Chapter 12
Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys
एतच् च वचनम् श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवस्य सुभाषितम्
प्रत्ययार्थम् महातेजा रामो जग्राह कार्मुकम्
etac ca vacanam śrutvā sugrīvasya subhāṣitam
pratyayārtham mahātejā rāmo jagrāha kārmukam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing the well-spoken words of Sugreeva that expressed doubt about Rama's valour, that great resplendent Rama took-up bow to inculcate credence in Sugreeva. [4-12-1]
स गृहीत्वा धनुर् घोरम् शरम् एकम् च मानदः
सालम् उद्दिश्य चिक्षेप पूरयन् स रवैः दिशः
sa gṛhītvā dhanur ghoram śaram ekam ca mānadaḥ
sālam uddiśya cikṣepa pūrayan sa ravaiḥ diśaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama, the bestower of dignity to the sufferers, took up his dreadful bow, aimed at a sala tree, and darted single arrow, by which all the directions reverberated with the twang of his bowstring. [4-12-2]
स विसृष्टो बलवता बाणः स्वर्ण परिष्कृतः
भित्त्वा सालान् गिरि प्रस्थम् सप्त भूमिम् विवेश ह
sa visṛṣṭo balavatā bāṇaḥ svarṇa pariṣkṛtaḥ
bhittvā sālān giri prastham sapta bhūmim viveśa ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The golden arrow released by the mighty Rama perforated all the seven sala trees, and even the levelled areas of mountain, and then entered the earth. [4-12-3]
सायकः तु मुहूर्तेन सालान् भित्त्वा महाजवः
निष्पत्य च पुनः तूर्णम् तम् एव प्रविवेश ह
sāyakaḥ tu muhūrtena sālān bhittvā mahājavaḥ
niṣpatya ca punaḥ tūrṇam tam eva praviveśa ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus that arrow which briskly drilled all the sala trees, came up in a moment from under the earth, and again swiftly re-entered the quiver of Rama. [4-12-4]
PURPORT
तान् दृष्ट्वा सप्त निर्भिन्नान् सालान् वानरपुंगवः
रामस्य शर वेगेन विस्मयम् परमम् गतः
tān dṛṣṭvā sapta nirbhinnān sālān vānarapuṃgavaḥ
rāmasya śara vegena vismayam paramam gataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On seeing them the seven sala trees that are profoundly fissured, that best monkey Sugreeva went into a stunning astonishment at the rapidity of Rama's arrow. [4-12-5]
स मूर्ध्ना न्यपतत् भूमौ प्रलंबीकृत भूषणः
सुग्रीवः परम प्रीतो राघवाय कृतांजलिः
sa mūrdhnā nyapatat bhūmau pralaṃbīkṛta bhūṣaṇaḥ
sugrīvaḥ parama prīto rāghavāya kṛtāṃjaliḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Highly gladdened Sugreeva made palm-fold in that astonishment, kneeled while his ornaments dangled, and prostrated before Raghava with his head touching the ground. [4-12-6]
इदम् च उवाच धर्मज्ञम् कर्मणा तेन हर्षितः
रामम् सर्व अस्त्र विदुषाम् श्रेष्ठम् शूरम् अवस्थितम्
idam ca uvāca dharmajñam karmaṇā tena harṣitaḥ
rāmam sarva astra viduṣām śreṣṭham śūram avasthitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Overjoyed with that deed Sugreeva said this to that virtue-knower, the one who is proficient among all experts of missiles, namely the valorous Rama, who is just in his presence him. [4-12-7]
स इन्द्रान् अपि सुरान् सर्वाम् त्वम् बाणैः पुरुषर्षभ
समर्थः समरे हन्तुम् किम् पुनर् वालिनम् प्रभो
sa indrān api surān sarvām tvam bāṇaiḥ puruṣarṣabha
samarthaḥ samare hantum kim punar vālinam prabho
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You with your arrows, oh, best one among men, are capable of eliminating all the gods including Indra, oh, lord, then why to speak of Vali. [4-12-8]
येन सप्त महा साला गिरिर् भूमिः च दारिताः
बाणेन एकेन काकुत्स्थ स्थाता ते को रण अग्रतः
yena sapta mahā sālā girir bhūmiḥ ca dāritāḥ
bāṇena ekena kākutstha sthātā te ko raṇa agrataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By whom seven great sala trees, a mountain and also the earth is ripped off with only one arrow, oh Kakutstha, who then can stand up to you in the vanguard of war. [4-12-9]
अद्य मे विगतः शोकः प्रीतिर् अद्य परा मम
सुहृदम् त्वाम् समासाद्य महेन्द्र वरुणोपमम्
adya me vigataḥ śokaḥ prītir adya parā mama
suhṛdam tvām samāsādya mahendra varuṇopamam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Today on gaining a kind-hearted friend like you, who is similar to Indra and Rain-god who accord favour on their own, my distress is gone and my joy is heightened. [4-12-10]
तम् अद्य एव प्रियार्थम् मे वैरिणम् भ्रातृ रूपिणम्
वालिनम् जहि काकुत्स्थ मया बद्धो अयम् अंजलिः
tam adya eva priyārtham me vairiṇam bhrātṛ rūpiṇam
vālinam jahi kākutstha mayā baddho ayam aṃjaliḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama, today itself you eliminate that enemy of mine in a brother's semblance for my happiness, for which I adjoin my palms in supplication." Thus Sugreeva requested Rama. [4-12-11]
ततो रामः परिष्वज्य सुग्रीवम् प्रिय दर्शनम्
प्रत्युवाच महाप्राज्ञो लक्ष्मणानुगतम् वचः
tato rāmaḥ pariṣvajya sugrīvam priya darśanam
pratyuvāca mahāprājño lakṣmaṇānugatam vacaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That great percipient Rama embraced Sugreeva, which Sugreeva is pleasant in his look for he gained confidence by now, and who is an alternate of Lakshmana to partake Rama's affection, and then Rama said these words to such a Sugreeva in reply. [4-12-12]
अस्माद् गच्छाम किष्किन्धाम् क्षिप्रम् गच्छ त्वम् अग्रतः
गत्वा च आह्वय सुग्रीव वालिनम् भ्रातृ गन्धिनम्
asmād gacchāma kiṣkindhām kṣipram gaccha tvam agrataḥ
gatvā ca āhvaya sugrīva vālinam bhrātṛ gandhinam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
""Let us quickly go from here to Kishkindha, oh, Sugreeva, you move in advance, and on going there you invite that Vali, one redolent of your brotherhood." So said Rama to Sugreeva. [4-12-13]
PURPORT
सर्वे ते त्वरितम् गत्वा किष्किन्धाम् वालिनः पुरीम्
वृक्षैः आत्मानम् आवृत्य हि अतिष्ठन् गहने वने
sarve te tvaritam gatvā kiṣkindhām vālinaḥ purīm
vṛkṣaiḥ ātmānam āvṛtya hi atiṣṭhan gahane vane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
They all on quickly going to Kishkindha, the city of Vali, hedged themselves in the thickets of forest trees and waited. [4-12-14]
सुग्रीवो अपि व्यनदद् घोरम् वालिनो ह्वान कारणात्
गाढम् परिहितो वेगान् नादैः भिन्दन् इव अंबरम्
sugrīvo api vyanadad ghoram vālino hvāna kāraṇāt
gāḍham parihito vegān nādaiḥ bhindan iva aṃbaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Sugreeva firmly tightened his girdle-cloth for the duel and shouted boisterously for the purpose of inviting Vali for a duel, and his rapidity in shouting appeared as though to crack the sky. [4-12-15]
तम् श्रुत्वा निनदम् भ्रातुः क्रुद्धो वाली महाबलः
निष्पपात सुसंरब्धो भास्करो अस्त तटात् इव
tam śrutvā ninadam bhrātuḥ kruddho vālī mahābalaḥ
niṣpapāta susaṃrabdho bhāskaro asta taṭāt iva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing his brother's shouting that great mighty Vali is infuriated and impetuously rushed out of his palace chambers, like the sun falling back onto sky from his dusking brink. [4-12-16]
PURPORT
ततः सुतुमुलम् युद्धम् वालि सुग्रीवयोः अभूत्
गगने ग्रहयोः घोरम् बुध अंगारकयोः इव
tataḥ sutumulam yuddham vāli sugrīvayoḥ abhūt
gagane grahayoḥ ghoram budha aṃgārakayoḥ iva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then a very tumultuous and awful fight occurred between Vali and Sugreeva, which is like the awful fight between the planets Mercury and Mars in skies. [4-12-17]
PURPORT
तलैः अशनि कल्पैः च वज्र कल्पैः च मुष्टिभिः
जघ्नतुः समरे अन्योन्यम् भ्रातरौ क्रोध मूर्च्छितौ
talaiḥ aśani kalpaiḥ ca vajra kalpaiḥ ca muṣṭibhiḥ
jaghnatuḥ samare anyonyam bhrātarau krodha mūrcchitau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those two brothers who are convulsed in frenzy battered each other in that fight with their thunderbolt-like palms, and lightning-like fists. [4-12-18]
ततो रामो धनुष् पाणिः तौ उभौ समुदैक्षत
अन्योन्य सदृशौ वीरौ उभौ देवौ इव अश्विनौ
tato rāmo dhanuṣ pāṇiḥ tau ubhau samudaikṣata
anyonya sadṛśau vīrau ubhau devau iva aśvinau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Rama wielding bow in his hand watched those valiant ones that are alike in their appearance, like the Ashwin twins among gods. [4-12-19]
PURPORT
यत् न अवगच्छत् सुग्रीवम् वालिनम् वा अपि राघवः
ततो न कृतवान् बुद्धिम् मोक्तुम् अन्तकरम् शरम्
yat na avagacchat sugrīvam vālinam vā api rāghavaḥ
tato na kṛtavān buddhim moktum antakaram śaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
For which reason Raghava could not differentiate between Sugreeva or Vali, for the same reason did not make up his mind to release his arrow, otherwise it would have been a deadening arrow, as confusion is the only reason for Rama. [4-12-20]
एतस्मिन् अन्तरे भग्नः सुग्रीवः तेन वालिना
अपश्यन् राघवम् नाथम् ऋश्यमूकम् प्रदुद्रुवे
etasmin antare bhagnaḥ sugrīvaḥ tena vālinā
apaśyan rāghavam nātham ṛśyamūkam pradudruve
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Meanwhile Sugreeva is unable to spot out his benefactor Raghava as Vali whacked him down, and thereby he immediately fled to Mt. Rishyamuka. [4-12-21]
क्लान्तो रुधिर सिक्त अंगो प्रहारैः जर्जरी कृतः
वालिना अभिद्रुतः क्रोधात् प्रविवेश महावनम्
klānto rudhira sikta aṃgo prahāraiḥ jarjarī kṛtaḥ
vālinā abhidrutaḥ krodhāt praviveśa mahāvanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Sugreeva is debilitated and enervated by Vali's thwacking till his limbs soaked in blood, and he entered the great forest of Rishyamuka as Vali chased him. [4-12-22]
तम् प्रविष्टम् वनम् दृष्ट्वा वाली शाप भयात् ततः
मुक्तो हि असि त्वम् इति उक्त्वा स निवृत्तो महाबलः
tam praviṣṭam vanam dṛṣṭvā vālī śāpa bhayāt tataḥ
mukto hi asi tvam iti uktvā sa nivṛtto mahābalaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On seeing Sugreeva's entry into the forest of Rishyamuka, Vali said to him "you are let off for now..." and saying so he returned to Kishkindha from there in view of fear from curse of Sage Matanga. [4-12-23]
राघवो अपि सह भ्रात्रा सह चैव हनूमता
तदेव वनम् आगच्छत् सुग्रीवो यत्र वानरः
rāghavo api saha bhrātrā saha caiva hanūmatā
tadeva vanam āgacchat sugrīvo yatra vānaraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Raghava also came to that forest, along with his brother Lakshmana and along with Hanuma, where that monkey Sugreeva fled. [4-12-24]
तम् समीक्ष्य आगतम् रामम् सुग्रीवः सह लक्ष्मणम्
ह्रीमान् दीनम् उवाच इदम् वसुधाम् अवलोकयन्
tam samīkṣya āgatam rāmam sugrīvaḥ saha lakṣmaṇam
hrīmān dīnam uvāca idam vasudhām avalokayan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing the arrival of Rama with Lakshmana, Sugreeva ashamedly turned his eyes down to earth and piteously spoke this without eyeing Rama [4-12-25]
आह्वयस्व इति माम् उक्त्वा दर्शयित्वा च विक्रमम्
वैरिणा घातयित्वा च किम् इदानीम् त्वया कृतम्
āhvayasva iti mām uktvā darśayitvā ca vikramam
vairiṇā ghātayitvā ca kim idānīm tvayā kṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Showing your dexterity you encouraged me to invite Vali for fight, but you got me battered by my enemy, what is this done by you." [4-12-26]
ताम् एव वेलाम् वक्तव्यम् त्वया राघव तत्त्वतः
वालिनम् न निहन्मि इति ततो न अहम् इतो व्रजे
tām eva velām vaktavyam tvayā rāghava tattvataḥ
vālinam na nihanmi iti tato na aham ito vraje
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You should have truly made it known at that time only, oh, Raghava, that you will not kill Vali, then I would not have come here, to Kishkindha. [4-12-27]
तस्य च एवम् ब्रुवाणस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः
करुणम् दीनया वाचा राघवः पुनर् अब्रवीत्
tasya ca evam bruvāṇasya sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ
karuṇam dīnayā vācā rāghavaḥ punar abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama replied that great-souled Sugreeva who is speaking woefully with pathetic words in this way. [4-12-28]
सुग्रीव श्रूयताम् तात क्रोधः च व्यपनीयताम्
कारणम् येन बाणो अयम् स मया न विसर्जितः
sugrīva śrūyatām tāta krodhaḥ ca vyapanīyatām
kāraṇam yena bāṇo ayam sa mayā na visarjitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Sugreeva, by which reason I have not let-off an arrow such as that of mine, that reason may be heard and let the anger be discarded. [4-12-29]
अलंकारेण वेषेण प्रमाणेन गतेन च
त्वम् च सुग्रीव वाली च सदृशौ स्थः परस्परम्
alaṃkāreṇa veṣeṇa pramāṇena gatena ca
tvam ca sugrīva vālī ca sadṛśau sthaḥ parasparam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By ornamentation, attire, physicality and movements, you and Vali look-alike. [4-12-30]
स्वरेण वर्चसा च एव प्रेक्षितेन च वानर
विक्रमेण च वाक्यैः च व्यक्तिम् वाम् न उपलक्षये
svareṇa varcasā ca eva prekṣitena ca vānara
vikrameṇa ca vākyaiḥ ca vyaktim vām na upalakṣaye
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By your voice, bodily glow also thus in your looking, also in bravery and in speech, oh monkey, I could not mark any difference. [4-12-31]
ततो अहम् रूप सादृश्यात् मोहितो वानरोत्तम
न उत्सृजामि महावेगम् शरम् शत्रु निबर्हणम्
tato aham rūpa sādṛśyāt mohito vānarottama
na utsṛjāmi mahāvegam śaram śatru nibarhaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Thereby, oh, great monkey, I have not released this great speeded and enemy annihilating arrow of mine as I was confused in the similarity of your personalities. [4-12-32]
जीवित अन्तकरम् घोरम् सादृश्यात् तु विशंकितः
मूलघातो न नौ स्याद्धि द्वयोः इति कृतो मया
jīvita antakaram ghoram sādṛśyāt tu viśaṃkitaḥ
mūlaghāto na nau syāddhi dvayoḥ iti kṛto mayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I was ambiguous by your similarities, as such I have not released this ghastly and life-taking arrow, otherwise the basic object of ours will be ruined, isn't it. [4-12-33]
त्वयि वीर विपन्ने हि अज्ञान् लाघवान् मया
मौढ्यम् च मम बाल्यम् च ख्यापितम् स्यात् कपीस्वर
tvayi vīra vipanne hi ajñān lāghavān mayā
mauḍhyam ca mama bālyam ca khyāpitam syāt kapīsvara
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When my unawareness and fallacy hazardously afflicts none but you in the form of my own arrow, oh, brave lord of monkeys, then I will be establishing my own imbecility and naivety, isn't it. [4-12-34]
दत्त अभय वधो नाम पातकम् महत् अद्भुतम्
अहम् च लक्ष्मणः च एव सीत च वरवर्णिनी
datta abhaya vadho nāma pātakam mahat adbhutam
aham ca lakṣmaṇaḥ ca eva sīta ca varavarṇinī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Eliminating one who is protected means a terrifying sin of highest order, even so, myself and Lakshmana and also thus Seetha with her exquisite glow are all dependent on you, and you are our shelterer in this forest. [4-12-35, 36a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Therefore, oh, monkey, again you fight with him without doubting me, and I will render him ineffective at this moment only with a single arrow of mine, and you can see Vali squirming on the ground. [4-12-36, 37],
अभिज्ञानम् कुरुष्व त्वम् आत्मनो वानरेश्वर
येन त्वाम् अभिजानीयाम् द्वन्द्व युद्धम् उपागतम्
abhijñānam kuruṣva tvam ātmano vānareśvara
yena tvām abhijānīyām dvandva yuddham upāgatam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You have an identification for yourself, oh lord of monkeys, by which you can be identified when you are engaged in duel. [4-12-38]
गज पुष्पीम् इमाम् फुल्लाम् उत्पाट्य शुभ लक्षणाम्
कुरु लक्ष्मण कण्ठे अस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः
gaja puṣpīm imām phullām utpāṭya śubha lakṣaṇām
kuru lakṣmaṇa kaṇṭhe asya sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Lakshmana, pick up this gaja creeper that is beautiful in its appearance and let this noble souled Sugreeva be garlanded with that." So said Rama to Lakshmana. [4-12-39]
ततो गिरि तटे जाताम् उत्पाट्य कुसुमायुताम्
लक्ष्मणो गज पुष्पीम् ताम् तस्य कण्ठे व्यसर्जयत्
tato giri taṭe jātām utpāṭya kusumāyutām
lakṣmaṇo gaja puṣpīm tām tasya kaṇṭhe vyasarjayat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Lakshmana plucked that gaja creeper with flowers growing at the foot of the mountain, and slung it like a garland around the neck of that Sugreeva. [4-12-40] n
स तथा शुशुभे श्रीमान् लतया कण्ठ सक्तया
मालया इव बलाकानाम् ससंध्य इव तोयदः
sa tathā śuśubhe śrīmān latayā kaṇṭha saktayā
mālayā iva balākānām sasaṃdhya iva toyadaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He that prosperous Sugreeva with that flowery-creeper adorning his neck then shone forth like a black rain cloud against a backdrop of rich ochry colour of sunset, and with a train of herons adorning that cloud like a garland. [4-12-41]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe dvādaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He that Sugreeva whose physique became effulgent by that creeper-garland is again emboldened by Rama's words, and he again advanced to Kishkindha with Rama, and reached it again. [4-12-42]