Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

ततः ते ददृशुः घोरम् सागरम् वरुण आलयम्
अपारम् अभिगर्जन्तम् घोरैः ऊर्मिभिः आकुलम्

tataḥ te dadṛśuḥ ghoram sāgaram varuṇa ālayam
apāram abhigarjantam ghoraiḥ ūrmibhiḥ ākulam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Then they saw an inexorable ocean, the realm of Rain-god, tumultuous with out-roaring and implacable waves, and shoreless otherwhere. [4-53-1]

VERSE 2

मयस्य माया विहितम् गिरि दुर्गम् विचिन्वताम्
तेषाम् मासो व्यतिक्रान्तो यो राज्ञा समयः कृतः

mayasya māyā vihitam giri durgam vicinvatām
teṣām māso vyatikrānto yo rājñā samayaḥ kṛtaḥ

SYNONYMS

teṣām: for them | mayasya māyā vihitam: demon Maya's, by wizardry, arranged [concocted cavity] | giri durgam: mountains, impassable areas | vicinvatām: while searching out | yaḥ rājñā samayaḥ kṛtaḥ: which [month,] by king, time, made [timeframe,] set | [saḥ: that] | māsaḥ vyatikrāntaḥ: month, passed off. |

TRANSLATION

Which month is set as timeframe for the monkeys by king Sugreeva that month passed off while the monkeys are searching mountains, impassable areas and within the cavity concocted by the wizardry of demon Maya. [4-53-2]

VERSE 3

विन्ध्यस्य तु गिरेः पादे संप्रपुष्पित पादपे
उपविश्य महात्मानः चिन्ताम् आपेदिरे तदा

vindhyasya tu gireḥ pāde saṃprapuṣpita pādape
upaviśya mahātmānaḥ cintām āpedire tadā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Sitting on a foothill of Mt. Vindhya which is with fully flowered trees those virtue-souled monkeys are then driven in desperation. [4-53-3]

PURPORT

This is the southwest quarter of India as said at: himavat vindhya shailaabhyaam praayo vyaaptaa vasundharaa - bheShaja kalpa 'the Vindhya range spans from Himalayas to [southern ocean, for India...]

VERSE 4

ततः पुष्पातिभाराग्रा।न्ल्ल्ताशतसमावृतान् यद्वा
ततः पुष्प अतिभार अग्रान् लता शत समावृतान्
द्रुमान्
वासन्तिकान् दृष्ट्वा बभूवुः भय शन्किताः

tataḥ puṣpātibhārāgrā|nlltāśatasamāvṛtān -yadvā -
tataḥ puṣpa atibhāra agrān latā śata samāvṛtān
drumān
vāsantikān dṛṣṭvā babhūvuḥ bhaya śankitāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Then on seeing the treetops of spring season, weighty with flowers and enshrouded with hundreds of vines, they became incredulous with the fright of failing Sugreeva's timeframe. [4-53-4]

VERSE 5

ते वसंतम् अनुप्राप्तम् प्रतिवेद्य परस्परम्
नष्ट संदेश काल अर्था निपेतुर् धरणी तले

te vasaṃtam anuprāptam prativedya parasparam
naṣṭa saṃdeśa kāla arthā nipetur dharaṇī tale

SYNONYMS

te: they | vasantam anu prāptam: spring season, towards, bechanced | paraḥ param: each, to the other | prati vedya: in turn, on knowing [on discussing] | naṣṭa sandeśa kāla arthā: lost, message, timely, purpose of | nipetuḥ dharaṇī tale: plumped down, on earth's, surface. |

TRANSLATION

On discussing among themselves they found that spring season has arrived, and they also found the purpose of timely messaging about Seetha to Sugreeva is lost, thus they plumped down onto the surface of earth. [4-53-5]

PURPORT

The trees like mangos etc flower in shashira cold season, Feb - Apr., and yield in vasanta spring season, Apr. - June. On seeing the blossom of flowers they are dismayed for chanced is springtime. Sugreeva called for armies in maargashira month, nearly Jan., after the completion of sharat 'post-rainy season' Oct. - Dec., and fixed puSya month, nearly Feb., as their timeframe. That puSya month is lapsed while they were searching at other places in south and the next maagha month, nearly March, they spent in the Dark Hole. Hence this must be phaalguna nearly April, and in their overstaying for two months they are frightened of Sugreeva.

VERSE 6

ततः तान् कपि वृद्धान् च शिष्टान् चैव वनौकसः
वाचा मधुरया अभाष्य यथावत् अनुमान्य च

tataḥ tān kapi vṛddhān ca śiṣṭān caiva vanaukasaḥ
vācā madhurayā abhāṣya yathāvat anumānya ca

SYNONYMS

, 7| tataḥ: then | simha ṛṣabha skandhaḥ: leonine [lion-like,] bull-like, one having such a nape of the neck | pīna āyata bhujaḥ kapiḥ: sturdy, lengthy, one having such arms | yuvarājaḥ mahā prājñaḥ: crown prince, great, foreseer | saḥ kapiḥ angadaḥ: he that, monkey, Angada | tān kapi vṛddhān ca: to those, monkey, elder ones | śiṣṭān vana okasaḥ caiva: to other, forest, dwellers, also thus | madhurayā vācā: melodiously [modestly,] with words | abhāṣya: on greeting | yathāvat anumānya ca: as usual, respecting, also | vākyam abravīt: sentence, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

The crown prince and a great foreseer Angada, the monkey, whose nape of neck is leonine and bullish, arms lengthy and sturdy, then as usual paying respects to elderly monkeys greeted all of the forest dwellers and spoke this sentence in a modest voice. [4-53-6, 7]

VERSE 8

शासनात् कपि राजस्य वयम् सर्वे विनिर्गताः
मासः पूर्णो बिलस्थानाम् हरयः किम् न बुध्यते

śāsanāt kapi rājasya vayam sarve vinirgatāḥ
māsaḥ pūrṇo bilasthānām harayaḥ kim na budhyate

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, monkeys, we all have started at the command of the king of monkeys, and the month fixed by him is zeroed out while we were in Black Cavity. Are you aware of it?" Thus Angada started to speak his mind. [4-53-8]

VERSE 9

वयम् आश्वयुजे मासि काल संख्या व्यवस्थिताः
प्रस्थिताः सो अपि च अतीतः किम् अतः कार्यम् उत्तरम्

vayam āśvayuje māsi kāla saṃkhyā vyavasthitāḥ
prasthitāḥ so api ca atītaḥ kim ataḥ kāryam uttaram

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"We were sent out scheduling time calculating from the month of aashviiyuja nearly October. Even that time fixed for us has also lapsed. Thereby, what is to be done next? [4-53-9]

PURPORT

Vividly: 'we the monkey forces were summoned in aashviiyuja month, within a fifteen days of notice, as suggested by Hanuma. Then again when Lakshmana was furious we were summoned in maargashira month, with a ten day notice period. Then the full month of puSyami is the timeframe fixed by Sugreeva to search for Seetha. Thus, when we are scheduled meticulously by days and months we are not supposed to be unaware of the time factor.' The Indian months are twelve : caitra -vaishaakha - jyeShTa -aashaaDha - shraavaNa - bhaadrapada - aashviiuja - kaartiia margashiirsha - pouSha - maagha - phaalguNa -- -The year cycle as per these months is given at the endnote of Bala 12th chapter. Some take this aashviiyuja maase as kaartiika maasa by deciphering this maasi as saamiipya suuchaka adhikaraNa saptami 'because of the proximity it is taken in seventh case...' and thus say this as the end part of kaartiika maasa and Sugreeva ordered maarga shira maasa for searching Seetha, and one intervening month puSya is lapsed in cavity, thus this is phalguNa maasa . This analogy is based on the analogy used when Rama said to Sugreeva kaartiike samanupraapte tvam raavaNam dheyata "On the advent of kaartika month [October, post-rainy season,] you shall try for the elimination of Ravana... this is our accord... hence oh, gentle one, enter your mansion for now..." at 4-26-17.

VERSE 10

भवन्त प्रत्ययम् प्राप्ता नीति मार्ग विशारदाः
हितेषु अभिरता भर्त्तुः निसृष्टाः सर्व कर्मसु

bhavanta pratyayam prāptā nīti mārga viśāradāḥ
hiteṣu abhiratā bharttuḥ nisṛṣṭāḥ sarva karmasu

SYNONYMS

bhavanta pratyayam prāptā: you all, credibility, notched up | nīti mārga viśāradāḥ: principles, pathways, pioneers | bharttuḥ hiteṣu abhi ratā: in lord's [Sugreeva's,] in well-being, well, disposed | sarva karmasu: in all [any,] exploits | niḥ sṛṣṭāḥ = out, dravn: unsheathed, contrivers of. |

TRANSLATION

"You all the pioneers in the pathway of principles, you have notched up the credibility of your king, you are all well-disposed in the well-being of your king, and you are the contrivers of any exploit. [4-53-10]

VERSE 11

कर्मसु अप्रतिमाः सर्वे दिक्षु विश्रुत पौरुषाः
माम् पुरस्कृत्य निर्याताः पिन्गाक्ष प्रतिचोदिताः

karmasu apratimāḥ sarve dikṣu viśruta pauruṣāḥ
mām puraskṛtya niryātāḥ pingākṣa praticoditāḥ

SYNONYMS

sarve: all of you ['all' is now ellipted to all attributes] | karmasu a pratimāḥ: in tasks, not, paralleled ones | dikśu viśruta pauruṣāḥ: in directions, renowned, asperity | pinga akśa praticoditāḥ: ochreish, eyed [Sugreeva,] impelled by | mām puraskṛtya niryātāḥ = me, kīping afore: as helmsman, started out. |

TRANSLATION

"All of you are unparalleled in all tasks, all your asperity is renowned in all directions, and all of you have come impelled by that ochreish eyed Sugreeva keeping me as your helmsman. [4-53-11]

VERSE 12

इदानीम् अकृत अर्थानाम् मर्तव्यम् न अत्र संशयः
हरि राजस्य संदेशम् अकृत्वा कः सुखी भवेत्

idānīm akṛta arthānām martavyam na atra saṃśayaḥ
hari rājasya saṃdeśam akṛtvā kaḥ sukhī bhavet

SYNONYMS

idānīm: as of now | a kṛta arthānām = not, done [completed,] purpose: our mission is incomplete | martavyam: we have to die [at the hand of Sugreeva] | atra sanśayaḥ na: in this matter, doubt, is not there | hari rājasya sandeśam: monkeys, king's, directive | a kṛtvā = by not, doing: keeping it incomplete | kaḥ sukhī bhavet: who, complacent, can be. |

TRANSLATION

"As of now our mission is incomplete hence we are scheduled to die, and there is no doubt about it. Who can be complacent by keeping the directive of monkey's king incomplete? [4-53-12]

VERSE 13

आस्मिन् अतीते काले तु सुग्रीवेण कृते स्वयम्
प्रायोपवेशनम् युक्तम् सर्वेषाम् च वन ओकसाम्

āsmin atīte kāle tu sugrīveṇa kṛte svayam
prāyopaveśanam yuktam sarveṣām ca vana okasām

SYNONYMS

sugrīveṇa kṛte: by Sugreeva, made [set] | āsmin kāle: this, time [timeframe] | atīte: when lapsed | sarveṣām vana okasām: for all of [us,] forest, dwellers | svayam prāyopaveśanam yuktam = personally: voluntarily, fast unto deaths, is appropriate. |

TRANSLATION

"But in this matter of course, as the time set by Sugreeva is lapsed, it is appropriate for all of us forest dwelling monkeys to voluntarily undertake fasting unto death. [4-53-13]

VERSE 14

तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः स्वामि भावे व्यवस्थितः
न क्षमिष्यति नः सर्वान् अपराध कृतो गतान्

tīkṣṇaḥ prakṛtyā sugrīvaḥ svāmi bhāve vyavasthitaḥ
na kṣamiṣyati naḥ sarvān aparādha kṛto gatān

SYNONYMS

sugrīvaḥ prakṛtyā tīkṣṇaḥ: Sugreeva, instinctively, is a tormentor | svāmi bhāve vyavasthitaḥ: in lord's, poise [in lordship, he is now] institutionalised | gatān: those who return | naḥ: us | sarvān na kṣamiṣyati: all [any of us,] not, condones. |

TRANSLATION

"Instinctively Sugreeva is a tormentor and now he is institutionalised in lordship, thus he will not condone any of us as we will be as good as transgressors if we were to return. [4-53-14]

VERSE 15

अप्रवृत्तौ च सीतायाः पापम् एव करिष्यति
तस्मात् क्षमम् इह अद्य एव गंतुम् प्रायोपविशनम्

apravṛttau ca sītāyāḥ pāpam eva kariṣyati
tasmāt kṣamam iha adya eva gaṃtum prāyopaviśanam

SYNONYMS

, 16a| sītāyāḥ: about Seetha | a pravṛttau = vithout, tidings: not knowing tidings | pāpam eva kariṣyati: sinning [of killing us,] alone, he does [Sugreeva commits] | tasmāt: therefore | putran ca dārān ca dhanāni ca gṛhāṇi ca: sons, also, wives, also, riches, also, house and homes, too | tyaktvā: on leaving off | iha adya eva: here, now, only | prāyopa viśanam = fasting unto death: by sprawling | gantum kṣamam: to enter upon, it is pertinent. |

TRANSLATION

"Sugreeva commits sin alone in our respect by killing all of us as we failed in the facts about Seetha, therefore it is pertinent to enter upon fasting unto, leaving off our sons, wives, riches and houses and homes, too. [4-53-15, 16a]

VERSE 16

ध्रुवम् नः हिंसते राजा सर्वान् प्रतिगतान् इतः

dhruvam naḥ hiṃsate rājā sarvān pratigatān itaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"That king Sugreeva definitely and freakishly tortures all of us on our going back futilely, hence suicide at this place is justifiable for all us. [4-53-16b, c]

VERSE 17

न च अहम् यौवराज्येन सुग्रीवेण अभिषेचितः

na ca aham yauvarājyena sugrīveṇa abhiṣecitaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"I am not anointed to crown-princedom by Sugreeva, but I am anointed by the unbigoted Rama, the king of people. [4-53-17b, 18a]

VERSE 18

स पूर्वम् बद्ध वैरो माम् राजा दृष्ट्वा व्यतिक्रमम्

sa pūrvam baddha vairo mām rājā dṛṣṭvā vyatikramam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"That king Sugreeva who is already bound up in animosity with my father, and thus with me too, now on observing me transgressing his directive will decisively wish to liquidate me by a tyrannous victimisation. [4-53-18a, 19a]

VERSE 19

किम् मे सुहृद्भिः व्यसनम् पश्यद्भिः जीवितांतरे
इह एव प्रायम् आसिष्ये पुण्ये सागर रोधसि

kim me suhṛdbhiḥ vyasanam paśyadbhiḥ jīvitāṃtare
iha eva prāyam āsiṣye puṇye sāgara rodhasi

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Of what use is the witnessing of my kith and kin at me when I am tortured in the prime of my life, hence here on this sacred seashore alone I will outwait my death fasting unto it." Thus Angada said to all the monkeys. [4-53-19b, c]

VERSE 20

एतत् श्रुत्वा कुमारेण युव राजेन भाषितम्
सर्वे ते वानर श्रेष्ठाः करुणम् वाक्यम् अब्रुवन्

etat śrutvā kumāreṇa yuva rājena bhāṣitam
sarve te vānara śreṣṭhāḥ karuṇam vākyam abruvan

SYNONYMS

yuva rājena kumāreṇa: by crown, prince, by youngish [Angada] | bhāṣitam etat śrutvā: uttered, all that, on hearing | sarve te vānara śreṣṭhāḥ: all, those, Vanara, prominent ones | karuṇam vākyam abruvan: sympathetically, words, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing all that uttered by that youngish Angada, the crown prince, all of those prominent Vanara-s sympathetically spoke these words. [4-53-20]

VERSE 21

तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः प्रिया रक्तः च राघवः
समीक्ष्य अकृत कार्यान् तु तस्मिन् च समये गते

tīkṣṇaḥ prakṛtyā sugrīvaḥ priyā raktaḥ ca rāghavaḥ
samīkṣya akṛta kāryān tu tasmin ca samaye gate

SYNONYMS

, 22| sugrīvaḥ prakṛtyā tīkṣṇaḥ: Sugreeva, instinctively, hot-tempered one | rāghavaḥ ca priyā raktaḥ: Raghava, is also, in beloved [wife,] interested | vaidehyām a dṛṣṭāyām: Vaidehi, not, seen when she is not spotted | tasmin samaye gate: that, time, lapsed | sam āgatān: returnees | a kṛta kāryān = not, performed, dīd: those who have not completed assignment | samīkśya = on sīing: us | dṛṣṭvā = on sīing: on thinking | rāghava priya kāmāya = to ṟaghava, likeable, [doing] desirous of: to satisfy Raghava | a sanśayam: without, doubt | ghātayiṣyati: he wishes to liquidate. |

TRANSLATION

"Instinctively Sugreeva is a hot-tempered vanara and Raghava is interested in his beloved wife. The timeframe is lapsed and Vaidehi is unspotted. If we go back to Kishkindha now, on seeing us returning without completing our assignment, and with a thinking to satisfy Rama Sugreeva wishes to liquidate us without any doubt. [4-53-21, 22]

VERSE 23

न क्षमम् च अपराद्धानाम् गमनम् स्वामि पार्श्वतः
प्रधानबूताः च वयम् सुग्रीवस्य समागताः

na kṣamam ca aparāddhānām gamanam svāmi pārśvataḥ
pradhānabūtāḥ ca vayam sugrīvasya samāgatāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"It will be inexcusable for the culprits to pass at the sideways of lords, then where is the question of their coming into king's audience, and we should be barefaced to return because we are all the chieftains of Sugreeva who are coordinated and sent here. [4-53-23]

VERSE 24

इह एव सीताम् अन्वीक्ष्य प्रवृत्तिम् उपलभ्य वा
नः चेत् गच्छाम तम् वीरम् गमिष्यामो यम क्षयम्

iha eva sītām anvīkṣya pravṛttim upalabhya vā
naḥ cet gacchāma tam vīram gamiṣyāmo yama kṣayam

SYNONYMS

iha eva sītām anvīkśya: here, only, Seetha, we search out | pravṛttim upalabhya vā: tidings, we educe, or | tam vīram: to him, champion Sugreeva | naḥ gacchāma cet = ve, approac, not: if we do not go with information | yama kśayam gamiṣyāmaḥ: Yama, the Terminator's, realm, we will to go. |

TRANSLATION

"If we do not return to that champion Sugreeva on searching somewhere here for Seetha, or on our educing some information about her, we will rather enter the realm of Yama, the Terminator." Thus the other monkeys discussed among themselves. [4-53-24]

VERSE 25

प्लवंगमानाम् तु भय अर्दितानाम्
श्रुत्वा वचः तार इदम् बभाषे
अलम् विषादेन बिलम् प्रविश्य
वसाम
सर्वे यदि रोचते वः

plavaṃgamānām tu bhaya arditānām
śrutvā vacaḥ tāra idam babhāṣe
alam viṣādena bilam praviśya
vasāma
sarve yadi rocate vaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On hearing the words of fly-jumpers, who are tormented by fear of Sugreeva, Lt. Tara spoke this to them, "enough is your desperation, if you all are interested let us enter that cave again where we can live. [4-53-25]

VERSE 25

इदम् हि माया विहितम् सुदुर्गमम्
प्रभूत वृक्ष उदक भोज्य पेयम्
इह अस्ति नः न एव भयम् पुरंदरात्
न राघवात् वानर राजतो अपि वा

idam hi māyā vihitam sudurgamam
prabhūta vṛkṣa udaka bhojya peyam
iha asti naḥ na eva bhayam puraṃdarāt
na rāghavāt vānara rājato api vā

SYNONYMS

māyā vihitam: by demon Maya, contrived | prabhūta vṛkṣa udaka bhojya peyam: abundant with, trees, water, eatables, potables | idam = this: cavity | su durgamam hi: highly, impassable [cavity,] isn't it | iha naḥ: here, to us | purandarāt bhayam na eva asti: from Indra, fear, not, even, is there | rāghavāt na: from Raghava, no [fear] | vānara rājataḥ api vā: from monkeys, king, either. |

TRANSLATION

"That highly impassable cavity is contrived by the demon Maya and it is abundant with trees, water, eatables and potables, and there is no fear even from Indra in that cavity, nor from Raghava, nor from Sugreeva, the king of monkeys." So said Lt. Tara to all. [4-53-26]

VERSE 26

श्रुत्वा अंगदस्य अपि वचो अनुकूलम्
ऊचुः च सर्वे हरयः प्रतीताः
यथा न हन्येम तथा विधानम्
असक्तम्
अद्य एव विधीयताम् नः

śrutvā aṃgadasya api vaco anukūlam
ūcuḥ ca sarve harayaḥ pratītāḥ
yathā na hanyema tathā vidhānam
asaktam
adya eva vidhīyatām naḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On hearing Angada's words, as well as the words of Lt. Tara that are trended to Angada's words, all the monkeys compliantly spoke with believability, "in which way we all will not be killed that way may be waymarked, and promptly make it happen now only." So said all the monkeys to Angada. [4-53-27]

VERSE 27

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे त्रि पंचाशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe tri paṃcāśaḥ sargaḥ