Chapter 3 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3

Valmiki Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda

Verse 3.5

श्रुत्वा रामस्य वचनं हनूमान्मारुतात्मजः। वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठो रामं पुनरथाब्रवीत्॥ श्रूयतां सर्वमाख्यास्ये दुर्गकर्म विधानतः। गुप्ता पुरी यथा लङ्का रक्षिता च यथा बलैः॥ राक्षसाश्च यथा स्निग्धा रावणस्य च तेजसा। परां समृद्धिं लङ्कायाः सागरस्य च भीमताम्॥ विभागं च बलौघस्य निर्देशं वाहनस्य च। एवमुक्त्वा कपिश्रेष्ठः कथयामास तत्त्ववित्॥

śrutvā rāmasya vacanaṃ hanūmānmārutātmajaḥ| vākyaṃ vākyavidāṃ śreṣṭho rāmaṃ punarathābravīt|| śrūyatāṃ sarvamākhyāsye durgakarma vidhānataḥ| guptā purī yathā laṅkā rakṣitā ca yathā balaiḥ|| rākṣasāśca yathā snigdhā rāvaṇasya ca tejasā| parāṃ samṛddhiṃ laṅkāyāḥ sāgarasya ca bhīmatām|| vibhāgaṃ ca balaughasya nirdeśaṃ vāhanasya ca| evamuktvā kapiśreṣṭhaḥ kathayāmāsa tattvavit||

English Meaning

Hearing Rāma's speech, Hanumān, offspring of the Wind-god, foremost of those conversant with speech, again spoke to Rāma, Hearken! I will describe to you by what method is the city of Lankā guarded and protected by the Rākṣasas, how loyal the Rākşasas are, the surpassing prosperity of Lankā, the dreadfulness of the deep, the divisions of the forces, and the number of the elephants, horses, cars, etc.' Having said this, that best of monkeys, knowing the nature of things, went on.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)