Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

गतेषु वानरेन्द्रेषु रामः सुग्रीवम् अब्रवीत्
कथम् भवान् विजानीते सर्वम् वै मण्डलम् भुवः

gateṣu vānarendreṣu rāmaḥ sugrīvam abravīt
katham bhavān vijānīte sarvam vai maṇḍalam bhuvaḥ

SYNONYMS

vānara indreṣu gateṣu: monkey-troop, chiefs of, when gone | rāmaḥ sugrīvam abravīt: Rama, to Sugreeva, spoke | bhavān: you | bhuvaḥ sarvam maṇḍalam: of earth, in entirety, globe | katham vi jānīte vai: how, very-well know, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

When the chiefs of monkey-troops are on their way Rama spoke to Sugreeva, "Indeed, how do you know very-well about the globe of earth in its entirety?" [4-46-1]

VERSE 2

सुग्रीवः च ततो रामम् उवाच प्रणत आत्मवान्
श्रूयताम् सर्वम् आख्यास्ये विस्तरेण वचो मम

sugrīvaḥ ca tato rāmam uvāca praṇata ātmavān
śrūyatām sarvam ākhyāsye vistareṇa vaco mama

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Then Sugreeva bowing down before Rama said, "I will narrate all vividly, and let my words be heard." [4-46-2]

VERSE 3

यदा तु दुंदुभिम् नाम दानवम् महिष आकृतिम्
परिकालयते वाली मलयम् प्रति पर्वतम्

yadā tu duṃdubhim nāma dānavam mahiṣa ākṛtim
parikālayate vālī malayam prati parvatam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"When Vali repulsed the buffalo-shaped demon Dundubhi towards Malaya mountain, then that buffalo entered the cave of Mt. Malaya, and even Vali entered therein wishing to kill that buffalo. [4-46-3, 4]

PURPORT

This buffalo-demon Dundubhi was killed by Vali in Kishkindha and its carcass was hurled into the precincts of Sage Matanga's hermitage. While that demon was killed there, Sugreeva is now telling that this demon was killed in a cave. The demon killed in cave was Maayaavi, as said in Ch. 9 of this canto. Maayaavi and Dundubhi are brothers and sons of Maya. Maheshvara Tiirtha says because Dundubhi is the son of buffalo-demon Maya, i.e., Dundubhi Sr., thus he can be called as Dundubhi. And Govindaraja says: dundubheH puurvajaH agrajaH sutaH mayasya iti seShaH vakShyatu uttara kaaNDe mayaH - maayaavii prathamaH staat dundubhiH tat anantaram iti... 'Maayaavi is the first son and the second one is Dundubhi- as said by Maya in Uttara Kanda...' Then it is assumed that both Maayaavi and Dundubhi have come in the first instance for a fight with Vali. But on seeing Vali and Sugreeva, Dundubhi might have entered into the cave with Maayaavi and somehow escaped from there, and thus only Maayaavi is killed by Vali. Later Dundubhi came at the gate of Kishkindha and was killed by Vali. Hence, Sugreeva's referring to Dundubhi here includes both Maayaavi and Dundubhi.

VERSE 5

ततो अहम् तत्र निक्षिप्तो गुहा द्वारि विनीतवत्
न च निष्क्रमते वाली तदा संवत्सरे गते

tato aham tatra nikṣipto guhā dvāri vinītavat
na ca niṣkramate vālī tadā saṃvatsare gate

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Vali then kept me at the mouth of the cave as I was an amenable brother, but Vali did not exit from cave even after one full year. [4-46-5]

VERSE 6

ततः क्षतज वेगेन आपुपूरे तदा बिलम्
तत् अहम् विस्मितो दृष्ट्वा भ्रातुः शोक विष अर्दितः

tataḥ kṣataja vegena āpupūre tadā bilam
tat aham vismito dṛṣṭvā bhrātuḥ śoka viṣa arditaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"I was dumbfounded to see that cave is then fully filled with blood, and then a venom like anguish called the loss of my brother agonised me. [4-46-6]

VERSE 7

अथ अहम् गत बुद्धिः तु सुव्यक्तम् निहतो गुरुः
शिला पर्वत संकाशा बिल द्वारि मया कृता

atha aham gata buddhiḥ tu suvyaktam nihato guruḥ
śilā parvata saṃkāśā bila dvāri mayā kṛtā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Then I concluded that 'my brother is unmistakably killed,' and then I fixed a mountain similar boulder in the mouth of that cavity with a thinking that it will be impossible for that buffalo to exit and it will get destroyed within that cave itself. [4-46-7, 8a]

VERSE 8

ततो अहम् आगाम् किष्किंधाम् निराशः तस्य जीविते

tato aham āgām kiṣkiṃdhām nirāśaḥ tasya jīvite

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Unhopeful of Vali's aliveness then I arrived in Kishkindha, and on getting the very magnificent kingdom of Kishkindha, and also Ruma along with Tara, I was peaceably staying there with friends. [4-46-8, 9]

VERSE 10

आजगाम ततो वाली हत्वा तम् दानवर्षभः
ततो अहम् अददाम् राज्यम् गौरवात् भय यंत्रितः

ājagāma tato vālī hatvā tam dānavarṣabhaḥ
tato aham adadām rājyam gauravāt bhaya yaṃtritaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Vali then came back to Kishkindha on killing that great demon, and then I was spellbound in fear of Vali's killing me, and I gave back the kingdom to Vali owing to my deference to him. [4-46-10]

VERSE 11

स माम् जिघांसुः दुष्टात्मा वाली प्रव्यथित इन्द्रियः
परिकालयते क्रोधात् धावंतम् सचिवैः सह

sa mām jighāṃsuḥ duṣṭātmā vālī pravyathita indriyaḥ
parikālayate krodhāt dhāvaṃtam sacivaiḥ saha

SYNONYMS

duṣṭa ātmā saḥ vālī: evil, minded one, he that, Vali | pra vyathita indriyaḥ: highly, perturbed, at senses | sacivaiḥ saha mām dhāvantam: ministers, along with, me, while I was running away | jighānsuḥ = viśing to kill: me | krodhāt pari kālayate: furiously, further repulsed. |

TRANSLATION

"That evil-minded Vali becoming highly perturbed at his senses furiously repulsed me further and further away, even though I was running away from him with my ministers, as he wished to kill me. [4-46-11]

VERSE 12

ततो अहम् वालिना तेन सानुबन्धः प्रधावितः
नदीः च विविधाः पश्यन् वनानि नगराणि च

tato aham vālinā tena sānubandhaḥ pradhāvitaḥ
nadīḥ ca vividhāḥ paśyan vanāni nagarāṇi ca

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Such as I was, who is repulsed by Vali, I was made to run away rapidly, and during that fleeing I went on seeing diverse rivers, forests and cities. [4-46-12]

VERSE 13

आदर्श तल संकाशा ततो वै पृथिवी मया
अलात चक्र प्रतिमा दृष्टा गोष्पदवत् तदा कृता

ādarśa tala saṃkāśā tato vai pṛthivī mayā
alāta cakra pratimā dṛṣṭā goṣpadavat tadā - kṛtā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"I have then really seen the earth as in the reflection on the surface of a mirror, where the mirror shows all the objects in exactness, and the earth is like the circle of a fireball, where it is encircled with fire-like reddish, brownish, ochreish minerals and ores, and it appeared to me in my high flight like a cow-hoof-print in the mirror, called my perception. [4-46-13]

VERSE 14

पूर्वम् दिशाम् ततो गत्वा पश्यामि विविधान् द्रुमान्
पर्वतान् स दरीन् रम्यान् सरांसि विविधानि च

pūrvam diśām tato gatvā paśyāmi vividhān drumān
parvatān sa darīn ramyān sarāṃsi vividhāni ca

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Then on going to eastern direction I saw various trees, enchanting mountains with caves, and also numerous lakes. [4-46-14]

VERSE 15

उदयम् तत्र पश्यामि पर्वतम् धातु मण्डितम्
क्षीरोदम् सागरम् चैव नित्यम् अप्सर आलयम्

udayam tatra paśyāmi parvatam dhātu maṇḍitam
kṣīrodam sāgaram caiva nityam apsara ālayam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"There I saw the mountain wreathed in with ores, namely Mt. Udaya, the Sun-Rise, and I have also seen the Milk Water Oceans which is forever an abode for apsara-s. [4-46-15]

VERSE 16

परिकाल्यमानः तदा वालिना अभिद्रुतः हि अहम्
पुनः आवृत्य सहसा प्रस्थितो अहम् तदा विभो

parikālyamānaḥ tadā vālinā abhidrutaḥ hi aham
punaḥ āvṛtya sahasā prasthito aham tadā vibho

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"I fled speedily when Vali repulsed me, but oh, lord Rama, when I returned he again made me to flee forthwith. [4-46-16]

VERSE 17

दिशः तस्याः ततो भूयः प्रस्थितो दक्षिणम् दिशम्
विन्ध्य पादप संकीर्णाम् चन्दन द्रुम शोभिताम्

diśaḥ tasyāḥ tato bhūyaḥ prasthito dakṣiṇam diśam
vindhya pādapa saṃkīrṇām candana druma śobhitām

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | tasyāḥ diśaḥ bhūyaḥ: from that [east,] direction, again | vindhya pādapa samkīrṇām: [both] Vindhya Range mountains, trees, thick with | candana druma śobhitām: with sandalwood, trees, enriched | dakśiṇam diśam prasthitaḥ: to southern, direction, I was fled. |

TRANSLATION

"Then from that eastern direction I fled to southern direction, which is thick with Vindhya Range mountains and diverse trees, especially with sandalwood trees. [4-46-17]

VERSE 18

द्रुम शैल अन्तरे पश्यन् भूयो दक्षिणतो अपराअम्
अपराम् च दिशम् प्राप्तो वालिना समभिद्रुतः

druma śaila antare paśyan bhūyo dakṣiṇato aparāam
aparām ca diśam prāpto vālinā samabhidrutaḥ

SYNONYMS

druma śaila antare: trees, mountains, in interiors | dakśiṇataḥ aparāam: from south, another [direction] | paśyan: while I was seeing | bhūyaḥ vālinā samabhidrutaḥ: again, by Vali, made to run | [samabhidrutaḥ: having fled] | aparām diśam prāptaḥ: western, direction, I reached. [Here aparaam means doubly 1. another, 2. west quarter.] |

TRANSLATION

"While I was seeing the interiors of forest and mountains again I was made to run by Vali, who was setting upon me from within the interiors of those forests and mountains, and then I reached the western direction. [4-46-18]

VERSE 19

स पश्यन् विविधान् देशान् अस्तम् च गिरि सत्तमम्
प्राप्य च अस्तम् गिरि श्रेष्ठम् उत्तरम् संप्रधावितः

sa paśyan vividhān deśān astam ca giri sattamam
prāpya ca astam giri śreṣṭham uttaram saṃpradhāvitaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Such as I was, on seeing diverse cities and the best mountain Astagiri, Mt. Dusk, I reached that excellent Mt. Dusk also, and since Vali is at my heel, I took to my heels, by a long way to north. [4-46-19]

VERSE 20

हिमवंतम् च मेरुम् च समुद्रम् च तथा उत्तरम्
यदा न विन्दे शरणम् वालिना समभिद्रुतः

himavaṃtam ca merum ca samudram ca tathā uttaram
yadā na vinde śaraṇam vālinā samabhidrutaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Even at Himalayas, Mt. Meru, like that at the Northern Ocean, Vali drove me back, and when the clemency from Vali, or a shelter, or even a foothold on earth was indeterminable, then Hanuma, whose prosperity is his wisdom, said a word to me. [4-46-20, 21a]

VERSE 21

इदानीम् मे स्मृतम् राजन् यथा वाली हरीश्वरः

idānīm me smṛtam rājan yathā vālī harīśvaraḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 22, 23a| rājan: oh, king Sugreeva | hari īśvaraḥ vālī: monkeys, king, Vali | tadā: at that time | matangena yathā śaptaḥ hi: by Sage Matanga, as to how, cursed, indeed | [tat: that topic] | me idānīm smṛtam: to me, now, came to remembrance | vālī asmin āśrama maṇḍale: Vali, in that [Matanga's,] hermitage, in fringes | praviśet yadi vai: enters, if, really | asya mūrdhā śatadhā bhavet = his [Vali's,] head, in hundred vays, becomes [splinters: Vali's head gets splintered] | tatra asmākam vāsaḥ sukhaḥ: there, for us, dwelling, peaceful | nir udvignaḥ: without, high tension [imperturbable] | bhaviṣyati: it will be. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, king Sugreeva, now I remember how Sage Matanga cursed the king of monkeys Vali at that time. If Vali really enters the fringes of the hermitage of Sage Matanga, Vali's head gets splintered in hundred ways. Hence dwelling in sage Matanga's hermitage will be peaceful and imperturbable for us.' Thus Hanuma spoke to me. [4-46-21b, 22, 23a]

VERSE 23

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे षट् चत्वारिन्शः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe ṣaṭ catvārinśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, prince Rama, then Vali though reached Mt. Rishyamuka, he did not enter into its precincts at that time fearing Sage Matanga and his curse, oh, king Rama, thus this globe of earth is apparently and closely sighted by me in its entirety, and then I came into the cave of Rishyamuka and did not stir out." So said Sugreeva to Rama. [4-46-23b, 24]

PURPORT

This and last few chapters that describe the topography and geography of earth may seem redundant or a wasteful narration. No purpose is apparently solved in narrating at such a length and in such vividness, when the main purpose is searching Seetha. Sugreeva might have simply said 'go and search everywhere...' This is as inquired by the commentator of Dharmaakuutam. na anvatra janaka tanaya gaveShaNaaya prasthitaan vaanaraan prati praacyaadi dikShu gavesaNiiya pradesha visheShaNaanaam vishiShya kathanam na prayojanavat| For this it is replied that at the outset of undertaking a high-risk task like the elimination of Ravana, some pious deeds of seeing, hearing, or telling about the pious lands, mountains, rivers, and sages that dwell thereabout, are to be undertaken. A laudatory salutation to Mother Earth is a sacred act. So Sugreeva has earned some merit in eulogising places and sending his troops to all places as a kind of tiirtha yaatra 'a pilgrimage...' as said by the commentator: saamaanya uktyaa preShaNa sambhavaat iti cet ucyate - prabalatara shatru vadhaaadi mahaa kaaryam saadhayataa prathamataH tasmaat ardha daayakam tapaH caraNa puNya tiirtha kShetra deva brahma raaja R^iShaya samkiirtana shravaNa darshana smaraNaadiShu puNyatameShu yat kimcit kartavyam | sugriiveNa api kimcit puNyam karma kartavyam - puNya desha tiirtha maharShiNaam tat upeta bhuu golasya ca samkiirtana shravaNaadikam prashastam | - This is the same situation when Rama and Lakshmana venerated sapta jana aashrama 'the Seven-Sage's hermitage...' when Sugreeva proceeded with them for attacking Vali, in the second instance, in Kishkindha Ch. 13. Rama was not successful in the first round of attacking Vali, as he venerated none such tutelary in first round.