Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

इति उक्त्वा हनुमान् तत्र पुनः कृष्ण अजिन अंबराम्
अब्रवीत् ताम् महाभागाम् तापसीम् धर्म चारिणीम्

iti uktvā hanumān tatra punaḥ kṛṣṇa ajina aṃbarām
abravīt tām mahābhāgām tāpasīm dharma cāriṇīm

SYNONYMS

iti uktvā hanumān tatra: thus, on saying, Hanuma, there | punaḥ kṛṣṇa ajina ambarām: again, to one with black deer, skin, dressed in | abravīt tām mahābhāgām: spoke, to her, most reverential lady | tāpasīm dharma cāriṇīm: sainted lady, in probity, conducting herself. |

TRANSLATION

Thus, Hanuma on saying therein [that subject,] again spoke to that most reverential and sainted lady who is dressed in black deerskin and conducting herself in probity. [4-51-1]

VERSE 2

इदम् प्रविष्टाः सहसा बिलम् तिमिर संवृतम्
क्षुत् पिपासा परिश्रांताः परिखिन्नाः च सर्वशः

idam praviṣṭāḥ sahasā bilam timira saṃvṛtam
kṣut pipāsā pariśrāṃtāḥ parikhinnāḥ ca sarvaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

idam [vayam] praviṣṭāḥ sahasā: here, [we,] entered, suddenly | bilam timira samvṛtam: cavity, with darkness, overspread | kṣut pipāsā pariśrāntāḥ: with hunger, thirst, overtired | pari khinnāḥ ca sarvaśaḥ: overawed, also, anywise. |

TRANSLATION

"Overtired with hunger and thirst we are overawed anywise, and we suddenly entered this cavity, which is overspread with darkness..." [Thus Hanuma is speaking to her.] [4-51-2]

VERSE 3

महत् धरण्या विवरम् प्रविष्टाः स्म पिपासिताः
इमाम् तु एवम् विधान् भावान् विविधान् अद्भुत उपमान्

mahat dharaṇyā vivaram praviṣṭāḥ sma pipāsitāḥ
imām tu evam vidhān bhāvān vividhān adbhuta upamān

SYNONYMS

, 4| mahat dharaṇyā vivaram: extensive, earth's, hollow | praviṣṭāḥ sma pipāsitāḥ: entered, we, thirstily | imām tu evam vidhān bhāvān: these, but, this, kind of, mansion | vividhān adbhuta upamān: diverse, marvel, similar [marvellous ones] | dṛṣṭvā vayam pravyathitāḥ sambhrāntā naṣṭa cetasaḥ: on seeing, we are, verily agitated, verily amazed, lost, hearts [agonised] | kasya ete kāncanā vṛkṣāḥ: whose, all these, golden, trees | taruṇa āditya sannibhāḥ: young, sun, splendent like. |

TRANSLATION

"We entered this extensive hollow of earth thirstily, but on seeing this kind of these diverse and marvellous mansions we are verily amazed [presuming that this is a dominion of some demon,] and we are agitated [in not knowing dos and don'ts,] and agonised [at our incarceration...] whose trees are all these golden ones, splendent like young sun... [4-51-3, 4]

VERSE 5

शुचीनि अभ्यवहार्याणि मूलानि च फलानि च
कांचनानि विमानानि राजतानि गृहाणि च

śucīni abhyavahāryāṇi mūlāni ca phalāni ca
kāṃcanāni vimānāni rājatāni gṛhāṇi ca

SYNONYMS

, 6a śucīni abhyavahāryāṇi: depurated, edibles | mūlāni ca phalāni ca: tubers, also, fruits, also | kāncanāni vimānāni: golden, aircrafts | rājatāni gṛhāṇi ca: silvern, mansion, also | tapanīya gavākṣāṇi: molten god [golden,] ventilators | maṇi jāla āvṛtāni ca: jewelly, laces, overspread [encased,] also. |

TRANSLATION

"The edibles, tubers, and fruits are all depurated... golden are the aircrafts... mansions silvern... ventilators golden and encased in jewelly laces... [4-51-5, 6a]

VERSE 6

पुष्पिताः फालवन्तः च पुण्याः सुरभि गन्धयः

puṣpitāḥ phālavantaḥ ca puṇyāḥ surabhi gandhayaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 7a| puṣpitāḥ phālavantaḥ ca: flowered, fruited, also | puṇyāḥ surabhi gandhayaḥ: auspicious, scented, aromatically | ime jāmbūnadamayāḥ pādapāḥ: these, completely golden, trees | kasya tejasā: by whose, splendour. |

TRANSLATION

"Flowered and fruited and also aromatically scented are these auspicious and completely golden trees... by whose splendour [they are rendered thus?] [4-51-6b, 7a]

VERSE 7

कांचनानि च पद्मानि जातानि विमले जले

kāṃcanāni ca padmāni jātāni vimale jale

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Also how the lotuses born in limpid water are golden, and how the fishes along with tortoises are ostensibly golden? [4-51-7b, 8a]

VERSE 8

आत्मानः अनुभावात् वा कस्य वै एतत् तपो बलम्

ātmānaḥ anubhāvāt vā kasya vai etat tapo balam

SYNONYMS

b, 9a| ātmānaḥ anu bhāvāt vā: of yours, innate, owing to prodigy, or | kasya vai etat tapaḥ balam: whose, indeed, all this, ascesis', prowess | a jānatām naḥ sarveṣām: not, knowing [oblivious of,] us, all of | sarvam ākhyātum arhasi: all of it, to narrate, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"Or, is all this owing to the innate prodigy of yours or to whose ascesis' prowess all this is owed... as all of us are oblivious of it, so it will be apt of you to narrate all of it..." [Thus Hanuma requested that sainted lady.] [4-51-8b, 9a]

VERSE 9

एवम् उक्ता हनुमता तापसी धर्म चारिणी

evam uktā hanumatā tāpasī dharma cāriṇī

SYNONYMS

b, 10a| evam uktā hanumatā: thus, she is addressed, by Hanuma | tāpasī dharma cāriṇī: sainted lady, righteous, of conduct | prati uvāca hanūmantam: in turn, spoke [replied,] to Hanuma | sarva bhūta hite ratā: all, beings, in well-being, blissful one. |

TRANSLATION

Thus when Hanuma addressed her, that sainted lady, and a blissful one in the well being of all the beings, she replied Hanuma. [4-51-9b, 10a]

VERSE 10

मयो नाम महातेजा मायावी दानवर्षभः

mayo nāma mahātejā māyāvī dānavarṣabhaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 11a| mayaḥ nāma mahātejā [āsīt]: Maya, named, great-resplendent one [a marvellous fantasist] [was there] | māyāvī dānava ṛṣabhaḥ: a wizard, demon, bullish | tena idam nirmitam: by him, this is, constructed | sarvam māyayā kāncanam vanam: all this, with expertise in illusiveness [phenomenal expertise,] golden, woodland. |

TRANSLATION

"A marvellous fantasist by name Maya was there, a bullish demon of wizardry and by him with his phenomenal expertise all this golden woodland is constructed..." [Thus, that sainted lady started her narration.] [4-51-10b]

VERSE 11

पुरा दानव मुख्यानाम् विश्वकर्मा बभूव ह

purā dānava mukhyānām viśvakarmā babhūva ha

SYNONYMS

b, 12a| purā dānava mukhyānām: once, for demons, lords | viśva karmā babhūva ha: universal, craftsman, [he] became, indeed | yena idam kāncanam divyam: by whom, this, golden, heavenly | nirmitam bhavana uttamam: constructed, mansion, superb. |

TRANSLATION

"Once he was the Universal Craftsman to the lords of demons by whom this divinely golden and superb mansion was constructed... [4-51-11]

VERSE 12

ओर्

SYNONYMS

b, 13a saḥ tu varṣa sahasrāṇi: he, but, years, thousands | tapaḥ taptvā mahat vane: ascesis, on practising, in [this] horrendous, forest | pitāmahāt varam lebhe: from Forefather [Brahma,] boon, obtained | sarvam auśasanam dhanam: entire, of Sage Shukra, wealth [the architecture or, the wealth of immoderate beseechers of wealth.] |

TRANSLATION

"But he on practising ascesis for thousands of years in this horrendous forest, obtained a boon from Brahma, the Forefather, [which entails acquirement of] entire wealth of Sage Shukra... "But he on practising ascesis for thousands of years in this horrendous forest, obtained a boon from Brahma, the Forefather, [which entails acquirement of] entire wealth of those people, who immoderately and avariciously beseech all the available gods, to accord all wealth to them only...[4-51-12b, 13a]

PURPORT

Sage Shukra, better known as Shukraacaarya, is the mentor and clan-priest of demons. He was an astounding expert to canonise the Architectural Engineering, creating paradisiacal constructions, materialising materials just from out of thin air and the like. Likewise, many humans beseech gods near at hand, to bestow wealth as godsend without an iota of their personal strain, with a confidence that when Shukraacaarya could deliver material comforts to demons from out of thin air, gods must also be bestowing riches on them, as gods have no other function than this. Hence, this demon Maya, being a demon, wanted to loot the wealth of his own demon-priest Shukraacaarya, viz., the Architectural Engineering. And Brahma granted it, as a crosswise benefit to gods.

VERSE 13

विधाय सर्वम् बलवान् सर्व काम ईश्वरः तदा

vidhāya sarvam balavān sarva kāma īśvaraḥ tadā

SYNONYMS

b, 14a| vidhāya sarvam balavān: methodised, everything, dynamic one | sarva kāma īśvaraḥ tadā: all, wishes, ruler of [invested with privileges for all wishes,] then | uvāsa sukhitaḥ: resided, comfortably | kālam kamcit asmin mahāvane: time, some, in this, great, forest. |

TRANSLATION

"That dynamic one methodised everything and then resided comfortably in this great forest for some time, privileged with all his wishes... [4-51-13b, 14a]

VERSE 14

तम् अप्सरसि हेमायाम् सक्तम् दानव पुंगवम्

tam apsarasi hemāyām saktam dānava puṃgavam

SYNONYMS

b, 15a| tam apsarasi hemāyām saktam: him [demon Maya,] in apsara, [the paradisiacal nymph,] with Hema, engaged with | dānava pungavam: demon, eminent one | vikramya eva aśanim gṛhya: charging, thus, Thunderbolt, on taking | jaghāna īśaḥ purandaraḥ: eliminated, administrator [of worlds,] enemy-strongholds destroyer, namely Indra. |

TRANSLATION

"Indra, the Administrator of Worlds and destroyer of enemy citadels, on taking His Thunderbolt eliminated Maya, when that eminent demon was engaged with an apsara, a paradisiacal nymph, called Hema... [4-51-14b, 15a]

VERSE 15

इदम् च ब्रह्मणा दत्तम् हेमायै वनम् उत्तमम्

idam ca brahmaṇā dattam hemāyai vanam uttamam

SYNONYMS

b, 16a| idam ca brahmaṇā dattam: this one, also, by Brahma, beneficed | hemāyai vanam uttamam: for Hema, woodland, marvellous one | śāśvataḥ kāma bhogaḥ ca: everlasting, wish, enjoyments [fulfillers,] also | gṛham ca idam hiraṇmayam: mansion, also, this one, golden. |

TRANSLATION

"This marvellous woodland, these everlasting wish-fulfillers, and this golden mansion, are beneficed by Brahma for Hema... [4-51-15]

VERSE 16

दुहिता मेरुसावर्णेः अहम् तस्याः स्वयंप्रभा

duhitā merusāvarṇeḥ aham tasyāḥ svayaṃprabhā

SYNONYMS

b, 17a| duhitā merusāvarṇeḥ aham: daughter, of Merusaavarni, I am | tasyāḥ svayamprabhā: of her [of that apsara,] Swayamprabha named [meaning Self-Splendent] | idam rakṣāmi bhavanam: this, safeguarding, mansion | hemāyā vānarottama: of Hema, oh, best monkey. |

TRANSLATION

"I am the daughter of Merusaavarni, oh, best monkey, named Swayamprabha and I am safeguarding this mansion of her, [that apsara] Hema... [4-51-16b, 17a]

VERSE 17

मम प्रिय सखी हेमा नृत्त गीत विशारदा

mama priya sakhī hemā nṛtta gīta viśāradā

SYNONYMS

b, 18a| mama priya sakhī hemā: my, dearest, nymphean-friend, Hema | nṛtta gīta viśāradā: in dance, music, virtuoso | tayā datta varā ca asmi: by her, bestowed, boon, also, I am | rakṣāmi bhavanam mahān: safeguarding, mansion, superb. |

TRANSLATION

"Hema is a virtuoso in dance and music and my dearest nymphean-friend, and she bestowed a boon upon me [by which none can dishonour me, and thus] I am safeguarding this superb mansion... [4-51-17b, 18a]

PURPORT

The Universal Architect is given the title of vishva karma and he will be proficient, right from the skills of a blacksmith to that of an outstanding engineer. His works are always guided and as directed by Indra. Indra's logic is that there shall be one vishva karma in all three worlds, like one Indra to three worlds. But whenever Indra lies low, the demons get works done through the heavenly vishva karma, instead of appointing their own architect as their clan-priest Shukraacaarya's treasure of architecture is lost. This treasure of architecture of Shukraacaarya is usurped by this demon Maya, through Brahma. As Indra cannot defy the boon of Brahma, he baited this Hema, the apsara, to make Maya to woo her. Accordingly, demon Maya brought the nymphal-virtuoso Hema to this cavernous paradisiacal mansion and was subjected to elimination by Indra. After the elimination of this Wonder Architect, Hema departed to Brahma's abode, bequeathing this mansion to Swayamprabha. From then on Hema resided in brahma loka 'Brahma's abode...' as said at: ghR^itaaciim atha vishvaaciim.... naaga datam ca hemaam ca... in Ayodhya part II, Ch. 91, verse 17. When Sage Bharadwaja gave hospitality to Bharata, that sage says this.

VERSE 18

किम् कार्यम् कस्य वा हेतोः कांताराणि प्रपद्यथ

kim kāryam kasya vā hetoḥ kāṃtārāṇi prapadyatha

SYNONYMS

b, 19a| kim kāryam kasya vā hetoḥ: what, work [effort,] which, or, reason | kāntārāṇi prapadyatha: impervious forests, come to pass | katham ca idam vanam durgam: how, also, this, forest, impassable | yuṣmābhiḥ upalakṣitam: by you all, is seen [discovered.] |

TRANSLATION

"What is your effort or for what reason you came to pass this impervious forest, and how you all have discovered this impassable forest... [4-51-18b, 19a]

VERSE 19

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे एक पंचाशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe eka paṃcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Dine on these wholesome edibles, fruits and tubers, also on drinking soft drinks, it is apt of you to inform me all about [your mission..." Thus Swayamprabha gave hospitality to the monkeys.] [4-51-19b, 19c]