---
title: "Sundara Kanda, Sarga 12"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/sundara-kanda/sarga-12"
lang: "en"
---

# Sundara Kanda, Sarga 12

> स तस्य मध्ये भवनस्य संस्थितो  
> लतागृहांश्चित्रगृहान् निशागृहान्।  
> जगाम सीतां प्रतिदर्शनोत्सुको  
> न चैव तां पश्यति चारुदर्शनाम्॥ १॥

Remaining stationed within the four walls of that palace, Hanumān, who was keen to discover Sītā, visited the arbours, picture galleries and dormitories, but did not perceive that lady of charming looks. (1)

> स चिन्तयामास ततो महाकपिः  
> प्रियामपश्यन् रघुनन्दनस्य ताम्।  
> ध्रुवं न सीता ध्रियते यथा न मे  
> विचिन्वतो दर्शनमेति मैथिली॥ २॥

Not finding that beloved consort of Śrī Rāma (the delight of the Raghus), that great monkey, Hanumān, thereupon reflected as follows : ‘Undoubtedly Sītā does not survive, in that the princess of Mithilā does not meet my eye even though I continue to look for her. (2)

> सा राक्षसानां प्रवरेण जानकी  
> स्वशीलसंरक्षणतत्परा सती।  
> अनेन नूनं प्रति दुष्टकर्मणा  
> हता भवेदार्यपथे परे स्थिता॥ ३॥

‘That virtuous lady, Sītā, Janaka’s daughter, who was intent on scrupulously guarding her chastity and adhered to the exalted path of noble women, has surely been disposed of by this foremost leader of the ogres, who has perpetrated most wicked deeds. (3)

> विरूपरूपा विकृता विवर्चसो  
> महानना दीर्घविरूपदर्शनाः।  
> समीक्ष्य ता राक्षसराजयोषितो  
> भयाद् विनष्टा जनकेश्वरात्मजा॥ ४॥

‘Or, the daughter of the lord of the Janakas perished from fear on seeing those servant-maids of Rāvaṇa (the ruler of ogres) of hideous looks, monstrous faces and large ugly eyes, deformed and lustreless. (4)

> सीतामदृष्ट्वा ह्यनवाप्य पौरुषं  
> विहृत्य कालं सह वानरैश्चिरम्।  
> न मेऽस्ति सुग्रीवसमीपगा गतिः  
> सुतीक्ष्णदण्डो बलवांश्च वानरः॥ ५॥

‘Now that I have not been able to discover Sītā and win the prize of my valour and have diverted myself for a long time in the company of monkeys, there is no longer any possibility of my reaching the presence of Sugrīva; for the aforesaid monkey King is mighty and metes out most severe punishment. (5)

> दृष्टमन्तःपुरं सर्वं दृष्टा रावणयोषितः।  
> न सीता दृश्यते साध्वी वृथा जातो मम श्रमः॥ ६॥

‘The entire gynaeceum has been explored, all the womenfolk of Rāvaṇa have also been seen; the virtuous Sītā, however, is not to be seen and my exertion has proved of no avail. (6)

> किं नु मां वानराः सर्वे गतं वक्ष्यन्ति संगताः।  
> गत्वा तत्र त्वया वीर किं कृतं तद् वदस्व नः॥ ७॥

‘What, I wonder, will all the monkeys come together say to me when I have gone to them? They will say, “Going there, what did you accomplish, O gallant one? Please make it known to us.” (7)

> अदृष्ट्वा किं प्रवक्ष्यामि तामहं जनकात्मजाम्।  
> ध्रुवं प्रायमुपासिष्ये कालस्य व्यतिवर्तने॥ ८॥

‘Not having seen the celebrated daughter of Janaka, what reply shall I give? The time-limit fixed by Sugrīva having been exceeded, I shall surely await death by abstaining from food and drink. (8)

> किं वा वक्ष्यति वृद्धश्च जाम्बवानंगदश्च सः।  
> गतं पारं समुद्रस्य वानराश्च समागताः॥ ९॥

‘What, again, will the aged Jāmbavān and the celebrated Prince Aṅgada as well as the assembled monkeys say to me when I reach the other end of the sea? (9)

> अनिर्वेदः श्रियो मूलमनिर्वेदः परं सुखम्।  
> भूयस्तत्र विचेष्यामि न यत्र विचयः कृतः॥ १०॥

‘Indefatigability is the root of prosperity; indefatigability constitutes supreme happiness. I shall, therefore, resume my search for Sītā in those places where no search has so far been conducted by me. (10)

> अनिर्वेदो हि सततं सर्वार्थेषु प्रवर्तकः।  
> करोति सफलं जन्तोः कर्म यच्च करोति सः॥ ११॥

‘Indeed indefatigability constantly impels one to pursue all objects. Nay, it rewards with success the action of a living being, who performs it. (11)

> तस्मादनिर्वेदकरं यत्नं चेष्टेऽहमुत्तमम्।  
> अदृष्टांश्च विचेष्यामि देशान् रावणपालितान्॥ १२॥

‘I shall, therefore, put forth supreme effort which may restore self-reliance, and shall explore the unexplored regions protected by Rāvaṇa. (12)

> आपानशाला विचितास्तथा पुष्पगृहाणि च।  
> चित्रशालाश्च विचिता भूयः क्रीडागृहाणि च॥ १३॥  
> निष्कुटान्तररथ्याश्च विमानानि च सर्वशः।  
> इति संचिन्त्य भूयोऽपि विचेतुमुपचक्रमे॥ १४॥  
> भूमीगृहांश्चैत्यगृहान् गृहातिगृहकानपि।  
> उत्पतन् निपतंश्चापि तिष्ठन् गच्छन् पुनः क्वचित्॥ १५॥  
> अपवृण्वंश्च द्वाराणि कपाटान्यवघट्टयन्।  
> प्रविशन् निष्पतंश्चापि प्रपतन्नुत्पतन्निव॥ १६॥  
> सर्वमप्यवकाशं स विचचार महाकपिः।  
> चतुरंगुलमात्रोऽपि नावकाशः स विद्यते।  
> रावणान्तःपुरे तस्मिन् यं कपिर्न जगाम सः॥ १७॥

‘Banquet halls have already been explored by me and, even so, gardens. Picture-galleries have also been ransacked by me and pleasure houses, too; even so, the alleys of gardens attached to houses and also all seven-storeyed buildings.’ Reflecting thus, Hanumān further began to explore basements, sheds on cross-roads and also pleasure-houses built beyond residential houses but not far from them. Springing up and down at one place, also tarrying awhile at another and then departing, nay, opening doors and closing them, making good his entry and coming out, descending and going up, that great monkey, Hanumān, ranged through all space, till not even the space of four fingers was left in the aforesaid gynaeceum of Rāvaṇa, which that monkey did not cover. (13—17)

> प्राकारान्तरवीथ्यश्च वेदिकाश्चैत्यसंश्रयाः।  
> श्वभ्राश्च पुष्करिण्यश्च सर्वं तेनावलोकितम्॥ १८॥

The lanes within the defence walls, the platforms forming the base of trees on cross-roads, chasms as well as lotus ponds—everything was explored by him. (18)

> राक्षस्यो विविधाकारा विरूपा विकृतास्तथा।  
> दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु सा जनकात्मजा॥ १९॥

Ogresses of various shapes, ugly and deformed, were also seen by Hanumān there; but not the aforesaid daughter of Janaka. (19)

> रूपेणाप्रतिमा लोके परा विद्याधरस्त्रियः।  
> दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु राघवनन्दिनी॥ २०॥

Foremost Vidyādhara women, peerless in beauty, were also seen there by Hanumān, but not Sītā, the delight of Śrī Rāma. (20)

> नागकन्या वरारोहाः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाः।  
> दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु सा जनकात्मजा॥ २१॥

Daughters of Nāgas of lovely limbs, whose faces shone like the full moon, were also seen by Hanumān there, but not that offspring of Janaka, Sītā. (21)

> प्रमथ्य राक्षसेन्द्रेण नागकन्या बलाद्धृताः।  
> दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न सा जनकनन्दिनी॥ २२॥

Daughters of Nāgas, who had been forcibly borne away by Rāvaṇa, the ruler of ogres, after handling them roughly, were also seen by Hanumān there, but not Sītā, the delight of Janaka. (22)

> सोऽपश्यंस्तां महाबाहुः पश्यंश्चान्या वरस्त्रियः।  
> विषसाद महाबाहुर्हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः॥ २३॥

Not finding her even though gazing on other belles, the aforesaid Hanumān, son of the wind-god, of mighty arms gave way to despair. (23)

> उद्योगं वानरेन्द्राणां प्लवनं सागरस्य च।  
> व्यर्थं वीक्ष्यानिलसुतश्चिन्तां पुनरुपागतः॥ २४॥

Finding the endeavour of the leaders of monkeys and his own leaping across the sea futile, Hanumān, the offspring of the wind-god, gave way to anxiety once more. (24)

> अवतीर्य विमानाच्च हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः।  
> चिन्तामुपजगामाथ शोकोपहतचेतनः॥ २५॥

Nay, descending from the aerial car, Hanumān, sprung from the loins of the wind-god, now fell abrooding, his understanding having been clouded by grief. (25)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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