Chapter 5

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

ऋश्यमूकात् तु हनुमान् गत्वा तम् मलयम् गिरिम्
आचचक्षे तदा वीरौ कपि राजाय राघवौ

ṛśyamūkāt tu hanumān gatvā tam malayam girim
ācacakṣe tadā vīrau kapi rājāya rāghavau

SYNONYMS

hanumān: Hanuma | ṛṣamūkāt tu: from Mt. Rishyamuka | tam malayam giram gatvā: to that, Mt. Malaya, having gone | kapi rājāya: to the king of monkeys | rāghavau tadā: then | vīrau: about the valiant ones | ācacakṣe: has reported. |

TRANSLATION

Hanuma on going from Mt. Rishyamuka to Mt. Malaya, has reported to the king of monkeys Sugreeva, about the two valiant Raghava-s. [4-5-1]

VERSE 2

अयम् रामो महाप्राज्ञ संप्राप्तो दृढ विक्रमः
लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा रामो।अयम् सत्य विक्रमः

ayam rāmo mahāprājña saṃprāpto dṛḍha vikramaḥ
lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā rāmo|ayam satya vikramaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahā prājñaḥ = oh, great discerner: Sugreeva | ayam rāmaḥ: this is Rama | dhṛḍha vikramaḥ: oh, stubbornly, valiant one | bhrātrā lakśmanena: along with his brother, Lakshmana | samprāptaḥ: arrived | saḥ rāmaḥ ayam: Rama, he is | satya vikramaḥ: virtuously valiant one. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh! great discerner Sugreeva, this is Rama... oh, stubbornly valiant Sugreeva, this virtuously valiant Rama arrived along with his brother Lakshmana... [4-5-2]

VERSE 3

इक्ष्वाकूणाम् कुले जातो रामो दशरथात्मजः
धर्मे निगदितः च एव पितुर् निर्देश कारकः

ikṣvākūṇām kule jāto rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ
dharme nigaditaḥ ca eva pitur nirdeśa kārakaḥ

SYNONYMS

iksvākūṇām kule jātaḥ daśaratha ātmajaḥ: in Ikshvaku, dynasty, born, Dasharatha's, son | dharme nigaditaḥ ca: in virtue, adept, also | eva: thus | pituḥ nirdeśa kārakaḥ: thus, father's, orders, adherent. |

TRANSLATION

"Rama is the son of king Dasharatha, one born in Ikshvaku dynasty, an adept one in virtue and thus an adherent of his father's orders... [4-5-3]

VERSE 4

राजसूय अश्वमेधैः च वह्निः येन अभितर्पितः
दक्षिणाः च तथा उत्सृष्टा गावः शत सहस्रशः

rājasūya aśvamedhaiḥ ca vahniḥ yena abhitarpitaḥ
dakṣiṇāḥ ca tathā utsṛṣṭā gāvaḥ śata sahasraśaḥ

SYNONYMS

yena: by whom | rājasūya aśvamedhaiḥ ca: by rajayasuuya, ashvametha rituals, also | vahniḥ: ritual fire | abhi tarpitaḥ: is well worshipped | tathā: likewise | śata sahasraśaḥ gāvaḥ dakṣiṇāḥ uthsṛṣṭā: in hundreds and thousands, cows, as charities, were given | tapasā: devoutly | satya vākyena: truthful to his word | vasudhā: this earth | pālitā: was ruled | tasya putraḥ ayam rāmaḥ: his, son, is this, Rama | strī hetoḥ araṇyam samāgataḥ: a lady, being the reason, to forests, he came. |

TRANSLATION

"By whom the ritual fire is well worshipped in Vedic rituals like rajasuuya, ashvametha, and thus cows in hundreds and thousands are donated in those rituals, by whom this earth is ruled devoutly and truthful to his word, such Dasharatha's son is this Rama, who has to come to forests owing to a woman... [4-5-4, 5]

VERSE 6

तस्य अस्य वसतो अरण्ये नियतस्य महात्मनः
रावणेन हृता भार्या स त्वाम् शरणम् आगतः

tasya asya vasato araṇye niyatasya mahātmanaḥ
rāvaṇena hṛtā bhāryā sa tvām śaraṇam āgataḥ

SYNONYMS

vasataḥ araṇye: when dwelling, in forests | niyatasya: principled one | tasya: his | asya: this | mahātmanaḥ bhāryā: great soul Rama', wife | rāvaṇena hṛtā: by Ravana, stolen | saḥ tvām śaraṇam āgata: such as he is, to you, for shelter, he came. |

TRANSLATION

"Ravana stole the wife of this principled one and great soul Rama when dwelling in forests, such as he is, he came seeking your refuge... [4-5-6]

VERSE 7

भवता सख्य कामौ तौ भ्रातरौ राम लक्ष्मणौ
प्रगृह्य च अर्चयस्व एतौ पूजनीयतमौ उभौ

bhavatā sakhya kāmau tau bhrātarau rāma lakṣmaṇau
pragṛhya ca arcayasva etau pūjanīyatamau ubhau

SYNONYMS

tau bhrātarau: those two, brothers | rāma lakṣmaṇau: Rama, Lakshmana | bhavatā sakhya kāmau: with you, friendship, interested | pūjanīyatamau: most venerable are | imau: them | ubhau: two | pragṛhya: you receive them | arcayasva: worship. |

TRANSLATION

"These two brothers Rama and Lakshmana, are interested to make friendship with you... thus you receive these two and worship them, for they are most venerable ones..." Hanuma thus advised Sugreeva. [4-5-7]

PURPORT

Here Hanuma's role as teacher is depicted. God comes to the rescue of the needy, and communicates through a competent teacher. Only the teacher can visualize the god and his intent, and thus narrate it to the taught. That is what Hanuma's advise to Sugreeva.
VERSE 8

श्रुत्वा हनुमतो वाक्यम् सुग्रीवो वानर अधिपः
दर्शनीयतमो भूत्वा प्रीत्या उवाच राघवम्

śrutvā hanumato vākyam sugrīvo vānara adhipaḥ
darśanīyatamo bhūtvā prītyā uvāca rāghavam

SYNONYMS

vānara adhipaḥ: monkey's chief | sugrīvaḥ: Sugreeva | śrutvā: on hearing | hanumataḥ vākyam: Hanuma's, words | darśanīyatamaḥ bhūtvā: presentable, he became | prītyā: gladly | uvāca rāghavam: spoke to, Rama. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing Hanuma's words Sugreeva, the chief of monkeys has become presentable and gladly spoke to Rama. [4-5-8]

PURPORT

Sugreeva is not in a presentable form till now because he is outrageously furious with 'friend-or-foe' syndrome, on seeing Rama and Lakshmana. None can calm these vanara heroes down, except their own favourable interests. On listening from Hanuma that the entrants are friends, Sugreeva got his cool back, and thus became 'presentable,' befitting to his honourable kingship.
VERSE 9

भवान् धर्म विनीतः च सुतपाः सर्व वत्सलः
आख्याता वायुपुत्रेण तत्त्वतो मे भवद् गुणाः

bhavān dharma vinītaḥ ca sutapāḥ sarva vatsalaḥ
ākhyātā vāyuputreṇa tattvato me bhavad guṇāḥ

SYNONYMS

bhavān: you | dharma vinītaḥ: virtue knower [you are trained to tread virtuous path] | su tapāḥ: best, scrupulous one | sarva vatsala: to all, kindlier one | ākhyātā vāyu putreṇa: said so by, Air's son, Hanuma | tattvataḥ: in subtlety | me: to me | bhavat guṇāḥ: your, attributes. |

TRANSLATION

"You are a trained one in treading righteous path, best by your scruples, and a kindlier one to all, so said Air-god's son Hanuma to me about your attributes, in subtlety... [4-5-9]

VERSE 10

तन् मम एव एष सत्कारो लाभः च एव उत्तमः प्रभो
यत् त्वम् इच्छसि सौहार्दम् वानरेण मया सह

tan mama eva eṣa satkāro lābhaḥ ca eva uttamaḥ prabho
yat tvam icchasi sauhārdam vānareṇa mayā saha

SYNONYMS

h� prabho: oh, lord | tat tvam vānareṇa mayā saha sauhārdam icchasi: therefor, you, with a monkey, [like] me, along with, friendship, you wish to have | iti yat: thus, that which topic is there | eṣa: this way | mama eva: for me, only | satkāraḥ uttamaḥ lābhaḥ ca: an honour, best, achievement, also. |

TRANSLATION

"Therefor oh, lord, you wish to make friendship with a monkey like me, thereby this is an honour and a best achievement to me alone... [4-5-10]

VERSE 11

रोचते यदि मे सख्यम् बाहुः एष प्रसारितः
गृह्यताम् पाणिना पाणिः मर्यादा बध्यताम् ध्रुवा

rocate yadi me sakhyam bāhuḥ eṣa prasāritaḥ
gṛhyatām pāṇinā pāṇiḥ maryādā badhyatām dhruvā

SYNONYMS

me sakhyam rocate yadi: my friendship, you aspire, if | eṣa bāhuḥ prasāritaḥ: here is, arm, is extended | pāṇinā pāṇiḥ gṛhyatām: hand, by hand, be taken | dhruvā: stably | maryādā badhyatām: convention, make fast. |

TRANSLATION

"If you aspire my friendship here I extend my arm, take this hand of mine into yours, thus let the convention be stably made fast..." Thus Sugreeva proffered friendship to Rama. [4-5-11]

VERSE 12

एतत् तु वचनम् श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवस्य सुभाषितम्
संप्रहृष्ट मना हस्तम् पीडयामास पाणिना

etat tu vacanam śrutvā sugrīvasya subhāṣitam
saṃprahṛṣṭa manā hastam pīḍayāmāsa pāṇinā

SYNONYMS

, 13a| etat tu: all those | ugrīvasya su bhāśitam vacanam śrutvā: Sugreeva's, well-said, words, listening | samprahṛṣṭa manā: gladdened, at heart [Rama] | pāṇinā: with hand | hastam: [Sugreeva's] hand | pīḍayāmāsa: started to clutch | sauhṛdam ālambya: friendship, while abiding | hṛṣṭaḥ: happily | pīditam: grippingly | paryaṣvajata: embraced. |

TRANSLATION

Rama is gladdened at heart on listening all those words well said by Sugreeva, and then clutched Sugreeva's hand in his, and ardently abiding by the vow of friendship he embraced Sugreeva, grippingly and happily. [4-5-12, 13a]

VERSE 13

ततो हनूमान् संत्यज्य भिक्षु रूपम् अरिन्दमः

tato hanūmān saṃtyajya bhikṣu rūpam arindamaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 14, 15a| tataḥ: then | arindamaḥ hanūmān: enemy destroyer, Hanuma | bhikśu rūpam samtyajya: ascetic's guise, leaving off | svena rūpeṇa: with his own, form | kāṣṭhayoḥ pāvakam janayāmāsa: with two sticks, fire, started to ignite | tataḥ: then | vahnim dīpyamānam satkṛtam: fire, making to glow, decorated | puṣpaiḥ: with flowers | abhyarcya: worshipped | suprītaḥ: gladdened | susamāhitaḥ: devoutly | tayoḥ madhye nidadhe: them, in between, placed. |

TRANSLATION

Then the destroyer of enemies Hanuma discarding the guise of ascetic assumed his original monkey form, and on producing fire with two sticks then made it to glow. decorated, worshipped with flowers, then gladly and devoutly placed that fire in between Rama and Sugreeva. [4-5-13b,14,15a]

PURPORT

The holy fire used to kindle the ritual fire in a yaj~na will be produced by constantly rubbing two dry wood sticks, and this is called as araNi . When sparkles of fire and a little fume appear, it will be put into the Altar of Fire. Here, Hanuma has changed his ascetic form to his original monkey shape. This form changing at their will and wish is called kaamaruupa vidya , changing guise at will, which will be useful to Hanuma in the coming episodes of Ramayana.
VERSE 15

ततो अग्निम् दीप्यमानम् तौ चक्रतुः च प्रदक्षिणम्

tato agnim dīpyamānam tau cakratuḥ ca pradakṣiṇam

SYNONYMS

b, 16a| tataḥ: then | tau dīpyamānam agnim pradakśiṇam cakratuḥ: they two, glowing, at fire, circumambulations, they made | ca: also | eva: thus | vayasyatvam: friendship | upāgatau: entered into. |

TRANSLATION

Then those two performed circumambulations to that well glowing ritual fire, and thus, Rama and Sugreeva entered into the pact of friendship. [4-5-15, 16a]

VERSE 16

ततः सुप्रीत मनसौ तौ उभौ हरि राघवौ

tataḥ suprīta manasau tau ubhau hari rāghavau

SYNONYMS

b, 17a| tataḥ: then | suprīta manasau: gladdened, at heart | tau ubhau: those, two | hari: monkey | rāghavau: Raghava anyonyam = at each other | abhi vīkśantau: gazing at | na: not | tṛptim: satisfaction | upajagmatuḥ: they got. |

TRANSLATION

And then gladdened at heart are those two, that monkey and Raghava, gazed enough at each other eye-to-eye, but their hearts did not derive any fraternal satisfaction. [4-5-16b, 17a]

VERSE 17

त्वम् वयस्यो।असि हृद्यः मे हि एकम् दुःखम् सुखम् च नौ

tvam vayasyo|asi hṛdyaḥ me hi ekam duḥkham sukham ca nau

SYNONYMS

b, 18a| tvam me hṛdyaḥ vayasyaḥ asi: you, are my, amiable, friend, you are | nau sukham duḥkham ca ekam: our, mirth, misery, are one [the same] | iti sugrīvaḥ prahṛṣṭa vat rāghvam vākyam uvāca: thus, Sugreeva, rejoicingly, to Raghava, sentence, said. |

TRANSLATION

Sugreeva rejoicingly said to Raghava, "you are the amiable friend of mine, henceforth our mirth or miseries are same for us..." [4-5-17b, 18a]

VERSE 18

ततः सुपर्ण बहुलाम् भंक्त्वा शाखाम् सुपुष्पिताम्

tataḥ suparṇa bahulām bhaṃktvā śākhām supuṣpitām

SYNONYMS

b, 19a| tataḥ: then | sālasya parṇa bahulām: of sala tree, with leaves, many | supuṣpitām: well flowered | śākham citvā: branch of tree, snapped off | āstīrya: spread it | sa rāghavaḥ: along with, Rama | niṣasāda: sat on it. |

TRANSLATION

And then Sugreeva snapped off and spread a fully flowered tree-branch of sala tree with many leaves, and sat on it along with Rama. [4-5-18b, 19a]

VERSE 19

लक्ष्मनाय अथ संहृष्टो हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः

lakṣmanāya atha saṃhṛṣṭo hanumān mārutātmajaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 20a| atha: then | samhṛṣṭaḥ: gladly | māruta ātmajaḥ: Air's son | candana vṛkśasya: of sandalwood, tree | parama puṣpitām: well, flowered | śakhām: branch of | laksmanāya: for Lakshmana | dadau: gave. |

TRANSLATION

Then Hanuma the son of Air, gladly gave a well-flowered branch of sandalwood tree to Lakshmana... [4-5-19b, 20a]

VERSE 20

ततः प्रहृष्टः सुग्रीवः श्लक्ष्णम् मधुरया गिरा

tataḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ sugrīvaḥ ślakṣṇam madhurayā girā

SYNONYMS

b, 21a| tataḥ: then | prahṛṣṭaḥ: that delighted one | madhurayā girā: with sweet, words | harśa: with happiness | vyākula: quavering | locanaḥ: eyes | ślakśnam: softly | tadā: that way | prati uvāca: replied |

TRANSLATION

Then that delighted Sugreeva with his sweet words, and with his eyes quavering in happiness, replied Rama softly. [4-5-20b, 21a]

VERSE 21

अहम् विनिकृतो राम चरमि इह भय आर्दितः

aham vinikṛto rāma carami iha bhaya ārditaḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: I am | vinikṛtaḥ: ridiculed | hṛta bhāryaḥ: stolen, wife | bhaya ārditaḥ: fear haunting me | iha vane carami: here about, in forest, I am moving | trastaḥ: dread | durgam: impenetrable | etat: this forest | upāśritaḥ: took refuse. |

TRANSLATION

"Rama, I am ridiculed, stolen is my wife, I move here about in these forests with dread and fear haunting me... I took refuge in this impenetrable forest... [4-5-21b, 22a]

VERSE 22b

सो।अहम् त्रस्तो वने भीतो वसामि उद् भ्रान्त चेतनः

so|aham trasto vane bhīto vasāmi ud bhrānta cetanaḥ

SYNONYMS

bhrātrā: by my brother | vālinā: by Vali | nikṛtaḥ: denounced | kṛta vairaḥ ca: made, an enemy, also | saḥ aham: such as I am | trastaḥ: fearing | udbhrānta cetanaḥ: with dismayed, vitality | vane: in forests | abhītaḥ: scared | vasāmi: I am living. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Raghava, my brother denounced me, he even made me an enemy of his, such as I am I am living in these forests with scare and fear, and with dismayed vitality... [4-5-22b, 23a]

VERSE 23

वालिनो मे महाभाग भय आर्तस्य अभयम् कुरु

vālino me mahābhāga bhaya ārtasya abhayam kuru

SYNONYMS

b, 24a| mahābhāga: oh! highly fortunate one Rama | vālinaḥ: from Vaali | bhaya ārtasya: in fear, intimidated | me: to me | a bhayam kuru: no, fear [fearlessness] give me | kākutsthaḥ: Rama | me yathā bhayam na bhavet: to me, as to how, fear, will not, be there | [tathā: that way] | kartum arhasi: to do so, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, highly fortunate Rama, affirm fearlessness to me from Vali by who I am highly intimidated, and as to how there will be fearlessness to me from him, it will be apt of you to accomplish that, that way... [4-5-23b, 24a]

VERSE 24

एवम् उक्तः तु तेजस्वी धर्मज्ञो धर्म वत्सलः

evam uktaḥ tu tejasvī dharmajño dharma vatsalaḥ

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | uktaḥ tu: who is said so | tejasvī: resplendent one | dharmajñaḥ: righteous one | dharma vatsalaḥ: virtue, patron | kākutsthaḥ: Rama | sugrīvam: to Sugreeva | prati abhāṣata: in turn, spoke [replied] | prahasan iva: laughing off, as though. |

TRANSLATION

When thus said, that resplendent and righteous one being the patron of virtue Rama replied Sugreeva, as though laughing off. [4-5-24b, 25a]

VERSE 25

उपकार फलम् मित्रम् विदितम् मे महाकपे

upakāra phalam mitram viditam me mahākape

SYNONYMS

b, 26a| mahā kapeḥ: oh, great monkey | mitram: a friend has | upakāra phalam: helpfulness, as resultant fruit | viditam me: known to, me | tava bhārya apahārinām: your, wife's, adductor | tam vālinam: that one, Vali | vadhiśyāmi: I intend to kill [eliminate.] |

TRANSLATION

"A friend is the resultant factor of helpfulness... that I know... oh, great monkey I intend eliminate that Vali, the abductor of your wife... [4-5-2b, 26a5]

VERSE 26

अमोघोः सूर्य संकाशाः मम इमे निशिताः शराः

amoghoḥ sūrya saṃkāśāḥ mama ime niśitāḥ śarāḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 27, 28a| amoghāḥ: unfailing | sūrya sankāśāḥ: sun-like | niśitāḥ: sharp | kanka patra praticchannā: eagle's, feathers, tied with | mahendra aśani sannibhāḥ: Indra's, Thunderbolt, similar to | tīkśṇa agrā: sharp, pointed | ṛju parvāṇaḥ: with straight, egress | sa roṣāḥ bhujagā iva: with rage, snakes, like | ime mama śarāḥ: these, my, arrows | vegitāḥ: speeded [in shooting] | durvṛtte: vicious one | tasmin vāalini nipatiṣyanti: on that, Vali, will fall. |

TRANSLATION

"Unfailing are these arrows of mine, scorchers like sun, sharp ones tied with eagle feathers, similar to Indra's Thunderbolts, sharp are their point and straight is their egress, similar to enraged snakes, and these arrows of mine will be speeded up to fall on that vicious Vali... [4-5-26b, 27, 28a]

VERSE 28

तम् अद्य वालिनम् पश्य तीक्ष्णैः आशी विष उपमैः

tam adya vālinam paśya tīkṣṇaiḥ āśī viṣa upamaiḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 29a| adya: now | āśī viśa upamaiḥ: snakes, venomous, in similarity | krūraiḥ śaraiḥ vinihitam: by cruel, arrows, completely ruined | bhūmau: on ground | prakīrṇam: splintered | parvatam: mountain | iva: like | vālinam: Vali | paśya: you see. |

TRANSLATION

"You will see now itself the falling of Vali like a splintered mountain onto ground, when completely ruined by these cruel arrows that are similar to venomous snakes..." Thus Rama inculcated confidence in Sugreeva. [4-5-28b, 29a]

VERSE 29

स तु तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा राघवस्य आत्मनोहितम्
सुग्रीवः परम प्रीतः परमम् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्

sa tu tad vacanam śrutvā rāghavasya ātmanohitam
sugrīvaḥ parama prītaḥ paramam vākyam abravīt

SYNONYMS

b, c| saḥ tu: he, also | sugrīva: Sugreeva | ātmanaḥ hitam: for himself, appeasing | rāghavasya tat vacanam: of Raghava, that saying | śrutvā: on hearing | parama prītaḥ: completely satisfied | sumahat: fine | vākyam: sentence | abravīt: said. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing Raghava's words that are appeasing for his self, Sugreeva is very completely satisfied and said this fine sentence. [4-5-29b, c]

VERSE 30

तव प्रसादेन नृसिंह वीर
प्रियाम् च राज्यम् च समाप्नुयाम् अहम्
तथा कुरु त्वम् नर देव वैरिणम्
यथा न हिंस्यत् स पुनर् मम अग्रजम्

tava prasādena nṛsiṃha vīra
priyām ca rājyam ca samāpnuyām aham
tathā kuru tvam nara deva vairiṇam
yathā na hiṃsyat sa punar mama agrajam

SYNONYMS

tava prasādena: by you, grace | nṛ simha: lion, among men | vīra: valiant one | aham: I will | priyām ca: wife, also | rājyam ca: kingdom, too | sam āpnuyām: let me regain | nara deva: humans', god | saḥ: he | punaḥ: again | yathā: as to how | na: not to | hinsyat: suffer me | tathā tvam kuru: like that, you, do | vairiṇam: to my enemy | mama agrajam: my elder brother. |

TRANSLATION

"By your grace, oh, lion among men, let me regain my wife and kingdom too... oh, god of humans, as to how he does not suffer me again, thus you may please make happen... let not my elder brother turned as an enemy of mine suffer me again... [4-5-30]

VERSE 31

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे पञ्चमः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe pañcamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

praṇaya: friendly | prasaṅge: conversation | sīta: Seetha's | kapi indra: monkeys, lord's [Vali's] | kśaṇadā carānām: night, walker's [Ravana's] | rājīva: lotus | hema: golden | jvalana: fireball | upamānāni: in similitude | vāmāni: left side | netrāṇi: eyes | samam: equally | sphuranti: fluttered. |

TRANSLATION

During the friendly conversation of Rama and Sugreeva, the left eyes of Seetha, Vali and Ravana that bear similitude with lotuses, golden orbs, and fireballs respectively have fluttered equally. [4-5-31]

PURPORT

This verse is in krama alankaara , an equated metaphoric expression, by juxtaposing words equally to compare Seetha's eyes with lotuses, Vali's eyes with golden-balls for his complexion is golden, and Ravana's eyes with fireballs. But all are left eyes only that have fluttered. The flutter of left eye to the male is a bad omen while to the female it is a good omen. Hence the friendship of Rama and Sugreeva is the seedling point for eradication of vice, namely Vali and Ravana, from face of the earth.