Chapter 32

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

अंगदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवः सचिवैः सह
लक्ष्मणम् कुपितम् श्रुत्वा मुमोच आसनम् आत्मवान्

aṃgadasya vacaḥ śrutvā sugrīvaḥ sacivaiḥ saha
lakṣmaṇam kupitam śrutvā mumoca āsanam ātmavān

SYNONYMS

ātmavān sugrīvaḥ: sensible one, Sugreeva | sacivaiḥ saha: ministers [others like Hanuma, apart from Plaksha, Prabhava,] along with | angadasya vacaḥ śrutvā: Angada's, words, on hearing | lakṣmaṇam kupitam śrutvā = ḻakśmana, as angered one, on hearing: on knowing | āsanam mumoca = seat, released: got up from seat. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing the words of Angada along with those of his ministers, namely Hanuma, Plaksha, and Prabhava et al, also on knowing that Lakshmana is angered, that sensible Sugreeva stirred from seat. [4-32-1]

VERSE 2

स च तान् अब्रवीत् वाक्यम् निश्चित्य गुरु लाघवम्
मंत्रज्ञान् मंत्र कुशलो मंत्रेषु परिनिष्ठितः

sa ca tān abravīt vākyam niścitya guru lāghavam
maṃtrajñān maṃtra kuśalo maṃtreṣu pariniṣṭhitaḥ

SYNONYMS

mantra kuśalaḥ: in strategy, an expert | mantreṣu pariniṣṭhitaḥ: in strategies, diligent one | saḥ: he, Sugreeva | guru lāghavam: weightiness, lightness [pros and cons] | niścitya: on discriminating | mantrajñān: to strategists [to ministers] | tān vākyam abravīt: to them, sentence, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

On discriminating the pros and cons Sugreeva spoke this sentence to the strategist-ministers, for he himself is an expert in strategies and a diligent one in carrying out those strategies. [4-32-2]

VERSE 3

न मे दुर् व्याहृतम् किंचित् न अपि मे दुर् अनुष्ठितम्
लक्ष्मणो राघव भ्राता क्रुद्धः किम् इति चिंतये

na me dur vyāhṛtam kiṃcit na api me dur anuṣṭhitam
lakṣmaṇo rāghava bhrātā kruddhaḥ kim iti ciṃtaye

SYNONYMS

me = to me: by me | kimcit: in the least | na dur vyāhṛtam: not, ill, spoken | me: by me | dur anuṣṭhitam api: evil, undertaken, even | na: is not there | rāghava bhrātā lakṣmaṇaḥ: Raghava's, brother, Lakshmana | kim kruddhaḥ = vhy, angered: take offence | iti cintaye = thus, it is being thought: by me. |

TRANSLATION

"I have not in the least spoken any ill of them, nor committed any misdeed in their respect, thus I am thinking why should Raghava's brother Lakshmana take offence at me? [4-32-3]

VERSE 4

असुहृद्भिः मम अमित्रैः नित्यम् अन्तर दर्शिभिः
मम दोषान् असंभूतान् श्रावितो राघवानुजः

asuhṛdbhiḥ mama amitraiḥ nityam antara darśibhiḥ
mama doṣān asaṃbhūtān śrāvito rāghavānujaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāghava anujaḥ: Raghava's, younger brother is | a su hṛdbhiḥ = un, kind, hearted ones: by unsympathetic rivals | nityam: always | antara darśibhiḥ = for scope, searcers: by opportunists, fabricators | mama: my | a mitraiḥ = un, friendly ones: rivals | a sambhūtān = non, ekṣistent: fabricated | doṣān: faults | śrāvitaḥ = made to listen: ear-filled. |

TRANSLATION

"Unsympathetic rivals of mine, who will always be snoopy for scope, might have ear-filled Raghava's brother about the fabricated faults of mine. [4-32-4]

VERSE 5

अत्र तावत् यथा बुद्धि सर्वैः एव यथा विधि
भावस्य निश्चयः तावत् विज्ञेयो निपुणम् शनैः

atra tāvat yathā buddhi sarvaiḥ eva yathā vidhi
bhāvasya niścayaḥ tāvat vijñeyo nipuṇam śanaiḥ

SYNONYMS

atra = in here: in this situation | tāvat: on your part | sarvaiḥ eva: by you all, thus | yathā buddhi: according to, [your] perspective | yathā vidhi = according to, proper vay: meticulously | bhāvasya: attitude [of Lakshmana, or, issue of fact] | niścayaḥ: determination | nipuṇam: diligently | śanaiḥ: steadily | vijñeyaḥ tāvat: find out, firstly. |

TRANSLATION

"In this situation, all of you on your part and according to your perspectives have to find out firstly and meticulously about the attitude of Lakshmana, along with a steady but diligent determination thereof. [4-32-5]

VERSE 6

न खलु अस्ति मम त्रासो लक्ष्मणान् न अपि राघवात्
मित्रम् तु अस्थान कुपितम् जनयति एव संभ्रमम्

na khalu asti mama trāso lakṣmaṇān na api rāghavāt
mitram tu asthāna kupitam janayati eva saṃbhramam

SYNONYMS

mama: to me | lakṣmaṇāt: from Lakshmana | trāsaḥ na asti khalu: scare, not, is there, definitely | rāghavāt api na: from Raghava even, no | a sthāna = not, founded: unfounded / out of context | kupitam: one who is provoked, angered | mitram tu: friend, but | sambhramam janayati eva: disquiet, giving rise to, alone. |

TRANSLATION

"Definitely there is no fear for me from Lakshmana, not even from Raghava, but an unfounded ire of a friend alone is giving rise to disquiet. [4-32-6]

PURPORT

The word a + sthaana kupitam - a + sthaana kopam , is twofold in its meaning, one is 'unfounded anger' and the other is 'angered out of place, context.' Lakshmana who has so far not visited Kishkindha has darted into Kishkindha and showing his ire here, which is out of context. Lakshmana should have summoned Sugreeva or any other monkey, or he should have come as a calm and collected emissary, and then he can become ireful if Sugreeva rejects any help. But Lakshmana's entry itself is 'unfounded or unreasonable.' This one statement of Sugreeva makes him lofty of virtue in his heart of hearts for he reposed full confidence in Rama and thus fearless of a trusted friend.
VERSE 7

सर्वथा सुकरम् मित्रम् दुष्करम् प्रतिपालनम्
अनित्यत्वात् तु चित्तानाम् प्रीतिः अल्पे अपि भिद्यते

sarvathā sukaram mitram duṣkaram pratipālanam
anityatvāt tu cittānām prītiḥ alpe api bhidyate

SYNONYMS

sarvathā: in any way | mitram: a friend is | su karam = easy, to make: easy to befriended | prati pālanam: in turn, to manage | duṣ karam: not, practicable | cittānām: hearts, sentiments | a nityatvāt tu: not, permanent [impermanency, transient nature,] owing to | alpe api: in a trifle, even | prītiḥ bhidyate: friendliness, splits off. |

TRANSLATION

"It is always practicable to befriend any, but in turn it is impracticable to manage that friendship, even a trifle splits off that friendliness for sentiments are transient. [4-32-7]

VERSE 8

अतो निमित्तम् त्रस्तो अहम् रामेण तु महात्मना
यन् मम उपकृतम् शक्यम् प्रतिकर्तुम् न तन् मया

ato nimittam trasto aham rāmeṇa tu mahātmanā
yan mama upakṛtam śakyam pratikartum na tan mayā

SYNONYMS

ataḥ nimittam: on that, score, aham = I am | mahātmanā rāmeṇa tu: from noble-souled, Rama, but | trastaḥ: flustering | mama: to me | yat upakṛtam: which, favour is made | tat mayā: for that, by me | prati kartum: to requite | na śakyam: not, possible. |

TRANSLATION

"On that score I am flustering because of the noble-souled Rama, and I cannot possibly requite the favour that has been done to me." So said Sugreeva to his ministers. [4-32-8]

VERSE 9

सुग्रीवेण एवम् उक्ते तु हनुमान् हरि पुंगवः
उवाच स्वेन तर्केण मध्ये वानर मंत्रिणाम्

sugrīveṇa evam ukte tu hanumān hari puṃgavaḥ
uvāca svena tarkeṇa madhye vānara maṃtriṇām

SYNONYMS

sugrīveṇa evam ukte tu: by Sugreeva, that way, while being said, but | hari pungavaḥ hanumān: among monkey's, eminent one, Hanuma | vānara mantriṇām madhye: Vanara, ministers, among | svena tarkeṇa: with his own, by logic [with a dint of his expediency] | uvāca: spoke. |

TRANSLATION

While Sugreeva is saying that way, the eminent-monkey Hanuma spoke with a dint of his own expediency, from among the Vanara ministers. [4-32-9]

VERSE 10

सर्वथा न एतद् आश्चर्यम् यत् त्वम् हरिगणेश्वर
न विस्मरसि सुस्निग्धम् उपकारम् कृतम् शुभम्

sarvathā na etad āścaryam yat tvam harigaṇeśvara
na vismarasi susnigdham upakāram kṛtam śubham

SYNONYMS

hari gaṇa īśvara: oh, monkey, troops, lord of | tvam: you | su snigdham: with deep regard | kṛtam śubham upakāram: rendere, advantageous, help | [or, upakāra kṛtam = help, vho has rendered: Rama] | na vismarasi: not, forgetting | iti yat: that which point is there | etat: that point | sarvathā āścaryam na: in any way, astonishing, it is not. |

TRANSLATION

"In any case, it is not astonishing to say, oh, king of monkey troops, that you with a deep regard have not forgotten the advantageous help rendered to you, since it is natural for you. [4-32-10]

VERSE 11

राघवेण तु वीरेण भयम् उत्सृज्य दूरतः
त्वत् प्रिय अर्थम् हतो वाली शक्र तुल्य पराक्रमः

rāghaveṇa tu vīreṇa bhayam utsṛjya dūrataḥ
tvat priya artham hato vālī śakra tulya parākramaḥ

SYNONYMS

vīreṇa rāghaveṇa tu: by braving, Raghava, on his part | bhayam dūrataḥ utsṛjya: [his] fear, distantly, tossing away | tvat priya artham: your, cherish, to fulfil | śakra tulya parākramaḥ: Indra, coequal, in valour | hataḥ vālī: Vali, killed. |

TRANSLATION

"On his part Raghava tossed off his fear distantly and eliminated Vali, whose valour equals that of Indra, only to fulfil your cherish. [4-32-11]

VERSE 12

सर्वथा प्रणयात् क्रुद्धो राघवो न अत्र संशयः
भ्रातरम् संप्रहितवान् लक्ष्मणम् लक्ष्मि वर्धनम्

sarvathā praṇayāt kruddho rāghavo na atra saṃśayaḥ
bhrātaram saṃprahitavān lakṣmaṇam lakṣmi vardhanam

SYNONYMS

rāghavaḥ: Raghava is | sarvathā praṇayāt kruddhaḥ: anywise, in friendliness, is annoyed | atra samśayaḥ na: in that, doubt, is not there | bhrātaram lakṣmi vardhanam lakṣmaṇam: brother, prosperity, enhancer, Lakshmana | sam prahitavān: he [Rama] expedited. |

TRANSLATION

"Anywise, by virtue of his friendliness with you Raghava must be annoyed, hence he must have expedited his brother Lakshmana, whose disposition in effect to is enhance prosperity. [4-32-12]

VERSE 13

त्वम् प्रमत्तो न जानीषे कालम् कलविदाम् वर
फुल्ल सप्त च्छद श्यामा प्रवृत्ता तु शरत् शिवा

tvam pramatto na jānīṣe kālam kalavidām vara
phulla sapta cchada śyāmā pravṛttā tu śarat śivā

SYNONYMS

kala vidām vara = among time, knovers: a timekeeper, [a person as regards punctuality,] the best | tvam pra mattaḥ = you vere, verily,: on the moon, ecstatic | kālam na jānīṣe: [about the slippage of] time, not, aware | phulla sapta cchada śyāmā: unfolded, seven-leaved, covering [canopying seven-leaved-plantain trees,] with dark-greenness | śivā śarat tu: sedate, autumn, on its part | pravṛttā: is underway. |

TRANSLATION

"You have become ecstatic, oh, the best of the best timekeepers, hence you are unaware of the slippage of time, but the sedate and dark-green autumn on its part is underway unfolding dark-green leaves canopying seven-leaved banana plants. [4-32-13]

PURPORT

Sugreeva is ascribed as a great disciplinarian and punctualist and his order sugriiva aaj~na ' Sugreeva's order...' a Sanskrit phrase still ruling high, is an inalienable, do-or-die order for the rank and file of Vanara-s.
VERSE 14

निर्मल ग्रह नक्षत्रा द्यौः प्रनष्ट बलाहका
प्रसन्नाः च दिशः सर्वाः सरितः च सरांसि च

nirmala graha nakṣatrā dyauḥ pranaṣṭa balāhakā
prasannāḥ ca diśaḥ sarvāḥ saritaḥ ca sarāṃsi ca

SYNONYMS

pranaṣṭa balāhakā dyauḥ: with extinct, clouds, sky is | nirmala graha nakṣatrā: clear, with planets, stars | sarvāḥ diśaḥ ca: all, directions, also, are clear | saritaḥ ca sarāmsi ca: rivers, also, lakes, too | prasannāḥ: are equable. |

TRANSLATION

"Clear is the sky with its planets and stars as clouds have vanished on it, even all the ten directions are clear, and the rivers and lakes too are equable. [4-32-14]

VERSE 15

प्राप्तम् उद्योग कालम् तु न अवैषि हरिपुंगव
त्वम् प्रमत्त इति व्यक्तम् लक्ष्मणो अयम् इह आगतः

prāptam udyoga kālam tu na avaiṣi haripuṃgava
tvam pramatta iti vyaktam lakṣmaṇo ayam iha āgataḥ

SYNONYMS

hari pungava: oh, among monkeys, ablest one | prāptam udyoga kālam tu: chanced, campaign, time, but | na avaiṣi = not, you realised: not got the drift of it | tvam pra matta: you are, verily, slumberous | iti: thus as | ayam lakṣmaṇaḥ iha āgataḥ: this one, Lakshmana, to here, came | vyaktam: it is obvious. |

TRANSLATION

"Because the time for campaigns has chanced, oh, the ablest monkey, and because you were very slumberous you have not got the drift of it, as such Lakshmana must have come here, and it is obvious. [4-32-15]

VERSE 16

आर्तस्य हृत दारस्य परुषम् पुरुष अन्तरात्
वचनम् मर्षणीयम् ते राघवस्य महात्मनः

ārtasya hṛta dārasya paruṣam puruṣa antarāt
vacanam marṣaṇīyam te rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

ārtasya: one who is anguished | hṛta dārasya: abducted, whose wife is | mahātmanaḥ = benevolent: souled one - magnanimous in giving kingdom | rāghavasya: of such a Raghava | puruṣa antarāt = [through] person, another one: thru Lakshmana | paruṣam vacanam: [sent] bitter, words | te marṣaṇīyam = to you, tolerable: endurable. |

TRANSLATION

"Raghava's bitter words are endurable by you as he is primarily an anguished person, further he is the one whose is wife is abducted, and furthermore he is magnanimous in giving kingdom to you, besides, he is reproachful through another person, namely Lakshmana. [4-32-16]

VERSE 17

कृत अपराधस्य हि ते न अन्यत् पश्यामि अहम् क्षमम्
अंतरेण अंजलिम् बद्ध्वा लक्ष्मणस्य प्रसादनात्

kṛta aparādhasya hi te na anyat paśyāmi aham kṣamam
aṃtareṇa aṃjalim baddhvā lakṣmaṇasya prasādanāt

SYNONYMS

anjalim baddhvā: palms, adjoining | lakṣmaṇasya prasādanāt: of Lakshmana, seeking appeasement -pardon | antareṇa: other than | kṣamam: appropriate | anyat: another [means] | kṛta aparādhasya: one who committed, a blunder | te: to you | aham na paśyāmi hi: I, do not, foresee, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Indeed, I do not foresee any other appropriate means for you, as a blunder is committed by you, other than seeking Lakshmana's pardon duly adjoining your palms. [4-32-17]

PURPORT

The clasping and adjoining of palms in supplication is the highest gesture to appease others and it yields beneficence of even gods quickly. an~jaliH paramaa mudraa kshipram deva prasaadinii 'Adjoining palms reverently is the highest gesture, and gods will bestow grace by it.' Here it is said in singular meaning that 'you appease Lakshmana single-mindedly... soulfully...'
VERSE 18

नियुक्तैः मंत्रिभिः वाच्यो अवश्यम् पार्थिवो हितम्
इत एव भयम् त्यक्त्वा ब्रवीमि अवधृतम् वचः

niyuktaiḥ maṃtribhiḥ vācyo avaśyam pārthivo hitam
ita eva bhayam tyaktvā bravīmi avadhṛtam vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

niyuktaiḥ mantribhiḥ: designated ones, by ministers | pārthivaḥ: king | avaśyam hitam vācyaḥ = vithout hesitation, beneficial, is to be spoken: advised | ita eva: that is, why | bhayam tyaktvā: fear, discarding | avadhṛtam vacaḥ bravīmi = emphatic: which I hold fast, words, I am saying. |

TRANSLATION

"A king is to be advised beneficially and unhesitatingly by the minister designates, that is why I am speaking what I hold fast discarding fear. [4-32-18]

VERSE 19

अभिक्रुद्धः समर्थो हि चापम् उद्यम्य राघवः
स देव असुर गंधर्वम् वशे स्थापयितुम् जगत्

abhikruddhaḥ samartho hi cāpam udyamya rāghavaḥ
sa deva asura gaṃdharvam vaśe sthāpayitum jagat

SYNONYMS

abhikruddhaḥ: [if] highly infuriated | rāghavaḥ cāpam udyamya: Raghava, on hitching up, bow | sa deva asura gandharvam: along with, gods, demons, gandharva-s | jagat: world | vaśe sthāpayitum samarthaḥ hi: in control, to keep, capable, isn't it. |

TRANSLATION

"If Raghava is highly infuriated he is capable to keep the world under his control along with gods, demons, gandharva-s just on hitching up his bow, isn't it! [4-32-19]

VERSE 20

न स क्षमः कोपयितुम् यः प्रसाद्य पुनर् भवेत्
पूर्व उपकारम् स्मरता कृतज्ञेन विशेषतः

na sa kṣamaḥ kopayitum yaḥ prasādya punar bhavet
pūrva upakāram smaratā kṛtajñena viśeṣataḥ

SYNONYMS

pūrva upakāram smaratā: earlier, beneficence, remembering | viśeṣataḥ kṛtajñena: especially, as one beholden to him | yaḥ = he vho is: Rama | punaḥ prasādya: [time and ] again, who is to be placated | saḥ: he | kopayitum: to be infuriated | na kṣamaḥ bhavet: not, seemly, it becomes. |

TRANSLATION

"It becomes unseemly to infuriate him who is to be placated time and again, especially when remembering his earlier beneficence to you and when you are beholden to him. [4-32-20]

VERSE 21

तस्य मूर्ध्ना प्रणम्य त्वम् स पुत्रः स सुहृत् जनः
राजन् तिष्ठ स्व समये भर्तुः भार्या इव तत् वशे

tasya mūrdhnā praṇamya tvam sa putraḥ sa suhṛt janaḥ
rājan tiṣṭha sva samaye bhartuḥ bhāryā iva tat vaśe

SYNONYMS

rājan: oh, king | sa putraḥ sa su hṛt janaḥ: along with, son, with, kind, hearted, people [friends and relatives] | tvam: you | tasya: to him | mūrdhnā praṇamya = vith forehead, pay deference: prostrate yourself | sva samaye: in your own, accord | bhartuḥ bhāryā iva: for husband, wife, as with | tat vaśe tiṣṭha = in his, control, you stay: remain under his auspices. |

TRANSLATION

"Prostrate yourself before him along with your son, friends and relatives to pay deference, oh, king, and abide by your own accord you made with him remaining under his auspices, like a wife abiding in the care of her husband. [4-32-21]

VERSE 22

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे द्वा त्रिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe dvā triṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

kapīndra: oh, monkeys, king | rāma rāma anuja śāsanam: Rama's, Rama's, brother's, ruling | tvayā: by you | manasā api = at heart, even: even in imagination | apohitum = to set aside: keep it at bay, fend off | na yuktam: not, seemly | saḥ rāghavasya = together vith, the legatī of ṟaghu: here, Lakshmana | surendra varcasaḥ: king of gods, Indra, having resplendence | asya: his, Rama's | mānuṣam balam: humanly, tenacity [keeping a firm hold of principles, life] | te manaḥ jñāsyati hi: your, heart, knows it, isn't it. |

TRANSLATION

"It will be unseemly to fend off the ruling of Rama, or of his brother Lakshmana even in your imagination, oh, king of monkeys, as your heart is aware of the humanly tenacity of that Rama, whose resplendence vies with that of Indra, and who is associated with selfsame Lakshmana, isn't it." Thus Hanuma spoke to Sugreeva. [4-32-22]

PURPORT

For the usage of words maanuSam balam it is said as 'his humanly adventures are already known to you, yet his divine expeditions are to be known by you.'