Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

प्रतिगृह्य च तत् सर्वम् उपानयम् उपाहृतम्
वानरान् सान्त्वयित्वा च सर्वान् एव व्यसर्जयत्

pratigṛhya ca tat sarvam upānayam upāhṛtam
vānarān sāntvayitvā ca sarvān eva vyasarjayat

SYNONYMS

upāhṛtam: that are brought in | tat sarvam upānayam = that, all gifts: all those gifts from Himalayas | pratigṛhya ca: on receiving, also | sāntvayitvā ca = on speaking gūd vords: approbation, also | sarvān eva: all of them, thus | vānarān vyasarjayat = Vanara: s, left them off - dispersed them. |

TRANSLATION

On receiving all those gifts brought in by the Vanara-s from Himalayas, Sugreeva dispersed them all with approbation. [4-38-1]

VERSE 2

विसर्जयित्वा स हरीन् सहस्रान् तान् कृत कर्मणः
मेने कृतार्थम् आत्मानम् राघवम् च महाबलम्

visarjayitvā sa harīn sahasrān tān kṛta karmaṇaḥ
mene kṛtārtham ātmānam rāghavam ca mahābalam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On dispersing thousands of monkeys who have effectuated their errand of summoning all monkeys on the earth, Sugreeva deemed that his own aspirations and as well as those of that great-mighty Rama are achieved. [4-38-2]

VERSE 3

स लक्ष्मणो भीम बलम् सर्व वानर सत्तमम्
अब्रवीत् प्रश्रितम् वाक्यम् सुग्रीवम् संप्रहर्षयन्

sa lakṣmaṇo bhīma balam sarva vānara sattamam
abravīt praśritam vākyam sugrīvam saṃpraharṣayan

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Gladdening Sugreeva who is indomitably mighty and the indomitable one among all vanara-s, Lakshmana spoke these courteous words to him, "oh, gentle one, if it please you, make an exit from Kishkindha." [4-38-3, 4a]

VERSE 4

तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्य सुभाषितम्

tasya tat vacanam śrutvā lakṣmaṇasya subhāṣitam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On hearing the courteous words of Lakshmana Sugreeva is extremely pleased and he indeed spoke this sentence to him, "So be it. Let us go. I remain biddable in your command." [4-38-4b, 5]

VERSE 6

तम् एवम् उक्त्वा सुग्रीवो लक्ष्मणम् शुभ लक्षणम्
विसर्जयामास तदा तारा अद्याः च एव योषितः

tam evam uktvā sugrīvo lakṣmaṇam śubha lakṣaṇam
visarjayāmāsa tadā tārā adyāḥ ca eva yoṣitaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Sugreeva speaking thus to Lakshmana, whose person itself is auspicious, then bade adieu to Lady Tara and the other female vanara-s. [4-38-6]

VERSE 7

एहि इति उच्छैः हरि वरान् सुग्रीवः समुदाहरत्
तस्य तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा हरयः शीघ्रम् आययुः

ehi iti ucchaiḥ hari varān sugrīvaḥ samudāharat
tasya tad vacanam śrutvā harayaḥ śīghram āyayuḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Sugreeva shouted sharply saying, "come here," at the best monkey-adjutants and on hearing his call all of those monkeys that are spared to see the ladies of palace chambers have come there swiftly with their palms adjoined in supplication. [4-38-7]

VERSE 8

तान् उवाच ततः प्राप्तान् राजा अर्क सदृश प्रभः

tān uvāca tataḥ prāptān rājā arka sadṛśa prabhaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Then the king Sugreeva whose refulgence is kindred to that of sun has said to those vanara-s that have arrived there, "oh, vanara-s, immediately position my palanquin before me." [4-38-8b, 9a]

VERSE 9

श्रुत्वा तु वचनम् तस्य हरयः शीघ्र विक्रमाः

śrutvā tu vacanam tasya harayaḥ śīghra vikramāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On hearing his words those monkeys who are the adept ones in their agility right away brought an exquisite palanquin and readily started to position it at his nearby. [4-38-9b, 10a]

VERSE 10

ताम् उपस्थापिताम् दृष्ट्वा शिबिकाम् वानराधिपः

tām upasthāpitām dṛṣṭvā śibikām vānarādhipaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 11a| vānara adhipaḥ = monkeys, king: Sugreeva | upasthāpitām tām śibikām dṛṣṭvā: nearby, positioned, that, palanquin, on seeing | lakṣmaṇa śīghram āruhyatām: Lakshmana, quickly, mount it | iti saumitrim abravīt: thus, to Soumitri, said. |

TRANSLATION

And on seeing palanquin positioned at his nearby the king of monkeys Sugreeva said to Saumitri, "you mount it, Lakshmana, be quick." [4-38-10b, 11a]

VERSE 11

इति उक्त्वा कांचनम् यानम् सुग्रीवः सूर्य सन्निभम्

iti uktvā kāṃcanam yānam sugrīvaḥ sūrya sannibham

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Saying so Sugreeva got into that golden carriage which in shine is like the sun and which has many monkey-carriers along with Lakshmana. [4-38-11b, 12a]

VERSE 12

पाण्डुरेण आतपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि

pāṇḍureṇa ātapatreṇa dhriyamāṇena mūrdhani

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Sugreeva who achieved the kingdom of unexcelled magnificence has started out that magnificently to the high extolment of panegyrists, while a white royal-parasol spread overhead the palanquin, white fur-fans fanning him from all over, and while conch-shells are blowing loud and drums are drumming high. [4-38-12b, 13, 14a]

VERSE 14

स वानर शतैः तीष्क्णैः बहुभिः शस्त्र पाणिभिः

sa vānara śataiḥ tīṣkṇaiḥ bahubhiḥ śastra pāṇibhiḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Sugreeva travelled thus surrounded with many hundreds of vanara-s, who look confrontational and who wielded weapons, to the place where Rama is staying. [4-38-14b, 15a]

VERSE 15

स तम् देशम् अनुप्राप्य श्रेष्ठम् राम निषेवितम्

sa tam deśam anuprāpya śreṣṭham rāma niṣevitam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On reaching the province where Rama is staying in all his adoration to that place, the great-resplendent Sugreeva descended the palanquin along with Lakshmana. [4-38-15b, 16a]

VERSE 16

आसाद्य च ततो रामम् कृत अंजलि पुटो अभवत्

āsādya ca tato rāmam kṛta aṃjali puṭo abhavat

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

When Sugreeva reached Rama he stood still with adjoined-palms, and when he remained still with palm-fold all the other monkeys stood still with palm-fold. [4-38-16b, 17a]

VERSE 17

तटाकम् इव तम् दृष्ट्वा रामः कुड्मल पंकजम्

taṭākam iva tam dṛṣṭvā rāmaḥ kuḍmala paṃkajam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Rama became exultant of Sugreeva on seeing the massive army of Vanara-s which is just like a vast lake plethoric with buds of lotuses. [4-38-17b, 18a]

PURPORT

Terrible looking monkeys are compared with delicate lotus buds - is this a simile at all? Not So. The 'sense' dhvani in this is like this. The folded and adjoined palms of all the monkeys are looking like lotus buds. While adjoining palms they raised hands over their heads, where their bodies are appearing similar to the stems of lotuses, and folded palms are like unfolded lotus buds. Rama is gladdened because the lake called Sugreeva contains these many prayerful devotees who are praying with lotus-bud-like folded palms.

VERSE 18

पादयोः पतितम् मूर्ध्ना तम् उत्थाप्य हरीश्वरम्

pādayoḥ patitam mūrdhnā tam utthāpya harīśvaram

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Raghava raised and tightly hugged the king of monkeys Sugreeva, who has prostrated himself with his head touching the feet of Rama, with care and credit. [4-38-18b, 19a]

VERSE 19

परिष्वज्य च धर्मात्मा निषीद इति ततो अब्रवीत्

pariṣvajya ca dharmātmā niṣīda iti tato abravīt

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

After hugging Sugreeva that virtue-souled Rama then said to him, "be seated." Then on seeing Sugreeva who took seat on ground Rama spoke to him. [4-38-19b, 20a]

VERSE 20

धर्मम् अर्थम् च कामम् च काले यः तु निषेवते

dharmam artham ca kāmam ca kāle yaḥ tu niṣevate

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"He alone is the king, oh, valiant Sugreeva, who always divides time for devoting himself to probity, prosperity and pleasure-seeking. [4-38-20b, 21a]

PURPORT

Say, mornings for duty-bound affairs, afternoons for financial matters, and nights for pleasure-seeking programs.

VERSE 21

हित्वा धर्मम् तथा अर्थम् च कामम् यः तु निषेवते

hitvā dharmam tathā artham ca kāmam yaḥ tu niṣevate

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"If one devotes himself to pleasure-seeking alone, casting off the probity and like that the prosperity also, he is like the one who slept on a treetop who awakens only after falling down. [4-38-21b, 22a]

PURPORT

An out-and-out pleasure-seeker wakes up only when he runs into troubles. Till such time he uses slender branches and tender leaves available on the infirm treetop, called his pleasuring area, as his cushion bed and foam pillows.

VERSE 22

अमित्राणाम् वधे युक्तो मित्राणाम् संग्रहे रतः

amitrāṇām vadhe yukto mitrāṇām saṃgrahe rataḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 23a| a mitrāṇām vadhe yuktaḥ: un, friendly ones, in killing, bound up in | mitrāṇām sangrahe rataḥ: of friends, forgathering, bound up with | rājā: king | dharmeṇa yujyate: with righteousness, enjoined with | tri varga phala bhoktā ca = thrī, fold [probity, prosperity, pleasures] fruit, enjoyer, also: he becomes. |

TRANSLATION

"And the king who is bound up in eliminating unfriendly ones and bound up with forgathering friends, he will be enjoined with righteousness, and he even becomes the real enjoyer of the fruit of threefold virtues, namely dharma, artha, kaama - probity, prosperity and pleasures. [4-38-22b, 23a]

PURPORT

A sheer pleasure-seeker will be awakened when he suddenly falls from heights of pleasures, may it be due any factor like wealth, age or destitution. This happens if only he summarily rejects the other two, probity in life and pursuance to acquire real and everlasting prosperity, in lifetime. And a real king worth his kingship is the one who practises and enjoys all the threefold virtues, namely probity, prosperity and pleasures at appropriate timings and at appreciable limits, unlike Sugreeva who is indulgent in only one among those three, namely pleasures.

VERSE 23

उद्योग समयः तु एष प्राप्तः शत्रु निषूदन

udyoga samayaḥ tu eṣa prāptaḥ śatru niṣūdana

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, enemy-eliminator, time for endeavour has come, oh, king of monkeys, let this be discussed along with your monkey-ministers." Thus Rama spoke to Sugreeva. [4-38-23b, 24a]

VERSE 24

एवम् उक्तः तु सुग्रीवो रामम् वचनम् अब्रवीत्

evam uktaḥ tu sugrīvo rāmam vacanam abravīt

SYNONYMS

b, 25| evam uktaḥ tu sugrīvaḥ: thus, who is spoken to, on his part, Sugreeva | rāmam vacanam abravīt: to Rama, words, said | mahābāhuḥ: oh dextrous one | pra naṣṭā śrīḥ ca kīrtiḥ ca: verily, mislaid, prosperity, also, popularity, also | śāśvatam: everlasting one | idam kapi rājyam ca: this, monkeys, kingdom, also | mayā: by me | tvat prasādāt: by your, beneficence, punaH praaptam = again, achieved. |

TRANSLATION

When Rama addressed him in this way, Sugreeva said these words to Rama, "oh, dextrous Rama, by your beneficence I have repossessed prosperity, popularity and this everlasting kingdom of monkeys which are actually mislaid. [4-38-24b, 25]

VERSE 26

तव देव प्रसदात् च भ्रातुः च जयताम् वर
कृतम् न प्रतिकुर्यात् यः पुरुषाणाम् स दूषकः

tava deva prasadāt ca bhrātuḥ ca jayatām vara
kṛtam na pratikuryāt yaḥ puruṣāṇām sa dūṣakaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, god, by your and your brother's benevolence alone I regained what I lost, oh, victorious one among victors, and he who does not requite the favour that has been done for him will become the vitiator of probity among men. [4-38-26]

VERSE 27

एते वानर मुख्याः च शतशः शत्रु सूदन
प्राप्ताः च आदाय बलिनः पृथिव्याम् सर्व वानरान्

ete vānara mukhyāḥ ca śataśaḥ śatru sūdana
prāptāḥ ca ādāya balinaḥ pṛthivyām sarva vānarān

SYNONYMS

śatru sūdana: oh, enemy, subjugator | śataśaḥ: hundreds are | ete vānara mukhyāḥ ca: these, Vanara, chiefs, also | pṛthivyām: on earth available | balinaḥ sarva vānarān ādāya: forceful ones, all of the, Vanara-s, on fetching | prāptāḥ ca = they came, also: they just returned on forgathering. |

TRANSLATION

"These are the hundreds of vanara chiefs, oh, enemy-subjugator, who have just returned on forgathering all of the forceful vanara-s on earth. [4-38-27]

VERSE 28

देव गन्धर्व पुत्राः च वानराः काम रूपिणः
स्वैः स्वैः परिवृताः सैन्यैः वर्तन्ते पथि राघव

deva gandharva putrāḥ ca vānarāḥ kāma rūpiṇaḥ
svaiḥ svaiḥ parivṛtāḥ sainyaiḥ vartante pathi rāghava

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Raghava, the legatee of Raghu, those vanara-s with dreadful appearance, and who are the experts in permeating the impenetrable forests, woodlands and impassable mountains are coming. And the bears, monkeys and brave baboons who are the children of gods and gandharva-s, and who change their guise just by their wish are halfway through on their path duly fenced round with one's own forces. [4-38-28, 29]

VERSE 30

शतैः शत सहस्रैः च कोटिभिः च प्लवंगमाः
अयुतैः च आवृता वीरा शंकुभिः च परंतप

śataiḥ śata sahasraiḥ ca koṭibhiḥ ca plavaṃgamāḥ
ayutaiḥ ca āvṛtā vīrā śaṃkubhiḥ ca paraṃtapa

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, king, some of the fly-jumpers that are arriving are with a hundred-legion, some with a hundred-thousand legion, and even some with millions of legions, while the some are on the way with specific legions like aayuta-s, shanku-s. And oh, valiant one Rama, some with legions of arbuda-s, and some with hundreds of arbuda-s, some with madhya-s, and some with antaH-s are coming. Some more are coming with samudra-s and some with paraardha-s legions of monkeys. Oh, enemy-flamer Rama, the legions of monkeys along with their monkey commanders who are viable to Mahendra in valour, and who compare with massive clouds and mountains, and who domiciled on Mt. Meru and Mt. Vindhya will be coming in your service. [4-38-30, 31, 32]

PURPORT

In the Indian counting system hundred thousands becomes one lakh, [1,00, 000.] One hundred lakhs become one crore, [10,000,000.] The ancient Indian legionaries have names like aayuta 'one thousand per unit...' shanku 'one lakh crores...' a trillion - 10 12 . One arbuda 'thousand shanku-s...' madhyama 'ten arbuda-s...' antam 'ten madhyama-s...' samudra 'twenty antya-s...' paraardha 'thirty samudra-s...' Rama Tilaka says that by giving these numbers it is to be understood that 'innumerable monkeys are coming...' But others hold the view that the ancients have organised military pattern hence particular nomenclature is given to each, apart from the generalisation of Rama Tilaka. Govindaraja takes up the enumeration as given in Indian Astrology, which multiplies ten times each, as said in verse: ekam dasha shatam asmaat sahasram ayutam tataH param lakSham | prayutam koTim atha arbudam vR^inde kharvam nikharvam ca | tasmaat mahaa sarojam shankum saritaam patim tvat antam | madhyam paraadham aaruuhya atha uttaram dasha guNam tathaa j~neyam || 'one, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, one lakh, prayutam 'ten lakhs or a million, then a crore and then an arbuda ten-crore or a billion, and then ten arbuda-s makes one bR^inda and ten brinda-s make one kharva and ten kharva-s make one nikharva and ten nikharva-s make one mahaa padma and ten mahaa padma-s make one shanku 'one lakh crores or a trillion, and ten shanku-s make one samudra and then ten samudra-s make one anta and ten anta-s make a madhyama and ten madhyama-s make one paraardha it may be known thus... By this, the nomenclature of million, billion and trillion was there in ancient days and this may be observed by the names: prayutam 'a million...' arbuda 'a billion..' and shanku 'a trillion...' and this exactly relates to the decimal system which is based on the number ten, in which the smaller units are related to the principal units as powers of ten [units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.] Verse Locator te tvām abhigamiṣyanti rākṣasam yoddhum āhave | nihatya rāvaṇam yuddhe hi ānayiṣyanti maithilīm || 4-38-33 33. [ye = which of those vanara-s]; yuddhe yoddhum = in war, to combat - whoi are combative; aahave raakSasam raavaNam nihatya = in war, demon, Ravana, on killing; maithiliim aanayiSyanti = Maithili, who can bring her; te = such of those vanara-s; tvaam abhi gamiSyanti = you, they will be approaching; hi = surely. "Those vanara-s who are combative in wars, and those who can fetch Maithili on eliminating Ravana in war, will be approaching you soon." Thus Sugreeva informed Rama. [4-38-33] Verse Locator tataḥ samudyogam avekṣya vīryavān hari pravīrasya nideśa vartinaḥ | babhūva harṣāt vasudhā adhipa ātmajaḥ prabuddha nīla utpala tulya darśanaḥ || 4-38-34 34. tataH = then; viiryavaan = valorous one - Rama; vasudhaa adhipa aatmajaH = of earth, king's, son - prince Rama; nidesha vartinaH = under order [of Rama,] operating; hari pra viirasya = monkey, prominent, valorous one's - Sugreeva's; sam udyogam = perfect, effort; avekSya = on observing; harSaat = by jubilance; pra buddha niila utpala tulya = well, bloomed, blue, Costus - a kind of Indian lotus, similar; darshanaH = with such eyes - not appearance in general; babhuuva = became. Then on seeing the perfect effort made by the prominent one among all monkeys, Sugreeva, who is operating under his control, the eyes of valorous prince Rama are widened in jubilance, like the well-bloomed blue-lotuses. [4-38-34] - - - iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe aṣṭā triṃśaḥ sargaḥ Thus, this is the 38th chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India. Verse Locator for Book IV : Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys : Chapter 38 Top of Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 © Aug, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : September 04] ekam dasha shatam asmaat sahasram ayutam tataH param lakSham | prayutam koTim atha arbudam vR^inde kharvam nikharvam ca | tasmaat mahaa sarojam shankum saritaam patim tvat antam | madhyam paraadham aaruuhya atha uttaram dasha guNam tathaa j~neyam || 'one, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, one lakh, prayutam 'ten lakhs or a million, then a crore and then an arbuda ten-crore or a billion, and then ten arbuda-s makes one bR^inda and ten brinda-s make one kharva and ten kharva-s make one nikharva and ten nikharva-s make one mahaa padma and ten mahaa padma-s make one shanku 'one lakh crores or a trillion, and ten shanku-s make one samudra and then ten samudra-s make one anta and ten anta-s make a madhyama and ten madhyama-s make one paraardha it may be known thus... By this, the nomenclature of million, billion and trillion was there in ancient days and this may be observed by the names: prayutam 'a million...' arbuda 'a billion..' and shanku 'a trillion...' and this exactly relates to the decimal system which is based on the number ten, in which the smaller units are related to the principal units as powers of ten [units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.]

VERSE 33

ते त्वाम् अभिगमिष्यन्ति राक्षसम् योद्धुम् आहवे
निहत्य रावणम् युद्धे हि आनयिष्यन्ति मैथिलीम्

te tvām abhigamiṣyanti rākṣasam yoddhum āhave
nihatya rāvaṇam yuddhe hi ānayiṣyanti maithilīm

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Those vanara-s who are combative in wars, and those who can fetch Maithili on eliminating Ravana in war, will be approaching you soon." Thus Sugreeva informed Rama. [4-38-33]

VERSE 34

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे अष्टा त्रिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe aṣṭā triṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Then on seeing the perfect effort made by the prominent one among all monkeys, Sugreeva, who is operating under his control, the eyes of valorous prince Rama are widened in jubilance, like the well-bloomed blue-lotuses. [4-38-34]