Sundara Kanda, Sarga 7

Meaning

The mighty Hanumān beheld the collection of buildings comprising the palace of Rāvaṇa to which were fitted lattices of gold inlaid with cat’s-eyes, which was full of flocks of birds and looked like a huge mass of clouds pierced by lightning in the rainy season. (1)

Meaning

He also observed various apartments forming part of the buildings and stored with excellent conches, bows and other weapons and further saw soul-captivating and commodious attics on top of the mountain-like mansions. (2)

Meaning

Hanumān also beheld mansions enriched with treasures of various kinds and held in great veneration even by gods and demons, which were completely free from all sorts of flaws and which had been acquired from the possession of Kubera by dint of might. (3)

Meaning

He saw those mansions of Rāvaṇa, the suzerain lord of Laṅkā, which had been disposed with great effort and had been constructed, as it were, by Maya (the architect of the demons, noted for his magical skill), himself and which were superior on the earth’s surface from the point of all excellences. (4)

Meaning

He then beheld the excellent and soul-captivating palace of Rāvaṇa, the suzerain ruler of ogres, of incomparable loveliness, nay, having the appearance of a towering cloud and possessing the effulgence of gold and worthy of his own extraordinary might, which was heaven, as it were, descended on earth and was blazing with splendour, which was full of numerous precious stones and strewn with the flowers of various trees, which looked like the summit of a mountain covered with pollen; nay, which was lit up by jewel-like women as a cloud adorned with flashes of lightning and looked like a beautifully made aerial car full of splendour and being drawn in the skies by excellent swans. (5—7)

Meaning

Hanumān also beheld in that palace an aerial car decked with numerous precious stones and charming like a beautiful cloud endowed with many hues by the rays of the sun, which resembled a mountain-peak, looking picturesque with numerous minerals, and the firmament illumined by planets including the moon. (8)

Meaning

The ground on which those intending to board the aerial car stood had been provided with rows of artificial hills of gems, gold, etc., the latter in their turn were covered with clusters of trees, also artificial, the trees were clothed with bunches of artificial flowers, while the flowers were made full with filaments and petals. (9)

Meaning

White mansions had been erected in it and likewise pools, with lovely flowers; again, lotuses with filaments had been planted and charming groves grown and lakes too had been constructed. (10)

Meaning

Thus, Hanumān, the great monkey, saw there the vast aerial car bearing the name of Puṣpaka, derived from the word ‘Puṣpa’ (a flower), capable of travelling long distances and shining brightly with the rays of precious stones, nay, enjoying an exalted rank among the foremost of aerial cars, serving as the residence of gods. (11)

Meaning

Birds of cat’s-eye gems as well as those fashioned of silver and corals, nay, lovely serpents made of various jewels and also horses of beautiful limbs, resembling steeds of a noble breed, figured there. (12)

Meaning

Birds of charming beaks and lovely wings had been carved, which bore on their wings flowers of corals and sterling gold, which had playfully contracted their slanting wings and which looked like allies of Cupid himself. (13)

Meaning

In a lotus-pool within the Puṣpaka could be seen artificial elephants with shapely trunks and covered with filaments of lotuses engaged in offering worship to Goddess Lakṣmī (the goddess of fortune and Consort of Lord Viṣṇu) with lotus-petals held in their trunks, and an image of Goddess Lakṣmī too had been fashioned with four graceful hands and holding a lotus in Her hand. (14)

Meaning

Hanumān was thus filled with wonder on visiting that splendid and beautiful aerial car, resembling a mountain, with lovely caverns and further looking like a tree with charming hollows and supremely fragrant during the spring-time (lit., the close of winter). (15)

Meaning

Reaching that honoured city, protected by the arms of Rāvaṇa, the ten-headed monster, and not finding anywhere, even though moving about freely, that daughter of King Janaka, highly respected and sore afflicted and conquered by the force of her consort’s virtues, Hanumān presently felt very miserable. (16)

Meaning

The mind of the high-souled Hanumān, who had contemplated on the Supreme Spirit in many ways and disciplined his self, nay, who always followed the right path and who kept his eyes open, thereupon became sore distressed when he did not perceive Sītā on that occasion, though ranging wide. (17)