Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

ततः प्रस्थाप्य सुग्रीवः तन् महत् वानरम् बलम्
दक्षिणाम् प्रेषयामास वानरान् अभिलक्षितान्

tataḥ prasthāpya sugrīvaḥ tan mahat vānaram balam
dakṣiṇām preṣayāmāsa vānarān abhilakṣitān

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On sending that great vanara force to east, Sugreeva started to send tried and true vanara-s to south. [4-41-1]

VERSE 2

नीलम् अग्नि सुतम् चैव हनूमन्तम् च वानरम्
पितामह सुतम् चैव जांबवंतम् महोजसम्

nīlam agni sutam caiva hanūmantam ca vānaram
pitāmaha sutam caiva jāṃbavaṃtam mahojasam

SYNONYMS

, 3, 4, 5| vīraḥ: brave one | viśeṣa vit = specialities, knover of [vell: informed one - Sugreeva] | kapi gaṇa īśvaraḥ = monkey, trūps, lord: Sugreeva | agni sutam nīlam: Fire-god's, son, Neela | vānaram hanūmantam ca: vanara, Hanuma, also | pitāmaha sutam: Grandfather's [Brahma's,] son | mahā ojasam: highly vigorous one | jāmbavantam caiva: Jaambavanta, also thus | suhotram ca śarārim ca: Suhotra, also, Sharaari, also | tathā eva ca: like, that, only | śaragulmam: Sharagulma | gajam gavākṣam gavayam suṣeṇam vṛṣabham tathā: Gaja, Gavaaksha, Gavaya, Sushena, Vrishabha | maindam ca dvividam caiva: Mainda, also, Dvivida, also thus | suṣeṇam gandha mādanam ulkāmukham anangam ca: Sushena, Gandhamaadana, Ulkaamukha, Ananga, also | hutaśana sutau ubhau: Ritual-fire's, son, two of them | angada pramukhān: Angada, and other prominent | vega vikrama sampannān: in dash, dare, full-fledged ones | vīrān: valorous ones | sandideśa: commissioned, beckoned. |

TRANSLATION

Sugreeva, the well-informed and brave lord of monkey troops, then beckoned Angada and the other prominent vanara-s who are valorous ones with full-fledged dash and dare, like the son of Fire-god Neela, and the exceptional vanara Hanuma, the highly vigorous son of Grandparent Brahma, namely Jaambavanta, also others like Suhotra, Sharaari, Sharagulma Gaja, Gavaaksha, Gavaya, Sushena, Vrishabha, Mainda, Dvivida, Sushena, Gandhamaadana, and the two sons of Ritual-fire called Ulkaamukha, Ananga. [4-41-2, 3, 4, 5]

PURPORT

Sushena said in above verses is not the father of Tara. Sugreeva addresses him later when sending another direction.

VERSE 6

तेषाम् अग्रेसरम् चैव बृहद् बलम् अथ अंगदम्
विधाय हरि वीराणाम् आदिशद् दक्षिणाम् दिशम्

teṣām agresaram caiva bṛhad balam atha aṃgadam
vidhāya hari vīrāṇām ādiśad dakṣiṇām diśam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Sugreeva made the formidably mighty Angada as the chief of those valiant monkeys forming search party and ordered southern direction for them. [4-41-6]

VERSE 7

ये केचन समुद्देशाः तस्याम् दिशि सुदुर्गमाः
कपीइशः कपि मुख्यानाम् स तेषाम् समुदाहरत्

ye kecana samuddeśāḥ tasyām diśi sudurgamāḥ
kapīiśaḥ kapi mukhyānām sa teṣām samudāharat

SYNONYMS

tasyām diśi: in that, direction of compass | su dur gamāḥ = verily, impossible, to pass: highly impassable | ye ke cana: which of those few | sam ut deśāḥ = vell, intended, countries: some countries that need be explained | saḥ kapi īśaḥ = he that, monkeys, king of: Sugreeva | teṣām kapi mukhyānām: to them, monkey, prominent ones | sam udāharat = vell, illustrated: gave a picture of. |

TRANSLATION

The king of monkeys Sugreeva gave a picture about some of the highly impassable countries available in southern quarter that need an introduction to those prominent monkeys bound south. [4-41-7]

VERSE 8

सहस्र शिरसम् विंध्यम् नाना द्रुम लता आयुतम्
नर्मदाम् च नदीम् रम्याम् महोरग निषेविताम्

sahasra śirasam viṃdhyam nānā druma latā āyutam
narmadām ca nadīm ramyām mahoraga niṣevitām

SYNONYMS

sahasra śirasam: thousands, of heads [crests] | nānā druma latā āyutam: numerous, trees, climbers, abounding in | vindhyam: Vindhya Range | mahā uraga ni ṣevitām: great, snakes, adored by | ramyām narmadām nadīm ca: delightful one, Narmada, river, also | tataḥ: then | ramyām godāvarīm: wonderful one, River Godavari | mahānadīm: River Mahaanadi | kṛṣṇāveṇīm: River Krishnaveni, or Krishna | mahā bhāgām: highly, auspicious one | mahā uraga niṣevitām: by great, snakes, adored by | varadām ca: River Varada, also | mekhalān utkalām caiva: Mekhala, Utkala [in territories,] also thus | daśārṇa nagarāṇi api: Dashaarna, in cities, also | abravantīm avantīm ca: Abravanti, Avanti, also | vidarbhān ṛṣṭikān caiva: Vidarbha, Rishtika, also, thus | ramyān māhiṣakān api: charming [kingdom,] in Maheeshaka, even | sarvam eva anu paśyata = all [everyvhere,] thus, closely, sī: search thoroughly. |

TRANSLATION

"Search the thousand crested Vindhya mountains abounding with numerous tress and climbers, then the delightful Narmada river coursing a little southerly to that range, which is adored by great snakes, along with wonderful River Godavari, as well as River Krishnaveni and Maha Nadi, and then the greatly auspicious River Varada which is an adoration to great snakes. And the territories of Mekhala, Utkala, the cities of Dashaarna, kingdoms of Abravanti, Avanti, and Vidarbha, also thus the charming kingdom of Maheehaka, are to be searched thoroughly. [4-41-10]

PURPORT

If Mahaanadi is taken as a separate entity it is in Orissa, which kingdom was called earlier as Utkala or Kalinga kingdom. Otherwise Krishnaveni becomes a 'great river' by the adjectival wording mahaanadi. Mekhala territory, whose earlier name is amara kanTaka parvata , is the mountain from where the River Narmada emerges. The River Varada is now called Wardha in Maharashtra. The order of rives narrated is not according to the present day mapping, other wise Mahaanadi would have come earlier to Godavari. Some mms contain ashvavanti 'kingdom with horses...' instead of abravanti and then the age old Avanti kingdom, which is a gateway for Arabian horses will be the famed kingdom for horses. This is the present day Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. Dharmaakuutam has this as abruvantiim bruvantimm roughly forming part of the speech of Sugreeva 'spoken and unspoken areas by me...' However, these areas are in the Southwest of India, and it appears the order of positing the rivers or kingdoms, one after the other is not maintained or may be shuffled.

VERSE 11

तथा वन्गान् कलिन्गाम् च कौशिकान् च समंततः
अन्वीक्ष्य दण्डक अरण्यम् स पर्वत नदी गुहम्

tathā vangān kalingām ca kauśikān ca samaṃtataḥ
anvīkṣya daṇḍaka araṇyam sa parvata nadī guham

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Like that Vanga, Kalinga territories shall be searched along with Kaushika territories available on their fringes, then cast about the Dandaka forest all over its mountains, rivers, and its caves, then River Godavari that courses through Dandaka forest, and then the provinces of Andhra, Pundra, Chola, Paandya, Kerala are to be searched thoroughly. [4-41-11, 12]

PURPORT

Some other mms have Matsya desha in this verse instead of the Vanga desha. The Vanga is the present day Bengal and this territory retained its epical name, but while pronouncing it becomes banga because the Sanskrit grammar allows to pronounce or write va as ba by the rule va ba yoH abhedaH and thus it is called Baangla or Bengal as British used to call. Kaushika in some other mms is read as kaashika . Kalinga is Orissa which touches Bengal at its north, and it is the Kie-ling-kia as said by Huet Tsang. The Andhra is the present day Andhra Pradesh and Chola is the present Tamil Nadu, especially northern area, and Pundra is roughly in between Andhra and Chola. Paandya is south-most area where in Kanyakumari district the Cape Camorin is there, and Kerala is the present Kerala state from Gokarna to Kanyakumari. Its historical name was chera raajya and in Ashoka's time, it was called kerala putra.

VERSE 13

अयोमुखः च गंतव्यः पर्वतो धातु मण्डितः
विचित्र शिखरः श्रीमान् चित्र पुष्पित काननः

ayomukhaḥ ca gaṃtavyaḥ parvato dhātu maṇḍitaḥ
vicitra śikharaḥ śrīmān citra puṣpita kānanaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 14a| dhātu maṇḍitaḥ: with ores, crowded with | vi citra śikharaḥ: verily, amazing, with crests | śrīmān: prosperous [mountain] | citra puṣpita kānanaḥ: motley, flowered, with forests | ayaḥ mukhaḥ parvataḥ = iron, mouths, mountain: a mountain having iron-ore mines in the shape of mouths, namely Mt. Malaya] | gantavyaḥ = reacable: you shall go to | su candana vanāt deśaḥ: best, sandalwood trees, with copses, places | mahā giriḥ mārgitavyaḥ: great mountain, is to be searched. |

TRANSLATION

"You shall go to the prosperous Mt. Malaya which is crowded with iron-ore mines as its vast mouths, and with amazing crests and motley flowered forests. Search shall be carried out on that great mountain in the places that are with the copses of sandalwood trees. [4-41-13, 14a]

PURPORT

This Mountain is also called Agastyamalai and it is in Western Ghats from which River Tamraparni emerges.

VERSE 14

ततः ताम् आपगाम् दिव्याम् प्रसन्न सलिलाशयान्

tataḥ tām āpagām divyām prasanna salilāśayān

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"From there you shall go and see the divine River Kaaveri there, a receptacle of limpid waters, to where throngs of apsara-s will be making pleasure-trips. [4-41-14b, 15a]

PURPORT

The River Kaaveri is the best river in southern peninsula of India that flows from Braham Giri Mountains in Coorg of Western India to the East draining in Bay of Bengal and irrigating a major chunk of land. Many legends are associated with this river, of which one is that when Sage Agastya was bringing waters of River Ganga, they sprinkled from his kamandulau, the handy water-vessel, and flooded like Kaaveri. The original Tamil name is kakaviri where kaakam is 'crow...' viri 'spread out...' When Agastya is bringing water it sprinkled from his handy vessel and flooded the kaa 'the garden...' in Tamil, the garden of Indra. Then it is called kaaviri , but Shilpadikkaaram records its name as Kaaveri only pulavoy vazhi kaaveri... nadanthai vazhi kaaveri...

VERSE 15

तस्य आसीनम् नगस्य अग्रे मलयस्य महोजसम्

tasya āsīnam nagasya agre malayasya mahojasam

SYNONYMS

b, 16a| mahā ojasam: highly resplendent [mountain] | tasya malayasya nagasya agre: of that, Mt. Malaya, mountain, on the top of it | āsīnam: who is sitting | āditya sankāśam: Sun, in similarity | ṛṣi sattamam agastyam drakṣyatha: Sage, the eminent, Agastya, you shall see. |

TRANSLATION

"You shall see the eminent sage Agastya, whose resplendence is akin to that of the Sun, and who will be sitting on the top of that highly resplendent Mt. Malaya. [4-41-15b, 16a]

VERSE 16

ततः तेन अभ्यनुज्ञाताः प्रसन्नेन महात्मना

tataḥ tena abhyanujñātāḥ prasannena mahātmanā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"And when that great-souled Agastya complaisantly permits you, then you shall leave that mountain and cross over the great River Taamraparni, a highly cherished river of crocodiles. [4-41-16b, 17a]

VERSE 17

सा चन्दन वनैः चित्रैः प्रच्छन्ना द्वीप वारिणी

sā candana vanaiḥ citraiḥ pracchannā dvīpa vāriṇī

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"She whose water is overlapped with amazing copses of sandalwood trees and islands that River Taamrapani will be drifting for a rendezvous with her much yearned lover, namely the ocean, as with a young woman who will be coursing to have a rendezvous with her yearned lover. [4-41-17b, 18a]

PURPORT

The romantic touch is that the River Taamraparni has sandalwood trees alongshore and by constant rubbing of her waters, those trees that yield sandalwood paste to her. And her island-like breasts are smeared with that sandal paste supplied by the trees alongshore, while she is nearing her husband, namely the ocean. The name of the river Taamraparni or Tamiravarani or Taamravarni derives from the words taamra 'coppery...' varNa 'colour...' 'a river with coppery riverbanks...' where those riverbanks have light coppery sandalwood trees. And she flows from Agastyamalai in Western Ghats of India, and courses through Papanaasham, a holy place. And covering Tirunalveli it drains into Bay of Bengal at the Gulf of Mannaar. There are hosts of vainavatiruppadigal 'Vaishnavaite temples...' throughout its riverbanks and this river is held holy. There are many legends about it, of which one says that Sage Agastya led the course of this river to the ocean for twenty-seven days from its source. Down south of the River Taamraparni it is simhala desha or senga-kia-lo the present day Sri Lanka. 'This was first made known to the European world by the expedition of Alexander, as Taprobane . The true form however would appear to be Ta'mba panni or the 'red-leaved one...' from the Sanskrit T'amparni and Ptolemy calls it Salike, corrupt from Simhalaka Abu Rihaan gives the form of Singal-dip and then the Arabic name Tilaan came and that resulted into Cylone. After a long lost time they have renamed it as per the nomenclature given in Ramayana as Lanka, but adding a Sri before it. [After Ancient Geography of India.]

VERSE 18

ततो हेममयम् दिव्यम् मुक्ता मणि विभूषितम्

tato hemamayam divyam muktā maṇi vibhūṣitam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"From there, on going to the Paandya Kingdome you shall see a fully golden castle-door bracing the compound-wall of the fortress, which is decorated with pearls and jewels, and conduct your search even in that kingdom. [4-41-18b, 19a]

VERSE 19

ततः समुद्रम् आसाद्य संप्रधार्य अर्थ निश्चयम्

tataḥ samudram āsādya saṃpradhārya artha niścayam

SYNONYMS

b, 20, 21a| tataḥ samudram āsādya: then, [southern] ocean, on reaching | artha niścayam sampradhārya: purpose's, resolve, on resolving | agastyena: by Agastya | tatra: there | sāgare antare vi niveśitaḥ: in ocean, inside, verily, penned up [one end of mountain] | citra sānu nagaḥ: one with marvellous, terraces, trees | śrīmān mahendraḥ: glorious, Mt. Mahendra | parvata uttamaḥ: among mountains, best one | jātarūpamayaḥ: completely golden | śrīmān mahā arṇavam: august [Mt. Mahendra,] into great, ocean | avagāḍhaḥ: will be steeping in. |

TRANSLATION

"Then on reaching the southern ocean, and on taking a resolve with regard to the purpose of your task, viz., importance of the mission undertaken vis-�-vis your individual capacities to leap the ocean, you reach the glorious Mt. Mahendra. Sage Agastya once penned its one end in the ocean, and the other end is now visible. That august and best one among all mountains will be completely golden with marvellous terraces and trees, and it will be steeping into ocean on the other side of land, and this mountain becomes the jumping-off point for you vanara-s. [4-41-19b, 20, 21a]

PURPORT

There are three mountains in Kanyakumari district, the southern promontories of India, at the end of Western Ghats, namely Thadaka malai, Mahendra giri, Marunthuva malai, where the word malai, giri is 'mountain...' in Tamil. The Thadakamalai is held as the forest of Tataka, the demoness, and Rama is believed to have come up to this south most part of India to eliminate Tataka in his boyhood. The Mahendragiri is the mountain from which Hanuma leaps to Lanka and the river that emerges from this mountain is named after Hanuma. The Marunthuvamalai is believed to be a mound fallen from the main Himalayan mountain which Hanuma brought while bringing sanjiivini herb, to bring Lakshmana to conscious. Even now, the local people benefit from the herbs that grow on this mountain and even the bitter leaves when cooked on this mountain will turn to sweet taste. This is being the story of this end of the ocean for Herbal Mountain, on the other end in Sri Lanka also there is a similar herbal mountain called Rhumassala Kanda, in Singhalese.

VERSE 21

नाना विधैः नगैः फुल्लैः लताभिः च उपशोभितम्

nānā vidhaiḥ nagaiḥ phullaiḥ latābhiḥ ca upaśobhitam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Mt. Mahendra is glorified with numerous kinds of flowered trees and climbers. Important gods, sages, yaksha-s and even apsara-s will adore it, and it is overspread with the groups of siddha-s and caarana-s, and thus it will be heart-stealing for a look. And the Thousand-eyed Indra will always be visiting that Mt. Mahendra on every auspicious day. [4-41-21b, 22, 23a]

PURPORT

The auspicious day for Tamil almanac is no moon day amavaashya because of its neutrality from the wax and wane affects of lunar phases. So, it is believed that Indra will come to this mountain on every no-moon-day in the Indian month.

VERSE 23

द्वीपः तस्य अपरे पारे शत योजन विसृतः

dvīpaḥ tasya apare pāre śata yojana visṛtaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"There is a dazzling island on the other side of the shore of Mt. Mahendra, which is breadthwise a hundred yojana-s, and which is an impassable one for humans, and you have to search that island up to its fringes. [4-41-23b, 24a]

PURPORT

This island on the other shore of the ocean is Ravana's Lanka, and it is believed to be the present day Sri Lanka. That island's association with River Taamraparni is as noted above.

VERSE 24

तत्र सर्व आत्मना सीता मार्गितव्या विशेषतः

tatra sarva ātmanā sītā mārgitavyā viśeṣataḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Anywise Seetha is searchable especially there on that island because it is the dwelling place of the king of demons Ravana, who is the coequal of Indra in his resplendence and which vile-minded demon is to be rooted out. [4-41-24b, 25]

PURPORT

A controversy is there regarding this statement of Sugreeva. Earlier Sugreeva said, "Not known is the domain of that sinning demon at all, nor his capabilities... or valour...or even about his sinister dynasty or lineage..." [4-7-2] And now he is specifically stating that Ravana will be on an island. Then it may be asked whether Sugreeva bluffed to Rama as at 4-7-2, for which it is said that Sugreeva being an intelligent kingly being he did not reveal the truth as an 'official secret.' Otherwise, if Sugreeva told Rama in the first instance where Ravana is, Rama goes straight to Lanka to eliminate Ravana, thereby Sugreeva's politics, i.e., the elimination of Vali or getting Kishkindha, will not work. It is correct that Sugreeva knows that Ravana dwells in Lanka. But on abducting Seetha where is the guarantee that he is still in Lanka along with Seetha. Hence a doubtful situation cannot be stated assertively, that too, to a friend, for it ensues mitra droha 'cheating a friend...' On the other hand, it is said that Sugreeva came to know about the details of Ravana through Tara, because Tara also explains to Lakshmana about the establishment of Ravana. But Sugreeva as the prince regent of Kishkindha and participant in all the activities of the kingdom, knowing about Ravana through Tara is an evasive statement. Hence, it is said that Sugreeva purposefully did not reveal the details about Ravana to Rama, because his own interests are to be met with firstly. In turn it is asked as to why Sugreeva should send so many monkeys to all corners of compass when the kidnapper and his location are known, for which it is said that no thief hides his booty in his own place. Like cat changing the places of kitten, a thief too changes his own place, as well as the place of stolen thing. To justify this, it is said that throughout this and in the previous, and in the next chapters Sugreeva goes on repeating his order, 'search for Seetha and for the residency of Ravana...' Even here, Sugreeva is not able to describe the interior of Lanka as he is not well acquainted with it. Rama, who is astounded at this geographical description of Sugreeva, does not ask Sugreeva as to why this particular place of Ravana is not indicated to him earlier. So, the denial of information earlier by Sugreeva is completely political, and now giving orders to search Seetha is for his requital.

VERSE 26

दक्षिणस्य समुद्रस्य मध्ये तस्य तु राक्षसी
अंगारक इति विख्याता चायाम् आक्षिप्य भोजिनी

dakṣiṇasya samudrasya madhye tasya tu rākṣasī
aṃgāraka iti vikhyātā cāyām ākṣipya bhojinī

SYNONYMS

tasya dakṣiṇasya samudrasya madhye: that, southern, ocean's, in the centre | cāyām ākṣipya bhojinī: by shadow, on grabbing [prey,] a she-eater | angāraka iti vi khyātā: Angaaraka, thus, as well-known | rākṣasī tu: demoness, but [is there.] |

TRANSLATION

"But a well-known demoness named Angaaraka is there in the midst of southern ocean who eats prey by grabbing its shadow when flying overhead. [4-41-26]

PURPORT

This demoness is also termed as Simhika whom Hanuma tears apart in Sundara Kanda.

VERSE 27

एवम् निःसंशयान् कृत्वा संशयान् नष्ट संशयाः
मृगयध्वम् नरेन्द्रस्य पत्नीम् अमित ओजसः

evam niḥsaṃśayān kṛtvā saṃśayān naṣṭa saṃśayāḥ
mṛgayadhvam narendrasya patnīm amita ojasaḥ

SYNONYMS

evam: in this way | samśayān niḥ samśayān kṛtvā: about doubtful [places,] without, doubt [you have to become doubtless,] on making [by thorough search] | naṣṭa samśayāḥ: loosing, doubts [doubts when cleared] | amita ojasaḥ = of one vith: infinite, vital power - Rama | nara indrasya patnīm = people's, king's, vife: Seetha | mṛgayadhvam: shall be searched. |

TRANSLATION

"In this way, you should clear your doubts about the presence of Seetha at any doubtable place by thorough searching, and you have to go on searching somewhere else for Seetha, the wife of the king of people with infinite vitality, namely Rama, only after getting rid of your doubts about her possible presence at any given place. [4-41-27]

VERSE 28

तम् अतिक्रम्य लक्ष्मीवान् समुद्रे शत योजने
गिरिः पुष्पितको नाम सिद्ध चारण सेवितः

tam atikramya lakṣmīvān samudre śata yojane
giriḥ puṣpitako nāma siddha cāraṇa sevitaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"On crossing over that isle and after a hundred yojana-s a mountain named Pushpitaka is there in that august ocean, which is adored by the celestials like siddha-s, caarana-s. [4-41-28]

VERSE 29

चन्द्र सूर्य अंशु संकाशः सागर अंबु समाश्रयः
भ्राजते विपुलैः शृन्गैः अम्बरम् विलिखन् इव

candra sūrya aṃśu saṃkāśaḥ sāgara aṃbu samāśrayaḥ
bhrājate vipulaiḥ śṛngaiḥ ambaram vilikhan iva

SYNONYMS

candra sūrya amśu sankāśaḥ: moon's, sun's, rays, similar to | sāgara ambu sam āśrayaḥ: in oceanic, waters, well, settled in | vipulaiḥ śṛngaiḥ: with lofty, crests | ambaram vi likhan iva: on sky, verily, scribbling, as if | bhrājate: [that mountain] shines forth. |

TRANSLATION

"Well-settled in oceanic waters that Mt. Pushpitaka will be shining forth with a resplendence similar to sunrays on one side and with that of moonshine on the other, and its lofty crests will look as if they are scribbling on the sky. [4-41-29]

VERSE 30

तस्य एकम् कांचनम् शृंगम् सेवते यम् दिवाकरः
श्वेतम् राजतम् एकम् च सेवते यम् निशाकरः
न तम् कृतघ्नाः पश्यन्ति न नृशंसा न नास्तिकाः

tasya ekam kāṃcanam śṛṃgam sevate yam divākaraḥ
śvetam rājatam ekam ca sevate yam niśākaraḥ
na tam kṛtaghnāḥ paśyanti na nṛśaṃsā na nāstikāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"One of its summit will be golden which the Sun adores, and the other will be silvery whitish which the Moon adores, and that mountain is unperceivable to the unfaithful ones, or to the unkindly ones or to unbelievers. [4-41-30]

VERSE 31

प्रणम्य शिरसा शैलम् तम् विमार्गथ वानराः
तम् अतिक्रम्य दुर्धर्षम् सूर्यवान् नाम पर्वतः

praṇamya śirasā śailam tam vimārgatha vānarāḥ
tam atikramya durdharṣam sūryavān nāma parvataḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, vanara-s, venerate that Mt. Pushpitaka by bowing your heads and search it thoroughly. Then on going across that inviolable mountain and taking a highly impassable route there is a mountain named Suuryavaan after fourteen yojana-s from Mt. Pushpitaka. [4-41-31, 32a]

VERSE 32

ततः तम् अपि अतिक्रम्य वैद्युतो नाम पर्वतः

tataḥ tam api atikramya vaidyuto nāma parvataḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"On crossing over even that Mt. Suuryavaan after searching, there is a mountain named Vaidyuta whose trees will be all-time heart-pleasing and they yield fruits satiating every taste. [4-41-32b, 33a]

VERSE 33

तत्र भुक्त्वा वर अर्हाणि मूलानि च फलानि च

tatra bhuktvā vara arhāṇi mūlāni ca phalāni ca

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, vanara-s, you proceed farther after devouring choicest fruits and tubers growing on Mt. Vaidyuta, and even on consuming precious honey at that place. [4-41-33b, 34a]

VERSE 34

तत्र नेत्र मनः कांतः कुंजरो नाम पर्वतः

tatra netra manaḥ kāṃtaḥ kuṃjaro nāma parvataḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"At that place a mountain named Kunjara is there which will be pleasing both to eye and heart, on which Vishvakarma built the mansion of Agastya. [4-41-34b, 35a]

VERSE 35

तत्र योजन विस्तारम् उच्छ्रितम् दश योजनम्

tatra yojana vistāram ucchritam daśa yojanam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"There the golden abode of Agastya will be beautiful decorated with numerous gemstones, and it measures a yojana breadthwise and ten yojana-s in height. [4-41-35b, 36a]

VERSE 36

तत्र भोगवती नाम सर्पाणाम् आलयः पुरी

tatra bhogavatī nāma sarpāṇām ālayaḥ purī

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"There is a city named Bhogavati which is an abode of the snakes. It has broad roads and safeguarded from everywhere, and thus it becomes an unvanquishable city. Deadly serpents with harrowing fangs and fatal venom will be protecting it, in which the highly hazardous king of serpents, namely Vasuki, will be dwelling. [4-41-36b, 37. 38a]

VERSE 38

निर्याय मार्गितव्या च सा च भोगवती पुरी

niryāya mārgitavyā ca sā ca bhogavatī purī

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"That Bhogavati city is to be searched for Seetha and on coming out of that city, you have to search even in the fringes surrounding that city including the intermediate zones from city to its fringes. [4-41-38b, 39a]

VERSE 39

तम् च देशम् अतिक्रम्य महान् ऋषभ संस्थितिः

tam ca deśam atikramya mahān ṛṣabha saṃsthitiḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 40a| tam deśam atikramya: that, province, on crossing over | mahān ṛṣabha samsthitiḥ: great, Holy Bull [like,] staying [resembling] | sarva ratnamayaḥ: every [kind of gem,] replete with gems | śrīmān: glorious one | ṛṣabhaḥ nāma parvataḥ: Rishabha, named, mountain |

TRANSLATION

"On crossing over that province there will be a glorious mountain named Rishabha, as that great mountain looks like a Holy Bull, and it is replete with every kind of gemstone. [4-41-39b, 40a]

VERSE 40

गोशीर्षकम् पद्मकम् च हरिश्यामम् च चन्दनम्

gośīrṣakam padmakam ca hariśyāmam ca candanam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Whereon the sandalwood trees of ochry-yellowy, lotus-leaf-greenly, sky-blue colours, and even the most attractive sandalwood trees which will be in the glow of Fire are produced, that mountain is this Rishabha. [4-41-40b, 41a]

PURPORT

These nomenclatures of sandalwood trees are rendered variously in translations because these varieties of sandalwood trees are perhaps unknown. The ochry-yellow colour is given to the mountain itself in 40th verse in some, thus nominating only two varieties of sandalwood, namely greenish, and bluish varieties as extra. In some other translations the Fire-like glow of the mountain is added as another variety of sandalwood and then four varieties are counted as 1] ochry, 2] greenish, 3] bluish, and 4] fire-like sandalwood trees.

VERSE 41

न तु तत् चन्दनम् दृष्ट्वा स्प्रष्टव्यम् च कदाचन

na tu tat candanam dṛṣṭvā spraṣṭavyam ca kadācana

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"But never touch those sandalwood trees when you see them, as a genre of Gandharva-s called Rohita will be protecting that dangerous woodland of sandalwood trees. [4-41-41b, 42a]

VERSE 42

तत्र गंधर्व पतयः पंच सूर्य सम प्रभाः

tatra gaṃdharva patayaḥ paṃca sūrya sama prabhāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Five gandharva kings, namely Shailuusha, Gramani, Shiksha, Shuka, and Bhabru, whose resplendence is similar to that of Sun will be residing there. It is also the dwelling place of those who achieved ethereality by their pious activities, of whom some resemble the Sun, some Moon, and some Fire by their physique. [4-41-42b, 43]

VERSE 44

अन्ते पृथिव्या दुर्धर्षाः ततः स्वर्ग जितः स्थिताः
ततः परम् न वः सेव्यः पितृ लोकः सुदारुणः

ante pṛthivyā durdharṣāḥ tataḥ svarga jitaḥ sthitāḥ
tataḥ param na vaḥ sevyaḥ pitṛ lokaḥ sudāruṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"From Mt. Rishabha to the terminus of the earth the invulnerable beings who won heavens will be staying. After that, farther from earth there is the most dreadful world of manes, namely the abode of Yama, the Terminator, and you need not consider going there. [4-41-44]

VERSE 45

राजधानी यमस्य एषा कष्टेन तमसा आवृता
एतावत् एव युष्माभिः वीरा वानर पुंगवाः
शक्यम् विचेतुम् गन्तुम् वा न अतो गतिमताम् गतिः

rājadhānī yamasya eṣā kaṣṭena tamasā āvṛtā
etāvat eva yuṣmābhiḥ vīrā vānara puṃgavāḥ
śakyam vicetum gantum vā na ato gatimatām gatiḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"You can go or search only up to this point, oh, the best braving vanara-s, as that world of manes will be encompassed with an alarming darkness, and it is the capital city of Yama, the Terminator. After that there is no entry into the abode of Yama for the mortals. [4-41-45]

PURPORT

This is the Indian mythological naraka 'The Hell...' and there are various sections in this hell for various sins committed while alive or on rebirth.

VERSE 46

सर्वम् एतत् समालोक्य यत् च अन्यत् अपि दृश्यते
गतिम् विदित्वा वैदेह्याः संनिवर्तितम् अर्हथ

sarvam etat samālokya yat ca anyat api dṛśyate
gatim viditvā vaidehyāḥ saṃnivartitam arhatha

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"It will be apt of you to return quickly on knowing the course of Vaidehi after thoroughly searching all these places in their entirety, and even in those other places you happen to see, whether I have mentioned them or not. [4-41-46]

VERSE 47

यः च मासान् निवृत्तो अग्रे दृष्टा सीत इति वक्ष्यति
मत् तुल्य विभवो भोगैः सुखम् स विहरिष्यति

yaḥ ca māsān nivṛtto agre dṛṣṭā sīta iti vakṣyati
mat tulya vibhavo bhogaiḥ sukham sa vihariṣyati

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"He who returns before a month and informs that 'Seetha is seen,' he enjoys a comfortable living on a par with me in high-living and luxuries. [4-41-47]

PURPORT

Hanuma speaks the same wording 'Seetha seen,' in Sundara Kanda on finding Seetha, for which commentators have given a very great value.

VERSE 48

ततः प्रियतरो न अस्ति मम प्राणात् विशेषतः
कृत अपराधो बहुशो मम बन्धुः भविष्यति

tataḥ priyataro na asti mama prāṇāt viśeṣataḥ
kṛta aparādho bahuśo mama bandhuḥ bhaviṣyati

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: than him | priya taraḥ na asti: dear one, more than, not, is there | mama prāṇāt viśeṣataḥ = my, than lives, particularly: he becomes a dear one | bahuśaḥ kṛta aparādhaḥ = many times, committed, misdīds: even if | mama bandhuḥ bhaviṣyati: my, associate, he becomes. |

TRANSLATION

"He who says so will be more dearer to me than anyone, rather than my own life in particular, and even if he has committed many misdeeds he becomes my confidant. [4-41-48]

VERSE 49

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे एक चत्वारिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe eka catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

bhavantaḥ: you all | amita bala parākramāḥ: with infinite, might, and bravery | vipula guṇeṣu kuleṣu prasūtāḥ ca: wide-ranging, attributes, in a hierarchy, born in also | manuja pati sutām = people's, king's, daughter: Seetha | yathā labhadhvam = as to hov, to get: regain | tat adhi guṇam: to that, appropriate to | puruṣa artham = manly, purpose: helping other, expedient effort | ārabhadhvam: start off. |

TRANSLATION

"You are with infinite might and bravery, and you are born in those hierarchies that have wide-ranging attributes viz., gust of the Air-god, gush of Rain-god, glare of Fire-god etc. Conjoining your own attributes to them that are already inherited you start off on your expedient effort, and you search appropriately with a thinking as to how to regain Seetha. [4-41-49]

PURPORT

All the while Sugreeva is addressing the so-called monkeys as 'vanara-s' and suddenly he concluded his addressing asking them to make puruSaartha saadhanam 'a humanly effort...' thus the monkeys or vanara-s suddenly do not become humans. For this puruSa artha saadhanam 'this man's, purpose, to achieve... start off to achieve this man's, namely Rama's purpose...' or 'to achieve the purpose of parama puruSa 'the Supreme Person...' in eradicating evil on earth...' you start on your mission.