Chapter 43

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

ततः संदिश्य सुग्रीवः श्वशुरम् पश्चिमाम् दिशम्
वीरम् शतबलिम् नाम वानरम् वानररेश्वर

tataḥ saṃdiśya sugrīvaḥ śvaśuram paścimām diśam
vīram śatabalim nāma vānaram vānarareśvara

SYNONYMS

vānara īśvara sugrīvaḥ: vanara-s', king, Sugreeva | śvaśuram paścimām diśam sandiśya: father-in-law, to westerly, direction, on sending | tataḥ: then | śatabalim nāma: Shatabali, named | vīram vānaram: to valorous, vanara | [uvāca: spoke to.] |

TRANSLATION

On sending his father-in-law, namely Susheshana, to westerly direction then the king of Vanara-s Sugreeva, spoke to a valorous vanara named Shatabali. [4-43-1]

VERSE 2

उवाच राजा सर्वज्ञः सर्व वानर सत्तम
वाक्यम् आत्म हितम् चैव रामस्य च हितम् तदा

uvāca rājā sarvajñaḥ sarva vānara sattama
vākyam ātma hitam caiva rāmasya ca hitam tadā

SYNONYMS

rājā sarva jñaḥ = king, all, knoving: knowledgeable - Sugreeva | sarva vānara sattama: among all, vanara-s, powerful one [Sugreeva] | tadā: thereafter | ātma hitam: for himself, advantageous | hitam rāmasya ca: beneficial, for Rama, even | vākyam uvāca: words, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

That knowledgeable and the powerful one among all monkeys, King Sugreeva, spoke words to Shatabala that are advantageous to himself, and beneficial to Rama as well. [4-43-2]

VERSE 3

वृतः शत सहस्रेण त्वत् विधानाम् वन ओकसाम्
वैवस्वत सुतैः सार्धम् प्रविष्ठ सर्व मंत्रिभिः

vṛtaḥ śata sahasreṇa tvat vidhānām vana okasām
vaivasvata sutaiḥ sārdham praviṣṭha sarva maṃtribhiḥ

SYNONYMS

tvat vidhānām: your, kind of | vana okasām: forest, dwellers [monkeys] | śata sahasreṇa: with a hundred, thousand | vṛtaḥ = surrounded vith: accompanied with | sarva mantribhiḥ: with all, misters | vaivasvata sutaiḥ sārdham: Yama, Terminator's, sons, along with | praviṣṭha = you enter: you proceed. |

TRANSLATION

"Accompanied with a hundred thousand forest-dwelling monkeys of your kind, and also with all of your ministers who the sons of Yama, the Terminator, you have to proceed. [4-43-3]

VERSE 4

दिशम् हि उदीचीम् विक्रान्त हिम शैल अवतंसिकाम्
सर्वतः परिमार्गध्वम् राम पत्नीम् यशस्विनीम्

diśam hi udīcīm vikrānta hima śaila avataṃsikām
sarvataḥ parimārgadhvam rāma patnīm yaśasvinīm

SYNONYMS

vikrānta = oh, venturesome one: Shatabala | hima śaila avatansikām: [the north that has] snowy, mountains, as its crown | udīcīm diśam: northern, quarter | yaśasvinīm rāma patnīm: glorious, Rama's, for wife | sarvataḥ parimārgadhvam: everywhere, scouted out. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, venturesome Shatabala, you scout out whole of the northern quarter that has snowy Himalayan mountains as its crown for the glorious wife of Rama. [4-43-4]

VERSE 5

अस्मिन् कार्ये विनिवृत्ते कृते दाशरथेः प्रिये
ऋणान् मुक्ता भविष्यामः कृत अर्था अर्थविदाम् वराः

asmin kārye vinivṛtte kṛte dāśaratheḥ priye
ṛṇān muktā bhaviṣyāmaḥ kṛta arthā arthavidām varāḥ

SYNONYMS

artha vidām varāḥ = purposiveness, among ekṣperts of, oh, best ones: oh, enterprising vanara-s | asmin kārye vinivṛtte: in this, mission, on being completed | dāśaratheḥ priye kṛte = to ḍaśaratha's son: to Rama, agreeable [task,] when we effectuate | ṛṇān muktā: from debt, freed | kṛta arthā: accomplished, of purpose | bhaviṣyāmaḥ: we will become. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, enterprising vanara-s, when this mission is complete and when we can effectuate a task agreeable to Rama, we will become debt-free and accomplished of our purpose. [4-43-5]

VERSE 6

कृतम् हि प्रियम् अस्माकम् राघवेण महात्मना
तस्य चेत् प्रतिकारो अस्ति सफलम् जीवितम् भवेत्

kṛtam hi priyam asmākam rāghaveṇa mahātmanā
tasya cet pratikāro asti saphalam jīvitam bhavet

SYNONYMS

mahā ātmanā: raaghaveNa = by great-souled, Raghava | asmākam priyam kṛtam hi: for us, cherish [a favour,] done, isn't it | tasya prati kāraḥ asti cet: its [deed's,] reciprocation, is there, if | jīvitam: life sa phalam = with, fruit [fruitful] | bhavet: becomes. |

TRANSLATION

"Great-souled Raghava has indeed done a favour to us, isn't it. If there is reciprocation to that kind deed, our lives will become fruitful. [4-43-6]

VERSE 7

अर्थिनः कार्य निर्वृत्तिम् अकर्तुम् अपि यः चरेत्
तस्य स्यात् सफलम् जन्म किम् पुनः पूर्व कारिणः

arthinaḥ kārya nirvṛttim akartum api yaḥ caret
tasya syāt saphalam janma kim punaḥ pūrva kāriṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

yaḥ: he who | a kartuḥ api = not, doing, even: even if one does not reciprocate | arthinaḥ kārya nirvṛttim: requester, deed, completion | caret: if he does | tasya janma saphalam syāt: his, life, fruitful, becomes | pūrva kāriṇaḥ = earleir, one vho has done: one who has already renedered help | kim punaḥ = vhy, again: telling. |

TRANSLATION

"He who completes the deed of a requester, even though that requester has not rendered any hep earlier, his life becomes fruitful. Then what is there to say again about him who has already received help from the requester? [4-43-7]

VERSE 8

एताम् बुद्धिम् समास्थाय दृश्यते जानकी यथा
तथा भवद्भिः कर्तव्यम् अस्मत् प्रिय हित एषिभिः

etām buddhim samāsthāya dṛśyate jānakī yathā
tathā bhavadbhiḥ kartavyam asmat priya hita eṣibhiḥ

SYNONYMS

etām buddhim samāsthāya: such a, thinking, abiding by | asmat: our | priya: well-being | hita: welfare | eṣibhiḥ: by wishers | bhavadbhiḥ: by you all | jānakī: Janaki | yathā dṛśyate = as to hov, can be sīn: can be found | tathā kartavyam: that way, it [task] may be undertaken. |

TRANSLATION

"Let all of you abide by such a thinking as you are the well-wishers of our well-being and welfare, and undertake your mission in such a way as to how Seetha can be found in your search. [4-43-8]

VERSE 9

अयम् हि सर्व भूतानाम् मान्यः तु नर सत्तमः
अस्मासु च गतः प्रीतिम् रामः पर पुरम् जयः

ayam hi sarva bhūtānām mānyaḥ tu nara sattamaḥ
asmāsu ca gataḥ prītim rāmaḥ para puram jayaḥ

SYNONYMS

ayam nara sattamaḥ = this, among men, the best one: Rama | para puram jayaḥ: others [enemies',] cities [fastnesses,] champion of | rāmaḥ: Rama | sarva bhūtānām mānyaḥ tu: for all, beings, estimable one, on his part | asmāsu prītim gataḥ hi = vith us, interest, he entered into, indīd: he befriended us. |

TRANSLATION

"On his part this Rama, who is the best on among men and the champion of enemies' fastnesses, is the estimable one for all beings, and his interests have indeed fell in with ours. [4-43-9]

VERSE 10

इमानि बहु दुर्गाणि नद्यः शैल अंतराणि च
भवन्तः परिमार्गन्तु बुद्धि विक्रम संपदा

imāni bahu durgāṇi nadyaḥ śaila aṃtarāṇi ca
bhavantaḥ parimārgantu buddhi vikrama saṃpadā

SYNONYMS

bhavantaḥ: you all | buddhi vikrama sampadā: wisdom, valour, with a wealth of | imāni: these | bahu durgāṇi = many, impassable: places | nadyaḥ śaila antarāṇi ca: rivers, mountains, canyons also | parimārgantu: rake over. |

TRANSLATION

"Let all of you with your assets of wisdom and valour rake over all of these impassable places, rivers, mountains and also their canyons. [4-43-10]

VERSE 11

तत्र म्लेच्छान् पुलिन्दान् च शूरसेनान् तथैव च
प्रस्थालान् भरतान् चैव कुरूम् च सह मद्रकैः

tatra mlecchān pulindān ca śūrasenān tathaiva ca
prasthālān bharatān caiva kurūm ca saha madrakaiḥ

SYNONYMS

, 12| tatra = there: in north | mlecchān pulindān ca = ṃlecca: s, Pulinda-s - provinces of | tathaiva: like that | śūrasenān ca: Shurashena, also | prasthālān bharatān caiva: Prasthala, Bharata, also, thus | madrakaiḥ saha: Madraka, along with | kurūm ca: Kuru, also | kāmboja yavanān caiva: Kaambhoja, Yavana [countries,] also, thus | śakān pattanāni ca: of Shaka, cities, also | daradān caiva: Darada, also, thus | anvīkśya: on scrutinizing | himavantam vicinvatha: at Himavanta [Himalayas,] search out. |

TRANSLATION

"There in the north, the provinces of Mleccha-s, Pulinda-s, that way Shurashena - Prasthala - Bharata - Kuru - Madraka - Kaambhoja - Yavana shall be scrutinized along with the cities of Shaka and Darada, and then search in Himalayas. [4-43-11,12]

PURPORT

The Mleccha is the province of the then India to the North-West and it is defined as: pratyanto mleccha syaat - 'at the end of the country there is Mleccha province... amarakosha; go maa~Nsa bhakShako yastu viruddham bahu bhaaShate sarva aacaara vihiinaH ca mleccha itiu abhidiiyate - bodhaayana; -- 'eaters of beef, talkers of odd languages, devoid of all ethics [with reference to Indian scriptural ethics, especially marriage as an institution, immoralities etc.,] and they are called Mleccha-s...' bodhaayana aphorisms. Some hold the view that Ramayana was written more lately to Greek's invasion on India on seeing the names like this Yavana, Shaka etc. for this please see the endnote for some more information
VERSE 13

लोध्र पद्मक खण्डेषु देवदारु वनेषु च
रावणः सह वैदेह्या मार्गितव्या ततः ततः

lodhra padmaka khaṇḍeṣu devadāru vaneṣu ca
rāvaṇaḥ saha vaidehyā mārgitavyā tataḥ tataḥ

SYNONYMS

lodhra padmaka khaṇḍeṣu: in Lodhra, Padmaka tree, stands | devadāru vaneṣu ca: Devadaru trees, woods, also | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | tataḥ tataḥ: there, there | vaidehyā saha: Videhi, together with | mārgitavyā: be searched. |

TRANSLATION

"In the stands of Lodhra trees, Padmaka trees and in the woods of Devadaru, or Deodar trees, Ravana is to be searched there and there, together with Seetha. [4-43-13]

PURPORT

Lodhra trees are of Tymplocos racemosa, and Devadaru tree is of Uvaria longifolia, commonly called as Deodar trees.
VERSE 14

ततः सोम आश्रमम् गत्वा देव गन्धर्व सेवितम्
कालम् नाम महासानुम् पर्वतम् तम् गमिष्यथ

tataḥ soma āśramam gatvā deva gandharva sevitam
kālam nāma mahāsānum parvatam tam gamiṣyatha

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | deva gandharva sevitam: gods, gandharva-s, adored by | soma āśramam gatvā: to Soma, hermitage, on going | mahā sānum: great, peaked | kālam nāma: Kala, named | tam parvatam gamiṣyatha: to that, mountain, you go. |

TRANSLATION

"You to Soma hermitage, which is adored by the gods and gandharva-s, and then you go to that great-peaked mountain named Mt. Kala. [4-43-14]

VERSE 15

महत्सु तस्य शैलेषु पर्वतेषु गुहासु च
विचिन्वत महाभागाम् राम पत्नीम् अनिन्दिताम्

mahatsu tasya śaileṣu parvateṣu guhāsu ca
vicinvata mahābhāgām rāma patnīm aninditām

SYNONYMS

tasya mahatsu śaileṣu: its, on grand, cliffs | parvateṣu: = on mountainsides | guhāsu ca: in caves, also | mahā bhāgām: highly, fortunate one | a ninditām = not, peccable one: impeccable Seetha | rāma patnīm: Rama's, wife | vicinvata: shall be searched. |

TRANSLATION

"On its cliffs, mountainsides and in caves the highly fortunate and impeccable wife of Rama shall be searched. [4-43-15]

VERSE 16

तम् अतिक्रम्य शैलेन्द्रम् हेम गर्भम् महागिरिम्
ततः सुदर्शनम् नाम पर्वतम् गन्तुम् अर्हथ

tam atikramya śailendram hema garbham mahāgirim
tataḥ sudarśanam nāma parvatam gantum arhatha

SYNONYMS

hema garbham: gold, impregnated with | śaila indram: mountain, lordly | tam mahā girim: that, great-mountain | atikramya: on going across | tataḥ: afterwards | sudarśanam nāma parvatam: to Sudarshan, named, mountain | gantum arhatha: to go, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"On going across that lordly mountain Kala, which great-mountain is impregnated with gold, it will be apt of you to go to the mountain named Sudarshana afterwards. [4-43-16]

VERSE 17

ततो देवसखो नाम पर्वतः पतग आलय
नाना पक्षि समाकीर्णो विविध द्रुम भूषितः

tato devasakho nāma parvataḥ pataga ālaya
nānā pakṣi samākīrṇo vividha druma bhūṣitaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: latter | pataga ālaya: birds, a sanctuary of | nānā pakśi sam ākīrṇaḥ: with diverse, birds, verily, overspread | vividha druma bhūṣitaḥ: varied, trees, adorned with | devasakhaḥ nāma parvataḥ = ḍevasakha, named, mountain: will be there. |

TRANSLATION

"Latter there will be a mountain overspread with various birds and adorned with varied trees named Devasakha which is a sanctuary for birds. [4-43-17]

VERSE 18

तस्य कानन खण्डेषु निर्झरेषु गुहासु च
रावणः सह वैदेह्या मार्गितव्यः ततः ततः

tasya kānana khaṇḍeṣu nirjhareṣu guhāsu ca
rāvaṇaḥ saha vaidehyā mārgitavyaḥ tataḥ tataḥ

SYNONYMS

tasya = in its: mountain's | kānana khaṇḍeṣu: woods, in segments | nirjhareṣu [nirdareṣu] guhāsu ca: in waterfalls, [in valleys,] in caverns, even | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana vaidehyaa saha = Vaidehi, together with | tataḥ tataḥ mārgitavyaḥ: there, there, quested for. |

TRANSLATION

"Let Ravana be quested after in the segments of woods, at waterfalls, and even in caverns of that mountain, together with Vaidehi. [4-43-18]

VERSE 19

तम् अतिक्रम्य च आकाशम् सर्वतः शत योजनम्
अपर्वत नदी वृक्षम् सर्व सत्त्व विवर्जितम्

tam atikramya ca ākāśam sarvataḥ śata yojanam
aparvata nadī vṛkṣam sarva sattva vivarjitam

SYNONYMS

tam = that: Mt. Devasakha | atikramya ca: on crossing, even | a parvata: devoid of, mountains | nadī vṟ^ ikṣam: rivers, trees | sarva sattva vi varjitam: by all, beings, verily, discarded | sarvataḥ śata yojanam: all around, hundred, yojana-s | ākāśam = sky: void land |

TRANSLATION

"On crossing Mt. Devasakha, there is a vacant land to a span of hundred yojana-s all around, which is devoid of mountains, rivers and even trees, and discarded by all beings. [4-43-19]

VERSE 20

तत् तु शीघ्रम् अतिक्रम्य कांतारम् रोम हर्षणम्
कैलासम् पाण्डुरम् प्राप्य हृष्टा यूयम् भविष्यथ

tat tu śīghram atikramya kāṃtāram roma harṣaṇam
kailāsam pāṇḍuram prāpya hṛṣṭā yūyam bhaviṣyatha

SYNONYMS

kāntāram: wilds | roma harṣaṇam: hair, raising one | tat tu: that, on its part | śīghram atikramya: quickly, on traversing | pāṇḍuram kailāsam prāpya: whitish, Mt. Kailash, on attaining | yūyam: you all | hṛṣṭā bhaviṣyatha: overjoyed, you will be. |

TRANSLATION

"But you all will be overjoyed on traversing that hair-raising wasteland quickly and on attaining Mt. Kailash. [4-43-20]

PURPORT

'The Kailash mountain believed to be the abode of Shiva, the tutelary god of the Snowy Range of Central Asia and the wealth god Kubera, was to the north of Himalayas. It would appear to correspond with the Kwenlun Range, which extends northwards and connects with the Altai chain. The route indicated must have been by the south skirts of the desert towards the west, to pass by the Kailash Range...' Ancient Geography. This is presently in Tibet.
VERSE 21

तत्र पाण्डुर मेघाभम् जाम्बूनद परिष्कृतम्
कुबेर भवनम् रम्यम् निर्मितम् विश्वकर्मणा

tatra pāṇḍura meghābham jāmbūnada pariṣkṛtam
kubera bhavanam ramyam nirmitam viśvakarmaṇā

SYNONYMS

tatra: there | viśva karmaṇā nirmitam: by Vishvakarma [the Divine Architect,] constructed | pāṇḍura megha ābham: white, cloudlike, in shine | jāmbūnada pariṣkṛtam: gold, processed with | ramyam: delightful one | kubera bhavanam: Kubera's, mansion |

TRANSLATION

"There is the delightful mansion of Kubera, which in shine will be like a silver cloud and processed with gold, and the Divine Architect Vishvakarma has constructed it. [4-43-21]

VERSE 22

विशाला नलिनी यत्र प्रभूत कमलोत्पला
हंस कारण्डव आकीर्णा अप्सरो गण सेविता

viśālā nalinī yatra prabhūta kamalotpalā
haṃsa kāraṇḍava ākīrṇā apsaro gaṇa sevitā

SYNONYMS

yatra: where | prabhūta kamala utpalā: replete with, lotuses, costuses | hamsa kāraṇḍava ākīrṇā: swans, partridges, overrun by | apsaraḥ gaṇa sevitā: apsara, throngs, adored by | viśālā nalinī: expansive, lotus-lake |

TRANSLATION

"Where an expansive lake is there, which is replete with lotuses and costuses, overrun by swans and partridges, and adored by throngs of apsara-s, that is the place of Kubera, Deity for Wealth-Management. [4-43-22]

VERSE 23

तत्र वैश्रवणो राजा सर्व भूत नमस्कृतः
धनदो रमते श्रीमान् गुह्यकैः सह यक्ष राट्

tatra vaiśravaṇo rājā sarva bhūta namaskṛtaḥ
dhanado ramate śrīmān guhyakaiḥ saha yakṣa rāṭ

SYNONYMS

tatra = there: at that place | vaiśravaṇaḥ: son of Vaishravana | sarva bhūta namaskṛtaḥ: by all, beings, reverenced | yakṣa rāṭ: yaksha-s, king | śrīmān dhanadaḥ: fortunate one, Money-giver [Kubera] | rājā: king | guhyakaiḥ saha: with Guhyaka-s [yaksha-s,] with | ramate: he rejoices. |

TRANSLATION

"The son of Sage Vaishravana and king of yaksha-s, who is reverenced by all beings for he is the money giver, that fortunate king will be rejoicing there along with guhyaka-s, viz., yaksha-s. [4-43-23]

VERSE 24

तस्य चन्द्र निकशेषु पर्वतेषु गुहासु च
रावणः सह वैदेह्या मार्गितव्यः ततः ततः

tasya candra nikaśeṣu parvateṣu guhāsu ca
rāvaṇaḥ saha vaidehyā mārgitavyaḥ tataḥ tataḥ

SYNONYMS

tasya: its [Mt. Kailash's] | candra nikaśeṣu: moon, similar in shine | parvateṣu guhāsu ca: in [nearby] mountains, in their caves, even | tataḥtataḥ: there, there | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | mārgitavyaḥ: shall be searched | vaidehyā saha: Vaidehi, together with. |

TRANSLATION

"Ravana shall be searched on Mt. Kailash, and even in the caves of nearby mountains which will be shining like moon, together with Vaidehi. [4-43-24]

PURPORT

Ravana is a brother of Kubera and the aircraft of Kubera, namely Pushpaka, is seized from this very Kubera. Thus, there is every chance to hide Seetha at Kubera's place bringing Kubera under duress.
VERSE 25

क्रौन्चम् तु गिरिम् आसाद्य बिलम् तस्य सुदुर्गमम्
अप्रमत्तैः प्रवेष्टव्यम् दुष्प्रवेशम् हि तत् स्मृतम्

krauncam tu girim āsādya bilam tasya sudurgamam
apramattaiḥ praveṣṭavyam duṣpraveśam hi tat smṛtam

SYNONYMS

krauncam tu girim āsādya: Kraunca, but, mountain, on reaching [thereafter] | su dur gamam: highly, not, passable one | tasya bilam: its, tunnel | a pramattaiḥ: without, incautiously [cautiously] | praveṣṭavyam: is to be entered | tat = that: tunnel | duṣ praveśam: un, enterable | smṛtam hi = knovn to be, indīd: they say. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereafter on reaching Mt. Kraunca you shall cautiously enter into a highly impassable tunnel of that mountain to search Seetha. That tunnel, they say, is an un-enterable one. [4-43-25]

PURPORT

Kumara or Skanda, the son of Shiva-Parvati-Ganga made this bore by using His shakti prayoga 'Divine power.' This is his birthplace, and the legend of His birth and growth are detailed in Bala Kanda.
VERSE 26

वसन्ति हि महात्मानः तत्र सूर्य सम प्रभाः
देवैः अभ्यर्थिताः सम्यक् देव रूपा महर्षयः

vasanti hi mahātmānaḥ tatra sūrya sama prabhāḥ
devaiḥ abhyarthitāḥ samyak deva rūpā maharṣayaḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra = in there: in that tunnel | sūrya sama prabhāḥ: Sun, similar, in resplendence | devaiḥ abhyarthitāḥ: by gods, requested | deva rūpā: godly, in mien | mahātmānaḥ: great-souled ones | maharṣayaḥ: great-sages | samyak vasanti = very vell, living: in that tunnel. |

TRANSLATION

"In that tunnel great-souled sages reside at the request of gods, and those great-sages are similar to Sun in their resplendence and godly in their mien. Even then, you search for Ravana therein that tunnel. [4-43-26]

VERSE 27

क्रौन्चस्य तु गुहाः च अन्याः सानूनि शिखराणि च
निर्दराः च नितंबाः च विचेतव्याः ततः ततः

krauncasya tu guhāḥ ca anyāḥ sānūni śikharāṇi ca
nirdarāḥ ca nitaṃbāḥ ca vicetavyāḥ tataḥ tataḥ

SYNONYMS

krauncasya tu: Mt. Kraunca, but [besides the main peak of Mt. Kraunca] | anyāḥ: other | guhāḥ ca: caves, also | sānūni śikharāṇi ca: terraces, peaks, also | nirdarāḥ ca [dardarāḥ ca]: crevices, also | nitambāḥ ca: buttocks [of mountain, midriffs,] also | tataḥ tataḥ: there, there | vicetavyāḥ: shall be searched. |

TRANSLATION

"Besides the main peak of Mt. Kraunca, its other peaks, terraces, crevices and midriffs shall be searched, far and wide. [4-43-27]

VERSE 28

अवृक्षम् काम शैलम् च मानसम् विहग आलयम्
न गतिः तत्र भूतानाम् देवानाम् न च रक्षसाम्

avṛkṣam kāma śailam ca mānasam vihaga ālayam
na gatiḥ tatra bhūtānām devānām na ca rakṣasām

SYNONYMS

a vṛkṣam: without, trees | vihaga ālayam: birds, abode | mānasam: Mt. Maanasa | kāma śailam ca: Kaama, mountain, also | tatra: there | bhūtānām gatiḥ na: for beings, inlet, no | devānām ca rakṣasām: for gods, even, for demons | [gatiḥ: inlet] | na: no. |

TRANSLATION

"The treeless Mt. Kaama and the abode of birds Mt. Maanasa are also to be searched, and there is no inlet for any being, let alone gods or demons. [4-43-28]

PURPORT

These mountains Maanasa and Kaama are said differently in other translations, like 'the wish-endower Kaama and the bird-less Maanasa Mountains.' That is to say, 'even birds cannot enter there then where is the question of entry to other beings...' If that place is un-enterable even for birds or gods how these few monkeys can enter, is the question that ensues. Sugreeva gives the answer to Rama at the start of this exodus of monkeys, saying that these monkeys can do any undoable task, which is peculiar to these genera.
VERSE 29

स च सर्वैः विचेतव्यः स सानु प्रस्थ भूधरः
क्रौन्चम् गिरिम् अतिक्रम्य मैनाको नाम पर्वतः

sa ca sarvaiḥ vicetavyaḥ sa sānu prastha bhūdharaḥ
krauncam girim atikramya maināko nāma parvataḥ

SYNONYMS

sa sānu prastha bhū dharaḥ: with, mountainsides, grades, fringe, mountains | saḥ: that Kraunca mountain | sarvaiḥ vicetavyaḥ: by you all, is to be searched | krauncam girim atikramya: from Kraunca, mountain, moving away | mainākaḥ nāma parvataḥ = ṃaināka, named, mountain: is there. |

TRANSLATION

"You all have to search Mt. Kraunca inclusive of its mountainsides, grades, and its fringe mountains, and on moving away from that Mt. Kraunca, a mountain named Mainaaka is there. [4-43-29]

PURPORT

This Mainaaka is different from the one that wanted to give hospitality to Hanuma during his flight across ocean in Sundara Kanda.
VERSE 30

मयस्य भवनम् तत्र दानवस्य स्वयम् कृतम्
मैनाकः तु विचेतव्यः स सानु प्रस्थ कंदरः

mayasya bhavanam tatra dānavasya svayam kṛtam
mainākaḥ tu vicetavyaḥ sa sānu prastha kaṃdaraḥ

SYNONYMS

, 31a| tatra: there | dānavasya mayasya: demon, Maya's | svayam kṛtam: himself, made [built] | bhavanam = mansion: is there | sa sānu prastha kandaraḥ: with, crests, grades, caves | mainākaḥ tu vicetavyaḥ: Mt. Mainaaka, but, searched out | tatra tatra tu = there, there: thereabout | aśva mukhīnām strīṇām ca = horse, faced ones, of females, also: of kimpurusha females | niketāḥ = dvelling: is there. |

TRANSLATION

"The mansion of the demon Maya is there which is built by himself and that Mt. Mainaaka is to be searched out, inclusive of its crests, grades and caves. Thereabout the dwellings of horse-faced females, namely KimpuruSa-s, are there and you have to search them also. [4-43-30, 31a]

PURPORT

The word ashvamukhi is taken as one word to explain the genera of kimpuruSa , a kind of sylvan beings like yaksha-s, caarana-s and the like, whereas some take it as horse-faced beings.
VERSE 31

तम् देशम् समतिक्रम्य आश्रमम् सिद्ध सेवितम्

tam deśam samatikramya āśramam siddha sevitam

SYNONYMS

b, 32a| tam deśam sam atikramya: that, province, verily, over crossing | siddha sevitam āśramam = by siddha: s [resolved-souls,] adored by, hermitage - is there | tatra: there | siddhā vaikhānasāḥ: siddha-s, vaikhaanasa-s, vaalakhilyaaH ca taapasaaH = vaalakhilyaa-s, also, sages. |

TRANSLATION

"On crossing over that province there is the hermitage adored by siddha-s, the resolved-souls. There the sages, namely siddha-s, vaikhaanasa-s, and vaalakhilyaa-s will be there. [4-43-31b, 32a]

VERSE 32

वन्दितव्याः ततः सिद्धाः तापसा वीत कल्मषाः

vanditavyāḥ tataḥ siddhāḥ tāpasā vīta kalmaṣāḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 33a| tataḥ: then | tāpasā vīta kalmaṣāḥ: by asceticism, those who are relieved of, blemishes | siddhāḥ: accomplished souls | vanditavyāḥ: are to be reverenced | vinaya anvitaiḥ: humbleness, having | sītāyāḥ pravṛttim: of Seetha, course [whereabouts] | praṣṭavyāḥ ca api: [they may be] asked after, also, even. |

TRANSLATION

"Then you venerate those sages with accomplished souls, whose asceticism alone has effaced their blemishes, and you may even humbly ask them after Seetha's whereabouts. [4-43-32b, 33a]

VERSE 33

हेम पुष्कर संछन्नम् तत्र वैखानसम् सरः

hema puṣkara saṃchannam tatra vaikhānasam saraḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 34a| tatra: there | hema puṣkara sanchannam: golden, lotuses, overspread with | taruṇa āditya sankāśaiḥ: tender, sun, similar in resplendence | śubhaiḥ hamsaiḥ: with prosperous, swans | vi caritam: verily, moving about | vaikhānasam: pertaining to Vaikaanasa sages | saraḥ = lake: is there. |

TRANSLATION

"There is the lake belonging to Vaikhaanasa sages, overspread with golden lotuses, and overrun with prosperous swans whose resplendence will be similar to the tender sun. [4-43-33b, 34a]

VERSE 34

औपवाह्यः कुबेरस्य सर्वभौम इति स्मृतः

aupavāhyaḥ kuberasya sarvabhauma iti smṛtaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 35a| sarvabhauma iti smṛtaḥ = ṣārvabhauma, thus, knovn as: in legends | kuberasya aupavāhyaḥ gajaḥ: of Kubera, carrier, elephant | kareṇubhiḥ saha: she-elephants, along with | sadā: always | tam deśam: to that, place | pari eti = goes over: will be visiting. |

TRANSLATION

"The carrier elephant of Kubera known as Saarvabhauma will always be visiting that place along with she-elephants. [4-43-34b, 35a]

VERSE 35

तत् सारः समतिक्रम्य नष्ट चन्द्र दिवाकरम्
अनक्षत्र गणम् व्योम निष्पयोदम् अनाअदितम्

tat sāraḥ samatikramya naṣṭa candra divākaram
anakṣatra gaṇam vyoma niṣpayodam anāaditam

SYNONYMS

b, c| tat sāraḥ samatikramya: that, lake, on passing over | naṣṭa candra divākaram: devoid of, moon, sun | a nakṣatra gaṇam: without, star, clusters | niṣ payodam: without, clouds | a nāaditam: less of, noise [noiseless] | vyoma = sky: is there. |

TRANSLATION

"Passing that lake there will be just sky which will be devoid of moon, or sun, or the clusters of stars, and it will be cloudless and noiseless. [4-43-35b, c]

VERSE 36

गभस्तिभिः इव अर्कस्य स तु देशः प्रकाशते
विश्राम्यद्भिः तपः सिद्धैः देव कल्पैः स्वयंप्रभैः

gabhastibhiḥ iva arkasya sa tu deśaḥ prakāśate
viśrāmyadbhiḥ tapaḥ siddhaiḥ deva kalpaiḥ svayaṃprabhaiḥ

SYNONYMS

deva kalpaiḥ: gods, like | svayam prabhaiḥ: self, resplendent ones | viśrāmyadbhiḥ: who are taking rest | tapaḥ siddhaiḥ: in asceticism, accomplished ones | sa deśaḥ: that, place | arkasya gabhastibhiḥ iva: sun's, [innumerable] sunrays, as with | prakāśate: [that place will be] luminescent. |

TRANSLATION

"That place will be luminescent with the self-resplendence of godlike sages who have accomplished their asceticism and who are taking rest at that place, as if illuminated with innumerable rays of the sun. [4-43-36]

VERSE 37

तम् तु देशम् अतिक्रम्य शैलोदा नाम निम्नगा
उभयोः तीरयोः तस्याः कीचका नाम वेणवः

tam tu deśam atikramya śailodā nāma nimnagā
ubhayoḥ tīrayoḥ tasyāḥ kīcakā nāma veṇavaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 38a| tam deśam atikramya: that, province, on crossing over | śailodā nāma: Shailoda, named | nimna gā = dīp, going: flowing river - is there | tasyāḥ ubhayoḥ tīrayoḥ: on its, both, banks | kīcakā nāma veṇavaḥ = k͟hīcaka, named, bambū: brakes - are there | te: they [bamboos] | siddhān: siddha-s | param tīram nayanti: to other, bank, they take | prati ānayant ca: in turn, bring back, also |

TRANSLATION

"On crossing over that province there is a deep flowing river named Shailoda. On both of its riverbanks bamboo brakes called as Keecaka-s will be there. Those bamboos will be enabling the movement of siddha-s, accomplished souls, from one bank to the other. [4-43-37, 38a]

PURPORT

Keecaka is the term to denote that 'when air is puffed in the bamboo, whistles or fluting can be done...' and this variety of bamboos is used to make the transverse flutes in India in contrast to the present day metal flutes, where the diameter and wall-thickness of each bamboo stick is carefully selected to produce a desired tone and pitch. The travel to the other bank is by the entwined bamboo-sticks-bridges across the river, and these monkeys shall make use of those bridges because anyone/anything falling in that river will be petrified, say frozen to petrifaction.
VERSE 38

उत्तराः कुरवः तत्र कृत पुण्य प्रतिश्रियाः

uttarāḥ kuravaḥ tatra kṛta puṇya pratiśriyāḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 39, 40a| tatra: there | kṛta puṇya pratiśriyāḥ: achieved, divine merit, dwelling | uttarāḥ kuravaḥ = northern, k͟huru: is there | tataḥ tatra: then, there | kāncana padmābhiḥ: with golden, lotuses | padminībhiḥ = lotus: leaf-stalks - runners of lotuses | kṛtaḥ udakāḥ: made [mingled,] waters [from other lakes] | nīla vaidūrya patra āḍhyā: blue, lapis [Lapis Lazuli Blue-like,] leaves, filled with | nadyaḥ: rivers | sahasraśaḥ = in thousands: are there | atra = here: at this place | hiraṇmayaiḥ: golden in hue | rakta utpala vanaiḥ: with red, Costuses, thickets | maṇḍitāḥ ca: decorated with, also. |

TRANSLATION

"Then there is the North Kuru, the dwelling of those who have achieved divine merit in their previous births and now born in that country to enjoy the fruits of that divine merit, thus that country itself is earmarked for meritorious beings. At that place, the lotuses in the rivers will be golden in hue. The runners and stalks of lotus plants bear lotus-leaves that are bluish like the bluishness of lapis lazuli. There will be thousands of such rivers filled with such plants in water, and with waters mingled with the waters of other lakes, and decorated with the thickets of red Costuses alongshore. [4-43-38b, 39, 40a]

PURPORT

The Costus is a lotus-like plant grwoing on land, like Kashmir's Saussurea hypoleuca, Latinised from Greek 'kostos'.
VERSE 40

तरुण आदित्य संकाशा भान्ति तत्र जलाशयाः

taruṇa āditya saṃkāśā bhānti tatra jalāśayāḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 41| sa deśaḥ: that, province | sarvataḥ: everywhere | mahā arha maṇi patraiḥ [ratnaiḥ] ca: with highly, valuable, sapphirine [in hue,] leaves [gemstones,] also | kāncana prabha kesaraiḥ: golden, in shine, with fibrils | citraiḥ: amazing ones | nīla utpala vanaiḥ: blue, costuses, with thickets of | taruṇa āditya sankāśā jala āśayāḥ: tender, Sun, similar, with water, receptacles [lakes] | vṛtaḥ: surrounded with | tatra bhānti: there, shines forth. |

TRANSLATION

"Everywhere that province shines forth with highly valuable leaves which will be in the hue of sapphires, with fibrils in the hue of gold, and with amazing thickets of blue costuses around lakes, which lakes will be surrounding that province with a resplendence similar to sun. [4-43-40b, 41]

VERSE 42

निस्तुलाभिः च मुक्ताभिः मणिभिः च महाधनैः
उद्भूत पुलिनाः तत्र जातरूपैः च निम्नगाः

nistulābhiḥ ca muktābhiḥ maṇibhiḥ ca mahādhanaiḥ
udbhūta pulināḥ tatra jātarūpaiḥ ca nimnagāḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra: there | niḥ tulābhiḥ ca muktābhiḥ: un, weighable [incomparable,] also, with pearls | mahā dhanaiḥ maṇibhiḥ ca: with highly, valuable, jewels | nimnagāḥ: deep flowing rivers | jātarūpaiḥ: with gold | udbhūta pulināḥ = mikṣed, sand dunes: will be there. |

TRANSLATION

"There the sand dunes of deep flowing rivers are lumped together with incomparable pearls, highly valuable jewels and gold. [4-43-42]

VERSE 43

सर्व रत्नमयैः चित्रैः अवगाढा नगोत्तमैः
जातरूपमयैः च अपि हुताशन सम प्रभैः

sarva ratnamayaiḥ citraiḥ avagāḍhā nagottamaiḥ
jātarūpamayaiḥ ca api hutāśana sama prabhaiḥ

SYNONYMS

citraiḥ: amazing ones [mountains] | sarva ratnamayaiḥ: all, jewels filled with | jātarūpamayaiḥ ca api: golden in aspect also | hutāśana sama prabhaiḥ: to Ritual-fire, similar, in splendour | naga uttamaiḥ: with mountain, lofty ones | avagāḍhā = intercalated: into rivers. |

TRANSLATION

"That province is with amazing mountains that are replete with every kind of jewel, golden in hue, splendorous like Ritual-fire, and they are intercalated into the deep flowing rivers. [4-43-43]

PURPORT

Perhaps these poetic accounts of golden, jewelled riverbanks and golden lotuses etc. might have attracted the then invaders towards India, presuming that the loot is over there on the riverbanks like sand. However mythical these accounts might be, they portray that the lands and rivers are self-contained and self-sufficient.
VERSE 44

नित्य पुष्प फलाः तत्र नगाः पत्ररथ आकुलाः
दिव्य गन्ध रस स्पर्शाः सर्व कामान् स्रवन्ति च

nitya puṣpa phalāḥ tatra nagāḥ patraratha ākulāḥ
divya gandha rasa sparśāḥ sarva kāmān sravanti ca

SYNONYMS

, 45a| tatra nagāḥ: there, trees are | nitya puṣpa phalāḥ: with eternal, flowers, fruits | patra ratha [nitya] ākulāḥ: by wings, charioting [birds,] [endlessly] squawking | divya gandha rasa sparśāḥ: divine, for smell, for taste, for touch | sarva kāmān sravanti ca: for all, desires [delicacies,] spill forth their yield, also | anye naga uttamāḥ: other, trees, best ones | nānā ākārāṇi vāsānsi: numerous, shapes, of clothing | phalanti bear fruits: they yield. |

TRANSLATION

"There the trees will be eternally flowering and fruiting on which birds will be endlessly squawking. Their yield will be spilling forth meeting every delicacy with a divine smell, taste and touch. Some other best trees will yield clothing in numerous shapes. [4-43-44, 45a]

VERSE 45

मुक्ता वैदूर्य चित्राणि भूषणानि तथैव च
स्त्रीणाम् यानि अनुरूपाणि पुरुषाणाम् तथैव च

muktā vaidūrya citrāṇi bhūṣaṇāni tathaiva ca
strīṇām yāni anurūpāṇi puruṣāṇām tathaiva ca

SYNONYMS

, 46| anye naga uttamāḥ: yet other, best, trees | yāni = vhic of those: adornments | strīṇām: for females | tathaiva ca: like that, also | puruṣāṇām anurūpāṇi: for males, are befitting to | muktā vaidūrya citrāṇi: pearly, lapis gems like, wondrous ones | sarva ṛtu sukha sevyāni: in all, seasons, happily, wear | bhūṣaṇāni: adornments | phalanti = vill be fruiting: yielding | anye naga uttamāḥ: other, trees, best ones | mahā arhāṇi: highly people, applicable to [to noblesse] | maṇi citrāṇi [ābharaṇāni]: gemlike, marvellous [ornaments] | phalanti: will be producing. |

TRANSLATION

"Some of the best trees will be yielding such of those adornments which will be vying with ornament made with pearls or with lapis gemstones, and suitable both for women and men. Like that, they can be worn happily in all seasons. Some other best trees will be yielding gemlike marvellous decorations applicable to noblesse. [4-43-45, 46]

VERSE 47

शयनानि प्रसूयन्ते चित्र आस्तारणवन्ति च
मनः कान्तानि माल्यानि फलन्ति अत्र अपरे द्रुमाः

śayanāni prasūyante citra āstāraṇavanti ca
manaḥ kāntāni mālyāni phalanti atra apare drumāḥ

SYNONYMS

, 48a| atra apare drumāḥ: there, other, trees | citra āstāraṇavanti ca: astonishing, with upholsteries, also | śayanāni: [wooden-] beds | prasūyante: will be producing | manaḥ kāntāni mālyāni: heart, longing [attracting,] garlands | phalanti: they yield | mahā arhāṇi pānāni ca: for highly, choicest ones, juices, also | vividhāni bhakṣyāṇica: diverse, foodstuffs, also. |

TRANSLATION

"There are other trees that produce wooden-beds with astonishing upholsteries, and even garlands that will be attractively heartening, while some other trees will be yielding juices and foodstuffs that are relevant to highly choicest consumers. [4-43-47]

VERSE 48

स्त्रियः च गुण संपन्ना रूप यौवन लक्षिताः

striyaḥ ca guṇa saṃpannā rūpa yauvana lakṣitāḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 49| guṇa sampannāḥ: attributes, enriched with | rūpa yauvana lakṣitāḥ = handsomeness, youthfulness, along vith: having | striyaḥ ca: females, also | bhāsvara prabhāḥ: radiantly, bright | gandharvāḥ kinnarā siddhā nāgā: gandharva-s, kinnaraa-s, siddha-s | tathā vidyādharāḥ: likewise, vidyaadharaa-s | tatra: there | nārībhiḥ sahitāḥ ramante: females, along with, delight in. |

TRANSLATION

"The females of Uttara Kuru province will be handsome and youthful and they are rich by their attributes. There the radiantly bright celestials like gandharva-s, kinnaraa-s, siddha-s, vidyaadharaa-s will be delighting along with their own females. [4-43-48b, 49]

PURPORT

Some say that the females are also born out of the very same trees by adding the word prasuuyante to these compounds of trees. Nevertheless, it is better taken as 'daughters of soil.'
VERSE 50

सर्वे सुकृत कर्माणः सर्वे रति परायणाः
सर्वे काम अर्थ सहिता वसंति सह योषितः

sarve sukṛta karmāṇaḥ sarve rati parāyaṇāḥ
sarve kāma artha sahitā vasaṃti saha yoṣitaḥ

SYNONYMS

sarve = all of them: inhabitants of Uttara Kuru | sukṛta karmāṇaḥ: good deeds, carried through | sarve rati parāyaṇāḥ: all of them, in passion, engaged | sarve kāma artha sahitā: all of them, pleasures, prosperity, having | saha yoṣitaḥ: with, youthful females | vasanti = they vill be dvelling: there. |

TRANSLATION

"All the inhabitants of North Kuru have carried out good deeds in earlier births, hence they are accorded with paradisiacal pleasures now. All are engaged in passion, all of them live in pleasure and prosperity along with their youthful females. [4-43-50]

VERSE 51

गीत वादित्र निर्घोषः स उत्कृष्ट हसित स्वनः
श्रूयते सततम् तत्र सर्व भूत मनोरमः

gīta vāditra nirghoṣaḥ sa utkṛṣṭa hasita svanaḥ
śrūyate satatam tatra sarva bhūta manoramaḥ

SYNONYMS

sa utkṛṣṭa hasita svanaḥ = vith, heightened [vivacious,] laughing, sounds: mixed with vivacious peels of laughter | sarva bhūta manoramaḥ: for all, beings, heart-stealing | gīta vāditra nir ghoṣaḥ: vocal, instrumental [musical notes,] out flowing, sound | tatra satatam śrūyate: there, always, comes to ears. |

TRANSLATION

"The notes of vocal and instrumental music will be flowing out mixed with the peals of vivacious laughter, which will always come to ears in a heart-stealing manner for all beings. [4-43-51]

VERSE 52

तत्र न अमुदितः कश्चिन् न अत्र कश्चित् असत् प्रियः
अहनि अहनि वर्धन्ते गुणाः तत्र मनोरमाः

tatra na amuditaḥ kaścin na atra kaścit asat priyaḥ
ahani ahani vardhante guṇāḥ tatra manoramāḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra: in that province | a muditaḥ: not, felicitous one | kaścit na: someone, none | a sat priyaḥ = not, truth, loving ones,: friendly to untruthful ones | atra: there | ahani ahani: day, by day | manaḥ ramāḥ guṇāḥ: heart, pleasing, attributes | vardhante: will be enhancing. |

TRANSLATION

"There is none who is infelicitous and there is none who is friendly to untruthful ones, and in that province these heart-pleasing attributes of those blessed souls like rejoicing, festivity etc. will be enriching day by day. [4-43-52]

VERSE 53

तम् अतिक्रम्य शैलेन्द्रम् उत्तरः पय्साम् निधिः
तत्र सोम गिरिर् नाम मध्ये हेममयो महान्

tam atikramya śailendram uttaraḥ paysām nidhiḥ
tatra soma girir nāma madhye hemamayo mahān

SYNONYMS

tam śailendram atikramya: that, mountain, the best, on passing beyond | uttaraḥ paysām nidhiḥ = north, vaters, treasure trove of: vast of Northern Ocean is there | tatra madhye: in its, midst | hema mayaḥ: completely golden one | mahān: a gigantic one | soma giriḥ nāma: Soma, mountain, named |

TRANSLATION

"On passing beyond that mountain in Uttara Kuru, there is a treasure trove of waters, namely vast of Northern Ocean, in the mid of which there is gigantic golden mountain named Mt. Soma. [4-43-53]

PURPORT

The north of Himalayas is referred as the northern ocean. It is held that Himalayas have emerged from an ocean to where Vali used to leap everyday in the early hours to offer water oblation to the Sun.
VERSE 54

इन्द्र लोक गता ये च ब्रह्म लोक गताः च ये
देवाः तम् समवेक्षन्ते गिरि राजम् दिवम् गताः

indra loka gatā ye ca brahma loka gatāḥ ca ye
devāḥ tam samavekṣante giri rājam divam gatāḥ

SYNONYMS

ye: those | indra loka gatā: Indra's, in world, are there | ye brahma loka gatāḥ ca: Brahma's, world, have gone, also | devāḥ: gods | divam gatāḥ = sky, on attaining: from the sky | tam giri rājam: at it, mountain, lordly | sam avekṣante: they will be clearly seeing. |

TRANSLATION

"Those who have gone to the sphere of Indra, and those who have gone to the sphere of Brahma can clearly see that lordly Mt. Soma, situated in the vast of ocean from the vast of heavens. [4-43-54]

VERSE 55

स तु देशो विसूर्यो अपि तस्य भासा प्रकाशते
सूर्य लक्ष्म्या अभिविज्ञेयः तपता इव विवस्वता

sa tu deśo visūryo api tasya bhāsā prakāśate
sūrya lakṣmyā abhivijñeyaḥ tapatā iva vivasvatā

SYNONYMS

saḥ deśaḥ: that, place | vi sūryaḥ api: without, sun, even though | sūrya lakṣmyā: with Sun's, resplendence | abhi vi jñeyaḥ: comprehensible | tapatā vivasvatā iva: irradiated, by Sun, as though | tasya bhāsā prakāśate: its own [mountain's,] resplendence, illuminated with. |

TRANSLATION

"Even though that place is sunless it is comprehensible as if with sunshine, since it is illuminated with the resplendence of Mt. Soma itself, which will be irradiating that place as if with the resplendence of the Sun. [4-43-55]

VERSE 56

भगवान् तत्र विश्वात्मा शम्भुः एकादश आत्मकः
ब्रह्मा वसति देवेशो ब्रह्म ऋषि परिवारितः

bhagavān tatra viśvātmā śambhuḥ ekādaśa ātmakaḥ
brahmā vasati deveśo brahma ṛṣi parivāritaḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra: there | bhagavān viśva ātmā = ġod, chosmic: Soul - Vishnu | eka daśa ātmakaḥ śambhuḥ: one, ten [an embodiment of eleven selfsame] Souls [eleven Rudra-s, or, eleven souled god,] Shiva | brahma ṛṣi parivāritaḥ: Brahma-Sages, surrounded by | deva īśaḥ brahmā: gods, god, Brahma | vasati = sojourn: there on Mt. Soma. |

TRANSLATION

"The God and Cosmic-Souled Vishnu and Shambhu or Shiva, an embodiment of eleven selfsame Souls, called ekaadasha rudra-s , and the god of gods Brahma who is surrounded by Brahma-Sages, will be sojourning on that Mt. Soma. [4-43-56]

PURPORT

Here the Cosmic-Souled God is said as Vishnu, because He alone has shown His vishva ruupa 'cosmic aspect...' in Maha Bharata, and He has the attributes of SaDguNa sampatti 'the six-ingredients...' and also by bringing the saying from Nrisimha Puraana: evam eva mahaan shabdo maitreya bhagavaan iti | parama brahma bhuutasya vaasudevasya na anyagaH || nR^isimha puraaNa 'the bhagavaan is the term for vaasu deva, naaraayaNa, Vishnu and there is no other course than to accept otherwise...' The ekaadasha rudra-s are 1. aja 2. ekapaada 3. ahirbudhni 4. hara 5. shambhu 6. tryambaka 7. aparaajita 8. iishaana 9. tribhuvana 10. twaSTa 11. rudra These are called the brain-children of Rudra and at times of Brahma. Then the Trinity is said to be there, without exception.
VERSE 57

न कथंचन गंतव्यम् कुरूणाम् उत्तरेण वः
अन्येषाम् अपि भूतानाम् न अनुक्रामति वै गतिः

na kathaṃcana gaṃtavyam kurūṇām uttareṇa vaḥ
anyeṣām api bhūtānām na anukrāmati vai gatiḥ

SYNONYMS

kurūṇām uttareṇa: from Kuru, to north of | kathancana: under any circumstances | vaḥ na gantavyam: you, not, to go | anyeṣām bhūtānām api: to other, beings, even | gatiḥ: a course, passage | na anukrāmati = not, follovs: no course is there | vai: indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Under any circumstances you shall not go to the north of Kuru province as there is no other way out to follow, even for other beings like daitya, daanava, yaksha, gandharva -s, though they possess some extraordinary capabilities. [4-43-57]

PURPORT

'Here we have a glimpse of the Arctic region with the Aurora Borealis to the north of the Uttara Kuru realms. The Uttara Kurus, it should be remembered, may have been a real people, as they mentioned in the aitareya braahmaNa viii-14 wherefore the several nations who dwell in this northern quarter beyond the Himalayas, the Uttara Kurus and the Uttara Madras are consecrated to glorious dominion and people term them glorious...' Mouris, Sanskrit Series, Vol. I
VERSE 58

सा हि सोम गिरिः नाम देवानाम् अपि दुर्गमः
तम् आलोक्य ततः क्षिप्रम् उपावर्तितुम् अर्हथ

sā hi soma giriḥ nāma devānām api durgamaḥ
tam ālokya tataḥ kṣipram upāvartitum arhatha

SYNONYMS

soma giriḥ nāma: Soma, mountain, named | sā hi: that, indeed | devānām api durgamaḥ: to gods, even, impassable | tam ālokya: that, on seeing | tataḥ: from there | kṣipram: quickly | upa ā vartitum: to return | arhatha: apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"That mountain named Soma is an impassable one even for gods, and it will be apt of you to quickly return from there on seeing that mountain. [4-43-58]

VERSE 59

एतावत् वानरैः शक्यम् गंतुम् वानर पुंगवाः
अभास्करम् अमर्यादम् न जानीमः ततः परम्

etāvat vānaraiḥ śakyam gaṃtum vānara puṃgavāḥ
abhāskaram amaryādam na jānīmaḥ tataḥ param

SYNONYMS

vānara pungavāḥ: oh, vanara-s, the best | etāvat: up to there | vānaraiḥ gantum śakyam: by vanara-s, to go, it is possible | a bhāskaram: without, sun [sunless] | a maryādam: not, with boundaries [boundless realms] | tataḥ param = there, after: far and beyond | na jānīmaḥ = not, ve knov: I do not know. |

TRANSLATION

" It is possible for the vanara-s to go only up to there, oh, best vanara-s, and we have no knowledge of those sunless and boundless realms available far and beyond. [4-43-59]

VERSE 60

सर्वम् एतत् विचेतव्यम् यन् मया परिकीर्तितम्
यत् अन्यत् अपि न उक्तम् च तत्र अपि क्रियताम् मतिः

sarvam etat vicetavyam yan mayā parikīrtitam
yat anyat api na uktam ca tatra api kriyatām matiḥ

SYNONYMS

mayā yat parikīrtitam = by me, vhic [province,] is ekṣtolled: explained | etat sarvam vicetavyam: all these [provinces,] in entirety, are to be searched | anyat api: others, even | yat na uktam ca: which, not, spoken of [by me,] also | tatra api: in them, even | matiḥ kriyatām: your mind, you make up. |

TRANSLATION

"You shall thoroughly search in all those provinces that are explained by me, and you have to make up your mind for searching in other places that are not referred by me. [4-43-60]

VERSE 61

ततः कृतम् दाशरथेः महत् प्रियम्
महत्तरम् च अपि ततो मम प्रियम्
कृतम् भविष्यति अनिलोअनलौपमा
विदेहजा दर्शनजेन कर्मणा

tataḥ kṛtam dāśaratheḥ mahat priyam
mahattaram ca api tato mama priyam
kṛtam bhaviṣyati aniloanalaupamā
videhajā darśanajena karmaṇā

SYNONYMS

anila anala upamā: oh, Air-god, Wind-god, similar vanara-s | tataḥ: thereby | videha jā: in Videha kingdom, born in [Vaidehi's] | darśana jena: by seeing her | karmaṇā: by that task | dāśaratheḥ: to Dasharatha's son [to Rama] | mahat priyam: extremely, desirable [deed] | kṛtam: [considered as] done | api mama ca: even, to me, also | mahat taram: higher, still | priyam kṛtam bhaviṣyati: propitious, accomplishment, it becomes. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereby, oh, Air-godlike and Wind-godlike vanara-s, on your seeing the princess born in Videha kingdom, namely Vaidehi, an extremely desirable task for the sake of Dasharatha's son Rama is considered as done. Thereby it becomes a still privileged accomplishment even for me achieved through your efforts. [4-43-61]

VERSE 62

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे त्रि चत्वारिन्शः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe tri catvārinśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

plavangamāḥ: oh, fly-jumpers | tataḥ: latter | kṛta arthāḥ: purpose, accomplished | sa hitāḥ sa bāndhavā: with, friends, with, relatives | mayā: by me | manaḥ ramaiḥ: heart, pleasing | sarva guṇaiḥ: with all, attributes [concessions] | arcitāḥ: adored | śānta śatravāaḥ: with silenced, enemies | saha priyā: with, beloveds ones | bhūta dharāḥ: beings, sustaining [fostering progeny] | urvīm [prati ] cariṣyatha = on earth, over, rove: rove over. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereafter, oh, fly-jumpers, when you with accomplished purpose and adored by me with heart-pleasing concessions, and when your enemies are silenced, you will rove over the earth with your friends and relatives and with your beloveds, also fostering your progeny." Thus Sugreeva said to the monkeys going to North. [4-43-62]

PURPORT

On seeing the names like this Yavana, Shaka etc., some hold the view that Ramayana was written more later to Greek's invasion on India. Max Muller in his 'What Can India Teach Us?' says: 'If I call the invasion which is generally called the invasion of the Shakas, or the Scythians, or the Indo-Scythians, or Turushkas , the Turanian invasion... who took possession of India, from about first century BC to the third century BC.' Again classifying Sanskrit literature he says, 'we divide the whole of the Sanskrit literature into there two periods, one anterior to the great Turanian invasion, the other posterior to it, we may call the former period as ancient and natural, that of the later modern and artificial.' Thus, Ramayana belonged to the modern and artificial literary period and Veda-s to ancient. According to Indians the Turushkas are not the Scythians but Turkish, and the Yavanas, are clearly the Greek. Michelson in his 'Linguistic Archaisms of the Ramayana...'adds another phase called Epical period. Thus, there are three, Vedic, Epical, and the rest of it is modern and artificial. At the same time Max Muller says: 'At the time of Solomon, there was a channel of communication open between India and Syria and Palestine is established beyond doubt, I believe, by certain Sanskrit words which occur in the Bible such as ivory, apes, peacock, and sandalwood, which, taken together, could not have been exported from any country but India...' So Solomon, Bible, Turanian invasion, Ramayana... all occasioned at one time, i.e., around 0 BC. So many professors, so many researchers have not said a date agreeable to Indians as well as to the world. At one place, it is said that there was a rapport among these places India-Syria-Palestine and even up to Egypt, but at other place, the Indian thought, that the Indian had Greeks and Greeks had Indians, is dismissed. What prevents to agree that both hold up mirror to almost the same culture, though diverse in its practise, right from the belief of Greeks, viz., 'the sense of many gods are there near at hand' to various gods, to their names, to the epical literature, and also to myths and legends and dramas etc, is unknown. But when it comes to dating and mapping 'the earliest date known for certain in Indian history is the invasion of Alexander in 326 BC...' and 'The chronology has been built up form the identification of Sandracrottus of Greek writers with Chandragupta Maurya... yet it is said 'In the seventh century BC India was divided into sixteen Mahajanapada-s...' as per 'An Historical Atlas of Indian Peninsula", Oxford. Peculiarly those sixteen Janapada-s did not contain the names of Yavana, Shaka provinces in atlases. 'The Greeks, evidently descended from tribes who had come westwards from the early home of Indo-Europeans in South-Central-Asia, first settled in the land which we know as Greece about 2000 B.C....' according to The Encyclopaedia of Myths and Legends of All Nations, Kaye & Ward Ltd., London. Their history about Ion, the king of Helice, and his war with Elsenians, the confederacy of Lonia in Asia Minor etc., speaks about their origin and shuffling, i.e., from east to west and again from west to east. It is they who have adopted Vedic Rain-god Mitra as their Mithras and many a temple was built all over Europe for Mithras. Even Goddess Lakshmi has Her counterpart in Greece 'Pallas Athene' known as early as 2 B.C., and the comedies of Strattis, like Fragmenta Comic of Greece has Indian fables as early as 400 B.C. Hence, if these Theories of Borrowing are negated with the Theories of Commonality, it would suffice to say that Ramayana is antecedent to the settlement of Greeks in Greece itself. Without lingering on these carbon-testing for the verses of Ramayana that contain Yavana and Shaka named provinces, if the astronomical data available in Ramayana itself is believed, it throws some light on dating. If anybody would care to see the book Vastav Ramayan, by Dr.P.V.Vartak, in Marathi, Vedvidnyana Mandal, Pune, and a web site is available about this, Astronomical Dating of the Ramayana where another approach can be seen, which just does not revolve around one or two names of places. It is said there; 'Therefore, Ramayana 'must have' occurred 9600 years ago, which is 7600 B.C. approximately...' which again is disputable because this is going against the Yuga and Kalpa Theory of Puraana-s, as Ramayana is said to be the legend of Treta Yuga . The provinces Shuurasena, Bharata, Kuru are the downlands of Himalayas. The Kaambhoja is the province northwest to India, where the Russia touches India, as mapped by 'An Historical Atlas of the Indian Peninsula' of Oxford University. Then the Yavana and Shaka should be around there, prior to their migration to the presently known Greece, because Greeks originated from so called 'South-Central-Asia' as called by the historians, and perhaps the historians might be hesitating to call it as 'Himalayan region of India'. They were originally called Ionians, a corrupt or generic name from Indian naming of Yavana or Javana. The word Æoni can be cleaved as a + yoni; [ayogya ] yonim gata 'unbefitting, uterus, obtained birth...' 'one who is born to an unbefitting mother... say, a bastard...' That is what Œdepus Rex proved later. The ethics of these Yavana and Shaka cultures are clearly explained in Karna-Shalya samvaada 'the debate of Karna and Shalya...' in Karna parva, Maha Bharata. The Shakas are again the nomadic tribes inhibiting Central Asia, and they are the Scythes of Greeks and the Indo-Scythians of Ptolemy, inhibited in the Hindu Kush Range of Himalayas. Both of these are categorised under Mleccha people by Ramayana because their ethics do not conform to the Vedic stipulations of living, even though they lived together. 'The Varadas - The Bengali recension has Daradas instead. They are said to be Dards whose name is still retained in modern Durdstan along the course of the Indus, above the Himalayas, just before it descends to India...' Griffith, Ancient Geography. It may be noticed that Ramayana did not refute any other religion, or sects, or the divergent philosophies of Hinduism itself, but it has agreed that Mleccha-s are there and there is no bother from them. Gods of Ramayana are purely Vedic, unlike the later time, rather modern or artificial literary period's poetry of Kalidasa et al, and their puranic deities like Kali, Uma, and Kumara etc. The literary style of Ramayana is mostly un-Paninian. It has the episodes like Rama-Jaabaali samvaada , where Sage Jaabaali being a nihilist starts preaching nihilism to Rama. When this epic could accommodate information about nihilists' preaching nihilism to Rama, it can as well afford a few lines of information about other philosophies, religions, if they were to be there. Then the present day's Unity in Diversity is not apparent and thus it is being assigned to a post-Vedic period, where Veda-s themselves are not written by some good old sages with white beards, sitting under banyan trees, at any one particular time. Because the ancient history of Greeks came to light firstly, thereby India history is chronicled, and the epic Ramayana is known subsequently, relegating the history of Ramayana later to the Greek's invasion on India, may not be appropriate. History has its own black-ages.