Chapter 58

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

इति उक्तः करुणम् वाक्यम् वानरैः त्यक्त जीवितैः
स बाष्पो वानरान् गृध्रः प्रत्युवाच महास्वनः

iti uktaḥ karuṇam vākyam vānaraiḥ tyakta jīvitaiḥ
sa bāṣpo vānarān gṛdhraḥ pratyuvāca mahāsvanaḥ

SYNONYMS

tyakta jīvitaiḥ vānaraiḥ: with [almost] purged, lives, by vanara-s | iti karuṇam vākyam uktaḥ = in this vay, in dreary, vords, one vho is spoken to: Sampaati | mahā svanaḥ gṛdhraḥ: thunder, voiced, eagle [Sampaati] | sa bāṣpaḥ: with, tears | vānarān uvāca: to vanara-s, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

When those monkeys whose lives are almost purged spoke to Sampaati with such dreary words, that thunder-voiced eagle tearfully spoke to those vanara-s. [4-58-1]

VERSE 2

यवीयान् मम स भ्राता जटायुः नाम वानराः
यम् आख्यात हतम् युद्धे रावणेन बलीयसा

yavīyān mama sa bhrātā jaṭāyuḥ nāma vānarāḥ
yam ākhyāta hatam yuddhe rāvaṇena balīyasā

SYNONYMS

vānarāḥ: oh, vanara-s | yam: whom | balīyasā rāvaṇena: by mighty one, by Ravana | yuddhe hatam [iti] ākhyāta: in combat, felled, [thus,] being said | jaṭāyuḥ nāma: Jataayu, named one | saḥ mama yavīyān bhrātā: he is, mine, younger, brother. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, vanara-s, of whom it is enounced that mighty Ravana felled him in a combat, that one is my younger brother named Jatayu... [4-58-2]

VERSE 3

वृद्ध भावात् अपक्षत्वात् शृण्वन् तत् अपि मर्षये
न हि मे शक्तिः अद्य अस्ति भ्रातुः वैर विमोक्षणे

vṛddha bhāvāt apakṣatvāt śṛṇvan tat api marṣaye
na hi me śaktiḥ adya asti bhrātuḥ vaira vimokṣaṇe

SYNONYMS

tat śṛṇvan api: that, though hearing, even | vṛddha bhāvāt: old, owing to [oldness] | a pakṣatvāt: without, wings [owing to winglessness] | marṣaye: I have to resign myself | me adya = to me, nov: presnetly I am | bhrātuḥ vaira vimokṣaṇe: brother's, enemy's, to release [to retaliate] | śaktiḥ na asti hi: capacity, not, is there, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Even though I hear that my brother is slain I have to resign myself from any activity owing to my oldness and my winglessness, and presently I am indeed incapacitated to retaliate my brother's enemy... [4-58-3]

VERSE 4

पुरा वृत्र वधे वृत्ते स च अहम् च जय एषिणौ
आदित्यम् उपयातौ स्वो ज्वलंतम् रश्मि मालिनम्

purā vṛtra vadhe vṛtte sa ca aham ca jaya eṣiṇau
ādityam upayātau svo jvalaṃtam raśmi mālinam

SYNONYMS

purā vṛtra vadhe vṛtte: once, demon Vritta's, elimination, was taking place | saḥ ca aham ca: he, also, I, also | jaya eṣiṇau: surpassing, desiring us two | jvalantam raśmi mālinam: scorching, rays, having [sun] | ādityam upa yātau: to sun, near, we travelled | svaḥ = ve are happening to be: [in historical present tense,] we happened to be - we flew sunward. |

TRANSLATION

"Once, when the elimination of demon Vritta was taking place at the hand of Indra, we two eagle-brothers sportively desiring to surpass each other flew sunward, and we have gone very near to the scorch-rayed sun... [4-58-4]

VERSE 5

आवृत्य आकाश मार्गेण जवेन स्वर् गतौ भृशम्
मध्यम् प्राप्ते च सूर्ये च जटायुः अवसीदति

āvṛtya ākāśa mārgeṇa javena svar gatau bhṛśam
madhyam prāpte ca sūrye ca jaṭāyuḥ avasīdati

SYNONYMS

ākāśa mārgeṇa āvṛtya = by sky, vay, spreading over: covering [the sky] | bhṛśam javena svar gatau: with high, speed, to firmament, we have gone | [jvalantam] sūrye: [scorching of] sun | madhyam prāpte [tu]: mid [day, noontide,] bechanced, when | jaṭāyuḥ avasīdati: Jataayu, [started to] founder. |

TRANSLATION

"Covering the skyway we have gone to firmament much speedily, then bechanced is noontide and thus bechanced is the scorching of the noontime sun, and then Jataayu started to founder... [4-58-5]

VERSE 6

तम् अहम् भ्रातरम् दृष्ट्वा सूर्य रश्मिभिः अर्दितम्
पक्षाभ्यम् छादयामास स्नेहात् परम विह्वलम्

tam aham bhrātaram dṛṣṭvā sūrya raśmibhiḥ arditam
pakṣābhyam chādayāmāsa snehāt parama vihvalam

SYNONYMS

bhrātaram tam: brother, at him | sūrya raśmibhiḥ arditam: by sun's, rays, one who is thwarted | dṛṣṭvā: on seeing | parama vihvalam: highly, fretful [Jataayu] | aham: I have | snehāt: by friendship [by brotherliness] | pakṣābhyam chādayāmāsa: by [my] both wings, I started to cover. |

TRANSLATION

"On seeing him who is being thwarted by scorching sunrays, then I started to cover my highly fretful brother with both of my wings in all my brotherliness... [4-58-6]

VERSE 7

निर्दग्ध पत्रः पतितो विन्ध्ये अहम् वानरर्षभाः
अहम् अस्मिन् वसन् भ्रातुः प्रवृत्तिम् न उपलक्षये

nirdagdha patraḥ patito vindhye aham vānararṣabhāḥ
aham asmin vasan bhrātuḥ pravṛttim na upalakṣaye

SYNONYMS

vānararṣabhāḥ: oh, vanara chiefs | aham: I | nir dagdha patraḥ: with completely, burnt, wings | vindhye patitaḥ: in Vindhya [mountains, I] fell down | asmin = in there: in Vindhya range | vasan: while living [constrainedly] | aham bhrātuḥ pravṛttim: I, brother's, experiences [tidings] | na upa lakṣaye = not, tovards, ī marked out: I gave no attention. |

TRANSLATION

"And oh, vanara-chiefs, when sunrays have utterly burned my wings I fell down on this Mt. Vindhya, and while living hereabouts constrainedly, I could pay no attention to my brother's experiences or, at least his existence, or otherwise..." So lamented old Sampaati. [4-58-7]

VERSE 8

जटायुषः तु एवम् उक्तो भ्रात्रा सम्पातिना तदा
युव राजो महाप्राज्ञः प्रत्युवाच अंगदः तदा

jaṭāyuṣaḥ tu evam ukto bhrātrā sampātinā tadā
yuva rājo mahāprājñaḥ pratyuvāca aṃgadaḥ tadā

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | jaṭāyuṣaḥ bhrātrā sampātinā: Jataayu's, brother, by Sampaati | evam uktaḥ = in that vay, he vho is spoken: Angada | mahā prājñaḥ: highly, discerning | yuva rājaḥ angadaḥ: young, king [crown prince,] Angada | tadā prati uvāca: again, replied. |

TRANSLATION

When Sampaati the brother of Jataayu spoke in that way, then the highly discerning crown prince Angada replied him. [4-58-8]

VERSE 9

जटायुषो यदि भ्राता श्रुतम् ते गदितम् मया
आख्याहि यदि जानासि निलयम् तस्य रक्षसः

jaṭāyuṣo yadi bhrātā śrutam te gaditam mayā
ākhyāhi yadi jānāsi nilayam tasya rakṣasaḥ

SYNONYMS

te gaditam: by you, said | mayā śrutam = by me, heard: I consider what you have said | jaṭāyuṣaḥ bhrātā yadi: of Jataayu, you are brother, if | jānāsi yadi: you know, if | tasya rakṣasaḥ nilayam: that, demon's, residence [whereabouts] | ākhyāhi: you tell | [or, yadi jaṭāyuṣaḥ bhrātā asi: if, Jataayu's, brother, you are | yadi mayā gaditam te śrutam: if, by me, said, by you, heard. That is, 'if you are the brother of Jataayu and if you have heard whatever I have said in praise of Jataayu, you please tell...] |

TRANSLATION

"If you are the brother of Jataayu, if you have heard whatever I have said in praise of Jataayu, and if you are aware of the whereabouts of Ravana... please tell it... [4-58-9]

VERSE 10

अदीर्घ दर्शिनम् तम् वा रावणम् राक्षसाधिपम्
अन्तिके यदि वा दूरे यदि जानासि शंस नः

adīrgha darśinam tam vā rāvaṇam rākṣasādhipam
antike yadi vā dūre yadi jānāsi śaṃsa naḥ

SYNONYMS

a dīrgha darśinam: not, long, sighted [near-sighted, bigoted] | rākśasa adhamam: demon, knavish | tam rāvaṇam: about him, that Ravana | antike vā: [his location,] nearby, whether | dūre yadi vā: faraway, if, or | jānāsi yadi: you know, if | naḥ śamsa: to us, you inform. |

TRANSLATION

"If you are aware of the location of that bigoted and knavish demon Ravana, please inform us. Doesn't matter whether that location is nearby or far off as we can search far and wide..." Thus Angada asked Sampaati. [4-58-10]

VERSE 11

ततो अब्रवीत् महातेजा भ्राता ज्येष्ठो जटायुषः
आत्म अनुरूपम् वचनम् वानरान् संप्रहर्षयन्

tato abravīt mahātejā bhrātā jyeṣṭho jaṭāyuṣaḥ
ātma anurūpam vacanam vānarān saṃpraharṣayan

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | jaṭāyuṣaḥ jyeṣṭhaḥ bhrātā: of Jataayu, elder, brother | mahā tejā = high, spirited: Sampaati | vānarān: monkeys | sam pra harṣayan: well, highly, gladdening | ātma anurūpam: self, befitting | vacanam: words | abravīt: spoke. |

TRANSLATION

Then Sampaati, the high-spirited elder brother of Jataayu, spoke these words that are self-befitting and that would highly gladden the monkeys. [4-58-11]

VERSE 12

निर्दग्ध पक्षो गृध्रो अहम् गत वीर्यः प्लवम् गमाः
वाङ् मात्रेण तु रामस्य करिष्ये साह्यम् उत्तमम्

nirdagdha pakṣo gṛdhro aham gata vīryaḥ plavam gamāḥ
vāṅ mātreṇa tu rāmasya kariṣye sāhyam uttamam

SYNONYMS

plavam gamāḥ: oh, fly-jumpers | nirdagdha pakṣaḥ: completely burnt, one having such wings | gata vīryaḥ: vanished, valiance | gṛdhraḥ aham: eagle, I am | vāk mātreṇa tu: verbally, in the least, but | rāmasya uttamam sāhyam kariṣye: of Rama [task,] best, service, I wish to render. |

TRANSLATION

"I am an eagle with utterly burnt wings and vanished valiance, even then, I wish to render a best service in the task of Rama, at least verbally... [4-58-12]

VERSE 13

जानामि वारुणान् लोकान् विष्णोः त्रैविक्रमान् अपि
देव असुर विमर्दाम् च हि अमृतस्य च मंथनम्

jānāmi vāruṇān lokān viṣṇoḥ traivikramān api
deva asura vimardām ca hi amṛtasya ca maṃthanam

SYNONYMS

vāruṇān lokān: pertaining to Rain-god, [nether] worlds | trai vikramān: pertaining to triple treading [on all universe] | viṣṇoḥ api [lokān] = of Viśnu, even, [about upper vorlds: trodden by Vishnu] | deva asura vi mardām ca: gods, demons, ghastly, combats, also | amṛtasya manthanam ca: ambrosia's, churning, also | jānāmi: I know [I saw] |

TRANSLATION

"I have seen the netherworlds of Rain-god viz., earth and its substrata like atala. vitala, sutala, paataala terrains... and I have even seen those empyrean worlds that were triply trodden by Vishnu, and the intermediary regions of upper and lower worlds where gods and demons combated ghastlily, and because I am that aged I have also seen the unseeable Milky Ocean when it was churned for ambrosia... [4-58-13]

VERSE 14

रामस्य यत् इदम् कार्यम् कर्तव्यम् प्रथमम् मया
जरया च हतम् तेजः प्राणाः च शिथिला मम

rāmasya yat idam kāryam kartavyam prathamam mayā
jarayā ca hatam tejaḥ prāṇāḥ ca śithilā mama

SYNONYMS

rāmasya yat idam kāryam = ṟama's, that vhic, this, task: is there, that one is | maya prathamam kartavyam: by me, firstly, to be done | jarayā mama tejaḥ hatam: by oldness, my, vigour is, marred | prāṇāḥ ca śithilā: vitality, is also, decrepit. |

TRANSLATION

"It is I who am to render service in this task of Rama firstly, than you vanara-s, as the common enemy of Rama and Jataayu is my first enemy, but I am decrepit as oldness has marred my vigour and vitality... [4-58-14]

VERSE 15

तरुणी रूप संपन्ना सर्व आभरण भूषिता
ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना

taruṇī rūpa saṃpannā sarva ābharaṇa bhūṣitā
hriyamāṇā mayā dṛṣṭā rāvaṇena durātmanā

SYNONYMS

dur ātmanā: by black, hearted one | rāvaṇena hriyamāṇā: by Ravana, being stolen away | taruṇī: a young lady | rūpa sampannā: in mien, richly | sarva ābharaṇa bhūṣitā: all [every,] jewellery, embellished with | rāma rāma iti: Rama, Rama, thus | lakṣmaṇa iti ca: Lakshmana, thus, even | krośantī: she who is bewailing | bhūṣaṇāni apa vidhyantī: ornament, down, throwing | gātrāṇi vi dhunvatī ca: limbs, highly, wriggling, also | bhāminī: a lady in fury | mayā dṛṣṭā: by me, seen. |

TRANSLATION

"I have seen a youngish lady while she is being stolen away by the black-hearted demon Ravana. She richly in her mien, embellished with every befitting jewellery for a princess, and that lady in fury was bewailing calling, 'Rama... Rama...' even calling 'Lakshmana...' and she was throwing her ornaments down and her limbs were highly wriggly to set herself free from that demon... [4-58-15, 16]

VERSE 17

सूर्य प्रभा इव शैल अग्रे तस्याः कौशेयम् उत्तमम्
असिते राक्षसे भाति यथा वा तडित् अंबुदे

sūrya prabhā iva śaila agre tasyāḥ kauśeyam uttamam
asite rākṣase bhāti yathā vā taḍit aṃbude

SYNONYMS

asite rākṣase: blackish, in demon [demon's flank] | tasyāḥ uttamam kauśeyam: her, best, ochry silk sari | [asite] śaila agre: [blackish ] mountain, on top | sūrya prabhā iva: sun, shine, as with | : or | [asite] ambude taḍit yathā: [in blakish,] in waters [of ocean,] lightning, as with | bhāti: dazzling. |

TRANSLATION

"In the flank of that blackish demon her best ochry silk-sari was dazzling like sunshine atop a blackish mountain, or like lighting athwart a blackish ocean... [4-58-17]

PURPORT

Thus expression ambude taDit yathaa is also said as vidyut iva ambare - vidyut iva ambude in other mms, meaning 'lightning with a backdrop of blue-black sky or ocean...'
VERSE 18

ताम् तु सीताम् अहम् मन्ये रामस्य परिकीर्तनात्
श्रूयताम् मे कथयतो निलयम् तस्य रक्षसः

tām tu sītām aham manye rāmasya parikīrtanāt
śrūyatām me kathayato nilayam tasya rakṣasaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāmasya pari kīrtanāt: Rama's, excessive, by laudation of | tām tu sītām aham manye: her, on her part, as Seetha, I, deem | tasya rakṣasaḥ: of that, demon's | nilayam: location | kathayataḥ: while I say | me śrūyatām: from me, you hear. |

TRANSLATION

"Thus, I deem her to be Seetha by her excessive laudation of Rama, and let the location of that demon be heard from me while I say about it... [4-58-18]

VERSE 19

पुत्रो विश्रवसः साक्षात् भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च
अध्यास्ते नगरीम् लंकाम् रावणो नाम राक्षसः

putro viśravasaḥ sākṣāt bhrātā vaiśravaṇasya ca
adhyāste nagarīm laṃkām rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ

SYNONYMS

viśravasaḥ putraḥ: of Vishravasa, son | sākṣāt: manifestly [literally] | vaiśravaṇasya bhrātā ca: of Vaishravana [Kubera's,] brother | rāvaṇaḥ nāma: Ravana, known as | rākśasaḥ: a demon | lankām nagarīm adhyāste: Lanka, city, presides over. |

TRANSLATION

"Literally, he is the son of Vishravasa and brother of Kubera, and he presides over the city named Lanka and he is known as Ravana... [4-58-19]

PURPORT

Here the style of Valmiki is extolled. Jataayu tells the very same first foot of this verse in Aranya Kanda, and when he was about to say this verse's second foot, he dies. It will be like this in Aranya Kanda at 3-68-16: putro vishravasaH saakshaat bhrataa vaishravaNasya ca | iti uktvaa durlabhaan praaNaan mumoca patageshvara || And if Jataayu would have said the second foot as above, stating that 'he is Ravana and he is Lanka...' there would be no Kishkindha canto, nor Vali, nor Sugreeva, nor even Hanuma, and his Sundara Kanda, as Rama would have gone to Lanka, straightaway. Ramayana is still living as great literary work because it has this kind of melodramatic montages on very many occasions. The family tree of Ravana is given in the endnote.
VERSE 20

इतो द्वीपे समुद्रस्य संपूर्णे शत योजने
तस्मिन् लंका पुरी रम्या निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा

ito dvīpe samudrasya saṃpūrṇe śata yojane
tasmin laṃkā purī ramyā nirmitā viśvakarmaṇā

SYNONYMS

itaḥ: from here | sampūrṇe śata yojana = all in all, hundred, yojana: s - in distance | samudrasya dvīpe [dvīpaḥ] = in oceanic, island [an island: is there] | tasmin: therein | viśvakarmaṇā nirmitā: by Vishvakarma, Divine-Architect, built | ramyā lankā purī = laviś| ḻanka, city: is there. |

TRANSLATION

"There is a lavish city in the oceanic island afar a hundred yojana-s all in all from here, which Vishvakarma, the Divine-Architect, has built, and it is called Lanka. [4-58-20]

VERSE 21

जांबूनदमयैः द्वारैः चित्रैः कांचन वेदिकैः
प्रासादैः हेम वर्णैः च महद्भिः सुसमाकृता

jāṃbūnadamayaiḥ dvāraiḥ citraiḥ kāṃcana vedikaiḥ
prāsādaiḥ hema varṇaiḥ ca mahadbhiḥ susamākṛtā

SYNONYMS

, 22a| jāmbūnadamayaiḥ citraiḥ dvāraiḥ: with completely golden, amazing, doors | kāncana vedikaiḥ: with golden, podia [of verandas] | hema varṇaiḥ ca: golden, in tinge | mahadbhiḥ prāsādaiḥ: huge ones, with multi-storey buildings | su samā kṛtā: very, evenly [symmetrically,] made [built] | arka varṇena = vith sun, coloured: dazzling like sun | mahatā prākāreṇa: with gigantic, rampart | sam anvitā: well [securely,] joined [closed in.] |

TRANSLATION

"Its multi-storied buildings are built very symmetrically and they will be in golden tinge with completely golden doors. The golden podia of verandas are amazing. That city is securely enclosed in a gigantic rampart that will be dazzling in the colour of sun... [4-58-21, 22a]

VERSE 22

तस्याम् वसति वैदेही दीना कौशेय वासिनी

tasyām vasati vaidehī dīnā kauśeya vāsinī

SYNONYMS

b, 23| dīnā: pitiable one | kauśeya vāsinī: ochry-silk-sari, wearer of | vaidehī: such a Vaidehi | tasyām: in there [in Lanka] | rāvaṇa antaḥpure: in Ravana's, palace-chambers | ruddhā: baulked | rākṣasībhiḥ su rakṣitā: by demonesses, highly, sentineled | vasati: lives [she is lodged] | rājñaḥ janakasya ātmajām: king, Janaka's, daughter | maithilīm: Maithili | drakṣyatha: you can see [find.] |

TRANSLATION

"Therein that Lanka pitiable Vaidehi wearing ochry silk sari is lodged in the palace-chambers of Ravana, highly sentineled and baulked by demonesses, and you can find king Janaka's daughter Maithili in there... [4-58-22b, 23]

PURPORT

The ochry silk sari is for continuity reasons. As there were no continuity girls or continuity men, [namely, the persons responsible for agreement of detail between different sessions of filming,] the poet himself became one and repeats this 'gold-yellow-red coloured silk sari of Seetha...' oft times.
VERSE 24

लंकायाम् अथ गुप्तायाम् सागरेण समंततः
संप्राप्य सागरस्य अंतम् संपूर्णम् शत योजनम्

laṃkāyām atha guptāyām sāgareṇa samaṃtataḥ
saṃprāpya sāgarasya aṃtam saṃpūrṇam śata yojanam

SYNONYMS

plavamgamāḥ: oh, fly-jumpers | sampūrṇam śata yojanam: overalled, hundred, yojana-s [in width] | sāgarasya antam samprāpya = ocean's, end, [northern end of southern ocean: northern shoreline of island] on reaching | atha: now | dakṣiṇam tīram āsādya: southerly, shore [northern seashore of southerly island, Lanka,] on getting at | tataḥ: then | sam antataḥ: all over | sāgareṇa guptāyām lankāyām: by ocean, secluded, in [such water-walled] Lanka | rāvaṇam drakṣyatha: Ravana, you can see | tvaritāḥ: by hurrying up | tatra eva: there, only | kṣipram: promptly | vikramadhvam: you triumph over. |

TRANSLATION

"Now, oh, fly-jumpers, first get to the other shore of the island in southern ocean, which ocean spans in an overalled width of hundred yojana-s from this side of seashore, then landing on the other seashore you can see Lanka secluded all around by ocean, and in such a water-walled Lanka you can see Ravana... hence, hurry up, and promptly triumph over Lanka... [4-58-24, 25]

VERSE 26

ज्ञानेन खलु पश्यामि दृष्ट्वा प्रत्यागमिष्यथ
आद्यः पंथाः कुलिंगानाम् ये च अन्ये धान्य जीविनः

jñānena khalu paśyāmi dṛṣṭvā pratyāgamiṣyatha
ādyaḥ paṃthāḥ kuliṃgānām ye ca anye dhānya jīvinaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 27, 28a| jñānena paśyāmi khalu: by gnosis [prognosis,] I see [foresee,] definitely | dṛṣṭvā prati āgamiṣyatha: on [your] seeing [Seetha,] in turn [from there,] you will come back [return] | kulingānām: for Kulinga birds [like house sparrows] | anye dhānya jīvinaḥ: other [similar birds,] on food-grains, which live on grain | ye = vhic: birds are there, for them | ādyaḥ panthāḥ = first, [in sky they fly in] path: level of flight | bali bhojānām: leftovers, for the eaters of [like crows etc which eat leftovers] | vṛkṣa phala aśinaḥ = for trī, fruits, eaters: like parrots etc | dvitīyaḥ = second: is their flight path | bhāsāḥ: for Bhaasa birds [like parrots] | kuraraiḥ saha: Kurara birds, along with | krauncāḥ ca: Kraunca birds, also | tṛtīyam gacchanti: in third [flight path,] they will be going | śyenāḥ caturtham gacchanti: hawks, in fourth [flight path,] go [fly-by] | gṛdhrā pancamam gacchanti: vultures, in fifth [flight path,] will be flying. |

TRANSLATION

"I foresee by my prognosis that your sighting Seetha is definite at that place, and definite is your return from there. The first flight level of birds is that of the small Kulinga birds, house sparrows, songbirds and the like subsisting on food-grains. The second flight level is that of the birds that are the eaters of leftovers like crows and doves, or the eaters of tree-fruits like parrots. The third flight level is that of the wading birds like Bhaasa, Kraunca, Kurara birds and cranes, herons and the like. The fourth flight level is that of hawks and the fifth is that of the vultures. [4-58-26, 27, 28a]

VERSE 28

बल वीर्य उपपन्नानाम् रूप यौवन शालिनाम्

bala vīrya upapannānām rūpa yauvana śālinām

SYNONYMS

b, 29| vānararṣabhāḥ: oh, best vanara-s | bala vīrya upapannānām: by valour, vigour, rich in | rūpa yauvana śālinām: handsomeness, youthfulness, bright with | hamsānām: [flight level] of swans | ṣaṣṭhaḥ panthā: sixth, flight path | vainateya: of Vianata's sons [one Garuda, other Anuuru] | gatiḥ: course of | parā: the next [uppermost than the sixth] | sarveṣām: all of us [the eagles] | naḥ janma: our, birth [lineage] | vainateyāt ca: from Divine Eagle, also. |

TRANSLATION

"And the sixth flight level is that of the swans which derive their valour, vigour, handsomeness and youthfulness by their majestic birth. But the uppermost path is that of the sons of Lady Vinata, namely the Divine Eagle Garuda, and Anuuru, the non-stopping charioteer of Sun. Because we eagles have our lineal descent from the Divine Eagle, we can soar to the uppermost flyable path and see keenly... [4-58-28b, 29]

PURPORT

Lady Vinata's account is available in Aranya canto 14, where Jataayu gives accounts of procreation of birds. Anuuru and Garuda are two bird-sons of Vinata. Garuda is the eagle-vehicle of God Vishnu, while Aruna, also called Anuuru, an+uuruH 'without, thighs - thigh-less being...' is the charioteer of Sun's seven-horse chariot. Further, Sun rides a single-wheeled chariot!? Some quoting y ajur veda say, that the chariot of Sun is not drwan by any seven horses, and the word sapta - in sapta ashva samArUDham etc is the name of only one horse drawing the chariot of Sun. However, the seven horses of Sun's chariot are generally taken the seven - vibgyor - colours of light as in a rainbow. Aruna, the Colour of Dawn, is another aspect of Anuuru that appears before the advent of the Sun himself. These two are of avian origination and attributed to be the speediest propellers. And Jataayu and Sampaati, for that matter of fact, all eagles belong to that lineage, for their keen vision and powerful flight.
VERSE 30

गर्हितम् तु कृतम् कर्म येन स्म पिशित अशनाः
प्रतिकार्यम् च मे तस्य वैरम् भ्रातृ कृतम् भवेत्

garhitam tu kṛtam karma yena sma piśita aśanāḥ
pratikāryam ca me tasya vairam bhrātṛ kṛtam bhavet

SYNONYMS

yena = by vhom: by Ravana | garhitam karma kṛtam: deplorable, deed is done | tasya piśita aśanāḥ: to that, raw-flesh-eater | bhrātṛ kṛtam vairam: in respect of [my] brother, caused, animosity/vendetta | prati kāryam: return, deed [retaliation] | bhavet: will result in [fulfilled] | sma: it will be. |

TRANSLATION

"By which raw-flesh-eating demon this deplorable deed of abducting Seetha is done, if that demon is retaliated by Rama and you all, my vendetta towards the very same demon, caused by his animosity towards my brother Jataayu will also be fulfilled... [4-58-30]

VERSE 31

इह स्थः अहम् प्रपश्यामि रावणम् जानकीम् तथा
अस्माकम् अपि सौपर्णम् दिव्यम् चक्षुर् बलम् तथा

iha sthaḥ aham prapaśyāmi rāvaṇam jānakīm tathā
asmākam api sauparṇam divyam cakṣur balam tathā

SYNONYMS

iha sthaḥ: here, staying | aham: I am | rāvaṇam tathā jānakīm: at Ravana, like that, at Janaki | pra paśyāmi: clearly, seeing | asmākam api: for us [eagles,] even | sauparṇam: belonging to Suparna, namely Garuda, the Divine Eagle | divyam cakṣuaḥ: excellent, eyes' [sight] | tathā balam = like that, pover: we too have them. |

TRANSLATION

"Staying here I am clearly seeing Ravana and like that Janaki... even for us eagles, our sight and power will be excellent like that of Garuda, the Divine Eagle... [4-58-31]

VERSE 32

तस्मात् आहार वीर्येण निसर्गेण च वानराः
आयोजन शतात् साग्रात् वयम् पश्याम नित्यशः

tasmāt āhāra vīryeṇa nisargeṇa ca vānarāḥ
āyojana śatāt sāgrāt vayam paśyāma nityaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

vānarāḥ: oh, vanara-s | tasmāt: thereby | vayam = ve: eagles | āhāra vīryeṇa: food, by the might of [dietetically mighty] | nisargeṇa ca: lineage [congenitally,] also | sa agrāt: with, end [till end, comprehensively] | āyojana śatāt: end of yojana, hundred | nityaśaḥ paśyāma: always, we can see. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereby, oh, vanara-s, dietetically and congenitally we eagles can always see till the end of hundred yojana-s, comprehensively... [4-58-32]

PURPORT

The expression 'dietetically and lineally' indicates as to why eagle always prefers fresh meat unlike vultures subsisting on carrion. It is only for the enrichment of their sight, might and flight. atra aahaara vireyaNa iti uktyaa maamsa vishesha bhakShaNa shiilaanaam gR^idhraaNaam cakShushya maamsa bhakShaNena duura darshana saamardhyam uktam | nisargeNa iti visheShaNena ca jaati svabhaavyaat api duura darshitam uktam | tadaa api vaidya nighaNTo - daaskhasye duura druma agre vajra cuncu su dR^iShTikaH - iti | ca kaareNa anirodhena vaativiNmuutraadi utsargaadikam cakShuShyam iti ukatam - dk Thus, the innate, fixed, pattern of behaviour in kingly eagles is recorded in response to certain stimuli. Verse Locator asmākam vihitā vṛttiḥ nisārgeṇa ca dūrataḥ | vihitā pāda mūle tu vṛttiḥ caraṇa yodhinām || 4-58-33 33. asmaakam = for us; vR^ittiH = livelihood; nisaargeNa = heritably; duurataH vihitaa ca = distantly, destined, alas; caraNa yodhinaam = for legs, fighters [cocks, fighters with legs in cockfights]; paada muule tu = at foot, base; vR^ittiH = livelihood; vihitaa = destined "The leg-fighters, namely cocks, are destined to have their livelihood just at the base of their feet, but our livelihood is to be obtained from the farthest... alas... [4-58-33] For living beings if one thing is on plus's side, just at its back a minus point will also be there, like a night after day, sorrow after rejoice. Eagles may see long or fly high, but food for them is a rarity. Here Sampaati is self-piteous, as his son has not yet arrived bringing food for that day. Verse Locator upāyo dṛśyatām kaścit laṃghane lavaṇa aṃbhasaḥ | abhigamya tu vaidehīm samṛddha arthā gamiṣyatha || 4-58-34 34. lavaNa ambhasaH = salty, water container [ocean]; langhane = to leap; kashcit upaayaH dR^ishyataam = some, idea, may be looked over; vaidehiim abhi gamya = to Vaidehi, towards, going [finding]; samR^iddha artha = productive, of objective; gamiSyatha = you will return [to Kishkindha.] "Let some idea be searched to leap the salty ocean. For sure, you will return to Kishkindha on your finding Vaidehi, and on your becoming productive of you objective... [4-58-34] Verse Locator samudram netum icchāmi bhavadbhiḥ varuṇa ālayam | pradāsyāmi udakam bhrātuḥ svar gatasya mahātmanaḥ || 4-58-35 35. bhavadbhiH = by you [shifted]; varuNa aalayam = Rain-god's, residence; samudram netum icChaami = to ocean, to reach, I wish to; svar gatasya mahaatmanaH bhraatuH = to heaven, one who has gone, great-souled one, for brother; udakam pra daasyaami = waters, verily, I oblate. "I wish you would shift me to the residence of Rain-god, namely the ocean, for oblating water in respect of my great-souled brother Jataayu who departed to heaven..." Thus Sampaati spoke to the monkeys. [4-58-35] Verse Locator tato nītvā tu tam deśam tīre nada nadī pateḥ | nirdagdha pakṣam saṃpātim vānarāḥ sumahauojasaḥ || 4-58-36 tam punaḥ pratyānayitvā vai tam deśam pataga īśvaram | babhūvuḥ vānarā hṛṣṭāḥ pravṛttim upalabhya te || 4-58-37 36. su mahaa ojasaH = of very, great [utmost,] dynamism; vaanaraaH = vanara-s; nir dagdha pakSam = completely burnt, one with wings; sampaatim = Sampaati; tataH = then; nada nadii pateH = of rivulets, rivers, husband of - ocean; tiire = on shoreline; tam desham niitvaa = to that, place, on taking [Sampaati]; tam pataga iishvaram = him, birds', king; punaH = again; tam desham = to that, to [his own] place; prati aanayitvaa = in turn, bringing back; after water oblations in sea; te vaanaraa = those, vanara-s; pravR^ittim = indication - of Seetha; upalabhya = deriving; hR^iSTaaH = gladdened [returned is their gladness]; babhuuvuH = they became. Then those vanara-s of utmost dynamism on taking wing-burnt-bird Sampaati to the husband rivulets and rivers, namely the ocean, placed him on the shoreline. Again, the vanara-s sincerely brought back that king of birds, Sampaati, after his offering oblations to Jataayu, and lodged him as a returnee at his own place. On deriving indication form Sampaati regarding Seetha, Ravana and Lanka, those returnless vanara-s returned to their search while their gladness returning to them. [4-58-36, 37] - - - . The Decahedron Ravana and his lineage One of Brahma's brainchild is Pulastya and from his wife named Havirbhuk he begot two sons, namely Agastya and Vishvasras. This Vishavras has four wives. His first wife is Ilabila from whom he got Kubera as son. Second wife is Sumaali's daughter Kaikasi. Lady Kaikasi gave birth to three sons Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibheeshana. The third wife of Vishravas is puShpotkaTa, the sister of Kaikasi, and this Pushpotkata gave birth to Mahodara, Paarshvaada and others whom we meet in Great War canto. Vishravasa's fourth wife is the other sister of Kaikasi, named Raaka, who gave birth to Suurpanakha. Ravana's wife and empress of Lanka is Mandodari, the daughter of Maya, the son of Diti. Mandodari's characterisation vies equally with Seetha, Savitri, Anasuuya, Ahalya, Draupadi, and with other great ladies. Her name has some significance. When Shurpanakha was claiming herself a befitting female for Rama, and belittling Seetha she uses words like krishodari, shaatodari meaning 'a female with feeble womb... So also manda udari means 'slow, womb... and hence she is lady with slow conception...' Mandodari gives birth to one Indrajit, son of Ravana, an extraordinary fighter, and all-conquering warrior. Had Mandodari given birth to one or two more Indrajit-s, a dozen Rama-s have to take incarnation. Indrajit's wife is Sulocana, another lady of high nobility and chastity, counted on par with other husband-devout ladies like Seetha. - - - iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe aṣṭa paṃcāśaḥ sargaḥ Thus, this is the 58th chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India. Verse Locator for Book IV : Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys : Chapter 58 Top of Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 © Jan, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : December 04 Global View of verse and further information concerning locator The Fastest FTPS and FTPS on the planet FREE Go FTP Program atra aahaara vireyaNa iti uktyaa maamsa vishesha bhakShaNa shiilaanaam gR^idhraaNaam cakShushya maamsa bhakShaNena duura darshana saamardhyam uktam | nisargeNa iti visheShaNena ca jaati svabhaavyaat api duura darshitam uktam | tadaa api vaidya nighaNTo - daaskhasye duura druma agre vajra cuncu su dR^iShTikaH - iti | ca kaareNa anirodhena vaativiNmuutraadi utsargaadikam cakShuShyam iti ukatam - dk Thus, the innate, fixed, pattern of behaviour in kingly eagles is recorded in response to certain stimuli.
VERSE 33

अस्माकम् विहिता वृत्तिः निसार्गेण च दूरतः
विहिता पाद मूले तु वृत्तिः चरण योधिनाम्

asmākam vihitā vṛttiḥ nisārgeṇa ca dūrataḥ
vihitā pāda mūle tu vṛttiḥ caraṇa yodhinām

SYNONYMS

asmākam: for us | vṛttiḥ: livelihood | nisārgeṇa: heritably | dūrataḥ vihitā ca: distantly, destined, alas | caraṇa yodhinām: for legs, fighters [cocks, fighters with legs in cockfights] | pāda mūle tu: at foot, base | vihitā: destined |

TRANSLATION

"The leg-fighters, namely cocks, are destined to have their livelihood just at the base of their feet, but our livelihood is to be obtained from the farthest... alas... [4-58-33]

PURPORT

For living beings if one thing is on plus's side, just at its back a minus point will also be there, like a night after day, sorrow after rejoice. Eagles may see long or fly high, but food for them is a rarity. Here Sampaati is self-piteous, as his son has not yet arrived bringing food for that day.
VERSE 34

उपायो दृश्यताम् कश्चित् लंघने लवण अंभसः
अभिगम्य तु वैदेहीम् समृद्ध अर्था गमिष्यथ

upāyo dṛśyatām kaścit laṃghane lavaṇa aṃbhasaḥ
abhigamya tu vaidehīm samṛddha arthā gamiṣyatha

SYNONYMS

lavaṇa ambhasaḥ: salty, water container [ocean] | langhane: to leap | kaścit upāyaḥ dṛśyatām: some, idea, may be looked over | vaidehīm abhi gamya: to Vaidehi, towards, going [finding] | samṛddha artha: productive, of objective | gamiṣyatha: you will return [to Kishkindha.] |

TRANSLATION

"Let some idea be searched to leap the salty ocean. For sure, you will return to Kishkindha on your finding Vaidehi, and on your becoming productive of you objective... [4-58-34]

VERSE 35

समुद्रम् नेतुम् इच्छामि भवद्भिः वरुण आलयम्
प्रदास्यामि उदकम् भ्रातुः स्वर् गतस्य महात्मनः

samudram netum icchāmi bhavadbhiḥ varuṇa ālayam
pradāsyāmi udakam bhrātuḥ svar gatasya mahātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

bhavadbhiḥ: by you [shifted] | varuṇa ālayam: Rain-god's, residence | samudram netum icchāmi: to ocean, to reach, I wish to | svar gatasya mahātmanaḥ bhrātuḥ: to heaven, one who has gone, great-souled one, for brother | udakam pra dāsyāmi: waters, verily, I oblate. |

TRANSLATION

"I wish you would shift me to the residence of Rain-god, namely the ocean, for oblating water in respect of my great-souled brother Jataayu who departed to heaven..." Thus Sampaati spoke to the monkeys. [4-58-35]

VERSE 36

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे अष्ट पंचाशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe aṣṭa paṃcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

su mahā ojasaḥ: of very, great [utmost,] dynamism | vānarāḥ: vanara-s | nir dagdha pakṣam: completely burnt, one with wings | sampātim: Sampaati | tataḥ: then | nada nadī pateḥ = of rivulets, rivers, husband of: ocean | tīre: on shoreline | tam deśam nītvā: to that, place, on taking [Sampaati] | tam pataga īśvaram: him, birds', king | punaḥ: again | tam deśam: to that, to [his own] place | prati ānayitvā: in turn, bringing back | te vānarā: those, vanara-s | pravṛttim = indication: of Seetha | upalabhya: deriving | hṛṣṭāḥ: gladdened [returned is their gladness] | babhūvuḥ: they became. |

TRANSLATION

Then those vanara-s of utmost dynamism on taking wing-burnt-bird Sampaati to the husband rivulets and rivers, namely the ocean, placed him on the shoreline. Again, the vanara-s sincerely brought back that king of birds, Sampaati, after his offering oblations to Jataayu, and lodged him as a returnee at his own place. On deriving indication form Sampaati regarding Seetha, Ravana and Lanka, those returnless vanara-s returned to their search while their gladness returning to them. [4-58-36, 37]