya anyaah paarihaarya vibhuusitaah |

amshukaani ca ramyaani pramadaah tatra shishyire || 5-9-60

Some other women slept there, making as pillows their arms decorated with bracelets

and beautiful clothes.



of 16

anyaa vaksasi ca anyasyaah tasyaah kaacit punar bhujam |

aparaa tv ankam anyasyaah tasyaah ca api aparaa bhujau || 5-9-61

Another woman slept on another's bosom, again another woman slept on her shoulder,

another woman slept on another woman's thigh and another slept on her breasts.

uuru paarshva katii prstham anyonyasya samaashritaah |

paraspara nivista angyo mada sneha vasha anugaah || 5-9-62

Overcome with heat and friendship, they resorted to thighs, sides, waist and back of one

another, with mutual limbs placed on one another.

anyonyasya anga samsparshaat priiyamaanaah sumadhyamaah |

ekii krta bhujaah sarvaah susupuh tatra yositah

anyonya bhuja suutrena strii maalaa grathitaa hi saa |

maalaa iva grathitaa suutre shushubhe matta satpadaa || 5-9-63

That garland of women tied with the rope of each other's shoulders shone like a flower

garland with dragon flies on it tied in thread.

lataanaam maadhave maasi phullaanaam vaayu sevanaat |

anyonya maalaa grathitam samsakta kusuma uccayam || 5-9-64

vyativestita suskantham anyonya bhramara aakulam |

aasiid vanam iva uddhuutam strii vanam raavanasya tat || 5-9-65

That group of women of Ravana, tied by each other as garland with mixed group of

flowers, with beautiful shoulders entwined promiscuously, hair like an exalted garden with a

flower garland tied together of creepers in bloom due to the caress of the lord of wind in the

vernal in the month of Vaisakha, with entwined beautiful trees.



of 16

ucitesv api suvyaktam na taasaam yositaam tadaa |

vivekah shakya aadhaatum bhuusana anga ambara srajaam || 5-9-66

Then it was not possible to make clear the knowledge of jewelry, body parts and clothes

of those women even for those used to them.

raavane sukha samviste taah striyo vividha prabhaah |

jvalantah kaancanaa diipaah preksanta animisaa iva || 5-9-67

While Ravana slept comfortably, golden lamps shining brilliant, were as though seeing

without closing eyes, those women of various glows.

raaja rsi pitr daityaanaam gandharvaanaam ca yositah |

raksasaam ca abhavan kanyaah tasya kaama vasham gataah || 5-9-68

Women of royal sages, Brahmanas and demons and of Gandharvas, of Rakshasas - all

those unmarried girls surrendered from lust to Ravana.

yuddhakaamena taah sarvaa raavanena hritaah striyah |

samadaa madanenaiva mohitaah kaashchidaagataah || 5-9-69

All those women had been stolen by Ravana with a desire for war, some together with

heat of youth obtained Ravana being desired by god of love.

na tatra kaacit pramadaa prasahya |

viirya upapannena gunena labdhaa |

na ca anya kaamaa api na ca anya puurvaa |

vinaa vara arhaam janaka aatmajaam tu || 5-9-70

There, even one woman had not been obtained forcefully by the strong Ravana, except

for that daughter of Janaka, Seetha. Every other woman had been obtained by her character

alone and there was no woman who had desire in another man, and there also was none with

another lover.



of 16

na ca akuliinaa na ca hiina ruupaa |

na adaksinaa na anupacaara yuktaa |

bhaaryaa abhavat tasya na hiina sattvaa |

na ca api kaantasya na kaamaniiyaa || 5-9-71

And there was no wife of his without a good lineage, there was no one with less beauty,

no one without skill, no one without service, none with low intellect, no one without causing desire

to lover.

babhuuva buddhih tu hari iishvarasya |

yadi iidrshii raaghava dharma patnii |

imaa yathaa raaksasa raaja bhaaryaah |

sujaatam asya iti hi saadhu buddheh || 5-9-72

Following thought occurred to Hanuma with a pious mind: "It would have been good for

this Ravana if the virtuous wife of Rama had been left happy with her husband in the same such

manner as these wives of the king of rakshasas."

punah ca so acintayad aarta ruupo |

dhruvam vishistaa gunato hi siitaa |

atha ayam asyaam krtavaan mahaatmaa |

lankaa iishvarah kastam anaarya karma || 5-9-73

Hanuma became gloomy and thought thus: "Seetha is definitely the best by virtues; then

this lord of Lanka even though being great otherwise, did an evil and an un-gentlemanly deed

with her.



of 16

iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye sundara kaande navamah sargah

Thus, this is the 9th chapter in Sundara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem

of India.

Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate

References

Durga, Kishore Kopalle, and K. M. K. Murthy. (2001). Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty.

Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.

Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.

valmiki ramayana – sundara kanda – chapter 9 hanuman...

Documents