Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

अथ तस्य निनादम् तम् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः
शुश्राव अन्तःपुर गतो वाली भ्रातुर् अमर्षणः

atha tasya ninādam tam sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ
śuśrāva antaḥpura gato vālī bhrātur amarṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Then the illiberal Vali has clearly heard that outcry of his plain-spoken brother Sugreeva from his palace chambers. [4-15-1]

VERSE 2

श्रुत्वा तु तस्य निनदम् सर्वभूत प्रकंपनम्
मदः च एकपदे नष्टः क्रोधः च आपादितो महान्

śrutvā tu tasya ninadam sarvabhūta prakaṃpanam
madaḥ ca ekapade naṣṭaḥ krodhaḥ ca āpādito mahān

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On hearing Sugreeva's outcry that is shuddering all beings Vali's insolence is diminished as high furore superimposed on it. [4-15-2]

VERSE 3

ततो रोष परीत अंगो वाली स कनक प्रभः
उपरक्त इव आदित्यः सद्यो निष्प्रभताम् गतः

tato roṣa parīta aṃgo vālī sa kanaka prabhaḥ
uparakta iva ādityaḥ sadyo niṣprabhatām gataḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | roṣa parīta angaḥ: embitterment, overspreading, on limbs | saḥ vālī: he, that Vali | kanaka prabhaḥ: one in golden, hue | uparakta ādityaḥ iva: eclipsed / after sunset, sun, like | sadyaḥ niṣ prabhatām gataḥ: immediately, without, luminosity, went into [rendered as.] |

TRANSLATION

Then, embitterment overspreading on all his limbs Vali with golden-hue is immediately rendered non-luminous like the eclipsed sun. [4-15-3]

VERSE 4

वाली दंष्ट्रा करालः तु क्रोधाद् दीप्त अग्नि लोचनः
भाति उत्पतित पद्माभः समृणाल इव ह्रदः

vālī daṃṣṭrā karālaḥ tu krodhād dīpta agni locanaḥ
bhāti utpatita padmābhaḥ samṛṇāla iva hradaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

With asymmetrical teeth and with burning fireball like eyes Vali is reflective of a lake whose red-lotuses are uprooted leaving stalks afloat. [4-15-4]

PURPORT

Vali's aspect is like a lake into which an elephant on its entry creates turmoil and uproots its red-lotuses, thus leaving the pond with their stalks afloat and its clear water turning reddish due to the elephant's heaving of the slushy red-mud. Maheshvara Tiirtha.

VERSE 5

शब्दम् दुर्मर्षणम् श्रुत्वा निष्पपात ततो हरिः
वेगेन च पद न्यासैर् दारयन् इव मेदिनीम्

śabdam durmarṣaṇam śrutvā niṣpapāta tato hariḥ
vegena ca pada nyāsair dārayan iva medinīm

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

That monkey Vali then on hearing that intolerable noise bolted out of palace chambers thumping his feet as though to shatter the earth. [4-15-5]

VERSE 6

तम् तु तारा परिष्वज्य स्नेहाद् दर्शित सौहृदा
उवाच त्रस्त संभ्रांता हित उदर्कम् इदम् वचः

tam tu tārā pariṣvajya snehād darśita sauhṛdā
uvāca trasta saṃbhrāṃtā hita udarkam idam vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

His wife Tara stepped in and showing goodwill and amity hugged him, for she is in fear and bewilderment, and said this word that is beneficial in its futurity if Vali heeds it. [4-15-6]

VERSE 7

साधु क्रोधम् इमम् वीर नदी वेगम् इव आगतम्
शयनाद् उत्थितः काल्यम् त्यज भुक्ताम् इव स्रजम्

sādhu krodham imam vīra nadī vegam iva āgatam
śayanād utthitaḥ kālyam tyaja bhuktām iva srajam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh brave one, you better gently leave off this anger that is coming on like a gushing river as is done with an enjoyed chaplet on getting up from bed in early hours. [4-15-7]

VERSE 8

ओर्

SYNONYMS

vānara: oh, monkey | etena kālyam samgrāmam kariṣyasi: with him, in early hours / or at appropriate time, fighting, you can do | vīra: oh brave one | te śatru bāhulyam: to you, enemies, divers | phalgutā vā na vidyate: [your valour] trivialised, or, not, evident. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, monkey, you can fight with him in early hours of tomorrow, oh, brave one, evidently you neither have divers enemies nor your valour is trivialised." "You can fight with him at appropriate time, thereby your enemy is neither glorified nor you are trivialised evidently, for you are a braving one. [4-15-8]

PURPORT

Fighting on next day morning means that Sugreeva has come in the evening time. This is not accepted by some and they give meaning to the word kaalyam differently.

VERSE 9

सहसा तव निष्क्रामो मम तावत् न रोचते
श्रूयताम् अभिधास्यामि यन् निमित्तम् निवार्यते

sahasā tava niṣkrāmo mama tāvat na rocate
śrūyatām abhidhāsyāmi yan nimittam nivāryate

SYNONYMS

sahasā tava niṣkrāmaḥ: quickly, your, exiting | mama na rocate tāvat = for me, not, pleasing: disagreeable | yan nimittam nivāryate: by what, reason, you are dissuaded | śrūyatām abhidhāsyāmi: let it be heard, I will tell. |

TRANSLATION

"Your quick exiting is disagreeable for me, and what for you are dissuaded that may be listened as I tell. [4-15-9]

VERSE 10

पूर्वम् आपतितः क्रोधात् स त्वाम् आह्वयते युधि
निष्पत्य च निरस्तः ते हन्यमानो दिशो गतः

pūrvam āpatitaḥ krodhāt sa tvām āhvayate yudhi
niṣpatya ca nirastaḥ te hanyamāno diśo gataḥ

SYNONYMS

pūrvam krodhāt ā patitaḥ = earlier, in anger came, falling on: came assaulting | tvām yudhi āhvayate: you, for fight, he is inviting | te: to you [by you] | niṣ patya: on going out | nirastaḥ = defeated: made a nonentity | hanyamānḥ diśaḥ gataḥ: by you, being battered, into directions, fled. |

TRANSLATION

"Earlier Sugreeva came assaulting and inviting you for a combat, and you also have gone out and rendered him as a nonentity, and being battered by you he fled in all directions. [4-15-10]

VERSE 11

त्वया तस्य निरस्तस्य पीडितस्य विशेषतः
इह एत्य पुनर् आह्वानम् शंकाम् जनयति इव मे

tvayā tasya nirastasya pīḍitasya viśeṣataḥ
iha etya punar āhvānam śaṃkām janayati iva me

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"He who is undone earlier by you, particularly after torturing by you, his coming here again and inviting you for a duel is causing a doubt in me. [4-15-11]

VERSE 12

दर्पः च व्यवसायः च यादृशः तस्य नर्दतः
निनादस्य च संरंभो न एतत् अल्पम् हि कारणम्

darpaḥ ca vyavasāyaḥ ca yādṛśaḥ tasya nardataḥ
ninādasya ca saṃraṃbho na etat alpam hi kāraṇam

SYNONYMS

nardataḥ: one who is shouting | tasya darpaḥ ca: his, arrogance, also | vyavasāyaḥ ca: endeavour, also | ninādasya ca samrambhaḥ: furore's, also, rampage | etat alpam kāraṇam na hi: all this, with trivial, reason, not, isn't it. |

TRANSLATION

"The arrogance and endeavour of the shouter, and even the rampage of his furore, all these will not have a trivial reason, isn't it. [4-15-12]

VERSE 13

न असहायम् अहम् मन्ये सुग्रीवम् तम् इह आगतम्
अवष्टब्ध सहायः च यम् आश्रित्य एष ग^^र्जति

na asahāyam aham manye sugrīvam tam iha āgatam
avaṣṭabdha sahāyaḥ ca yam āśritya eṣa ga^^rjati

SYNONYMS

iha āgatam tam sugrīvam: to here, who came, that, Sugreeva is | a sahāyam aham: not, assisted | na manye: not, I think | avaṣṭabdha sahāyaḥ ca: foregathering [unflinching,] support, also | yam āśritya eṣaḥ garjati: whom, depending on, he is [Sugreeva is,] roaring. |

TRANSLATION

"I do not think that Sugreeva has come here unaccompanied, and on whom he is dependant must be an unflinching support foregathered by Sugreeva. [4-15-13]

VERSE 14

प्रकृत्या निपुणः चैव बुद्धिमान् चैव वानरः
न अपरीक्षित वीर्येण सुग्रीवः सख्यम् एष्यति

prakṛtyā nipuṇaḥ caiva buddhimān caiva vānaraḥ
na aparīkṣita vīryeṇa sugrīvaḥ sakhyam eṣyati

SYNONYMS

prakṛtyā nipuṇaḥ caiva: by nature, [Sugreeva is] an expert, also thus | buddhimān: clever one | vānaraḥ: that monkey [Sugreeva] | a parīkṣita vīryeṇa: without, examining, mettle | sugrīvaḥ sakhyam: Sugreeva, friendship | na eṣyati: will not, engage [in friendship.] |

TRANSLATION

"By his nature Sugreeva is an expert and even so a clever one, and he does not enter into friendship with anyone without examining his mettle. [4-15-14]

VERSE 15

पूर्वम् एव मया वीर श्रुतम् कथयतो वचः
अंगदस्य कुमारस्य वक्ष्यामि अद्य हितम् वचः

pūrvam eva mayā vīra śrutam kathayato vacaḥ
aṃgadasya kumārasya vakṣyāmi adya hitam vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

vīra: oh, brave one | pūrvam eva kathayataḥ = already, only, [to me] told: briefed | kumārasya angadasya vacaḥ = [our] son by āngada's, vord: information | maya śrutam: by me, heard | hitam vacaḥ adya vakṣyāmi: helpful, word, now, I will tell. |

TRANSLATION

"I am already briefed by our son Angada's information, and what I have heard I will now relate that helpful word to you. [4-15-15]

VERSE 16

अंगदः तु कुमरो अयम् वनांतम् उपनिर्गतः
प्रवृत्तिः तेन कथिता चारैः असीत् निवेदिता

aṃgadaḥ tu kumaro ayam vanāṃtam upanirgataḥ
pravṛttiḥ tena kathitā cāraiḥ asīt niveditā

SYNONYMS

kumaraḥ ayam angadaḥ tu: son, this, Angada, but | vana antam upanirgataḥ: in forest, interior, [went and] came out of | tena pravṛttiḥ kathitā: by him, an account, is said | cāraiḥ niveditā asīt: by spies, reported, it is. |

TRANSLATION

"Son Angada said this account when he returned from forests, and to him spies are said to have reported this. [4-15-16]

VERSE 17

अयोध्य अधिपतेः पुत्रौ शूरौ समर दुर्जयौ
इक्ष्वाकूणाम् कुले जातौ प्रथितौ राम लक्ष्मणौ

ayodhya adhipateḥ putrau śūrau samara durjayau
ikṣvākūṇām kule jātau prathitau rāma lakṣmaṇau

SYNONYMS

, 18a| ikśvākūṇām kule jātau: Ikshvaku, dynasty, born in | ayodhya adhipateḥ putrau: Ayodhya's, king's, two sons | śūrau: valiant ones | samara dur jayau: in war, not, conquerable ones | rāma lakśmaṇau: Rama, Lakshmana | prathitau: are available [and moving in this country] | dur āsadau: those two being not, assailable ones | sugrīva priya kāma artham: Sugreeva's, longing, desire, to fulfil | tatra prāptau: there [at Sugreeva's place Rishyamuka,] arrived. |

TRANSLATION

"Those that are born in Ikshvaku dynasty, sons of the king of Ayodhya, valiant and unconquerable ones in war, called Rama and Lakshmana are there in this country. These two unassailable ones have chanced there at Sugreeva's place to fulfil the longing desire of Sugreeva. [4-15-17, 18a]

VERSE 18

स ते भ्रातुर् हि विख्यातः सहायो रण क^^र्मणि

sa te bhrātur hi vikhyātaḥ sahāyo raṇa ka^^rmaṇi

SYNONYMS

b, 19a| raṇa karmaṇi vikhyātaḥ: in war, works, acclaimed one | utthitaḥ yuga anta agniḥ iva: flared up, era, end of, fire, like | para bala mardī: other's [enemy's,] strength, shatterer of | saḥ rāmaḥ: that, Rama | te bhrātuḥ sahāyaḥ hi: your, brother's, helpmate, they say so. |

TRANSLATION

"He is an acclaimed one for his warfare, and like the fire flaring up at the end of era he shatters the strength of enemies, and he is Rama your brother's helpmate, they say so. [4-15-18b, 19a]

VERSE 19

निवास वृक्षः साधूनाम् आपन्नानाम् परा गतिः
४१५१९
आर्तानाम् संश्रयः चैव यशसः च एक भाजनम्

nivāsa vṛkṣaḥ sādhūnām āpannānām parā gatiḥ
4-15-19
ārtānām saṃśrayaḥ caiva yaśasaḥ ca eka bhājanam

SYNONYMS

b, 20a| sādhūnām nivāsa vṛkṣaḥ: for the polite, a habitable, tree | āpannānām parā gatiḥ: for woebegone, ultimate, course | ārtānām sam śrayaḥ caiva: for agonised, a good, hospice | yaśasaḥ ca eka bhājanam: for grace, also, the only, abode. |

TRANSLATION

"And he is said to the habitable tree for the polite, the ultimate course for the woebegone, a hospice for the agonised, and for grace Rama is the only abode. [4-15-19b, 20a]

VERSE 20

ज्ञान विज्ञान संपन्नो निदेशो निरतः पितुः

jñāna vijñāna saṃpanno nideśo nirataḥ pituḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 21| jñāna vi jñāna sampannaḥ: knowledge [of mundane things,] knowledge [of ultra-mundane things,] endowed with | pituḥ nideśaḥ nirataḥ [sthitaḥ: abides] = in father's, directive, always involved, [or, one who abides] | dhātūnām iva śaila indraḥ: for elements, like, mountain, the great -Himalayas | guṇānām mahān ākaraḥ: for merits, greatest, mine. |

TRANSLATION

"He is endowed with the knowledge of mundane and ultra-mundane things, he always abides in the directives of his father, and as with Mt. Himalayas for all natural elements he is the greatest mine of merits. [4-15-20b, 21a]

VERSE 21

तत् क्षमो न विरोधः ते सह तेन महात्मना

tat kṣamo na virodhaḥ te saha tena mahātmanā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"By that reason, with that unconquerable on in conflicts, an imponderable one and a great-soul Rama, your enmity is inapposite. [4-15-21b, 22a]

PURPORT

For the above three stanzas very lengthy commentary is rendered of which some points are detailed here. Lady Tara is elucidating the whole being of Rama as gathered by her from her son Angada. The second foot of verse 19 starts with the words nivaasa vR^iksha a habitable tree; if it be asked why Rama is compared with a tree, then it is said that tree requires no formalities like 'may I come in...' or 'rights of admission reserved...' etc., as with any other house or habitation, for taking hold of its shade. A tree first gives its shade to the traveller who seeks it and then affords its fruits or flowers satisfying the basic needs of the needy. So Rama is such a tree that protects and nourishes, should anybody seek his grace. Next is saadhuunaam for polite supplicants he is the ultimate course. Tara is saying indirectly that Vali is not at all polite in treating Sugreeva either as crown prince of Kishkindha or as his own younger brother. As such Vali cannot supplicate to Rama at this stage for his impoliteness to Sugreeva and to Ruma, wife of Sugreeva, which is intolerable to Rama, and hence Vali shall not confront Rama. aartaanaam for earnest and anguished supplicants Rama is the ultimate recourse. This is what later said in Bhagavat Gita at 9-22, yoga skhemam vahamyaham... Vali may dismiss this idea saying that 'if Rama is the ultimate course for the polite supplicants, I have my recourse to other supreme lords, i.e., none other than Indra, my father...' And for this Tara is supplementing her thought in saying, yashasaH ca eka bhaajanaH the grace Rama is the only ultimate abode, where Indra and others are but penultimate. Hence as long as Rama is standing guard to Sugreeva, Sugreeva cannot be trivialised and this again as said in Bhagavad Gita, na me bhaktaH praNashyati... at 9-31. Alternately, it is again as said later in Gita at 7-16 that chaturvidhaa bhajante maam... 'four kinds of devotees worship me...' Those four are, one who is seeking knowledge saadhuunaam ; those that are interested in salvation, kaivalya kaamuka ; like King Priikshit. One seeking of material gains aapannaanaam ; those that seek the material gains that were not there previously to them, also called artha ardhii ; like Sugreeva, Dhruva. One who is distraught aartaanaam ; those that are in anguish like Gajendra, the Elephant caught in lake by crocodile in gajendra moksha . And the fourthly one who is a wise person yashasaH j~naani ; gloriously enlightened one, like Shuka, Sanaka, Naarada, Bhiishma, Prahlada. And this wise one is impossible to exist and if he is there 'he is my soul j~naanii tu aatmaiva me matam...' Gita 7-18.For all these four kinds Rama is ...eka bhaajanam... , the only recourse. Next is j~naana, vij~naana sampatti In that j~naana is privy to the materialistic, worldly, kingly affairs. vij~naana is the knowledge derived from the scriptures, providentially profound. Or, through karmadhaaraya, j~naanaH ca asau vij~naa sampannaH ca... corporeally he is the knowledge, and spiritually he is gnostic as well. Hence he is the phenomenon of the Supreme Being in maintaining dharma. In order to maintain that dharma Rama is now observant of his father's orders pituH nideshe nirataH . This pursuit of father's orders is but one of the many other attributes of his dharma, and that alone is said here as secondary attribute, upa lakshaNa . Hence in pursuing his dharma Rama may eradicate adharma of Vali, insofar as Vali's misdemeanours towards Sugreeva and his wife Ruma are concerned. guNaanaam aakaraH ; with his auspicious merits he is a Great Mine. Usually these guNa -s, attributs of Vishnu are six as per Vaishnavaite classification, con solidating them as ShaDguNa sampatti , which are aishvarya, viirya, yashas, shrii, j~naana, vairaagya . And there are many more in the depth of the soul of Rama hitherto unexcavated. As such, there are innumerable and auspicious elements, or merits, in him dhaatuunaam shailendraH . These elements neither subdivide nor shake him off his Himalayan personality, in the pursuit to establish dharma.

VERSE 22

शूर वक्ष्यामि ते किंचिन् न च इच्छामि अभ्यसूयितुम्

śūra vakṣyāmi te kiṃcin na ca icchāmi abhyasūyitum

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh dauntless one, I tell you this much that you shall not become overcritical of him, and what I say is beneficial to you that may now be listened and even implemented. [4-15-22b, 23a]

VERSE 23

यौवराज्येन सुग्रीवम् तूर्णम् साधु अभिषेचय

yauvarājyena sugrīvam tūrṇam sādhu abhiṣecaya

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, king, let Sugreeva be decorously and quickly anointed as prince regent, and oh, resolute one, let there be no hostility to your own younger brother. [4-15-23b, 24a]

VERSE 24

अहम् हि ते क्षमम् मन्ये तेन रामेण सौहृदम्

aham hi te kṣamam manye tena rāmeṇa sauhṛdam

SYNONYMS

b, 25a| vairam dūrataḥ utsṛjya: enmity, far away, discard | sugrīveṇa samprītim = vith ṣugrīva, harmony: unanimity | tena rāmeṇa sauhṛdam: with him, Rama, solidarity | te kṣamam aham manye hi: to you, appropriate, I, deem, in effect. |

TRANSLATION

"Achieving unanimity with Sugreeva and solidarity with Rama by discarding enmity, in effect is appropriate for you, thus I deem. [4-15-24b, 25a]

VERSE 25

लालनीयो हि ते भ्राता यवीयान् एष वानरः

lālanīyo hi te bhrātā yavīyān eṣa vānaraḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"This Sugreeva is your younger brother and you should be keen about him, isn't it... and whether he is here or there in Rishyamuka he is just your brother. [4-15-25b, 26a]

VERSE 26

नहि तेन समम् बन्धुम् भुवि पश्यामि किंचन

nahi tena samam bandhum bhuvi paśyāmi kiṃcana

SYNONYMS

b, 27| tena samam bandhum: his, coequal, kindred spirit | kimcana: anyone | bhuvi na paśyāmi hi: on earth, not, I see, indeed | etat vairam samutsrṛjya: all this, enmity, completely leaving off | dāna māna ādi satkarraiḥ: with bestowals, felicitations, and the like, honours | prati anantaram: like one who is very close / like one who is your legatee | kuruṣva: you make | saḥ tava pārśve tiṣṭhatu: him, by your, side, be kept. |

TRANSLATION

"Indeed, I do not see anyone on earth a coequal to him in kindred spirit, hence leave off this enmity and honour him with bestowals and felicitations as an insider, and retain him at your side. [4-15-26b, 27]

VERSE 28

सुग्रीवो विपुल ग्रीवो महाबन्धुः मतः तव
भ्रातृ सौहृदम् आलंब्य न अन्या गति इह अस्ति ते

sugrīvo vipula grīvo mahābandhuḥ mataḥ tava
bhrātṛ sauhṛdam ālaṃbya na anyā gati iha asti te

SYNONYMS

vipula grīvaḥ = broad, throated: boisterously, voiced | sugrīvaḥ: Sugreeva | tava mahā bandhuḥ mataḥ = your, an ekṣcellent, kinsman, accepted as: indisputable kinsman | bhrātṛ sauhṛdam ālambya: brother's, fondness, brace yourself | te iha anyā gati na asti: to you, now, another, way out, is not, there. |

TRANSLATION

"That boisterously voiced Sugreeva is indisputably an excellent kinsman of yours, and hence brace yourself with the fondness of brotherhood, as there is no other way out to you. [4-15-28]

VERSE 29

यदि ते मत् प्रियम् कार्यम् यदि च अवैषि माम् हिताम्
याच्यमानः प्रियत्वेन साधु वाक्यम् कुरुष्व मे

yadi te mat priyam kāryam yadi ca avaiṣi mām hitām
yācyamānaḥ priyatvena sādhu vākyam kuruṣva me

SYNONYMS

te mat priyam kāryam [aveṣi] yadi: to you, to me, dear, deed [if you consider,] if | mām hitām avaiṣi yadi ca: me, as expedient, means of attaining an end, [if you] believe, if | priyatvena: in loving attachment | yācyamānaḥ: you are being begged | me vākyam sādhu kuruṣva: my, word [of advise,] simply, you make happen. |

TRANSLATION

"If you look upon to do my favoured deed, and if you look upon me as an expedient one, I beg of you in our loving attachment that my gentle word of advise be done. [4-15-29]

VERSE 30

प्रसीद पथ्यम् श्रुणु जल्पितम् हि मे
न रोषम् एव अनुविधातुम् अर्हसि
क्षमो हि ते कोशल राज सूनुना
न विग्रहः शक्र सम तेजसा

prasīda pathyam śruṇu jalpitam hi me
na roṣam eva anuvidhātum arhasi
kṣamo hi te kośala rāja sūnunā
na vigrahaḥ śakra sama tejasā

SYNONYMS

prasīda: be graceful | śruṇu me pathyam jalpitam: listen, to my, expedient, small talk | roṣam eva: rancour, alone | anuvidhātum na arhasi: to follow up, not, becoming of you | śakra sama tejasā: with Indra, equal, in dynamism | kośala rāja sūnunā: with Kosala, king's, son | te vigrahaḥ na kśamaḥ hi: to you, confrontation, not, pardonable, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Be graceful and it behove you to listen to my small but expedient talk, and following up rancour alone is unbecoming of you, thereby your confrontation with the Prince of Kosala will be unpardonable for his dynamism equals that of Indra." Thus Tara spoke to her husband Vali. [4-15-30]

VERSE 31

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे पंचदशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe paṃcadaśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Then, though Tara spoke beneficial and advisable words they are unimpressive to Vali for he is impounded by fatality and driven by time to his doom. [4-15-31]