Chapter 54

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

तथा ब्रुवति तारे तु तारा अधिपति वर्चसि
अथ मेने हृतम् राज्यम् हनुमान् अंगदेन तत्

tathā bruvati tāre tu tārā adhipati varcasi
atha mene hṛtam rājyam hanumān aṃgadena tat

SYNONYMS

tārā adhipati varcasi: stars, lord [moon, similar in] shine | tāre tathā bruvati: by Lt. Tara, that way, has spoken | atha: then | hanumān: Hanuma | angadena tat rājyam hṛtam: by Angada that, kingdom, stolen [laying siege to] | [iti] mene: [thus,] deemed. |

TRANSLATION

When Lt Tara whose resplendence is similar to moonshine has spoken that way, then Hanuma deemed that Angada is laying siege to that kingdom of Vanaras. [4541]

VERSE 2

बुद्ध्या हि अष्ट अंगया युक्तम् चतुर् बल समन्वितम्
चतुर् दश गुणम् मेने हनुमान् वालिनः सुतम्

buddhyā hi aṣṭa aṃgayā yuktam catur bala samanvitam
catur daśa guṇam mene hanumān vālinaḥ sutam

SYNONYMS

hanumān: Hanuma | vālinaḥ sutam: of Vali's, son | aṣṭa angayā buddhyā yuktam hi: with eight, parts [eightfold,] intelligence, having, indeed | catuḥ bala sam anvitam: four, capabilities[tactics,] having | catuḥ daśa guṇam: [having] four, ten [fourteen,] traits | mene: considered as. |

TRANSLATION

Hanuma considered Vali's son Angada indeed as having eightfold intelligence, fourfold tactics, fourteen traits. [4542]

PURPORT

The IQ of an average person is eightfold as said: -shushruuSha shavaNam caiva grahaNam dhaaraNam tathaa | uuha apoha artha vij~naanam tattva j~naanam ca dhii guNaaH shushruuSa assiduously polite - 1] attentiveness; shravaNam ardently listening - 2] heedfulness; grahanam instantly grasping - 3] receptiveness; dhaaraNam continually remembering - 4] retentiveness; uuha discrimination of pros and cons - 5] speculativeness; apoha indecisiveness about the undesirables and receiving the worthwhile - 6] fastidiousness; artha vij~naanam substance's, comprehensive knowledge - 7] omniscience; tattva j~naanam quintessence's, profundity - 8] acumen. The fourfold tactics or abilities are saama, daana, bheda, danDa 1] placation, 2] presentation, 3] partition, 4] persecution. The other way these four are four abilities mano bala, baahu bala, upaaya bala, bandhu bala self-assuring strengths of self-opinion, self-shoulder strtength, self-ideation and self-consistent supporters. desha kaalaj~nata daarDhyam sarva klesha sahiShNutaa | sarva vij~naanitaa daakShyam uurjaH samvR^ita mantrataa | avisamviditaa shauryam shaktij~natvam kR^itaj~nataa | sharaNa aagata vatslyam amarShatvam acaalana | 1] knowledge of place and time, 2] sturdiness, 3] enduring troubles, 4] knowing all possible, 5] skilfulness, 6] self-defence, 7] maintaining confidentiality of strategies, 8] avoiding unwanted debates [or, not uttering lies, 9] courageousness, 10] recognising strengths and weaknesses of one's own and of others also, 11] faithfulness, 12] sheltering the seekers of shelter, 13] showing anger at appropriate times, 14] unwavering in opinions or actions.
VERSE 3

आपूर्यमाणम् शश्वत् च तेजो बल पराक्रमैः
शशिनम् शुक्ल पक्ष आदौ वर्धमानम् इव श्रिया

āpūryamāṇam śaśvat ca tejo bala parākramaiḥ
śaśinam śukla pakṣa ādau vardhamānam iva śriyā

SYNONYMS

, 4, 5| śaśvat: steadily | tejaḥ bala parākramaiḥ: with spiritedness, mightiness, valorousness | āpūryamāṇam: he who is brimming over | śukla pakṣa ādau: white, fortnight, starting from | śaśinam iva: moon, as with | śriyā vardhamānam [ angadam]: with grandeur, being broadened, [at Angada] | buddhyā: by sagacity | bṛhaspati samam: Brihaspati [Jupiter,] one who is comparable to | vikrame pituḥ sadṛśam: in intrepidity, father, who mirrors up | śukrasya purandaram iva: for Shukraacaarya, Indra, as with | tārasya: of Lt. Tara his advices | śuśrūṣamāṇam: one who is assiduously attentive | bhartuḥ arthe pari śrāntam: in husbander's [king's, Sugreeva's] in concern, overly enervated [Angada] | angadam: to [such ] Angada | sarva śāstra viśāradaḥ: in all, scriptures, scholarly Hanuma | or, sarva śāstra vidām varam: in all, scripture, knowers, best one i.e., to Angada] | hanumān: Hanuma | tataḥ: then | abhisamdhātum [abhi sam dhātum]: to confederate with Sugreeva | ārebhe: started to. |

TRANSLATION

Angada who is steadily brimming over with his spiritedness, mightiness, valorousness, and waxing like the moon starting from day one of White Fortnight of a month, who is comparable to Brihaspati, the Jupiter, in sagacity, who mirrors up his father Vali in intrepidity, but who is now assiduously attentive to the rebellious teachings of Lt. Tara, like Indra who once listened to the unlistenable teachings of demon's mentor, namely Shukraacaarya, as that Angada is overly enervated to fulfil the concerns of the king Sugreeva. Then Hanuma who is the scholar in all scriptures started to confederate the confidence of Angada with the present regime of Sugreeva. [4543, 4, 5]

PURPORT

Indian categorisation of a month does not directly jump to weeks, but firstly into two fortnights, later into weeks and then to days: 1] paurNami, poorNima White Fortnight - where the moon will be waxing from new-moon-day; 2] amaavaasya Black Fortnight - where the moon will be waning to no-moon-day.
VERSE 6

स चतुर्णाम् उपायानाम् तृतीयम् उपवर्णयन्
भेदयामास तान् सर्वान् वानरान् वाक्य संपदा

sa caturṇām upāyānām tṛtīyam upavarṇayan
bhedayāmāsa tān sarvān vānarān vākya saṃpadā

SYNONYMS

saḥ: he Hanuma | caturṇām upāyānām: among four, ideations | tṛtīyam upavarṇayan: third one, while exemplifying | tān sarvān vānarān: them, all, vanaras | vākya sampadā: by words', wealth, [rhetorically] | bhedayāmāsa: schismatically started to secede. |

TRANSLATION

Hanuma then rhetorically started to the schismatic secession of all those vanaras, who are desirous of avoiding Sugreeva and desiring a hideout, exemplifying the third ideation, namely the partition, among the four political ideations, viz., placation, presentation, partition, persecution. [4546]

PURPORT

The four ideations are saama, daana, bheda, daNDa upaayaaH The ideations for placation, presentation, partition, persecution, in connection with a political adversary.
VERSE 7

तेषु सर्वेषु भिन्नेषु ततो अभीषय अंगदम्
भीषणैः विविधैः वाक्यैः कोप उपाय समन्वितैः

teṣu sarveṣu bhinneṣu tato abhīṣaya aṃgadam
bhīṣaṇaiḥ vividhaiḥ vākyaiḥ kopa upāya samanvitaiḥ

SYNONYMS

teṣu sarveṣu bhinneṣu: in them, in all, in defection [from Angada's idea of defecting from Sugreeva] | tataḥ: then | kopa upāya samanvitaiḥ: anger [persecutory,] ideation, containing | bhīṣaṇaiḥ vividhaiḥ vākyaiḥ: with awesome, diverse, sentences [orations] | angadam abhīṣayat: Angada, is overawed by Hanuma. |

TRANSLATION

When Hanuma made all of the vanaras to defect from Angada's idea of defecting Sugreeva, then Hanuma further overawed Angada with diverse and awesome orations containing the fourth ideation, namely the persecutory measures, employable by Sugreeva on defectors. [4547]

VERSE 8

त्वम् समर्थ तरः पित्रा युद्धे तारेय वै ध्रुवम्
दृढम् धारयितुम् शक्तः कपि राज्यम् यथा पिता

tvam samartha taraḥ pitrā yuddhe tāreya vai dhruvam
dṛḍham dhārayitum śaktaḥ kapi rājyam yathā pitā

SYNONYMS

tāreya: oh, Lady Tara's son Angada | tvam yuddhe: you, in warfare | pitrā samartha taraḥ: with your father, able, more [abler than] | dhruvam: undeniably | pitā yathā: your father, as with | kapi rājyam dṛḍham dhārayitum śaktaḥ: monkey, kingdom, unquestionably, to sustain, capable. |

TRANSLATION

"As with your father you are undeniably abler in warfare, oh, the son of Lady Tara, and as with your father you are unquestionably capable enough to sustain the monkey kingdom." Thus Hanuma started to address Angada. [4548]

VERSE 9

नित्यम् अस्थिर चित्ता हि कपयो हरि पुंगव
न आज्ञाप्यम् विषहिष्यन्ति पुत्र दारान् विना त्वया

nityam asthira cittā hi kapayo hari puṃgava
na ājñāpyam viṣahiṣyanti putra dārān vinā tvayā

SYNONYMS

hari pungava: oh, monkey, the best | kapayaḥ nityam a sthira cittā hi: monkeys, always, not, consistent, at will, isn't it | putra dārān vinā: sons, wives, without separated from them | tvayā: by you | ājñāpyam: to be ordered to remain under your control | na vi ṣahiṣyanti: not, verily, tolerate they will not abide. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, best monkey, Angada, monkeys will be inconsistent at their will, isn't it! Separated from their sons and wives they cannot tolerate to remain under your control for a long. [4549]

VERSE 10

त्वाम् न एते हि अनुयुंजेयुः प्रत्यक्षम् प्रवदामि ते
यथा अयम् जांबवान् नीलः सुहोत्रः च महाकपिः

tvām na ete hi anuyuṃjeyuḥ pratyakṣam pravadāmi te
yathā ayam jāṃbavān nīlaḥ suhotraḥ ca mahākapiḥ

SYNONYMS

, 11| pratyakṣam te yathā pra vadāmi: obviously, to you, as how, I am telling I am plainly telling what is obvious | ayam jāmbavān: this, Jambavanta | nīlaḥ: Niila | mahā kapiḥ suhotraḥ ca: great, monkey, Suhotra, also | ete: all these [monkeys] | tvām: [after] you | na anu yunjeyuḥ hi: not, at heel, join, isn't it they won't tagalong you | [tathā: likewise] | aham na hi: I [too,] will not, definitely, [tagalong you] | te ime: those, these such as they are they, or, we are | sarve: all of [us] | sāma dāna ādibhiḥ guṇaiḥ: placation, presentation, and the like, by tactics | daṇḍena: [even] by persecution | tvayā sugrīvāt: by you, from Sugreeva | apa karṣitum: away, pull to sidetrack | na śakyāḥ: not, possible. |

TRANSLATION

"I plainly tell you what is obvious. This Jambavanta, these monkeys like Niila, and great monkey Suhotra and others do not definitely tagalong you, isn't it. Likewise I too do not definitely tagalong you. Such as we are, it will be impossible for you to sidetrack us from Sugreeva using tactics like placation, presentation or even persecution, isn't so! [45410, 11]

VERSE 12

विगृह्य आसनम् अपि आहुः दुर्बलेन बलीयसा
आत्म रक्षा करः तस्मात् न विगृह्णीत दुर्बलः

vigṛhya āsanam api āhuḥ durbalena balīyasā
ātma rakṣā karaḥ tasmāt na vigṛhṇīta durbalaḥ

SYNONYMS

balīyasā dur balena: with mighty, less, mighty | vi gṛhya: verily, antagonising [at odds with] | āsanam api āhuḥ: to linger on, even if, [so to] speak | tasmāt ātma rakṣā karaḥ: therefore, yourself, safeguard, do [guard yourself] | durbalaḥ na vigṛhṇīta: less mighty [mediocre mighty, mediocrities] not, will be at odds. |

TRANSLATION

"Even if a mightless is at odds with the mighty he can linger on, so to speak, therefore guard yourself, for no mediocrity will be at odds... [45412]

PURPORT

Vividly: 'though moralists say that the mighty shall not fall afoul of the mightless, but their relations will always be in estrangement... and the foulness of mightless with the mighty will run the relations afoul... thus, purchasing the wrath of the mighty by the mightless is futile... and such as you are, you seek asylum in such a cavity as counselled haphazardly by all these fickly monkeys... thus, beware that the mightless is the one who shall strive for selfguarding against the mighty, but not contrariwise...
VERSE 13

याम् च इमाम् मन्यसे धात्रीम् एतत् बिलम् इति श्रुतम्
एतत् लक्ष्मण बाणानाम् ईषत् कार्यम् विदारणे

yām ca imām manyase dhātrīm etat bilam iti śrutam
etat lakṣmaṇa bāṇānām īṣat kāryam vidāraṇe

SYNONYMS

yām imām dhātrīm: of which, this one, of earth [going underground] | manyase: you suppose | etat bilam iti śrutam: this one, cavity [Black Hole,] thus, heard [by you from Lt. Tara] | lakṣmaṇa bāṇānām: for Lakshmana's, arrows | etat vi dāraṇe: all this [Black Hole] by far, to split apart | īṣat kāryam: is a trifling, deed. |

TRANSLATION

"This matter of going underground into that Black Hole which you suppose as a hideout from Sugreeva, as you heard from Lt. Tara and others, but it is a deed of trifle to Lakshmana's arrows, not necessarily for Rama's arrows, in splitting apart whole of that Black Hole in a trice. [45413]

VERSE 14

स्वल्पम् हि कृतम् इन्द्रेण क्षिपता हि अशनिम् पुरा
लक्ष्मणो निशितैः बाणैः भिन्द्यात् पत्र पुटम् यथा

svalpam hi kṛtam indreṇa kṣipatā hi aśanim purā
lakṣmaṇo niśitaiḥ bāṇaiḥ bhindyāt patra puṭam yathā

SYNONYMS

purā aśanim kṣipatā hi: once, Thunderbolt, thudded, indeed | indreṇa svalpam kṛtam hi: by Indra, trivial [deed,] done, indeed | lakṣmaṇaḥ niśitaiḥ bāṇaiḥ: Lakshmana, with acute, arrows | patra puṭam yathā: leafy, bowl, as if [it is a] | bhindyāt: will splinter. |

TRANSLATION

"Indeed, once Indra thudded his Thunderbolt on this very underground illusory place, but that act was indeed a trivial deed for that Thunderbolt made a single demonsized aperture to eliminate a single demon, Maya, which we now call Riksha bila, Black Hole, nevertheless Lakshmana will splinter whole of this Black Hole with his acute arrows, as if it is leafy bowl. [45414]

VERSE 15

लक्ष्मणस्य च नाराचा बहवः सन्ति तत् विधाः
वज्र अशनि सम स्पर्शा गिरीणाम् अपि दारकाः

lakṣmaṇasya ca nārācā bahavaḥ santi tat vidhāḥ
vajra aśani sama sparśā girīṇām api dārakāḥ

SYNONYMS

vajra aśani sama sparśā: Thunderbolt, Lightning Flash, equal, in touch [punch] | girīṇām api dārakāḥ: mountains, even, splitters of | tat vidhāḥ: that, type of Thunderboltlike | bahavaḥ lakṣmaṇasya nārācā santi: numerous, Lakshmana's, ironarrows, are there. |

TRANSLATION

"There are numerous ironarrows with Lakshmana that are kindred to Thunderbolt of Indra, whose punch will be equalling that of Thunderbolt and Lightning Flashes, and which are the splitters of mountains. [45415]

PURPORT

Annex: 'of which you all may have heard, but a few of us like Jaambavanta, Nala, Neea, Lt. Tara and myself bear witness, personally... on piercing the seven sturdy trees Rama's arrow penetrated into the nethermost terrain of earth and resurfaced... then, Lakshmana's arrow can pulverise mountains, isn't so...'
VERSE 16

अवस्थाने यदा एव त्वम् आसिष्यसि परंतप
तदा एव हरयः सर्वे त्यक्ष्यन्ति कृत निश्चयाः

avasthāne yadā eva tvam āsiṣyasi paraṃtapa
tadā eva harayaḥ sarve tyakṣyanti kṛta niścayāḥ

SYNONYMS

parantapa: oh, enemyburner Angada | tvam yadā eva: you, as and when | ava sthāne: down, place [underground, or, an unworthy place for a crown prince] | āsiṣyasi: you settle down | tadā eva: then, only | sarve harayaḥ: all, monkeys | kṛta niścayāḥ: on making, resolve | tyakṣyanti: will desert [you.] |

TRANSLATION

"As and when you settle down in that underground, more so, an unbefitting place for a crown prince, oh, enemyburner Angada, then and there all the monkeys will desert you resolvedly. [45416]

VERSE 17

स्मरंतः पुत्र दाराणाम् नित्य उद्विग्ना बुभुक्षिताः
खेदिता दुःख शय्याभिः त्वाम् करिष्यन्ति पृष्ठतः

smaraṃtaḥ putra dārāṇām nitya udvignā bubhukṣitāḥ
kheditā duḥkha śayyābhiḥ tvām kariṣyanti pṛṣṭhataḥ

SYNONYMS

putra dārāṇām smarantaḥ: sons, wives, reminiscing | nitya udvignā: always, sulking | bubhukṣitāḥ: hungered [for palatability] | duḥkha śayyābhiḥ: on lament, beds | kheditāḥ: made to lament | tvām pṛṣṭhataḥ kariṣyanti: you, backwards, they render they push you back. |

TRANSLATION

"Always sulking and reminiscing on their sons and wives, and hungered for the proximity of their kinfolk and hungered for diverse palatability as any monkey would cherish, even so, lamenting on the beds of lament they push you backwards. [45417]

VERSE 18

स त्वम् हीनः सुहृद्भिः च हित कामैः च बंधुभिः
तृणात् अपि भृश उद्विग्नः स्पंदमानात् भविष्यसि

sa tvam hīnaḥ suhṛdbhiḥ ca hita kāmaiḥ ca baṃdhubhiḥ
tṛṇāt api bhṛśa udvignaḥ spaṃdamānāt bhaviṣyasi

SYNONYMS

su hṛdbhiḥ ca: with good, hearted ones | hita kāmaiḥ bandhubhiḥ ca: well, wishers, with relatives, also | hīnaḥ: devoid of | saḥ tvam: he, you such as you are | spandamānāt tṛṇāt api: shaking, than a strawblade, even | bhṛśa udvignaḥ: muchly, sullen [highly frightened] | bhaviṣyasi: you will become [end up.] |

TRANSLATION

"Devoid of goodhearted friends and wellwishing relatives, you will become highly sullen in solitariness. Such as you are you will end up as a highly frightened monkey, even from the shaking of a piece of straw. "Devoid of goodhearted friends and wellwishing relatives, you will become highly sullen in solitariness. Such as you are you will end up as a highly frightened monkey and you will end up much the same as a seamy shaky piece of straw. [45418]

PURPORT

He will become 'a crown prince of straw...' anena parijanaiH pari tyaktaH tR^iNaat api laghu taro bhavati iti suucitam - dk if he discards his own people.
VERSE 19

अति उग्र वेगा निशिता घोरा लक्ष्मण सायकाः
अपवृत्तम् जिघांसन्तो महावेगा दुरासदाः

ati ugra vegā niśitā ghorā lakṣmaṇa sāyakāḥ
apavṛttam jighāṃsanto mahāvegā durāsadāḥ

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇa sāyakāḥ: Lakshmana's, arrows | ati ugra vegā: by far, fiercely, speeded [frantic] | niśitāḥ: twingeing | ghorāḥ: terrifyingly | apa āvṛttam: to side, going sidestepping, you | jighāmsantaḥ: intended to kill if targeted to kill you | mahā vegā durāsadāḥ: highly, speedy [fierily frenetic arrows,] unassailable [here, irreversible.] |

TRANSLATION

"By far, those fiercely frantic arrows of Lakshmana if targeted to kill you, in case you become a sidestepper from loyalties, will be terrifyingly twingeing. Further, those fierily frenetic arrows are irreversible. [45419]

VERSE 20

अस्माभिः तु गतम् सार्धम् विनीतवत् उपस्थितम्
आनुपूर्व्यात् तु सुग्रीवो राज्ये त्वाम् स्थापयिष्यति

asmābhiḥ tu gatam sārdham vinītavat upasthitam
ānupūrvyāt tu sugrīvo rājye tvām sthāpayiṣyati

SYNONYMS

tu: but | asmābhiḥ sā ardham gatam: us, along with, resolute [resolutely,] if gone [if returning to Kishkindha] | vinītavat: like an obedient one | upa sthitam: nearby, staying [staying at his side, flanker] | tvām: you | sugrīvaḥ: Sugreeva | rājye: in kingdom | ānupūrvyāt: as before, only | sthāpayiṣyati: establishes. |

TRANSLATION

"But, if you return to Kishkindha along with us, and if you obediently become Sugreeva's flanker, he establishes you only in kingdom as before. [45420]

VERSE 21

धर्म राजः पितृव्यः ते प्रीति कामो दृढ व्रतः
शुचिः सत्य प्रतिज्ञः च स त्वाम् जातु न नाशयेत्

dharma rājaḥ pitṛvyaḥ te prīti kāmo dṛḍha vrataḥ
śuciḥ satya pratijñaḥ ca sa tvām jātu na nāśayet

SYNONYMS

te pitṛvyaḥ: your, paternaluncle Sugreeva | dharma rājaḥ: with probity, he gleams he gleams with probity | prīti kāmaḥ: affection, desirer of | dṛḍha vrataḥ: staunchly, dedicated | śuciḥ: clean [exonerative] | satya pratijñaḥ ca: to principles, pledged, also | saḥ tvām jātu: he, you, in no way | na nāśayet: not, liquidates. |

TRANSLATION

"Your paternaluncle Sugreeva's gleam is his honesty as he is free of dishonesty, his desire is affection as he is free of aversion, his dedication is staunch as he is free of prevarication, and he himself is exoneration as he is free from exploitation, thus in no way he liquidates you. [45421]

VERSE 22

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे चतुः पंचाशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe catuḥ paṃcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

te mātuḥ priya kāmaḥ ca: you, mother's, well, wisher, also | asya jīvitam tat artham ca: his [Sugreeva's, strife of] life, for that, reason [for the sake of Lady Tara] | tasya anyat apatyam ca na asti: to him [to Sugreeva,] other, posterity, also, not, is there | angada: oh, Angada | tasmāt gamyatām: oh, Angada, therefore, begone [to Kishkindha.] |

TRANSLATION

"He is your mother's wellwisher, the strife of Sugreeva's life is for her only, more so, there is no other posterity to him than you. Oh, Angada, therefore go back to Kishkindha, rather than deflecting, deviating and deserting your own kingdom. [45422]

PURPORT

By these words of advise Hanuma is said to have used all the four tactics of saama, daana, bheda, daNDa upaayaaH 'political ideations of 1] placation, 2] presentation, 3] partition, 4] persecution. This is how that is explained: atra tvam samartha taraH pitraa 4548 iti anena saama uktam | nityam asthira cittaa 4549 iti anena bheda uktaH | tvaam jaatu na naashayet 45421 anena daNda uktaH | asmaabhiH tu gatam saardham anena daanam uktam | evam bhedo api hanumataa saama daana danNDa puurvaka eva kR^itaH | tena bhedanaa angado api bivhiiShitaH | dk As these references are already there, they are not reiterated here.