Chapter 26
Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys
ततः शोक अभिसंतप्तम् सुग्रीवम् क्लिन्न वासनम्
शाखा मृग महामात्राः परिवार्य उपतस्थिरे
tataḥ śoka abhisaṃtaptam sugrīvam klinna vāsanam
śākhā mṛga mahāmātrāḥ parivārya upatasthire
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The eminent ministers of tree-branch animals then surrounded Sugreeva, who is very much seared in grief and who is still wearing damp cloths, as he just a while ago offered watery oblations to his deceased brother, stood accessible to him. [4-26-1]
अभिगम्य महाबाहुम् रामम् अक्लिष्ट कारिणम्
स्थिताः प्रांजलयः सर्वे पितामहम् इव ऋषयः
abhigamya mahābāhum rāmam akliṣṭa kāriṇam
sthitāḥ prāṃjalayaḥ sarve pitāmaham iva ṛṣayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On going towards the dexterous Rama, whose exploits are effortless, all of those monkeys tarried with their palms adjoined as with the sages tarrying in the presence of Brahma, the Forefather. [4-26-2]
ततः कांचन शैल आभः तरुण अर्क निभ आननः
अब्रवीत् प्रांजलिर् वाक्यम् हनुमान् मारुत आत्मजः
tataḥ kāṃcana śaila ābhaḥ taruṇa arka nibha ānanaḥ
abravīt prāṃjalir vākyam hanumān māruta ātmajaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hanuma, the son of Air-god, whose sheen is like that of the golden mountain Meru, and whose visage is like that of the tender sun in its glint, then spoke this sentence reverently adjoining his palms. [4-26-3]
भवत् प्रसादात् काकुत्स्थ पितृ पैतामहम् महत्
वानराणाम् सुदंष्ट्राणाम् संपन्न बलशालिनाम्
bhavat prasādāt kākutstha pitṛ paitāmaham mahat
vānarāṇām sudaṃṣṭrāṇām saṃpanna balaśālinām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, lord Rama, this magnificent kingdom of deferential monkeys who are armed with the teeth, and whose might is a privileged one - since our might is not dependent on any weapons or other tactical warfare, except our own bodily strength - and oh, Kakutstha, that which belongs to his father and forefathers, and that which is otherwise impossible for him to regain, Sugreeva regained such a kingdom with your grace. [4-26-4, 5a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"And if you empower, this Sugreeva will enter the propitious city Kishkindha along with a group good-hearted friends, and he will get anointed procedurally with various essences and herbal-extracts as its king, and thus he can revamp all the administration. [4-26-5b, 6]
अर्चयिष्यति माल्यैः च रत्नैः च त्वाम् विशेषतः
इमाम् गिरि गुहाम् रम्याम् अभिगन्तुम् त्वम् अर्हसि
arcayiṣyati mālyaiḥ ca ratnaiḥ ca tvām viśeṣataḥ
imām giri guhām ramyām abhigantum tvam arhasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He would like to honour you in a remarkable way with garlands and precious gems, hence it will be apt of you to enter this delightful mountain cave, namely Kishkindha, and you may kindly consolidate the congenial affinity between the governor and the governed for the very high exhilaration of Vanara-s." Hanuma appealed Rama in this way. [4-26-7, 8a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When Hanuma said so, Rama the destroyer of valiant foes, an intellectual and an enunciator replied Hanuma in this way. [4-26-8b, 9a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"As a conformist to the directives of my father, oh, gentle Hanuma, I am not supposed to enter either a village or a city. [4-26-9b, 10a]
सुसमृद्धाम् गुहाम् दिव्याम् सुग्रीवो वानरर्षभः
susamṛddhām guhām divyām sugrīvo vānararṣabhaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"As and when the best one among Vanara-s valorous Sugreeva enters the highly flourishing and statuesquely Kishkindha, he shall be enthroned in the kingdom, immediately and procedurally. [4-26-10b, 11a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Replying Hanuma thus, that knower of the etiquette Rama, also spoke to Sugreeva, who is rich in politesse and an imposing one by his might and valour. [4-26-11b, 12a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You may even crown this brave Angada as crown prince, he is the eldest son of your elder brother, his bravery is kindred to that of his father, and thus this enthusiastic Angada will be a well-chosen designee for the crown-princeship. [4-26-12b, 13]
PURPORT
पूर्वो अयम् वार्षिको मासः श्रावणः सलिल आगमः
प्रवृत्ताः सौम्य चत्वारो मासा वार्षिक संज्ञिताः
pūrvo ayam vārṣiko māsaḥ śrāvaṇaḥ salila āgamaḥ
pravṛttāḥ saumya catvāro māsā vārṣika saṃjñitāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The four month period specified for rainy season has commenced, oh gentle Sugreeva, and this is shravaNa, the first month of rainy season that brings many showers. [4-26-14]
PURPORT
न अयम् उद्योग समयः प्रविश त्वम् पुरीम् शुभाम्
अस्मिन् वत्स्यामि अहम् सौम्य पर्वते सह लक्ष्मणः
na ayam udyoga samayaḥ praviśa tvam purīm śubhām
asmin vatsyāmi aham saumya parvate saha lakṣmaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This is not a time for any striving, hence you enter the propitious city Kishkindha, oh, gentle Sugreeva, and I for my part will stay on this mountain along with Lakshmana. [4-26-15]
इयम् गिरि गुहा रम्या विशाला युक्त मारुता
प्रभूत सलिला सौम्य प्रभूत कमल उत्पला
iyam giri guhā ramyā viśālā yukta mārutā
prabhūta salilā saumya prabhūta kamala utpalā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This mountain cave is heart-pleasing by being spacious with worthwhile breeze, oh, gentle one, water is copious and red and blue lotuses are aplenty about this place. [4-26-16]
कार्तिके समनुप्राप्ते त्वम् रावण वधे यत
एष नः समयः सौम्य प्रविश त्वम् स्वम् आलयम्
kārtike samanuprāpte tvam rāvaṇa vadhe yata
eṣa naḥ samayaḥ saumya praviśa tvam svam ālayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On the advent of kaartika month, October, say post-rainy season, you shall do your best in the cause of Ravana's elimination, and this is our covenant, and hence oh, gentle Sugreeva, for now enter your mansion, be enthroned in kingdom as well, and exhilarate your friends." [4-26-17, 18a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus when Rama countenanced that best vanara Sugreeva entered the charming city Kishkindha which is so far ruled by Vali. [4-26-18b, 19a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When the sovereign of vanara-s Sugreeva has entered the city, very gladly thousands of vanara-s have also entered and fenced off that lord of fly-jumpers from all over. [4-26-19b, 20a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
All the inmates and ministers in Kishkindha then revered the lord of monkey throngs Sugreeva with their head-bent, and they have also prostrated before him with an assiduously polite attitude. [4-26-20b, 21a]
सुग्रीवः प्रकृतीः सर्वाः संभाष्य उत्थाप्य वीर्यवान्
sugrīvaḥ prakṛtīḥ sarvāḥ saṃbhāṣya utthāpya vīryavān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Raising the rank-and-file members from their prostration, and on exchanging a word or two with them, that valiant and highly mighty Sugreeva entered the beautiful palace-chambers of his brother. [4-26-21b, 22a]
प्रविष्टम् भीम विक्रांतम् सुग्रीवम् वानरर्षभम्
praviṣṭam bhīma vikrāṃtam sugrīvam vānararṣabham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When that prodigiously venturesome arch-vanara Sugreeva has entered the palace his cohorts anointed him as gods would anoint the Thousand-eyed Indra. [4-26-22b, 23a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
A white parasol highly ornate in gold, long-furred royal-fans with golden handles that are the enhancers of celebrity are brought for Sugreeva's anointment. Likewise, on taking all kinds of jewels, seeds, herbs, sprouts of trees that are still exuding milky latex, also flowers, and white royal-robes and white body-cream, lotuses bloomed on dry-land, best sandal paste, also various and numerous perfumes, Holy-yellow-rice, gold, seeds that are small and fragrant called priyangu, honey, ghee, curds, skin of tiger, tassels of fragrant flowers, and invaluable sandal shoes, unguents before oil bath, orpiment preparations one in yellow called gorochana, and the other in red called Manshila, there arrived sixteen best and cheerful damsels. [4-26-23b, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28]
ततः ते वानर श्रेष्ठम् अभिषेक्तुम् यथा विधि
रत्नैर् वस्त्रैः च भक्ष्यैः च तोषयित्वा द्विजर्षभान्
tataḥ te vānara śreṣṭham abhiṣektum yathā vidhi
ratnair vastraiḥ ca bhakṣyaiḥ ca toṣayitvā dvijarṣabhān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
They the Vanara-s have then started to anoint that best Vanara Sugreeva according to the tradition, having appeased the eminent Brahmans with jewels, garments and delicacies. [4-26-29]
ततः कुश परिस्तीर्णम् समिद्धम् जात वेदसम्
मंत्र पूतेन हविषा हुत्वा मंत्रविदो जनाः
tataḥ kuśa paristīrṇam samiddham jāta vedasam
maṃtra pūtena haviṣā hutvā maṃtravido janāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Authoritative scholars in Vedic-hymns then spreading the ritual grass around the Fire-altar which is with enkindled Ritual-fire oblated fire oblations into it duly sanctifying them with hymns. [4-26-30]
ततो हेम प्रतिष्ठाने वर आस्तरण संवृते
प्रासाद शिखरे रम्ये चित्र माल्य उपशोभिते
tato hema pratiṣṭhāne vara āstaraṇa saṃvṛte
prāsāda śikhare ramye citra mālya upaśobhite
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On a splendid, choicest and finely upholstered throne with golden legs that is kept atop a rostrum that is shining forth with various flower tassels, Sugreeva is procedurally inducted to sit facing east to the chanting of Vedic hymns. Then, Vanara-s like Gaja, Gavaaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha, Gandhamaadana, Mainda, Dvividha, also thus Hanuma, Jambavanta have started pouring pure water on Sugreeva, which the best vanara-s have collected from the rivers flowing to east, as well as to west, from each of the sacred-declivity of rivers, from every ocean, and stored in golden flasks. Thus those have anointed Sugreeva with those pellucid and well-perfumed waters poured from golden vessels through the auspicious horns of bulls as revealed in scriptures and as great sages have defined, which anointment is like eight of Vasu-gods anointing the Thousand-eyed Indra. [4-26-31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36]
PURPORT
अभिषिक्ते तु सुग्रीवे सर्वे वानर पुंगवाः
प्रचुक्रुशुर् महात्मानो हृष्टाः शत सहस्रशः
abhiṣikte tu sugrīve sarve vānara puṃgavāḥ
pracukruśur mahātmāno hṛṣṭāḥ śata sahasraśaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hundreds and thousands of the great-souled and prominent vanara-s that are there, all of them have cheerily raised high hullabaloos while Sugreeva is anointed. [4-26-37]
रामस्य तु वचः कुर्वन् सुग्रीवो हरि पुंगवः
अंगदम् संपरिष्वज्य यौवराज्ये अभिषेचयत्
rāmasya tu vacaḥ kurvan sugrīvo hari puṃgavaḥ
aṃgadam saṃpariṣvajya yauvarājye abhiṣecayat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The best one among monkeys Sugreeva graciously embraced Angada and anointed his as crown prince in order to effectuate Rama's word. [4-26-38]
अंगदे च अभिषिक्ते तु सानुक्रोशाः प्लवंगमाः
साधु साधु इति सुग्रीवम् महात्मानो हि अपूजयन्
aṃgade ca abhiṣikte tu sānukrośāḥ plavaṃgamāḥ
sādhu sādhu iti sugrīvam mahātmāno hi apūjayan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On the anointment of Angada those fly-jumpers that have sympathy for him have acclaimed Sugreeva saying, 'well done, well done.' [4-26-39]
रामम् च एव महात्मानम् लक्ष्मणम् च पुनः पुनः
प्रीताः च तुष्टुवुः सर्वे तादृशे तत्र वर्तिनि
rāmam ca eva mahātmānam lakṣmaṇam ca punaḥ punaḥ
prītāḥ ca tuṣṭuvuḥ sarve tādṛśe tatra vartini
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While that kind of pompous anointment is taking place all are gladdened and that way they repeatedly extolled the great-souled Rama, and even Lakshmana too. [4-26-40]
हृष्ट पुष्ट जन आकीर्णा पताका ध्वज शोभिता
बभूव नगरी रम्या क्षिकिंधा गिरि गह्वरे
hṛṣṭa puṣṭa jana ākīrṇā patākā dhvaja śobhitā
babhūva nagarī ramyā kṣikiṃdhā giri gahvare
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That magnificent city Kishkindha situated in the cave of mountain which is already splendorous with flags of triumph and banners is further splendorous with blithe and burly monkeys overspreading it. [4-26-41]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे षड् विंशः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe ṣaḍ viṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The valiant Sugreeva who is by now the king of monkeys army, then apprised the great-souled Rama about his grand anointment, and thus he not only regained his wife Ruma but also secured the kingdom, like the chief of divinities Indra. [4-26-42]
