Sundarakanda Sarga 11: Survey of the Banquet Hall (Full Text & Meaning)
Sundarakanda Sarga 11: Survey of the Banquet Hall (Full Text & Meaning)
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RRead Sundarakanda Sarga 11 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. Hanumān searches the dining halls and banquet areas. He reflects on the ethics of his search, questioning if his presence in the inner apartments of other women is righteous, but concludes his intent is pure: the recovery of the Mother of the Universe. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 48 | Primary Character: Hanuman (Maruti) | Key Events: Pānabhūmi-Darśana (Survey of the Feast), Dharma-Saṅkaṭa-Vicāra (Ethical Deliberation), Sītā-Anvēṣaṇa-Saṅkalpa (Continued Search Resolve) | Location: Ravana's Banquet Hall |
avadhūya ca tāṅ buddhiṅ babhūvāvasthitastadā | jagāma cāparāṅ cintāṅ sītāṅ prati mahākapiḥ || 1 na rāmēṇa viyuktā sā svaptumarhati bhāminī | na bhōktuṅ vāpyalaṅkartuṅ na pānamupasēvitum || 2
Having shaken off the thought that Mandodari might be Sītā, Hanuman settled into a new deliberation. He reasoned that a woman separated from Rāma would neither sleep peacefully, nor partake in food, nor enjoy intoxicating drinks or ornaments. (1 - 2)
nānyaṅ naramupasthātuṅ surāṇāmapi cēśvaram | na hi rāmasamaḥ kaścidvidyatē tridaśēṣvapi || 3 anyēyamiti niścitya pānabhūmau cacāra saḥ | pānabhūmau hariśrēṣṭhaḥ sītāsaṁdarśanōtsukaḥ || 4
He concluded Sītā would never serve another man, even the Lord of the gods, as no one equals Rāma. Confirming the woman he saw was someone else, Hanuman continued his search through the banquet hall, eager to find Janaki. (3 - 4)
krīḍitēnāparāḥ klāntāḥ gītēna ca tathā.parāḥ | nṛttēna cāparāḥ klāntāḥ pānaviprahatāstathā || 5
murajēṣu mṛdaṅgēṣu pīṭhikāsu ca saṅsthitāḥ | tathā৷৷staraṇamukhyēṣu saṅviṣṭāścāparāḥ striyaḥ || 6
In the banquet hall, women lay exhausted from singing, dancing, and nightly entertainment, many overcome by intoxication. Some were sleeping directly on musical instruments like murajas and mṛdaṅgas, or on platforms and fine bedspreads. (5 - 6)
aṅganānāṅ sahasrēṇa bhūṣitēna vibhūṣaṇaiḥ | rūpasallāpaśīlēna yuktagītārthabhāṣiṇā || 7
dēśakālābhiyuktēna yuktavākyābhidhāyinā | ratābhiratasaṅsuptaṅ dadarśa hariyūthapaḥ || 8
Hanuman observed Rāvaṇa sleeping deeply, surrounded by a thousand women adorned with ornaments. These women were noted for their beauty, their skill in discussing song lyrics, and their ability to speak appropriately according to time and place. (7 - 8)
anyatrāpi varastrīṇāṁ rūpasaṁlāpaśālinām | sahasraṁ yuvatīnāṁ tu prasuptaṁ sa dadarśa ha || 9
tāsāṁ madhyē mahāmāhuḥ śuśubhē rākṣasēśvaraḥ | gōṣṭhē mahati mukhyānāṁ gavāṁ madhyē yathā vr̥ṣaḥ || 10
Elsewhere, he saw another thousand young, excellent ladies lying fast asleep. In their midst, Rāvaṇa shone like a magnificent bull among the finest cows in a great herd. (9 - 10)
sa rākṣasēndraḥ śuśubhē tābhiḥ parivṛtassvayam | karēṇubhiryathā.raṇyē parikīrṇō mahādvipaḥ || 11
sarvakāmairupētāṅ ca pānabhūmiṅ mahātmanaḥ | dadarśa hariśārdūlāḥ tasya rakṣaḥpatērgṛhē || 12
Rāvaṇa appeared like a great wild elephant encircled by female elephants in a forest. Hanuman surveyed the banquet hall, which was filled with every imaginable luxury and desirable object. (11 - 12)
mṛgāṇāṅ mahiṣāṇāṅ ca varāhāṇāṅ ca bhāgaśaḥ | tatra nyastāni māṅsāni pānabhūmau dadarśa saḥ|| 13 raukmēṣu ca viśālēṣu bhājanēṣvardhabhakṣitān | dadarśa hariśārdūlō mayūrān kukkuṭāṅstathā || 14
Hanuman saw portions of meat from deer, buffaloes, and wild boars scattered across the banquet area. In large golden vessels lay half-eaten peacocks and chickens. (13 - 14)
varāhavārdhrāṇasakān dadhisauvarcalāyutān | śalyān mṛgamayūrāṅśca hanumānanvavaikṣata|| 15 krakarānvividhān siddhāṅ cakōrānardhabhakṣitān | mahiṣānēkaśalyāṅśca chāgāṅśca kṛtaniṣṭhitān|| 16
He observed dishes of wild boar, porcupine, and hedgehog mixed with curd and black salt. Various prepared birds like krakaras and cakoras lay half-eaten alongside fully prepared buffalo and goat dishes. (15 - 16)
lēhyānuccāvacān pēyān bhōjyāni vividhāni ca | tathā৷৷mlalavaṇōttaṅsaiḥ rvividhai rāgaṣāḍabaiḥ|| 17 hāranūpurakēyūraiḥ apaviddhairmahādhanaiḥ | pānabhājanavikṣiptaiḥ phalaiśca vividhairapi|| 18
The hall featured diverse foods to be licked, drunk, and eaten, seasoned with sour and salty tastes. Scattered among the food were valuable cast-off necklaces, anklets, and armlets, along with drinking vessels filled with wine. (17 - 18)
kṛtapuṣpōpahārā bhūradhikaṅ puṣyati śriyam | tatra tatra ca vinyastaiḥ suśliṣṭai śśayanāsanaiḥ|| 19 pānabhūmirvinā vahniṅ pradīptēvōpalakṣyatē | bahuprakārairvividhaiḥ varasaṅskāra saṅskṛtaiḥ|| 20
The ground, covered in flower offerings and comfortable couches, appeared to glow with splendor even without a fire. Expertly seasoned meats and skillfully mixed dishes were spread throughout the hall. (19 - 20)
māṅsaiḥ kuśalasampṛktaiḥ pānabhūmigataiḥ pṛthak | divyāḥ prasannā vividhāḥ surāḥ kṛtasurā api.thak|| 21 śarkarā.savamādhvīka puṣpāsava phalāsavāḥ | vāsacūrṇaiśca vividhai dṛṣṭāstaistaiḥ pṛthak pṛthak|| 22
Various clear wines and spirits were present, including rum made from sugar, honey-liquor, and spirits distilled from flowers and fruits, each distinct and fragrant. (21 - 22)
santatā śuśubhē bhūmiḥ mālyaiśca bahusaṅsthitaiḥ | hiraṇmayaiśca vividhaiḥ bhājanaiḥ sphāṭikairapi|| 23 jāmbūnadamayaiścānyaiḥ karakairabhisaṅvṛtā | rājatēṣu ca kumbhēṣu jāmbūnadamayēṣu ca|| 24
The floor was a beautiful sight, scattered with heaps of garlands and vessels made of gold, crystal, and silver. (23 - 24)
pānaśrēṣṭhaṅ tadā bhūri kapistatra dadarśa saḥ | sō.paśya cchātakumbhāni sīdhōrmalāmaṇimayāni ca|| 25 rājatāni ca pūrṇāni bhājanāni mahākapiḥ | kvacidalpāvaśēṣāṇi kvacitpītāni sarvaśaḥ|| 26
Hanuman saw a vast quantity of the finest liquors in vessels made of gold, gems, and silver. Some were full, some had only residue or foam, and others were completely empty. (25 - 26)
kvacinnaiva prapītāni pānāni sa dadarśa ha | kvacid bhakṣyāṅśca vividhān kvacitpānāni bhāgaśaḥ | kvacidannāvaśēṣāṇi paśyanvai vicacāra ha|| 27 kvacitprabhinnaiḥ karakaiḥ kvacidālōlitairghaṭaiḥ | kvacit saṅpṛktamālyāni jalāni ca phalāni ca|| 28
He noticed untasted drinks alongside food remains and spilled pots. In some areas, water and fruits were found mixed with discarded garlands. (27 - 28)
śayanānyatra nārīṇāṅ śubhrāṇi bahudhā punaḥ | parasparaṅ samāśliṣya kāścitsuptā varāṅganāḥ|| 29 kāścicca vastramanyasyāḥ svapantyāḥ paridhāya ca | āhṛtya cābalāḥ suptā nidrābalaparājitāḥ|| 30
Beautiful women slept on white couches, some embracing each other in their slumber. Others, overcome by sleep, had inadvertently pulled blankets from their companions. (29 - 30)
tāsāmucchavāsavātēna vastraṅ mālyaṅ ca gātrajam | nātyarthaṅ spandatē citraṅ prāpya mandamivānilam|| 31 candanasya ca śītasya śīdhōrmadhurasasya ca | vividhasya ca mālyasya dhūpasya vividhasya ca|| 32
The breath of the sleeping women moved their garments and ornaments like a gentle breeze. The air was thick with the scent of cool sandalwood, sweet liquor, fragrant garlands, and incense. (31 - 32)
bahudhā mārutastatra gandhaṅ vividhamudvahan | rasānāṅ candanānāṅ ca dhūpānāṅ caiva mūrchitaḥ|| 33 pravavau surabhirgandhō vimānē puṣpakē tadā | śyāmāvadātāstatrānyāḥ kāścitkṛṣṇā varāṅganāḥ|| 34
A fragrant breeze, intensified by the various perfumes and spirits, blew through the Puṣpaka Vimana. Hanuman saw women of all complexions—dusky-fair, dark, and gold-hued—lying like sleeping lotus flowers. (33 - 34)
kāścit kāñcanavarṇāṅgyaḥ pramadā rākṣasālayē | tāsāṅ nidrāvaśatvācca madanēna vimūrchitam|| 35 padminīnāṅ prasuptānāṅ rūpamāsīdyathaiva hi | ēvaṅ sarvamaśēṣēṇa rāvaṇāntaḥ puraṅ kapiḥ dadarśa sumahātējāḥ na dadarśa ca jānakīm|| 36
The scene resembled a field of sleeping lotuses, yet despite searching the entire inner palace in great detail, Hanuman did not find Jānakī. (35 - 36)
nirīkṣamāṇaśca tadā tāḥ striyaḥ sa mahākapiḥ | jagāma mahatīṅ cintāṅ dharmasādhvasaśaṅkitaḥ|| 37 paradārāvarōdhasya prasuptasya nirīkṣaṇam | idaṅ khalu mamātyarthaṅ dharmalōpaṅ kariṣyati|| 38
Seeing the sleeping women, Hanuman began to worry if he had committed a grave lapse in Dharma by observing other men's wives in their slumber. (37 - 38)
na hi mē paradārāṇāṅ dṛṣṭirviṣayavartini | ayaṅ cātra mayā dṛṣṭaḥ paradārāparigrahaḥ|| 39 tasya prādurabhūccintā punaranyā manasvinaḥ | niścitaikāntacittasya kāryaniścayadarśinī|| 40
He reflected that his gaze never dwells on the allure of other wives, yet his mission forced him to look upon those held by Rāvaṇa. However, a reassuring thought arose, resolving his conflict. (39 - 40)
kāmaṅ dṛṣṭā mayā sarvā viśvastā rāvaṇastriyaḥ | na hi mē manasaḥ kiñcidvaikṛtyamupajāyatē|| 41 manō hi hētuḥ sarvēṣām indriyāṇāṅ pravartanē | śubhāśubhāsvavasthāsu tacca mē suvyavasthitam|| 42
He realized that although he had seen the women, his mind remained completely undisturbed and pure. He reasoned that since the mind is the true motive for the senses' actions, and his mind was well-controlled, no sin was committed. (41 - 42)
nānyatra hi mayā śakyā vaidēhī parimārgitum | striyō hi strīṣu dṛśyantē sadā samparimārgaṇē|| 43 yasya sattvasya yā yōnistasyāṅ tatparimārgyatē | na śakyā pramadā naṣṭā mṛgīṣu parimārgitum|| 44
Hanuman further justified his search, noting that a lost woman must be searched for among other women; one cannot find a woman by searching among deer. (43 - 44)
tadidaṅ mārgitaṅ tāvacchuddhēna manasā mayā | rāvaṇāntaḥpuraṅ sarvaṅ dṛśyatē na tu jānakī|| 45 dēvagandharvakanyāśca nāgakanyāśca vīryavān | avēkṣamāṇō hanumān naivāpaśyata jānakīm|| 46
Having searched the entire palace with a pure mind and encountering celestial maidens of all kinds, he still could not find Sītā. (45 - 46)
tāmapaśyankapistatra paśyañścānyā parastriyaḥ | apakramya tadā vīraḥ pradhyātumupacakramē|| 47 sa bhūyastu paraṅ śrīmān mārutiryatnamāsthitaḥ | āpānabhūmimutsṛjya tadvicētuṅ pracakramē || 48
Moving away from the banquet hall, the heroic Hanuman began to deliberate deeply once more. He abandoned the scene of revelry and applied his utmost effort to search elsewhere. (47 - 48)
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde ēkādaśassargaḥ
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