Chapter 16

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

ताम् एवम् ब्रुवतीम् ताराम् ताराधिप निभ आननाम्
वाली निर्भर्त्सयामास वचनम् च इदम् अब्रवीत्

tām evam bruvatīm tārām tārādhipa nibha ānanām
vālī nirbhartsayāmāsa vacanam ca idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

evam bruvatīm tārā adhipa nibha ānanām: stars', lord's [moon,] in shine, faced one | tām tārām: to her, to Tara | vālī nirbhartsayāmāsa: Vali, daunted | idam vacanam abravīt: this, word, said. |

TRANSLATION

While Tara with a face that shines like the lord of stars is speaking thus, Vali dauntingly spoke to her with these words. [4-16-1]

VERSE 2

गर्जतो अस्य च सुसंरब्धम् भ्रातुः शत्रोर् विशेषतः
म^^र्षयिष्यामि केन कारणेन वरानने

garjato asya ca susaṃrabdham bhrātuḥ śatror viśeṣataḥ
ma^^rṣayiṣyāmi kena kāraṇena varānane

SYNONYMS

vara ānane = oh, pretty, faced one: Tara | bhrātuḥ: [younger] brother | viśeṣataḥ śatroḥ: particularly, an adversary | asya su samrabdham garjataḥ: he, very frenetically, while raving | kena api kāraṇena: by which [by any,] even, by reason | marṣayiṣyāmi: I can tolerate [tell me.] |

TRANSLATION

"He is an younger brother and an adversary in particular, oh, pretty-faced Tara, can I by any reason tolerate him when he kept raving on frenetically, tell me. [4-16-2]

VERSE 3

अधर्षितानाम् शूराणाम् समरेषु अनिवर्तिनाम्
धर्षणाम् अर्षणम् भीरु मरणात् अतिरिच्यते

adharṣitānām śūrāṇām samareṣu anivartinām
dharṣaṇām arṣaṇam bhīru maraṇāt atiricyate

SYNONYMS

bhīru: oh, shyly one | samareṣu a nivartinām: in battle, not, retreating ones | a dharṣitānām: un, assailed ones [not get assailed by their incompetence] | śūrāṇām: [to such] valorous ones | dharṣaṇām arṣaṇam: confrontation [overweening calls,] endurance of | maraṇāt atiricyate: death, more than. |

TRANSLATION

"To those valiant ones who neither give ground nor get assailed in wars, oh, shyly, endurance of a overweening war-whoop is more than death. [4-16-3]

VERSE 4

सोढुम् न च समर्थो अहम् युद्ध कामस्य संयुगे
सुग्रीवस्य च संरंभम् हीन ग्रीवस्य गर्जतम्

soḍhum na ca samartho aham yuddha kāmasya saṃyuge
sugrīvasya ca saṃraṃbham hīna grīvasya garjatam

SYNONYMS

aham samyuge: I, in duel | yuddha kāmasya: brawl, desiring, hiina griivasya = feeble, voiced [dumbly] | garjatam: bawling | sugrīvasya: of Sugreeva | samrambham: commotion | soḍhum na ca samarthaḥ: to withstand, not, also, I am capable. |

TRANSLATION

"I am incapable of withstanding that dumbly Sugreeva's bawling commotion desiring a brawling duel. [4-16-4]

VERSE 5

न च कार्यो विषादः ते राघवम् प्रति मत् कृते
धर्मज्ञः च कृतज्ञः च कथम् पापम् करिष्यति

na ca kāryo viṣādaḥ te rāghavam prati mat kṛte
dharmajñaḥ ca kṛtajñaḥ ca katham pāpam kariṣyati

SYNONYMS

mat kṛte = in my, respect: some harm to me | rāghavam prati: Raghava, about [running co | te viṣādaḥ na ca kāryaḥ = to you, botheration, not, also, to be done: you need not bother | dharmajñaḥ ca kṛtajñaḥ ca: virtue-knower, diligent one | pāpam katham kariṣyati = sin, hov, can do: I wonder. |

TRANSLATION

"Also, you need not bother about Raghava's doing some harm to me, as I wonder how a diligent man and knower of virtue can commit sin. [4-16-5]

VERSE 6

निवर्तस्व सह स्त्रीभिः कथम् भूयो अनुगच्छसि
सौहृदम् दर्शितम् तावत् मयि भक्तिः त्वया कृता

nivartasva saha strībhiḥ katham bhūyo anugacchasi
sauhṛdam darśitam tāvat mayi bhaktiḥ tvayā kṛtā

SYNONYMS

saha strībhiḥ nivartasva: with, [other] females, you return | bhūyaḥ katham anugacchasi: again, how, you follow me | tvayā sauhṛdam darśitam tāvat = by you, friendliness, is śovn: expressed, truly | mayi bhaktiḥ kṛtā: in me, devotion, owing to. |

TRANSLATION

"How do you follow me again, you return with all these females, truly you have expressed your friendliness owing to your devotion to me. [4-16-6]

VERSE 7

प्रति योत्स्यामि अहम् गत्वा सुग्रीवम् जहि संभ्रमम्
दर्पम् च अस्य विनेष्यामि न च प्राणैर् वियोक्ष्यते

prati yotsyāmi aham gatvā sugrīvam jahi saṃbhramam
darpam ca asya vineṣyāmi na ca prāṇair viyokṣyate

SYNONYMS

aham gatvā sugrīvam prati yotsyāmi = ī, on going, vith ṣugrīva, counter, attack: retaliate | sambhramam jahi: perplexity, do away with | asya darpam ca vi neṣyāmi: his, arrogance, also, I will drive out | prāṇaiḥ na viyokṣyate = by lives, not, [he vill] be released: his lives will not be released. |

TRANSLATION

"You may do away with your perplexity as I will retaliate Sugreeva on my going there only to drive him and his arrogance out, but without letting his lives loose. [4-16-7]

VERSE 8

अहम् हि अजि स्थितस्य अस्य करिष्यामि यत् ईप्सितम्
वृक्षैः मुष्टि प्रहारैः च पीडितः प्रति यास्यति

aham hi aji sthitasya asya kariṣyāmi yat īpsitam
vṛkṣaiḥ muṣṭi prahāraiḥ ca pīḍitaḥ prati yāsyati

SYNONYMS

aham hi: I, indeed | aji sthitasya: in combat, firmed up | asya yat īpsitam: his, which, desired | [that: that] | kariṣyāmi: I wish to effectuate | vṛkśaiḥ muṣṭi prahāraiḥ ca: [ by caning] with trees, fist, fights, also | pīḍitaḥ prati yāsyati: roughed up, return, he goes. |

TRANSLATION

"As he is firmed up for a combat, I will indeed have to effectuate what his desire is, by caning with trees and fistfights, by which roughed up he returns. [4-16-8]

VERSE 9

न मे गर्वितम् आयस्तम् सहिष्यति दुरात्मवान्
कृतम् तारे सहायत्वम् दर्शितम् सौहृदम् मयि

na me garvitam āyastam sahiṣyati durātmavān
kṛtam tāre sahāyatvam darśitam sauhṛdam mayi

SYNONYMS

dur ātmavān: malign minded [Sugreeva] | me garvitam āyastam: my, nerve, pace [of combat] | na sahiṣyati: cannot, tolerate | tare: oh, Tara | sahāyatvam kṛtam: [intellectual] help, is done [by you] | mayi sauhṛdam darśitam: in me, friendliness, shown [by you, it is enough.] |

TRANSLATION

"My nerve and pace of combat will be insufferable to that malign minded Sugreeva, oh, Tara, you have offered your helping suggestion and you have shown all your friendliness to me, it is enough. [4-16-9]

VERSE 10

शापिता असि मम प्राणैः निवर्तस्व जनेन च
अलम् जित्वा निवर्तिष्ये तम् अहम् भ्रातरम् रणे

śāpitā asi mama prāṇaiḥ nivartasva janena ca
alam jitvā nivartiṣye tam aham bhrātaram raṇe

SYNONYMS

mama prāṇaiḥ śāpitā asi: on my, lives, sworn, you are | janena ca nivartasva: with followers, also, you return | aham: I | tam bhrātaram: that, brother | raṇe alam jitvā nivartiṣye: in combat, easily, on defeating, I return [revert Sugreeva.] |

TRANSLATION

"I adjured you on my lives, return with your followers, and I shall return to you on easily defeating and returning that 'brother of mine." Said Vali to Tara. [4-16-10]

VERSE 11

तम् तु तारा परिष्वज्य वालिनम् प्रिय वादिनी
चकार रुदती मन्दम् दक्षिणा सा प्रदक्षिणम्

tam tu tārā pariṣvajya vālinam priya vādinī
cakāra rudatī mandam dakṣiṇā sā pradakṣiṇam

SYNONYMS

priya vādinī: pleasant, articulator | dakṣiṇā: talented one [in advising] | sā tārā: she, that Tara | tam vālinam pariṣvajya: him, that Vali, on hugging | mandam rudatī: repressively, moaning | pradakṣiṇam cakāra: circumambulation, made [round Vali.] |

TRANSLATION

She that pleasant articulator and talented Tara then hugged and circumabulated Vali, suppressing her moaning, as an honour to the braver. [4-16-11]

VERSE 12

ततः स्वस्त्ययनम् कृत्वा मंत्रवित् विजय एषिणी
अंतःपुरम् सह स्त्रीभिः प्रविष्टा शोक मोहिता

tataḥ svastyayanam kṛtvā maṃtravit vijaya eṣiṇī
aṃtaḥpuram saha strībhiḥ praviṣṭā śoka mohitā

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | mantra vit = hymn, knover: Tara | vijaya eṣiṇī: triumph, wishing | svasti ayanam kṛtvā: blessings, for journey [bon voyage,] on making | śoka mohitā: by sadness, disoriented | strībhiḥ saha antaḥpuram praviṣṭā: with, females, palace chambers, entered. |

TRANSLATION

Then she who is a hymnodist that Tara has performed a hymnal bon voyage wishing triumph to Vali, and entered palace chambers along with other females, disoriented by her own sadness. [4-16-12]

PURPORT

The swatyayana is a Vedic formality performed by the mothers / wives of the combating gallants at the time of the departure of heros to battlefields, by placing red tilaka on forehead, aarati , with camphor burning, akshata , sprinkling grain on head, handing him his bow or sword, all with respective Vedic hymns. The weaponry of these heroes will be in the custody of their wives, for they have to worship the weaponry that brings victory to their husbands. Seetha also gives Rama his bow and sword in Aranya Kanda, on his departure to forests from Suteekshna's hermitage as at 3-8-18.
VERSE 13

प्रविष्टायाम् तु तारायाम् सह स्त्रीभिः स्वम् आलयम्
नगर्या निर्ययौ क्रुद्धो महा सर्प इव श्वसन्

praviṣṭāyām tu tārāyām saha strībhiḥ svam ālayam
nagaryā niryayau kruddho mahā sarpa iva śvasan

SYNONYMS

tārāyām: Tara | strībhiḥ saha: females, along with | svam ālayam praviṣṭāyām: her, own chambers, on entering | kruddhaḥ: infuriated | mahā sarpa iva śvasan: great, snake, like, hissing | nagaryā niryayau: from city, came out. |

TRANSLATION

On Tara entering her own palace chambers along with other females, Vali emerged out of the city hissing like an infuriated great snake. [4-16-13]

VERSE 14

स निःश्वस्य महारोषो वाली परम वेगवान्
सर्वतः चारयन् दृष्टिम् शत्रु दर्शन कांक्षया

sa niḥśvasya mahāroṣo vālī parama vegavān
sarvataḥ cārayan dṛṣṭim śatru darśana kāṃkṣayā

SYNONYMS

maha roṣaḥ: highly, rancorous | saḥ vālī: he that, Vali | parama vegavān: one with high, audacious | niḥśvasya: suspired | śatru darśana kānkṣayā: enemy, sighting, intending to | sarvataḥ dṛṣṭim cārayan: everywhere, his sight, spread out. |

TRANSLATION

He that highly rancorous Vali suspired with high audacity and spread his sight everywhere intending to sight his enemy. [4-16-14]

VERSE 15

स ददर्श ततः श्रीमान् सुग्रीवम् हेम पिङ्गलम्
सुसंवीतम् अवष्टब्धम् दीप्यमानम् इव अनलम्

sa dadarśa tataḥ śrīmān sugrīvam hema piṅgalam
susaṃvītam avaṣṭabdham dīpyamānam iva analam

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | śrīmān saḥ: celebrated one, he [Vali] | hema piṅgalam: with golden, ochre [body brilliance] | su samvītam: well, tying up [girdle cloth] | avaṣṭabdham: self-confidence | dīpyamānam iva analam: blazing, like, fire | sugrīvam dadarśa: at Sugreeva, [Vali] saw. |

TRANSLATION

Then that celebrated Vali saw Sugreeva who is in golden-ochre hue, whose girdle cloth is tightened for a fight, and who is with an air of self-confidence, blazing like fiery-fire. [4-16-15]

VERSE 16

तम् स दृष्ट्वा महाबाहुः सुग्रीवम् पर्यवस्थितम्
गाढम् परिदधे वासो वाली परम कोपिनः

tam sa dṛṣṭvā mahābāhuḥ sugrīvam paryavasthitam
gāḍham paridadhe vāso vālī parama kopinaḥ

SYNONYMS

parama kopanaḥ: highly, provoked | mahābāhuḥ: strong armed one | saḥ vālī: he that, Vali | paryavasthitam [pari ava sthitam]: [fully, nearly, available] proximately available | tam sugrīvam dṛṣṭvā: him, that Sugreeva, on seeing | vāsaḥ gāḍham paridadhe: cloth, tightly, he wore [tightened his own girdle cloth.] |

TRANSLATION

That strong armed Vali who is highly provoked has also tightened his girdle cloth on seeing proximately available Sugreeva. [4-16-16]

VERSE 17

स वाली गाढ संवीतो मुष्टिम् उद्यम्य वीर्यवान्
सुग्रीवम् एव अभिमुखो ययौ योद्धुम् कृत क्षणः

sa vālī gāḍha saṃvīto muṣṭim udyamya vīryavān
sugrīvam eva abhimukho yayau yoddhum kṛta kṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

gāḍha samvītaḥ: strongly, tightening [girdle cloth] | vīryavān: formidable one | saḥ vālī: he, Vali | muṣṭim udyamya: fist, uplifting | yoddhum: to fight | kṛta kṣaṇaḥ: made, moment [timed well] | sugrīvam eva abhimukhaḥ yayau: Sugreeva, only, towards, proceeded. |

TRANSLATION

He that formidable Vali strongly tightening his girdle-cloth too, and proceeded towards Sugreeva in a well timed manner uplifting fists to fight him off. [4-16-17]

VERSE 18

श्लिष्टम् मुष्टिम् समुद्यम्य संरब्धतरम् आगतः
सुग्रीवो अपि समुद्दिश्य वालिनम् हेम मालिनम्

śliṣṭam muṣṭim samudyamya saṃrabdhataram āgataḥ
sugrīvo api samuddiśya vālinam hema mālinam

SYNONYMS

sugrīvaḥ api: Sugreeva, even | śliṣṭam muṣṭim samudyamya: tightening, fist, lifting at the ready | hema mālinam vālinam: one with golden, pendent, at Vali | samuddiśya: well-aiming | samrabdha taram āgataḥ: hasty, highly [hastiest imprudent Vali] has come at. |

TRANSLATION

Even Sugreeva has come at that imprudent Vali with golden pendant, on tightening his fists, lifting them up at the ready, and aiming them well at Vali. [4-16-18]

VERSE 19

तम् वाली क्रोध ताम्राक्षः सुग्रीवम् रण कोविदम्
आपतंतम् महा वेगम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत्

tam vālī krodha tāmrākṣaḥ sugrīvam raṇa kovidam
āpataṃtam mahā vegam idam vacanam abravīt

SYNONYMS

vālī: Vali | krodha tāmra akṣaḥ: by fury, reddened, eyed | raṇa kovidam: fighting, expert in | mahā vegam = one vith great, spīd: expeditious one | ā patantam = coming, falling: swooping down | tam sugrīvam: to him Sugreeva | idam vacanam abravīt: this, word, said. |

TRANSLATION

Vali spoke this word to that Sugreeva who is swooping down on him, whose eyes are reddened in fury, and who is an expert and expeditious in fighting. [4-16-19]

VERSE 20

एष मुष्टिर् महान् बद्धो गाढः सुनियत अंगुलिः
मया वेग विमुक्तः ते प्राणान् आदाय यास्यति

eṣa muṣṭir mahān baddho gāḍhaḥ suniyata aṃguliḥ
mayā vega vimuktaḥ te prāṇān ādāya yāsyati

SYNONYMS

su niyata anguliḥ: well, clenching, fingers | gāḍhaḥ: firmly clenched | eṣa baddhaḥ mahān muṣṭiḥ: this, clenched, great, fist | mayā vega vi muktaḥ: by me, very, speedily, while released [pitched] | te prāṇān ādāya: you, lives, on taking | yāsyati: it goes off [unclenched.] |

TRANSLATION

"Properly clenching fingers this great fist of mine is firmly clenched, and it will unclench only on taking your lives when I pitch this on you at full speed." So said Vali threateningly to Sugreeva. [4-16-20]

VERSE 21

एवम् उक्तः तु सुग्रीवः क्रुद्धो वालिनम् अब्रवीत्
तव च एष हरन् प्राणान् मुष्टिः पततु मूर्धनि

evam uktaḥ tu sugrīvaḥ kruddho vālinam abravīt
tava ca eṣa haran prāṇān muṣṭiḥ patatu mūrdhani

SYNONYMS

evam uktaḥ tu sugrīvaḥ: thus, said, but, Sugreeva | kruddhaḥ: one with high dudgeon | vālinam abravīt: to Vali said | eṣa muṣṭiḥ: this is, [my fist] | tava prāṇān haran: your, lives, to take | mūrdhani patatu: on forehead, shall fall. |

TRANSLATION

Thus said, Sugreeva with high dudgeon said, "this fist of mine shall fall on your forehead plundering your lives." [4-16-21]

VERSE 22

ताडितः तेन तम् क्रुद्धः समभिक्रम्य वेगतः
अभवत् शोणित उद्गारी सापीड इव पर्वतः

tāḍitaḥ tena tam kruddhaḥ samabhikramya vegataḥ
abhavat śoṇita udgārī sāpīḍa iva parvataḥ

SYNONYMS

vegataḥ: instantaneously | samabhikramya [sam abhi kramaya]: coming nearby | tena: by him, by Vali | tāḍitaḥ = one vho is hit [ṣugrīva: spilled blood] | kruddhaḥ: is enraged | śoṇita udgārī: blood, streaming | sā pīḍaḥ: with torrents | parvataḥ iva: mountain, like | abhavat: he became. |

TRANSLATION

Coming near instantaneously Vali hit him, whereby Sugreeva is enraged and became like a mountain streaming blood in its torrents. [4-16-22]

VERSE 23

सुग्रीवेण तु निःशंकम् सालम् उत्पाट्य तेजसा
गात्रेषु अभिहतो वाली वज्रेण इव महा गिरिः

sugrīveṇa tu niḥśaṃkam sālam utpāṭya tejasā
gātreṣu abhihato vālī vajreṇa iva mahā giriḥ

SYNONYMS

sugrīveṇa tu: by Sugreeva, but | tejasā: by his force | niḥśankam: unhesitatingly | sālam utpāṭya: saala tree, on uprooting | vālī: Vali is | vajreṇa mahā giriḥ iva: by thunderbolt, great mountain, as with | gātreṣu abhihataḥ: on limbs, struck. |

TRANSLATION

But Sugreeva unhesitatingly uprooted a saala tree with his force and thrashed the limbs of Vali as with the thunderbolt thrashing a great mountain. [4-16-23]

VERSE 24

स तु वृक्षेण निर्भग्नः साल ताडन विह्वलः
गुरु भार भर आक्रान्ता नौः ससार्था इव सागरे

sa tu vṛkṣeṇa nirbhagnaḥ sāla tāḍana vihvalaḥ
guru bhāra bhara ākrāntā nauḥ sasārthā iva sāgare

SYNONYMS

sāla tāḍana vihvalaḥ: with saala tree, by thwacking, one who is staggered | saḥ tu: he, that Vali, but | sāgare: in ocean | guru bhāra bhara ākrāntā: heavy, weight, filled with, brimming with | sa sārthā nauḥ iva: with, merchants, [tossing] ship, like | nirbhagnaḥ: [on the brink of] wrecking. |

TRANSLATION

But Vali when thwacked with saala tree had staggered and looked like a tossing ship in an ocean filled with heavy weight of merchandise and brimming with merchants, but on the brink of wrecking. [4-16-24]

VERSE 25

तौ भीम बल विक्रान्तौ सुपर्ण सम वेगिनौ
प्रयुद्धौ घोर वपुषौ चन्द्र सूर्यौ इव अंबरे

tau bhīma bala vikrāntau suparṇa sama veginau
prayuddhau ghora vapuṣau candra sūryau iva aṃbare

SYNONYMS

, 26a| bhīma bala vikrāntau: sesational, with energy, triumphing zeal | suparṇa sama veginau: Divine Eagle, Garuda, equalling, in swiftness | ghora vapuṣau: with frightful, body builds | paraḥ param = one to another: each other | cchidra anveṣaṇa tatparau: perilous [body-parts,] in exploring, vigilant ones | a mitra ghnau: un, friendly ones [enemies,] killers of | tau: those two, Vali and Sugreeva | ambare candra sūryau iva: ] in sky, Moon, sun, like [which is an inconceivable fight] | pra yuddhau: frighteningly, fought. |

TRANSLATION

Those two, Vali and Sugreeva, with their sensational energy, triumphing zeal, frightful physiques, swiftness as good as the Divine Eagle Garuda, vigilance in exploring perilous body parts of one another, ravagement of their own enemies fought frighteningly, like the sun and moon in the sky, which is inconceivable. [4-16-25, 26a]

VERSE 26

ततो अवर्धत वाली तु बल वीर्य समन्वितः

tato avardhata vālī tu bala vīrya samanvitaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 27a| tataḥ: afterwards | bala vīrya samanvitaḥ: by might, vigour, one possessing | vālī tu: Vali, but | avardhata: progressed | mahāvīryaḥ sūrya putraḥ sugrīvaḥ: greatly, mighty, sun's, son, Sugreeva | pari hīyata = totally, declined: retrogressed. |

TRANSLATION

But Vali being the possessor of might and vigour progressed and though greatly mighty is son of sun, Sugreeva, regressed. [4-16-26b, 27a]

VERSE 27

वालिना भग्न दर्पः तु सुग्रीवो मन्द विक्रमः

vālinā bhagna darpaḥ tu sugrīvo manda vikramaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 28a| vālinā bhagna darpaḥ tu: by Vali, routed, pride | sugrīvaḥ manda vikramaḥ: Sugreeva, retardant, in agression | sa a marṣaḥ: with, no, happiness [with exasperation] | vālinam prati: Vali, to counteract | rāghavam: for Raghava | darśayāmāsa: started to see. |

TRANSLATION

Sugreeva became retardant in aggression when Vali routed his pride and then he exasperatedly started searching for Raghava to counteract Vali. [4-16-27]

VERSE 28

वृक्षैः स शाखैः शिखरैः वज्र कोटि निभैः नखैः

vṛkṣaiḥ sa śākhaiḥ śikharaiḥ vajra koṭi nibhaiḥ nakhaiḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 29| tayoḥ: among those two | vṛkśaiḥ sa śākhaiḥ: with trees, with, branches | śikharaiḥ: peaks [of mountains] | vajra koṭi nibhaiḥ nakhaiḥ: thunderbolts, edges, similar [in sharpness,] with [edged] nails | muṣṭibhiḥ jānubhiḥ padbhiḥ: with fists, with knees, with feet | bāhubhiḥ ca: with arms, also | vṛtra vāsavoḥ iva: among demon Vritra, Indra, like [as has happened] | punaḥ punaḥ: again, again | ghoram yudddham abhūt: deadly, fight, there happened. |

TRANSLATION

Among those two there happened a deadly fight time and again using trees with branches, peaks of mountains, their own nails that are similar to the razor-sharp edges of thunderbolts, and with fists, knees, feet, and arms, like the fight that once chanced between demon Vritra and Indra. [4-16-28b, 29]

VERSE 30

तौ शोणितात्कौ युध्येताम् वानारौ वन् चारिणौ
मेघौ इव महा शब्दैः तर्जमानौ परस्परम्

tau śoṇitātkau yudhyetām vānārau van cāriṇau
meghau iva mahā śabdaiḥ tarjamānau parasparam

SYNONYMS

vana cāriṇau tau vānārau: forest, movers, those, vanara-s | śoṇit ātkau: with blood, wetted [soaked] | parasparam tarjamānau: each to each, threatening | mahā śabdaiḥ: with great, uproars | meghau iva: clouds, like | yudhyetām: gone on fighting. |

TRANSLATION

Those forest moving vanara-s that are soaked in blood have gone on clashing, threatening each other, like two clouds clashing uproariously. [4-16-30]

VERSE 31

हीयमानम् अथ अपश्यत् सुग्रीवम् वानरेश्वरम्
प्रेक्षमाणम् दिशः च एव राघवः स मुहुर् मुहुर्

hīyamānam atha apaśyat sugrīvam vānareśvaram
prekṣamāṇam diśaḥ ca eva rāghavaḥ sa muhur muhur

SYNONYMS

atha: then | saḥ rāghavaḥ: he, that Raghava | muhuḥ muhuḥ: again, again | diśaḥ prekśamāṇam: directions, started seeing [for help] | vānara īśvaram sugrīvam: vanara, lord of, at Sugreeva | hīyamānam eva ca: deteriorating, even, also | apaśyat: has seen. |

TRANSLATION

Raghava has then seen the lord of monkeys Sugreeva who is repeatedly eyeing all sides for help and who is even deteriorating in his enterprise. [4-16-31]

VERSE 32

ततो रामो महातेजा आर्तम् दृष्ट्वा हरीश्वरम्
स शरम् वीक्षते वीरो वालिनो वध कांक्षया

tato rāmo mahātejā ārtam dṛṣṭvā harīśvaram
sa śaram vīkṣate vīro vālino vadha kāṃkṣayā

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | mahātejā vīraḥ saḥ rāmaḥ: great, refulgent one, fearless one, he that Rama | hari īśvaram = monkey's, lord: Sugreeva | ārtam dṛṣṭvā: in forlornness, on seeing | vālinaḥ vadha kānkśayā: for Vali's, elimination, aiming at | śaram vīkśate: he [Rama,] arrow, scanned for. |

TRANSLATION

On seeing the lord of monkeys Sugreeva in a forlornness, then the refulgent and fearless Rama scanned for an arrow aiming to eliminate Vali. [4-16-32]

VERSE 33

ततो धनुषि संधाय शरम् आशी विष उपमम्
पूरयामास तत् चापम् काल चक्रम् इव अन्तकः

tato dhanuṣi saṃdhāya śaram āśī viṣa upamam
pūrayāmāsa tat cāpam kāla cakram iva antakaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | āśī viṣa upamam = vhic has fang's, venom, in simile: venomous serpent like | śaram dhanuṣi sandhāya: arrow, in bow, on tautening | antakaḥ kāla cakram iva: Terminator, Time, disc, like [bow] | pūrayāmāsa tat cāpam: started to draw out [the string,] that, bow. |

TRANSLATION

Then on tautening a venomous serpent like arrow in the bow, Rama started to draw out bowstring, whereby that bow attained a similitude with the Time-disc of the Terminator. [4-16-33]

VERSE 34

तस्य ज्यातल घोषेण त्रस्ताः पत्ररथेश्वराः
प्रदुद्रुवुर् मृगाः च एव युगांत इव मोहिताः

tasya jyātala ghoṣeṇa trastāḥ patraratheśvarāḥ
pradudruvur mṛgāḥ ca eva yugāṃta iva mohitāḥ

SYNONYMS

tasya: that bow's | jyā tala ghoṣeṇa: bowstring's, surface, blast | trastāḥ: panicked | patra ratha īśvarāḥ = by vings, carioting: birds, lordly ones [very big birds, leave alone small birds] | mṛgāḥ ca eva: animals, also, thus | yuga anta mohitāḥ iva: at era, end, those that are startled, like | pra dudruvuḥ: verily, fled. |

TRANSLATION

At the blast of bowstring the lordly birds and animals are panicked, like those that will be startled by the approach of ear ending, and they all fled. [4-16-34]

VERSE 35

मुक्तस्तु वज्र निर्घोषः प्रदीप्त अशनि संनिभः
राघवेण महा बाणो वालि वक्षसि पातितः

muktastu vajra nirghoṣaḥ pradīpta aśani saṃnibhaḥ
rāghaveṇa mahā bāṇo vāli vakṣasi pātitaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāghaveṇa muktaḥ: by Raghava, released | vajra nirghoṣaḥ = thunderbolt's, vith sound of: boom of thunderclap | pradīpta aśani sannibhaḥ: flashing, lightning, similar to | mahā bāṇaḥ: great, arrow | vāli vakṣasi pātitaḥ: on Vali's, chest, fallen. |

TRANSLATION

The arrow released by Raghava that has the boom of thunderbolt's thunderclap and the flashes of a lightning fell on the chest of Vali. [4-16-35]

VERSE 36

ततः तेन महातेजा वीर्य युक्तः कपीश्वरः
वेगेन अभिहतो वाली निपपात मही तले

tataḥ tena mahātejā vīrya yuktaḥ kapīśvaraḥ
vegena abhihato vālī nipapāta mahī tale

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | mahātejā: highly, magnificent one | vīrya yuktaḥ: intrepidity, one having | kapi īśvaraḥ: monkey's, lord [Vali] | tena: by it [by arrow] | vegena abhihataḥ: by fleetness, hit | mahī tale nipapāta: on earth's, plane, fell down. |

TRANSLATION

Hit by the fleetness of that arrow then that highly magnificent and intrepid lord of monkeys Vali fell onto the plane of earth. [4-16-36]

VERSE 37

इन्द्र ध्वज इव उद्धूत पौर्ण मास्याम् महीतले
अश्वयुक् समये मासि गत सत्त्वो विचेतनः
बाष्प संरुद्ध कण्ठस्तु वाली च आर्त स्वरः शनैः

indra dhvaja iva uddhūta paurṇa māsyām mahītale
aśvayuk samaye māsi gata sattvo vicetanaḥ
bāṣpa saṃruddha kaṇṭhastu vālī ca ārta svaraḥ śanaiḥ

SYNONYMS

aśvayuk samaye: Ashvayuja / Ashvin, period | māsi paurṇa māsyām: by month, in full-moon month [fortnight] | mahītale: onto ground | uddhūta indra dhvaja iva: thrown down, Indra's, flag, like | vālī: Vali is | gata sattvaḥ: depleted, energy | vi cetanaḥ: without [dissipated,] vitality | śanaiḥ: slowly | bāṣpa samruddha kaṇṭhaḥ: tear, blocked, with throat | ārta svaraḥ = vith painful, voicing: with piteous moan [ fell down.] |

TRANSLATION

Like the flag that will be raised in honour of Indra during the month of ashvin on a full-moon day, but thrown onto earth along with its flagstaff after the festival, Vali with depleted energy and dissipated vitality slowly fell onto ground, and with tears blocking throat he moaned piteously. [4-16-37]

PURPORT

This indra dhvaja ustava , festival of Indra's flagstaff will be undertaken after the sixth lunar month of year, usually after summer in order to appease Indra to cause rains. On full-moon day in Ashvayuja month [October-November] this will be performed and after the ritual the flag / flagstaff will be thrown to ground.
VERSE 38

नरोत्तमः काल युगांतकोपमम् शरोत्तमम् कांचन रूप्यभूषितम्
ससर्ज दीप्तम् तम् अमित्र मर्दनम् स धूममग्निम् मुखतो यथा हरः

narottamaḥ kāla yugāṃtakopamam śarottamam kāṃcana rūpyabhūṣitam
sasarja dīptam tam amitra mardanam sa dhūmamagnim mukhato yathā haraḥ

SYNONYMS

nara uttamaḥ: among men, best one Rama | kāla: at the time of era end | yuga antaka upamam: era, ender, in simile | kāncana rūpya bhūṣitam: in gold, silver, decorated | dīptam: glowing | a mitra mardanam: unfriendly ones, subduer of | tam śara uttamam: that, arrow, best one | haraḥ mukhataḥ: Shiva's, from face | sa dhūmam agnim yathā: with [emitting,] smoke, fire, as with | śara uttamam: arrow, the best | sasarja: let go, released. |

TRANSLATION

That best one among men Rama released a blazing and enemy subjugating arrow which in simile is like an Epoch-ender at the end of era, and that best arrow decorated in gold and silver looked like the glance from the Third-Eye of Rudra, emitting fire with smoke. [4-16-38]

VERSE 39

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे षोडशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe ṣoḍaśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: then | vāsava sūnuḥ: Indra's, son | āhave: in battle [battlefield] | śoṇita toya visravaiḥ: blood, water [sweat,] with streams of | ukṣitaḥ: dampened | acala udgataḥ: on mountain, stemmed up [standing high on mountain] | [anila uddhata: by wind, felled] | su puṣpita aśoka iva: well, bloomed, Ashoka tree, like | vi cetanaḥ = vithout, vigour: anima is undone | pra bhrañśita: altogether, dislodged | indra dhvaja vat: Indra's, flagstaff, like | kṣitim gataḥ: onto earth, gone [abandoned.] |

TRANSLATION

That Indra's son Vali, dampened with blood and sweat, then looked like just felled Ashoka tree which has stemmed up and so far standing high on a mountain with fully bloomed clusters of its blood-red flowers, and when his anima is undone he even looked like the flagstaff on which a flag is raised in honour of Indra, but which is altogether dislodged and abandoned on the ground. [4-16-39]

PURPORT

Ashoka tree by itself stands high and stout with its blood red flowers, and by virtue of its growing on high of mountains it is more gloriously standing till now, like Vali, but that is felled too suddenly.