Chapter 20

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

राम चाप विसृष्टेन शरेण अंतकरेण तम्
दृष्ट्वा विनिहतम् भूमौ तारा ताराधिप आनना

rāma cāpa visṛṣṭena śareṇa aṃtakareṇa tam
dṛṣṭvā vinihatam bhūmau tārā tārādhipa ānanā

SYNONYMS

, 2a| tāra adhipa ānanā: stars, lord, faced one [having a lovely face like moon, Tara] | bhāminī: resentful lady | sā tārā: such as she is, that Tara | rāma cāpa visṛṣṭena: Rama's, bow, released | antakareṇa śareṇa: terminator [like,] with arrow | vinihatam: fallen down | tam bhartāram bhūmau dṛṣṭvā: him, that husband, on floor, on seeing | samāsādya paryaṣvajata: reached, and embraced. |

TRANSLATION

On seeing her husband felled to ground with a terminator like arrow released by Rama, that resentful lady Tara whose face is lovely like the moon, reached and embraced him. [4-20-1]

VERSE 2

इषुणा अभिहतम् दृष्ट्वा वालिनम् कुंजरोपमम्

iṣuṇā abhihatam dṛṣṭvā vālinam kuṃjaropamam

SYNONYMS

b, 3| iṣuṇā abhihatam: by arrow, shot down | kunjara upamam: elephant, in simile | parvata indra ābham: [like] mountain, best one, in shine | unmūlam tarum iva: uprooted, tree, like | vānaram vālinam dṛṣṭvā: vanara, at Vali, on seeing | tārā āturā: Tara, agonised | śoka samtapta mānasā: by grief, scorched, with heart | paryadevayat: wailed fretfully. |

TRANSLATION

Tara is agonised when she saw the elephantine and mountainous vanara, namely Vali, reduced to no more than an uprooted tree, and she wailed fretfully with grief scorching heart. [4-20-2b, 3]

VERSE 4

रणे दारुण विक्रान्त प्रवीर प्लवताम् वर
किम् इदीनाम् पुरो भागाम् अद्य त्वम् न अभिभाषसे

raṇe dāruṇa vikrānta pravīra plavatām vara
kim idīnām puro bhāgām adya tvam na abhibhāṣase

SYNONYMS

raṇe dāruṇa: in fight, a stern one | vikrānta: victorious one | pra vīra: best, valiant | plavatām vara: among fliers, the best | idīnām = nov: so far | puraḥ bhāgām = before, you behind: not blamed you | a puraḥ bhāgam: not, before, your side [at your behind, I who never blamed you before or behind you] | tvam kim adya na abhibhāṣase = you, vhy, nov, not, grīt: talk. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, stern one in fights, oh, victorious one, oh, best valiant, oh, best flier, I have never blamed you either in your presence or in your absence, why do not you talk to me now? [4-20-4]

VERSE 5

उत्तिष्ठ हरि शार्दूल भजस्व शयन उत्तमम्
न एवम् विधाः शेरते हि भूमौ नृपति सत्तमाः

uttiṣṭha hari śārdūla bhajasva śayana uttamam
na evam vidhāḥ śerate hi bhūmau nṛpati sattamāḥ

SYNONYMS

hari śārdūla uttiṣṭha: oh, monkey, the tiger, arise | bhajasva śayana uttamam: take, bed, best one | evam vidhāḥ nṛpati sattamāḥ: this, kind of, by kings, the best | bhūmau na śerate hi: on soil, will not, repose, isn't it. |

TRANSLATION

"Arise, oh, tigerly monkey, you have to make use of a best bed as best kings will not on repose on soil in this way, isn't it. [4-20-5]

VERSE 6

अतीव खलु ते कांता वसुधा वसुधाधिप
गत असुर् अपि ताम् गात्रैः माम् विहाय निषेवसे

atīva khalu te kāṃtā vasudhā vasudhādhipa
gata asur api tām gātraiḥ mām vihāya niṣevase

SYNONYMS

vasudhā adhipa = land, lord: oh, king | te vasudhā atīva kāntā khalu: to you, earth, highly, cherished [darling,] indeed | gata asuḥ api = gone: drained, lives, though | mām vihāya: me, leaving off | gātraiḥ tām niṣevase = vith limbs, her, you adore: embrace. |

TRANSLATION

"The earth seems to be a highly cherished darling of yours, oh, lord of the land, as you still embrace her with your limbs leaving me off, even when your lives are drained. [4-20-6]

PURPORT

These dialogs of Tara are not statements of facts but a kind of question like imperatives as, "Is this earth a highly cherished darling of yours than me, that is why you still cling to her leaving me off, am I that bad..." "Have you built a heavenly city in the pathway of heaven and you go there leaving me, am I unfit to come with you..." and the like.
VERSE 7

व्यक्तम् अद्य त्वया वीर धर्मतः संप्रवर्तता
किष्किंधा इव पुरी रम्या स्वर्ग मार्गे विनिर्मिता

vyaktam adya tvayā vīra dharmataḥ saṃpravartatā
kiṣkiṃdhā iva purī ramyā svarga mārge vinirmitā

SYNONYMS

vīra: oh, valiant one | dharmataḥ: righteously | sampravartatā [sam pra vartatā]: who conducts himself | tvayā: by you | adya kiṣkindhā iva: now, Kishkindha, like | ramyā purī: delightful, city | svarga mārge: to heaven, on path | vi nirmitā: well built | vyaktam: it is evident. |

TRANSLATION

"It is evident that you, who conduct yourself righteously, must have built a Kishkindha-like delightful city in the pathway to heaven by your leaving lovely Kishkindha. [4-20-7]

VERSE 8

यानि अस्माभिः त्वया सार्धम् वनेषु मधु गंधिषु
विहृतानि त्वया काले तेषाम् उपरमः कृतः

yāni asmābhiḥ tvayā sārdham vaneṣu madhu gaṃdhiṣu
vihṛtāni tvayā kāle teṣām uparamaḥ kṛtaḥ

SYNONYMS

tvayā: by you | asmābhiḥ sārdham: with us, along with | madhu gandhiṣu vaneṣu: sweet smelling [or, with liquor, odour,] in forests | yāni vihṛtāni kāle = vhic, pleasure trips, in time: from time to time | teṣām uparamaḥ tvayā kṛtaḥ = to them, stoppage: bring to an end, by you, made. |

TRANSLATION

"You bring an end to the pleasure trips you made along with us in the sweet smelling forests from time to time by your departing. [4-20-8]

VERSE 9

निरानंदा निराशा अहम् निमग्ना शोक सागरे
त्वयि पंचत्वम् आपन्ने महायूथप यूथपे

nirānaṃdā nirāśā aham nimagnā śoka sāgare
tvayi paṃcatvam āpanne mahāyūthapa yūthape

SYNONYMS

mahā yūthapa yūthape: oh, great, chief, of chiefs [ of monkeys] | tvayi pancatvam āpanne: on you, fifth state, befallen | aham: I am | nir ānandā: without, happiness | nir āśā: without, hope | śoka sāgare nimagnā: sadness, sea, drowned. |

TRANSLATION

"When this fifth state betiding you, oh, great chief of chiefs of monkeys, I am dejected, despaired and drowned in the sea of sadness. [4-20-9]

PURPORT

Where the preceding four states of living beings are, waking state, dream state, and the state of deep sleep. There is another undistinguished fourth called turriya . Death is the fifth one.
VERSE 10

हृदयम् सुस्थिरम् मह्यम् दृष्ट्वा विनिहतम् भुवि
यन् न शोक अभिसंतप्तम् स्फुटते अद्य सहस्रधा

hṛdayam susthiram mahyam dṛṣṭvā vinihatam bhuvi
yan na śoka abhisaṃtaptam sphuṭate adya sahasradhā

SYNONYMS

mahyam: for me | hṛdayam su sthiram: heart is, very, sturdy | yat: why because | vinihatam bhuvi [patitam]: killed, on ground, [fallen you] | dṛṣṭvā: on seeing | śoka abhisamtaptam: in sorrow, tormented | adya: now | sahasradhā na sphuṭate: into thousand [splints,] not, splintering. |

TRANSLATION

"My heart is very sturdy - perhaps, even on seeing you slain and fallen to ground, it is not splintering now into thousand splints, though it is tormented by sorrow. [4-20-10]

VERSE 11

सुग्रीवस्य त्वया भार्या हृता स च विवासितः
यत् तत् तस्य त्वया व्युष्टिः प्राप्ता इयम् प्लवगाधिप

sugrīvasya tvayā bhāryā hṛtā sa ca vivāsitaḥ
yat tat tasya tvayā vyuṣṭiḥ prāptā iyam plavagādhipa

SYNONYMS

plavaga adhipa: oh, fliers, chief of | tvayā: by you | yat: for which [reason] | sugrīvasya: Sugreeva's | bhāryā hṛtā: wife, snatched away | saḥ ca vivāsitaḥ: he, also, expelled [ from Kishkindha] | tat: by that reason | tasya: of that [misdeed] | iyam vyuṣṭiḥ prāptā: this, result, obtained. |

TRANSLATION

"By which reason you have snatched away Sugreeva's wife, oh, chief of fliers, and even expelled him from Kishkindha, that is the reason why you got this result. [4-20-11]

VERSE 12

निःश्रेयस परा मोहात् त्वया च अहम् विगर्हिता
या एषा अब्रुवम् हितम् वाक्यम् वानरेन्द्र हित एषिणी

niḥśreyasa parā mohāt tvayā ca aham vigarhitā
yā eṣā abruvam hitam vākyam vānarendra hita eṣiṇī

SYNONYMS

vānara indra: oh, monkey, the best | niḥśreyasa parā: well-being, interested in | hita eṣiṇī: welfare, wishing | : she who is | eṣa: = this me | hitam vākyam abruvam: beneficial, word, when said | aham tvayā mohāt vi garhitā = ī, by you, unmindfully, refused: brushed me aside. |

TRANSLATION

"I am she who said a beneficial word to you with an interest in your well-being and wishing your welfare, but oh, best monkey, you unmindfully brushed me off. [4-20-12]

VERSE 13

रूप यौवन दृप्तानाम् दक्षिणानाम् च मानद
नूनम् अप्सरसाम् आर्य चित्तानि प्रमथिष्यसि

rūpa yauvana dṛptānām dakṣiṇānām ca mānada
nūnam apsarasām ārya cittāni pramathiṣyasi

SYNONYMS

māna da: of honour, endower of | ārya: oh, honourable one | rūpa yauvana dṛptānām: by beauty, by youthfulness, those who are proud of | dakśiṇānām: by experts in romance | apsarasām: celestial's, of apsara-s | cittāni: hearts | pramathiṣyasi: you will stir up | nūnam: definitely. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, endower of honour, apsara-s, the celestial dancers, will be proud of their beauty, youthfulness, and expertise in romance, and oh, honourable one, you can stir up their hearts towards you by your gallantry, definite is that. [4-20-13]

VERSE 14

कालो निःसंशयो नूनम् जीवित अंतकरः तव
बलात् येन अवपन्नो असि सुग्रीवस्य अवशो वशम्

kālo niḥsaṃśayo nūnam jīvita aṃtakaraḥ tava
balāt yena avapanno asi sugrīvasya avaśo vaśam

SYNONYMS

niḥ samśayaḥ = vithout, doubting: undoubtable | kālaḥ: Time [or, death] | tava: for you | jīvita anta karaḥ: life, end, made [ended your life] | nūnam: definitely | yena: by which [Time/Death] | a vaśaḥ: uncontrollable such as you are | balāt: perforce / capability | sugrīvasya vaśam ava pannaḥ asi: Sugreeva's, control, obtained [Time brought you down,] you are. |

TRANSLATION

"The Time which is an undoubtable factor in respect of anybody has ended your life, definite is that, and that Time alone perforce brought you, who are otherwise an uncontrollable force, to the control of Sugreeva. The Death / Time no doubt has a concern with anyone for it is the ender of life, and definitely it chanced upon you by the capability of Sugreeva in getting support of Rama, and Sugreeva alone controlled you, who are otherwise an uncontrollable force. [4-20-14]

VERSE 15

अस्थाने वालिनम् हत्वा युध्यमानम् परेण च
न संतप्यति काकुत्स्थः कृत्वा सुगर्हितम्

asthāne vālinam hatvā yudhyamānam pareṇa ca
na saṃtapyati kākutsthaḥ kṛtvā sugarhitam

SYNONYMS

kākutsthaḥ: Rama | pareṇa yudhyamānam: with other, fighting | vālinam: Vali | a sthāne: not, in proper place, or, in an unbefitting method | hatvā: on killing | su garhitam [karma]: highly, deplorable [deed] | kṛtvā: on doing | na sam tapyati: not, at all, worried. |

TRANSLATION

"Rama's killing Vali when he is fighting with another is unbefitting in its method, and he too is not at all worried for doing such a highly deplorable deed. [4-20-15]

PURPORT

This verse is not found in some texts like critical edition and in Eastern recension etc.
VERSE 16

वैधव्यम् शोक संतापम् कृपणम् अकृपणा सती
अदुह्ख उपचिता पूर्वम् वर्तयिष्यामि अनाथवत्

vaidhavyam śoka saṃtāpam kṛpaṇam akṛpaṇā satī
aduhkha upacitā pūrvam vartayiṣyāmi anāthavat

SYNONYMS

pūrvam = in early times: so far | a kṛpaṇam satī: not, doleful, I am | a duḥkha upacitā = not, sadness, accompanied vith: not saddened | anātha vat: desolated one, as with | kṛpaṇā: dolefulness | vaidhavyam: widowhood | śoka samtāpam: sadness, seethed by | vartayiṣyāmi: I have to undergo. |

TRANSLATION

"So far I am not doleful or saddened, but now as a desolate seethed by sorrow I have to undergo widowhood and dolefulness. [4-20-16]

VERSE 17

लालितः च अंगदो वीरः सुकुमारः सुखोचितः
वत्स्यते काम् अवस्थाम् मे पितृव्ये क्रोध मूर्च्छिते

lālitaḥ ca aṃgado vīraḥ sukumāraḥ sukhocitaḥ
vatsyate kām avasthām me pitṛvye krodha mūrcchite

SYNONYMS

pitṛvye krodha mūrcchite: when paternal-uncle, in fury, fit of | lālitaḥ: one who is raised fondly | sukumāraḥ: graceful one | sukha ucitaḥ: for comforts, used to | vīraḥ: brave one | me angadaḥ: my, Angada | kām avasthām vatsyate: which, predicament, he undergoes. |

TRANSLATION

"My Angada is raised fondly, a brave one with gracefulness and one who is accustomed to comforts, but which will be the predicament he has to undergo when his paternal-uncle Sugreeva gets into a fit of fury. [4-20-17]

VERSE 18

कुरुष्व पितरम् पुत्र सुदृष्टम् धर्म वत्सलम्
दुर्लभम् दर्शनम् तस्य तव वत्स भविष्यति

kuruṣva pitaram putra sudṛṣṭam dharma vatsalam
durlabham darśanam tasya tava vatsa bhaviṣyati

SYNONYMS

putra: oh, son Angada | dharma vatsalam: virtue, patron of | tava pitaram: your, father | su dṛṣṭam: one who is clearly seen | kuruṣva = make: see your father clearly | vatsa: oh, boy | tasya darśanam durlabham bhaviṣyati: his, sight, impossible, it will be [from now on.] |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, son Angada, clearly see your father, a patron of virtue, oh, boy, later it is impossible to catch a glimpse of him." Thus Tara said to her son Angada. [4-20-18]

VERSE 19

समाश्वासय पुत्रम् त्वम् संदेशम् संदिशस्व मे
मूर्ध्नि च एनम् समाघ्राय प्रवासम् प्रस्थितो हि असि

samāśvāsaya putram tvam saṃdeśam saṃdiśasva me
mūrdhni ca enam samāghrāya pravāsam prasthito hi asi

SYNONYMS

tvam putram: you, let son be | sam āśvāsaya = assuage: well, reassured | me samdeśam samdiśasva: to me, message, give | pravāsam prasthitaḥ asi hi: to another world, you started, you are, isn't it.. |

TRANSLATION

"You have started towards other world, isn't it, so reassure your son, kiss goodbye on his forehead, and give me your parting messages." So said Tara to Vali. [4-20-19]

VERSE 20

रामेण हि महत् कर्म कृतम् त्वाम् अभिनिघ्नता
आनृण्यम् तु गतम् तस्य सुग्रीवस्य प्रतिश्रवे

rāmeṇa hi mahat karma kṛtam tvām abhinighnatā
ānṛṇyam tu gatam tasya sugrīvasya pratiśrave

SYNONYMS

tvām: you | abhinighnatā [abhi ni ghnatā]: [when he] hit you down | rāmeṇa mahat karma kṛtam hi: by Rama, great, deed, is done, really | sugrīvasya pratiśrave: to Sugreeva, [in the matter of] promise | tasya = his: Rama's | a nṛṇyam = no, debt: debtless | gatam tu: obtained, but. |

TRANSLATION

"Really, Rama has not only done a great deed of hitting you down, but he also achieved indebtedness towards Sugreeva, both in a single promise. [4-20-20]

VERSE 21

सकामो भव सुग्रीव रुमाम् त्वम् प्रतिपत्स्यसे
भुंक्ष्व राज्यम् अनुद्विग्नः शस्तो भ्राता रिपुः तव

sakāmo bhava sugrīva rumām tvam pratipatsyase
bhuṃkṣva rājyam anudvignaḥ śasto bhrātā ripuḥ tava

SYNONYMS

sugrīva: oh, Sugreeva | sa kāmaḥ bhava: fulfilled, desires [with contentment,] you be | tvam rumām prati patsyase: Ruma, you, again, you get | an udvignaḥ: un, ruffled | rājyam bhunkṣva: kingdom, you wallow in | tava ripuḥ bhrātā śastaḥ = your, enemy, brother, is huśed: silenced. |

TRANSLATION

"Now, you are to your heart's content Sugreeva as you regain your wife Ruma, you may even wallow in the kingdom unworriedly as your enemy-brother is silenced." So said Tara to Sugreeva. [4-20-21]

VERSE 22

किम् माम् एवम् प्रलपतीम् प्रियाम् त्वम् न अभिभाषसे
इमाः पश्य वरा बह्वयः भार्याः ते वानरेश्वर

kim mām evam pralapatīm priyām tvam na abhibhāṣase
imāḥ paśya varā bahvayaḥ bhāryāḥ te vānareśvara

SYNONYMS

vānara īśvara: oh, vanara-s, lord | evam: this way | pra lapatīm: highly, one who is prattling | priyām: to dear one | mām: to me | tvam kim na abhi bhāṣase: you, why, not, talk to me | te bahvayaḥ varāḥ bhāryāḥ: your, several, comely, wives | imāḥ: here they are | paśya: you see. |

TRANSLATION

""Oh, lord of monkeys, why do not you talk to me, the dear wife of yours, when I am prattling at length, by the way, several of your comely wives are here, they are here, see them." Thus Tara lamented. [4-20-22]

VERSE 23

तस्या विलपितम् श्रुत्वा वानर्यः सर्वतः च ताः
परिगृह्य अंगदम् दीना दुह्ख आर्ताः परिचुक्रुशुः

tasyā vilapitam śrutvā vānaryaḥ sarvataḥ ca tāḥ
parigṛhya aṃgadam dīnā duhkha ārtāḥ paricukruśuḥ

SYNONYMS

sarvataḥ: those that are around | tāḥ vānaryaḥ: those, vanara females | tasyā vilapitam śrutvā: her [Tara's], lamentation, on listening | angadam parigṛhya: Angada, on embracing | dīnā: becoming pathetic | duhkha ārtāḥ: saddened, pitiably | paricukruśuḥ: piteously wept. |

TRANSLATION

On listening Tara's lamentation the vanara females that are around became plaintive, saddened pitiably and wept piteously embracing Angada. [4-20-23]

VERSE 24

किम् अंगदम् स अंगद वीर बाहो
विहाय यातो असि अद्य चिरम् प्रवासम्
न युक्तम् एवम् गुण संनिकृष्टम्
विहाय पुत्रम् प्रिय पुत्रम् प्रिय चारु वेषम्

kim aṃgadam sa aṃgada vīra bāho
vihāya yāto asi adya ciram pravāsam
na yuktam evam guṇa saṃnikṛṣṭam
vihāya putram priya putram priya cāru veṣam

SYNONYMS

sa angada vīra bāhuḥ: with, bicep-lets, mighty, armed one [Vali] | priya putram angadam vihāya: dear, son, Angada, on leaving | ciram pravāsam: eternal, abode | kim yātaḥ asi: why, going, you are | guṇa samnikṛṣṭam = vith qualities, come close to: one with best aptitudes | priya cāru veṣam: in pleasant, exquisite, getup | vihāya: on leaving | evam: this way of going | na yuktam: not, befitting. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, one with bracelets on your mighty arms, why you are going to an eternal abode leaving your dear son Angada? Your going away leaving such a son, who possesses best aptitudes that comes close to your abilities, and the one who always wears an exquisitely pleasant getup, is unbefitting. [4-20-24]

VERSE 25

यदि अप्रियम् किंचिद् असंप्रधार्य
कृतम् मया स्यात् तव दीर्घ बाहो
क्षमस्व मे तत् हरि वंश नाथ
व्रजामि मूर्ध्ना तव वीर पादौ

yadi apriyam kiṃcid asaṃpradhārya
kṛtam mayā syāt tava dīrgha bāho
kṣamasva me tat hari vaṃśa nātha
vrajāmi mūrdhnā tava vīra pādau

SYNONYMS

dīrgha bāho = oh, long, armed one: masterful one | hari vamśa nātha: oh, monkeys, lineage, lord of | vīra: oh, brave one | a sampradhārya: not, discriminatingly | mayā tava: by me, to you [with you] | a priyam: un, desirable | kimcit: in the lest | kṛtam syāt yadi: done, is there, if | me tat kṣamasva: me, for that, pardon me | mūrdhnā tava pādau vrajāmi = vith forehead, at your, tvo fīt, ī am going: I bow down. |

TRANSLATION

"If I have done any undesirable deed in an indiscriminate way, even in the least, I may be pardoned for that, and here I bow down at your feet... oh, masterful one... oh, the lord of monkeys lineage... oh, brave one... [Thus Tara wept for Vali.] [4-20-25]

VERSE 26

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे विंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe viṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

a nindya varṇā = un, blemiśed, complekṣion: one with | tārā: Tara | bhartuḥ samīpe: husband's, in proximity | vānarībhiḥ saha: female Vanara-s, along with | tathā: that way | karuṇam rudantī: pitiably, weeping | vālī yatra: Vali, where he is | bhuvi: [there] on ground | prāyam: death | upa upaveṣṭum: to sit nearby of [death, self-immolation] | vyavasyata [vi ava syata]: she dropped down. |

TRANSLATION

That Tara with her unblemished complexion is seated in the close proximity of her husband along with other vanara females, and weeping pitiably in that way, she decided to self-immolate, and thus she flounced down onto ground where Vali is slouching. [4-20-26]