Sundarakanda Sarga 10: The Sight of Mandodari (Full Text & Meaning)
Sundarakanda Sarga 10: The Sight of Mandodari (Full Text & Meaning)
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Read Sundarakanda Sarga 10 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. For the first time, Hanumān sees the Rākṣasa king, Ravana, asleep in his chamber. Behold the description of Ravana’s formidable physique, his massive arms, and his kingly radiance, which both impresses and terrifies the Vānara hero. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 54 | Primary Character: Hanuman (Maruti), Ravana, & Mandodari | Key Events: Rāvaṇa-Darśanam (Glimpse of Ravana), Saṅgīta-Vādyaka-Varṇanam (Description of Musical Wives), Mandōdarī-Bhrānti (Mistaking Mandodari for Sita) | Location: Ravana's Inner Bedchamber |
tatra divyōpamaṅ mukhyaṅ sphāṭikaṅ ratnabhūṣitam | avēkṣamāṇō hanumān dadarśa śayanāsanam || 1 dāntakāñcanacitrāṅgairvaiḍūryaiśca varāsanaiḥ | mahārhāstaraṇōpētaiḥ upapannaṅ mahādhanaiḥ || 2
Searching meticulously for Sita Devi inside the majestic hall, Hanuman spotted a magnificent couch crafted from clear quartz crystal and precious gems. The luxurious piece featured exquisite ivory inlay and gold designs, appearing truly celestial and divine. (1 - 2)
tasya caikatamē dēśē sō.gyramālāvibhūṣitam | dadarśa pāṇḍuraṅ chatraṅ tārādhipatisannibham|| 3 jātarūpaparikṣiptaṅ citrabhānusamaprabham aśōkamālāvitataṅ dadarśa paramāsanam|| 4
Above the bed, Hanuman noticed a radiant umbrella adorned with garlands, shining like the moon, and a divine bed built from gold that radiated like sun rays. (3 - 4)
vālavyajanahastābhiḥ vījyamānaṅ samantataḥ | gandhaiśca vividhairjuṣṭaṅ varadhūpēna dhūpitam|| 5 paramāstaraṇāstīrṇam āvikājinasaṅvṛtam | dāmabhirvaramālyānāṅ samantādupaśōbhitam|| 6
The bed was being fanned by women holding fly-whisks and was filled with the scent of various perfumes and excellent incense. It was covered with the finest bedspreads and adorned all around with garlands. (5 - 6)
tasmin jīmūtasaṅkāśaṅ pradīptōttamakuṇḍalam | lōhitākṣaṅ mahābāhuṅ mahārajatavāsasam|| 7 lōhitēnānuliptāṅgaṅ candanēna sugandhinā | sandhyāraktamivākāśē tōyadaṅ sataṭidgaṇam|| 8 vṛtamābharaṇairdivyaiḥ surūpaṅ kāmarūpiṇam | savṛkṣavanagulmāḍhyaṅ prasuptamiva mandaram|| 9 krīḍitvōparataṅ rātrau varābharaṇabhūṣitam | priyaṅ rākṣasakanyānāṅ rākṣasānāṅ sukhāvaham|| 10 pītvā.pyuparataṅ cāpi dadarśa sa mahākapiḥ | bhāsvarē śayanē vīraṅ prasuptaṅ rākṣasādhipam || 11
Ravana, the valiant king of the Rākṣasas, lay sound asleep, resembling a dark cloud and wearing brilliantly shining earrings. His body, dressed in gold-threaded garments and smeared with red sandalwood, looked like a dark cloud in the evening sky accompanied by flashes of lightning. Handsome and surrounded by divine ornaments, he appeared as if Mount Mandara was in a deep slumber. (7 - 11)
niḥśvasantaṅ yathā nāgaṅ rāvaṇaṅ vānararṣabhaḥ | āsādya paramōdvignaḥ sōpāsarpat subhītavat || 12
Hanuman became agitated as he approached Rāvaṇa, whose heavy breathing was like the snore of an elephant. Thinking it better to stay away from the scoundrel, Hanuman cautiously moved away, simulating a look of fright. (12)
athā৷৷rōhaṇamāsādya vēdikā.ntaramāśritaḥ | suptaṅ rākṣasaśārdūlaṅ prēkṣatē sma mahākapiḥ || 13
Having resorted to another platform, Hanuman observed the sleeping Ravana. (13)
śuśubhē rākṣasēndrasya svapataḥ śayanōttamam | gandhahastini saṅviṣṭē yathā prasravaṇaṅ mahat || 14
The magnificent bed resembled a great pond approached by an elephant in musth. (14)
kāñcanāṅgadasannadhdai ca dadarśa sa mahātmanaḥ | vikṣiptau rākṣasēndrasya bhujāvindradhvajōpamau || 15
airāvataviṣāṇāgraiḥ āpīḍanakṛtavraṇau | vajrōllikhitapīnāṅsau viṣṇucakraparikṣatau || 16
pīnau samasujātāṅsau saṅgatau balasaṅyutau | sulakṣaṇana khāṅguṣṭhā svaṅgulītalalakṣitau || 17
saṅhatau parighākārau vṛttau karikarōpamau | vikṣiptau śayanē śubhrē pañcaśīrṣāvivōragau || 18
śaśakṣatajakalpēna suśītēna sugandhinā | candanēna parārdhyēna svanuliptau svalaṅkṛtau৷ || 19
uttamastrī vimṛditau gandhōttamaniṣēvitau | yakṣapannaga gandharva dēvadānavarāviṇau || 20
dadarśa sa kapistatra bāhū śayanasaṅsthitau | mandarasyāṅtarē suptau mahāhī ruṣitāviva ||21
Hanuman saw Ravana's two stretched-out arms, which resembled the banner of Indra and bore scars from battles with Airāvata, Indra's Vajra, and Viṣṇu's discus. Firm like war-clubs and round like elephant trunks, they appeared like two enraged five-headed serpents. Anointed with red sandalwood and massaged by the finest women, these arms had defeated Devas and Dānavas alike. (15 - 21)
tābhyāṅ sa paripūrṇābhyāṅ bhujābhyāṅ rākṣasēśvaraḥ | śuśubhē.calasaṅkāḥ śṛṅgābhyāmiva mandaraḥ ||22
With those mighty arms, the lord of the Rākṣasas shone brilliantly, like Mount Mandara with its two peaks. (22)
cūtapunnāga surabhiḥ vakulōttamasaṅyutaḥ | mṛṣṭānnarasa saṅyuktaḥ pānagandhapuraskṛtaḥ || 23
tasya rākṣasasiṅhasya niścakrāma mahāmukhāt | śayānasya viniḥśvāsaḥ pūrayanniva tad gṛham || 24
The exhalation (breath) that came out from the great mouth of that sleeping Ravana was fragrant with mango, Nāgakeśara, and Bakula flowers, mixed with the scent of well-prepared, flavorful food, and prominently the aroma of liquor. It seemed to fill the entire chamber. (23 - 24)
muktāmaṇivicitrēṇa kāñcanēna virājitam | makuṭēnāpavṛttēna kuṇḍalōjvalitānanam || 25
raktacandana digdhēna tathā hārēṇa śōbhinā | pīnāyataviśālēna vakṣasā.bhivirājitam || 26
pāṇḍarēṇāpaviddhēna kṣaumēṇa kṣatajēkṣaṇam | mahārhēṇa susaṅvītaṅ pītēnōttamavāsasā || 27
māṣarāśipratīkāśaṅ niśśvasantaṅ bhujaṅgavat | gāṅgē mahati tōyāntē prasuptamiva kuñjaram || 28
caturbhiḥ kāñcanairdīpaiḥ dīpyamānacaturdiśam | prakāśīkṛta sarvāṅgaṅ mēghaṅ vidyudgaṇairiva || 29
pādamūlagatāścāpi dadarśa sumahātmanaḥ. patnī: sa priyabhāryasya tasya rakṣaḥpatērgṛhē || 30
His face was shining, illuminated by brilliant earrings and a slightly tilted golden crown adorned with gems. He was splendid with a garland, his broad chest smeared with red sandalwood paste. His eyes were red from intoxication, and he was wrapped in an excellent yellow upper garment. Dark like a huge pile of black gram, breathing like the hissing of a serpent, he lay like a massive elephant sound asleep on the bank of river Ganga. His entire body was illuminated by four golden lamps shining in the four directions. Hanuman saw the wives of Ravana, positioned at the foot of his bed. (25 - 30)
śaśiprakāśavadanāḥ cārukuṇḍalabhūṣitāḥ | amlānamālyābharaṇā dadarśa hariyūthapaḥ || 31
Hanuman saw the wives, whose faces shone like the moon, adorned with beautiful earrings and unwithered garlands and ornaments. (31)
nṛttavāditrakuśalāḥ rākṣasēndrabhujāṅkagāḥ | varābharaṇadhāriṇyaḥ niṣaṇṇā dadṛśē hariḥ || 32 vajravaiḍūrya garbhāṇi śravaṇāntēṣu yōṣitām | dadarśa tāpanīyāni kuṇḍalānyaṅgadāni ca || 33
The Kapishwara saw the women who were skilled in dance and music, wearing golden earrings containing diamonds and vaiḍūrya. (32 - 33)
tāsāṅ candrōpamairvaktraiḥ śubhairlalitakuṇḍalaiḥ | virarāja vimānaṅ tat nabhastārāgaṇairiva || 34 madavyāyāmakhinnāstā rākṣasēndrasya yōṣitaḥ | tēṣu tēṣvavakāśēṣu prasuptā stanumadhyamāḥ || 35 aṅgahāraistathaivānyā kōmalairnṛttaśālinī | vinyastaśubhasarvāṅgī prasuptā varavarṇin || 36
The chamber shone with their moon-like faces, just like the sky with clusters of stars. The slender-waisted women, exhausted from the night's revelry, fell asleep wherever they were. Another beautiful woman, skilled in dance, was fast asleep, her body posed as if still in the midst of her performance. (34 - 36)
kācidvīṇāṅ pariṣvajya prasuptā samprakāśatē | mahānadī prakīrṇēva nalinī pōtamāśritā || 37 anyā kakṣagatēnaiva maḍḍukēnāsitēkṣaṇā | prasuptā bhāminī bhāti bālaputrēva vatsalā || 38 paṭahaṅ cārusarvāṅgī pīḍya śētē śubhastanī | cirasya ramaṇaṅ labdhvā pariṣvajyēva bhāmin || 39 kācidvaṅśaṅ pariṣvajya suptā kamalalōcanā | rahaḥ priyatamaṅ gṛhya sakāmēva ca kāminī || 40 vipañcīṅ parigṛhyānyā niyatā nṛttaśālinī | nidrāvaśamanuprāptā saha kāntēva bhāminī || 41 anyā kanakasaṅkāśaiḥ mṛdupīnairmanōramaiḥ | mṛdaṅgaṅ paripīḍyāṅgaiḥ prasuptā mattalōcanā || 42 bhujapārśvāntarasthēna kakṣagēna kṛśōdarī | paṇavēva sahānindyā suptā madakṛtaśramā || 43 ḍiṇḍimaṅ parigṛhyānyā tathaivāsaktaḍiṇḍimā | prasuptā taruṇaṅ vatsamupagūhyēva bhāminī || 44 kācidāḍambaraṅ nārī bhujasaṅyōgapīḍitam | kṛtvā kamalapatrākṣī prasuptā madamōhitā || 45
The women lay embracing their instruments: a Vīṇā, a maḍḍuka drum, a paṭaha, a venu flute, a Vipañcī, and a Mṛdaṅga. They looked as if they were affectionately clutching infants or secretly holding dearest lovers. (37 - 45)
kalaśīmapavidhyānyā prasuptā bhāti bhāminī | vasantē puṣpaśabalā mālēva parimārjitā || 46 pāṇibhyāṅ ca kucau kācit suvarṇakalaśōpamau | upagūhyābalā suptā nidrābalaparājitā || 47 anyā kamalapatrākṣī pūrṇēndusadṛśānanā | anyāmāliṅgya suśrōṇīṅ prasuptā madavihvalā || 48 ātōdyāni vicitrāṇi pariṣvajya varastriyaḥ | nipīḍya ca kucaissuptā kāminyaḥ kāmukāniva || 49
One woman lay drenched in rose water from an overturned pot; another embraced her golden breasts. Some slept embracing their musical instruments or each other, like passionate women with their lovers. (46 - 49)
tāsāmēkāntvinyastē śayānāṅ śayanē śubhē | dadarśa rūpasampannām aparāṅ sa kapiḥ striyam || 50
muktāmaṇisamāyuktaiḥ bhūṣaṇaiḥ suvibhūṣitām | vibhūṣayantīmiva tatsvaśriyā bhavanōttamam || 51
gaurīṅ kanakavarṇābhāmiṣṭāmantaḥ purēśvarīm | kapirmandōdarīṅ tatra śayānāṅ cārurūpiṇīm || 52
Apart from the rest, Hanuman saw another woman of great beauty on a splendid bed, adorned with pearls and gems. Hanuman saw lying there that beautiful woman, who was fair, had the luster of gold, and was the beloved queen of that city, mandōdarī. (50 - 52)
sa tāṅ dṛṣṭvā mahābāhuḥ bhūṣitāṅ mārutātmajaḥ | tarkayāmāsa sītēti rūpayauvanasampadā | harṣēṇa mahatā yuktō nananda hariyūthapaḥ || 53
The Vayuputra Hanuman, seeing that adorned woman, concluded she was Sītā due to her wealth of beauty and youth. Hanuman, filled with great joy, became delighted. (53)
āsphōṭayāmāsa cucumba pucchaṅ nananda cikrīḍa jagau jagāma | stambhānarōha nnipapāta bhūmau nidarśayan svāṅ prakṛtiṅ kapīnām || 54
Hanuman, believing he found Sītā Devī, clapped his hands, slapped his shoulders, kissed his tail, rejoiced, and sang. He climbed the pillars and fell to the ground, displaying the inherent nature of the Vanaras. (54)
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde daśamassargaḥ
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