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Chapter 49

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

अथ अंगदः तदा सर्वान् वानरान् इदम् अब्रवीत्
परिश्रान्तो महा प्राज्ञः समाश्वास्य शनैर् वचः

atha aṃgadaḥ tadā sarvān vānarān idam abravīt
pariśrānto mahā prājñaḥ samāśvāsya śanair vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: then | pari śrāntaḥ mahā prājñaḥ: overly, tired, highly, diligent one | angadaḥ: Angada | sarvān vānarān samāśvāsya = all of the, vanara: s, on comforting | tadā: then | śanaiaḥ idam vacaḥ abravīt: slowly, this, word, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

Then on comforting all of those vanara-s the highly diligent one but overly tired Angada slowly spoke this word to them. [4-49-1]

VERSE 2

वनानि गिरयो नद्यो दुर्गाणि गहनानि च
दरी गिरि गुहाः चैव विचिता नः समंततः

vanāni girayo nadyo durgāṇi gahanāni ca
darī giri guhāḥ caiva vicitā naḥ samaṃtataḥ

SYNONYMS

asmābhiḥ saha: by us, in oneness | vanāni girayaḥ nadyaḥ: forests, mountains, rivers | dur gāṇi gahanāni ca: impassable, unfathomable ones, also | vicitā: searched | darī giri guhāḥ caiva: cavities, mountain, caves, even so | naḥ: by us | sam antataḥ: up to end | tatra tatra vicitā: there, there, searched | jānakī na dṛśyate: Janaki, not, seen | tathā: like that | sītāyāḥ apahartā: of Seetha, abductor of | duṣ kṛtī: ill, natured one | rakṣaḥ ca = demon, also: not seen. |

TRANSLATION

"We in oneness have searched there and thereabouts in the impassable forests, mountains, and rivers, and unfathomable cavities and in mountain caves up to their end, but we have not seen Janaki, so also that ill-natured demon, the abductor of Seetha, is not seen. [4-49-2, 3]

VERSE 4

कालः च नः महान् यातः सुग्रीवः च उग्र शासनः
तस्मात् भवन्तः सहिता विचिन्वन्तु समंततः

kālaḥ ca naḥ mahān yātaḥ sugrīvaḥ ca ugra śāsanaḥ
tasmāt bhavantaḥ sahitā vicinvantu samaṃtataḥ

SYNONYMS

naḥ: for us | mahān kālaḥ yātaḥ ca = great [deal of,] time, lapsed also: from the day of starting | sugrīvaḥ ca ugra śāsanaḥ: Sugreeva, also, severe, ruler [disciplinarian] | tasmāt: therefore | bhavantaḥ: by you all | sahitāḥ samantataḥ vicinvantu: collectively, all over, let search be conducted. |

TRANSLATION

"We started a long time back and a great deal of time is lapsed, and Sugreeva is a severe disciplinarian, therefore let the search continued everywhere collectively. [4-49-4]

VERSE 5

विहाय तन्द्रीम् शोकम् च निद्राम् चैव समुत्थिताम्
विचिनुध्वम् तथा सीताम् पश्यामो जनक आत्मजाम्

vihāya tandrīm śokam ca nidrām caiva samutthitām
vicinudhvam tathā sītām paśyāmo janaka ātmajām

SYNONYMS

sam utthitām: verily, come up against [you now] | tandrīm: sluggishness | śokam ca: sorrowfulness, also | nidrām caiva: sleep, also thus | vihāya abandon: do not surrender / submit / slouch | janaka ātmajām sītām: Janaka's, daughter, Seetha | [yathā ] paśyāmaḥ: [as to how,] we can see [find out] | tathā: in that way | vicinudhvam: you shall search. |

TRANSLATION

"Surrender not to sluggishness, submit not to sorrowfulness, slouch not to sleep, as these lethargies are presently have come up against you. Let all of you search in such a way how best we can find the daughter of Janaka, Seetha. [4-49-5]

VERSE 6

अनिर्वेदम् च दाक्ष्यम् च मनसः च अपराजयम्
कार्य सिद्धि कराणि आहुः तस्मात् एतत् ब्रवीमि अहम्

anirvedam ca dākṣyam ca manasaḥ ca aparājayam
kārya siddhi karāṇi āhuḥ tasmāt etat bravīmi aham

SYNONYMS

a nir vedam ca: without, lack, of knowledge, [unrelenting, insistency] also | dākṣyam ca: expertise [ingenuity] also | manasaḥ ca: of heart, also | a parā jayam: without, re-bounced, victory, [indomitability of heart] | kārya siddhi karāṇi āhuḥ: work's [results,] to achieve, causes, are said as | tasmāt aham etat bravīmi: therefore, I am all this, speaking. |

TRANSLATION

"Insistency, ingenuity and indomitability of heart are said to be the causes for achieving results, therefore I am speaking all this. [4-49-6]

PURPORT

Relentless efforts will bring the fruits of pursuit. On taking up an activity it is to be continued without abandoning for reasons of personal disinterestedness or laxity. anena anirvedaadayaH kaarya siddhikaraa iti uktam - tathaa ca - bhaarate - udyoge viduraH - anirvedaH shriyo muulam dharmasya ca | mahaan bhavati anirvisaNNo bhayam na mahat dR^icchati | - dk
VERSE 7

अद्य अपि इदम् वनम् दुर्गम् विचिन्वन्तु वन ओकसः
खेदम् त्यक्त्वा पुनः सर्वम् वनम् एतत् विचिन्वताम्

adya api idam vanam durgam vicinvantu vana okasaḥ
khedam tyaktvā punaḥ sarvam vanam etat vicinvatām

SYNONYMS

adya api: now, even | vana okasaḥ: forest, dwellers | durgam idam vanam vicinvantu: impenetrable one, this, forest, can search | khedam tyaktvā: rue, on getting rid of | punaḥ etat vanam sarvam vicinvatām: again, all this, forest, in entirety, let it be searched. |

TRANSLATION

"Even now the forest dwellers can search this impenetrable forest, thus get rid of your rue and let all of this forest be searched in its entirety. [4-49-7]

VERSE 8

अवश्यम् कुर्वताम् दृश्यते कर्मणः फलम्
परम् निर्वेदम् आगम्य न हि नः मीलनम् क्षमम्

avaśyam kurvatām dṛśyate karmaṇaḥ phalam
param nirvedam āgamya na hi naḥ mīlanam kṣamam

SYNONYMS

kurvatām: one who endeavours in an activity | [tasya: its] | karmaṇaḥ phalam: work's [pursuit's], fruit | avaśyam dṛśyate: definitely, it is perceptible -will become evident | param: if not, on the other hand | nirvedam āgamya = high, dejection, coming upon: deriving | naḥ: for us | mīlanam: shutting [eyes] | na kṣamam hi: not, forgivable, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Fruit of pursuit will definitely be evident for those who undertake an endeavour earnestly, on the other hand, it will be unforgivable to shut our eyes deriving a high dejection. [4-49-8]

VERSE 9

सुग्रीवः क्रोधनो राजा तीक्ष्ण दण्डः च वानराः
भेतव्यम् तस्य सततम् रामस्य च महात्मनः

sugrīvaḥ krodhano rājā tīkṣṇa daṇḍaḥ ca vānarāḥ
bhetavyam tasya satatam rāmasya ca mahātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

vānarāḥ: oh, vanara-s | rājā sugrīvaḥ krodhanaḥ: king, Sugreeva, is irascible | tīkṣṇa daṇḍaḥ ca: ruthful, persecutor, also | tasya: to him [to Sugreeva] | mahātmanaḥ rāmasya ca = great: souled one - self-reliant one, of Rama, also | satatam: always | [naḥ: for us] | bhetavyam: [we shall be,] frightened. |

TRANSLATION

"King Sugreeva is irascible and he is a ruthful persecutor too, oh, vanara-s, we shall always be frightened of him, and of self-reliant Rama as well. [4-49-9]

VERSE 10

हितार्थम् एतत् उक्तम् वः क्रियताम् यदि रोचते
उच्यताम् हि क्षमम् यत् तत् सर्वेषाम् एव वानराः

hitārtham etat uktam vaḥ kriyatām yadi rocate
ucyatām hi kṣamam yat tat sarveṣām eva vānarāḥ

SYNONYMS

vānarāḥ: oh, vanara-s | vaḥ hita artham: for your, well-being, for the purpose of | etat uktam: all this, is said [by me] | rocate yadi: you like it, if | kriyatām = it may be done: further searching for Seetha | yat sarveṣām eva kṣamam: which, for all of us, befitting | tat ucyatām hi: that, may be said, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"All this is being said in the interest of your well-being, and if it is obliging to you it may be done in this way as I have said, if not, any other way out is there which will be conducive for all of us, oh, vanara-s, it may be said." Thus Angada spoke to the troops of monkeys. [4-49-10]

VERSE 11

अंगदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा वचनम् गंधमादनः
उवाच व्यक्तया वाचा पिपासा श्रम खिन्नया

aṃgadasya vacaḥ śrutvā vacanam gaṃdhamādanaḥ
uvāca vyaktayā vācā pipāsā śrama khinnayā

SYNONYMS

angadasya vacaḥ śrutvā: Angada's, words, on hearing | gandha mādanaḥ = ġandhamādana: vanara | pipāsā śrama khinnayā: thirst, fatigue, one enervated with | a vyaktayā vācā: with inexplicit, words | vacanam uvāca: sentence, said. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing Angada's words, Gandhamaadana who is enervated with thirst and fatigue spoke this sentence with inexplicit words. [4-49-11]

VERSE 12

सदृशम् खलु वः वाक्यम् अंगदो यत् उवाच ह
हितम् च एव अनुकूलम् च क्रियताम् अस्य भाषितम्

sadṛśam khalu vaḥ vākyam aṃgado yat uvāca ha
hitam ca eva anukūlam ca kriyatām asya bhāṣitam

SYNONYMS

angadaḥ yat vākyam uvāca ha: Angada, what, words, said, indeed | vaḥ: to you | sadṛśam khalu: is appropriate, isn't it | hitam ca eva: advantageous, also, thus | anukūlam ca: pragmatic, also | asya bhāṣitam kriyatām: his, as said, may be done. |

TRANSLATION

"What Angada has said that is indeed appropriate, isn't it! It is advantageous and pragmatic also. Let us carry out as said by him. [4-49-12]

VERSE 13

पुनः मार्गामहे शैलान् कन्दराम् च शिलान् तथा
काननानि च शून्यानि गिरि प्रस्रवणानि च

punaḥ mārgāmahe śailān kandarām ca śilān tathā
kānanāni ca śūnyāni giri prasravaṇāni ca

SYNONYMS

punaḥ: again | śailān kandarām ca tathā śilān = mountains, caves, also, thus, rocks: rocky places | śūnyāni kāna nāni ca: uninhabited, forests, also | giri prasravaṇāni ca: mountain, rapids, too | mārgāmahe: let us search out. |

TRANSLATION

"Again let us search out mountains, caves, crags, also like that the uninhabited forests and mountain rapids, too. [4-49-13]

VERSE 14

यथा उद्दिष्ठानि सर्वाणि सुग्रीवेण महात्मना
विचिन्वन्तु वनम् सर्वे गिरि दुर्गाणि संगताः

yathā uddiṣṭhāni sarvāṇi sugrīveṇa mahātmanā
vicinvantu vanam sarve giri durgāṇi saṃgatāḥ

SYNONYMS

sarve sangatāḥ: all [of us,] collectively | maha ātmanā sugrīveṇa yathā uddiṣṭhāni: great-souled one [self-assertive,] by Sugreeva, [places] as indicated | sarvāṇi giri durgāṇi: all of the, mountain, gorges | vanam: forest | vicinvantu: let them be searched. |

TRANSLATION

"Let us all collectively search all of the places with forests, mountains and gorges as indicated by that self-assertive Sugreeva." Thus Gandhamaadana spoke to all monkeys. [4-49-14]

VERSE 15

ततः समुत्थाय पुनः वानराः ते महाबलाः
विन्ध्य कानन संकीर्णाम् विचेरुर् दक्षिणाम् दिशम्

tataḥ samutthāya punaḥ vānarāḥ te mahābalāḥ
vindhya kānana saṃkīrṇām vicerur dakṣiṇām diśam

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | mahā balāḥ te vānarāḥ: great-mighty ones, those, vanara-s | punaḥ samutthāya = again, on getting up: bestirring themselves | vindhya kānana sankīrṇām: Vindhya, forests, overspread with | dakṣiṇām diśam: southern, quarter | viceruḥ: searched. |

TRANSLATION

Those great-mighty vanara-s again perking themselves up searched the southern compass that is overspread with Vindhya forests. [4-49-15]

VERSE 16

ते शारद अभ्र प्रतिमम् श्रीमत् रजत पर्वतम्
शृंगवन्तम् दरीवंतम् अधिरुह्य च वानराः

te śārada abhra pratimam śrīmat rajata parvatam
śṛṃgavantam darīvaṃtam adhiruhya ca vānarāḥ

SYNONYMS

sītā darśana kānkṣiṇaḥ: Seetha, to glance at, desirous of | hari varāḥ: among monkeys, best ones | te vānarāḥ: those, vaanara-s | śārada abhra pratimam: they, autumn, [silvery] cloud, statuesque of | śrīmat: magnificent one | śṛngavantam: having [many] peaks | darīvantam: having caverns | rajata parvatam: Silver, Mountain | adhiruhya ca: clambered up, also | tatra ramyam lodhra vanam: there, delightful Lodhra trees, wood of | sapta parṇa vanāni ca: seven, leaved [groves of banana plants] also | vicinvantaḥ: they searched. |

TRANSLATION

Those vanara-s who are the best among monkeys who are desirous of getting a glance of Seetha have clambered up a magnificent Silver Mountain which in statuesque is like an autumnal silvery cloud, and which has many zeniths and caverns, and searched there in the delightful woods of Lodhra trees, and even in the groves of seven-leaved banana plants. [4-49-16, 17]

VERSE 18

तस्य अग्रम् अधिरूढाः ते श्रान्ता विपुल विक्रमाः
न पश्यन्ति स्म वैदेहीम् रामस्य महिषीम् प्रियाम्

tasya agram adhirūḍhāḥ te śrāntā vipula vikramāḥ
na paśyanti sma vaidehīm rāmasya mahiṣīm priyām

SYNONYMS

tasya agram adhirūḍhāḥ: its [mountain's,] top, on ascending, | vipula vikramāḥ te: [though] immensely, venturesome, they the vanara-s | śrāntā: are fatigued | rāmasya priyām mahiṣīm vaidehīm: Rama's, dear, queen, at Vaidehi | na paśyanti sma: not, seen [found,] they are. |

TRANSLATION

Though they searched everywhere on ascending the mountaintop they have not found Seetha, the dear queen of Rama, and though they are immensely venturesome they are fatigued. [4-49-18]

VERSE 19

ते तु दृष्टि गतम् दृष्ट्वा तम् शैलम् बहु कंदरम्
अध्यारोहन्त हरयो वीक्षमाणाः समंततः

te tu dṛṣṭi gatam dṛṣṭvā tam śailam bahu kaṃdaram
adhyārohanta harayo vīkṣamāṇāḥ samaṃtataḥ

SYNONYMS

te harayaḥ: those, monkeys | dṛṣṭi gatam: sight, obtained [come into sight] | bahu kandaram: with many, caves | tam śailam: that, mountain | dṛṣṭvā = having sīn: searched | sam antataḥ: all over | vīkṣamāṇāḥ adhyārohanta: [yet] keeping an eye on [that mountain,] they descended. |

TRANSLATION

On searching what all they could see all over on that many caved mountain those monkeys descended yet keeping an eye on all over that mountain. [4-49-19]

VERSE 20

अवरुह्य ततो भूमिम् श्रान्ता विगत चेतसः
स्थित्वा मुहूर्तम् तत्र अथ वृक्ष मूलम् उपाश्रिताः

avaruhya tato bhūmim śrāntā vigata cetasaḥ
sthitvā muhūrtam tatra atha vṛkṣa mūlam upāśritāḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | bhūmim avaruhya: towards earth, on climbing down | śrāntā: tired | vi gata cetasaḥ: verily, gone, are their faculties [with inanity] | tatra: there | muhūrtam sthitvā: for a moment, staying | atha vṛkṣa mūlam upāśritāḥ: then, at tree, base, took shelter. |

TRANSLATION

Then on climbing down the mountain they reached ground and became tired and inane, and staying there for moment they took shelter at the base of a tree. [4-49-20]

VERSE 21

ते मुहूर्तम् समाश्वस्ताः किंचित् भग्न परिश्रमाः
पुनर् एव उद्यताः कृत्स्नाम् मार्गितुम् दक्षिणाम् दिशम्

te muhūrtam samāśvastāḥ kiṃcit bhagna pariśramāḥ
punar eva udyatāḥ kṛtsnām mārgitum dakṣiṇām diśam

SYNONYMS

te muhūrtam samāśvastāḥ: they, for a moment, took respite | kimcit bhagna pariśramāḥ: a little, intermitted, laboriousness | punaḥ eva: again, thus | kṛtsnām dakṣiṇām diśam: in entirety, southern, direction | mārgitum udyatāḥ: to search ventured. |

TRANSLATION

They took respite for a moment and when their laboriousness intermitted a little, again they ventured to search the southern direction in its entirety. [4-49-21]

VERSE 22

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे एको न पंचाशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe eko na paṃcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

te tu: they, on their part | hanumat pramukhāḥ: Hanuma, [and other] chieftains | plavaga ṛṣabhāḥ: fly-jumpers, the best | prasthitāḥ: started journey | āditaḥ kṛtvā: from starting [point,] on making | vindhyam eva: Vindhya, only | samantataḥ te viceruḥ = all over, they, searced: for Seetha. |

TRANSLATION

Again making Mt. Vindhya as the starting point of search, those best fly-jumpers, namely Hanuma and the other chieftains of vanara-s, have searched all over the southern direction for Seetha. [4-49-22]