Chapter 59

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

ततः तत् अमृत आस्वादम् गृध्र राजेन भाषितम्
निशम्य मुदितो हृष्टाः ते वचः प्लवगर्षभाः

tataḥ tat amṛta āsvādam gṛdhra rājena bhāṣitam
niśamya mudito hṛṣṭāḥ te vacaḥ plavagarṣabhāḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | amṛta āsvādam: ambrosia [like,] relishable | gṛdhra rājena bhāṣitam: by eagle, king, spoken | tat vacaḥ = that, vord: about Seetha | niśamya: on listening | plavagarṣabhāḥ: fly-jumpers, the best | muditaḥ hṛṣṭāḥ: are gladdened, rejoiced. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing the words of that kingly eagle Sampaati that are relishable like ambrosia, then those best fly-jumpers are gladdened and rejoiced. [4-59-1]

VERSE 2

जांबवान् वानर श्रेष्ठः सह सर्वैः प्लवंगमैः
भू तलात् सहसा उत्थाय गृध्र राजानम् अब्रवीत्

jāṃbavān vānara śreṣṭhaḥ saha sarvaiḥ plavaṃgamaiḥ
bhū talāt sahasā utthāya gṛdhra rājānam abravīt

SYNONYMS

vānara śreṣṭhaḥ jāmbavān: among vanara-s, best one, Jambavanta | sarvaiḥ plavam gamaiḥ saha: all, fly-jumpers, along with | bhū talāt: from land's, surface | sahasā utthāya: quickly, on getting up | gṛdhra rājānam abravīt: to eagle, kingly, spoke to. |

TRANSLATION

Then the best fly-jumper Jambavanta got up along with all of the fly-jumpers from the surface of earth on which they sat for self-immolation, and spoke to kingly eagle Sampaati. [4-59-2]

VERSE 3

क्व सीता केन वा दृष्टा को वा हरति मैथिलीम्
तत् आख्यातु भवान् सर्वम् गतिः भव वन ओकसाम्

kva sītā kena vā dṛṣṭā ko vā harati maithilīm
tat ākhyātu bhavān sarvam gatiḥ bhava vana okasām

SYNONYMS

sītā kva: Seetha, where is | kena vā dṛṣṭā: by whom, or, she is [actually] seen | maithilīm kaḥ vā harati = ṃaithili is, abducts, or, vho: who abducted her | bhavān tat sarvam ākhyātu: you, that, all [vividly,] tell | vana okasām: for forest, dwellers | gatiḥ bhava: recourse, you become you help them out. |

TRANSLATION

"You please tell vividly as to where is Seetha, who has actually seen her, who has abducted Maithili, and thus you help all these forest-dwellers. [4-59-3]

VERSE 4

को दाशरथि बाणानाम् वज्र वेग निपातिनाम्
स्वयम् लक्ष्मणम् मुक्तानाम् न चिंतयति विक्रमम्

ko dāśarathi bāṇānām vajra vega nipātinām
svayam lakṣmaṇam muktānām na ciṃtayati vikramam

SYNONYMS

vajra vega nipātinām: thunderbolt, as with the speed of, falling | dāśarathi bāṇānām: Dasharatha's son Rama's, of arrows | svayam lakṣmaṇam muktānām: personally, by Lakshmana, bolted [of arrows] | vikramam: onslaught [of arrows] | na cintayati: not, thinking [inadvertent] |

TRANSLATION

"Who is inadvertent of the onslaught of Rama's arrows, or of those that are personally bolted by Lakshmana, which arrows will be falling with the speed of thunderbolts?" Thus, Jambavanta and others asked Sampaati. [4-59-4]

VERSE 5

स हरीन् प्रति संयुक्तान् सीता श्रुति समाहितान्
पुनः आश्वासयन् प्रीत इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत्

sa harīn prati saṃyuktān sītā śruti samāhitān
punaḥ āśvāsayan prīta idam vacanam abravīt

SYNONYMS

saḥ: he [Sampaati] | prītaḥ: is gladdened | prati samyuktān: to them who refrained from self-immolation | sītā śruti samāhitān: about Seetha, to listen, contemplating | harīn: to monkeys | āśvāsayan: cheering them up | punaḥ idam vacanam abravīt: again, this, sentence, said. |

TRANSLATION

Sampaati is gladdened at the monkeys who refrained from self-immolation, and he gladly said this sentence to them so as to cheer them up who are now contemplating to listen about Seetha. [4-59-5]

VERSE 6

श्रूयताम् इह वैदेह्या यथा मे हरणम् श्रुतम्
येन च अपि मम आख्यातम् यत्र च आयत लोचना

śrūyatām iha vaidehyā yathā me haraṇam śrutam
yena ca api mama ākhyātam yatra ca āyata locanā

SYNONYMS

vaidehyā haraṇam: of Vaidehi, abduction | me yathā śrutam: by me, as to how, listened | yena ca api: by whom, also, even | mama ākhyātam: to me, said | āyata locanā yatra ca: wide, eyed Seetha, where she is, also | iha śrūyatām: now, I will narrate. |

TRANSLATION

"I will now narrate as to how I have listened about the abduction of Vaidehi, by whom it is said to me, and where that wide-eyed Seetha is... [4-59-6]

VERSE 7

अहम् अस्मिन् गिरौ दुर्गे बहु योजनम् आयते
चिरात् निपतितो वृद्धः क्षीण प्राण पराक्रमः

aham asmin girau durge bahu yojanam āyate
cirāt nipatito vṛddhaḥ kṣīṇa prāṇa parākramaḥ

SYNONYMS

bahu yojanam āyate: many, yojana-s, in breadth | asmin girau durge: in this, mountain, impassable one | cirāt nipatitaḥ: at one time, fell down | aham: I am | vṛddhaḥ: with advanced age | kṣīṇa prāṇa parākramaḥ: slackened, liveliness, forcefulness. |

TRANSLATION

"At one time I fell down on this impassable mountain which is breadth-wise in many yojana-s, whereupon my age has advanced and my liveliness and forcefulness have slackened... [4-59-7]

VERSE 8

तम् माम् एवम् गतम् पुत्रः सुपार्श्वो नाम नामतः
आहारेण यथा कालम् बिभर्ति पतताम् वरः

tam mām evam gatam putraḥ supārśvo nāma nāmataḥ
āhāreṇa yathā kālam bibharti patatām varaḥ

SYNONYMS

evam gatam: this way [dire straits,] gone in [deteriorated] | tam mām: such, me | patatām varaḥ: among all birds, the best one | nāmataḥ supārśvaḥ nāma: by name, Supaarshva, named | putraḥ: son | yathā kālam: as per, time | āhāreṇa bibharti: with food, he is sustaining. |

TRANSLATION

"My son who is the best one among all birds, and who is named as Supaarshva by his name is sustaining me who am deteriorated to dire straits, with timely sustenance... [4-59-8]

VERSE 9

तीक्ष्ण कामाः तु गंधर्वाः तीक्ष्ण कोपा भुजंगमाः
मृगाणाम् तु भयम् तीक्ष्णम् ततः तीक्ष्ण क्षुधा वयम्

tīkṣṇa kāmāḥ tu gaṃdharvāḥ tīkṣṇa kopā bhujaṃgamāḥ
mṛgāṇām tu bhayam tīkṣṇam tataḥ tīkṣṇa kṣudhā vayam

SYNONYMS

gandharvāḥ tīkṣṇa kāmāḥ: gandharva-s, are with exigent, passion | bhujam gamāḥ: by shoulder, goers [snakes] | tīkṣṇa kopā: are with exigent, aggression | mṛgāṇām: to deer | bhayam tīkṣṇam: exigent, is fear | tataḥ: like that | vayam: we [eagles] | tīkṣṇa kṣudhā: are with exigent, hunger. |

TRANSLATION

"Passion is exigent to the celestial-artists gandharva-s, aggression is exigent to snakes, fear is exigent to deer, like that hunger is exigent to us, the eagles... [4-59-9]

VERSE 10

स कदाचित् क्षुधा आर्तस्य मम आहार कान्क्षिणः
गत सूर्यो अहनि प्राप्तो मम पुत्रो हि अनामिषः

sa kadācit kṣudhā ārtasya mama āhāra kānkṣiṇaḥ
gata sūryo ahani prāpto mama putro hi anāmiṣaḥ

SYNONYMS

kadācit: on some day | mama putraḥ: my, son | saḥ: he that Supaarshva | mama: I was | āhāra kānkṣiṇaḥ: for food, one awaiting for | kṣudhā ārtasya: hunger, aching by | ahani gata sūryaḥ = in day, vent avay, sun: till sun is down on that day | an āmiṣaḥ: without, flesh | prāptaḥ: he turned up. |

TRANSLATION

"On some day when hunger was aching me and I was aching for food, my son Supaarshva turned up without flesh when the sun of the day went down... [4-59-10]

VERSE 11

स मया आहार संरोधात् पीडितः प्रीति वर्धनः
अनुमान्य यथा तत्त्वम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत्

sa mayā āhāra saṃrodhāt pīḍitaḥ prīti vardhanaḥ
anumānya yathā tattvam idam vacanam abravīt

SYNONYMS

āhāra samrodhāt: food, deprived of | mayā pīḍitaḥ: by me, reproved | saḥ: he [my son] | prīti vardhanaḥ: [to me] gladness, enhancer | anumānya: [me] pacifying | yathā tattvam: as has happened | idam vacanam abravīt: this, sentence, said. |

TRANSLATION

"I reproved him as I was deprived of food, and my son who is an enhancer of my gladness pacified me and said this sentence about what has actually happened ... [4-59-11]

VERSE 12

अहम् तात यथा कालम् आमिष अर्थी खम् आप्लुतः
महेन्द्रस्य गिरेः द्वारम् आवृत्य च सुसमाश्रितः

aham tāta yathā kālam āmiṣa arthī kham āplutaḥ
mahendrasya gireḥ dvāram āvṛtya ca susamāśritaḥ

SYNONYMS

tāta: oh, father | aham: I | āmiṣa arthī: of flesh, as a desirer | yathā kālam: as per, time | kham āplutaḥ: to sky, flew up | mahendrasya gireḥ: Mahendra, mountain's | dvāram āvṛtya ca: entrance, overspreading | su sam āśritaḥ: very, well, depended [hovered on it.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, father, I as a desirer of flesh flew up to skies in time and overspreading the Mt. Mahendra, I very well hovered on it... [4-59-12]

VERSE 13

तत्र सत्त्व सहस्राणाम् सागर अन्तर चारिणाम्
पंथानम् एको अध्यवसम् संनिरोद्धुम् अवाङ् मुखः

tatra sattva sahasrāṇām sāgara antara cāriṇām
paṃthānam eko adhyavasam saṃniroddhum avāṅ mukhaḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra: there | sāgara antara cāriṇām: in ocean, under, moving [underwater beings] | sattva sahasrāṇām: beings, thousands of | panthānam: pathway | sam niroddhum: completely, to impede | ekaḥ: I by myself | avāṅ mukhaḥ: down, with face [looking down] | adhyavasam [adhi avasan] = vhile staying: I hovered. |

TRANSLATION

" 'I have been hovering there looking downward to completely impede the pathway of thousands of underwater beings of the ocean on my own... [4-59-13]

VERSE 14

तत्र कश्चित् मया दृष्टः सूर्य उदय सम प्रभाम्
स्त्रियम् आदाय गच्छन् वै भिन्न अंजन चय उपमः

tatra kaścit mayā dṛṣṭaḥ sūrya udaya sama prabhām
striyam ādāya gacchan vai bhinna aṃjana caya upamaḥ

SYNONYMS

sūrya udaya sama prabhām = = sun, davn: aurora, equal, in shine | striyam ādāya gacchan vai: lady | bhinna anjana caya upamaḥ: shoved, mascara, heap, in simile | kaścit: someone | maya: by me | tatra: there | dṛṣṭaḥ: is seen. |

TRANSLATION

" 'There I have seen someone who in simile is like a shoved heap of mascara and he is going away captivating a lady who equals the aurora in her shine. [4-59-14]

VERSE 15

सो अहम् अभ्यवहार अर्थम् तौ दृष्ट्वा कृत निश्चयः
तेन साम्ना विनीतेन पन्थानम् अनुयाचितः

so aham abhyavahāra artham tau dṛṣṭvā kṛta niścayaḥ
tena sāmnā vinītena panthānam anuyācitaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ aham: such as I am | tau: them two | dṛṣṭvā: on seeing | abhyavahāra [abhi ava hāra] artham: food, for purpose of | kṛta niścayaḥ = making, resolution: decided to us them up | vi nītena: without, moral dignity [basely] | tena = by him: the abductor | sāmnā: benignly | panthānam = vay: way-leave - for their traversal | anu yācitaḥ: sincerely [beggarly,] besought. |

TRANSLATION

" 'On seeing two of them I resolved to use them up for the purpose of food, but he benignly, basely and beggarly besought way-leave for their traversal... [4-59-15]

VERSE 16

न हि साम उपपन्नानाम् प्रहर्ता विद्यते भुवि
नीचेषु अपि जनः कश्चित् किम् अङ्ग बत मत् विधः

na hi sāma upapannānām prahartā vidyate bhuvi
nīceṣu api janaḥ kaścit kim aṅga bata mat vidhaḥ

SYNONYMS

sāma upapannānām = one vho amiably, derives: one who is entreating beggarly | prahartā janaḥ = assaulting, person: who assaults | nīceṣu api: basely people, even among | kaścit: someone | bhuvi: on earth | na vidyate hi: will not be, evident, isn't it | mat vidhaḥ: [about] my, type of [noble ones] | kim aṅga: what, [else is there] to say | bata: aha! |

TRANSLATION

" 'There will be none assaulting those that entreat in a beggarly manner, even someone among basely people, isn't it! Then what else is to be said of my kind, aha! [4-59-16]

VERSE 17

स यातः तेजसा व्योम संक्षिपन् इव वेगतः
अथ अहम् खे चरैः भूतैः अभिगम्य सभाजितः

sa yātaḥ tejasā vyoma saṃkṣipan iva vegataḥ
atha aham khe caraiḥ bhūtaiḥ abhigamya sabhājitaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: he | vegataḥ: hastily | tejasā vyoma samkṣipan iva: by [his] vigour, sky, enshrouding, as though | yātaḥ: went away | atha aham: then, I was | khe caraiḥ bhūtaiḥ: in firmament, moving, beings | abhigamya sabhājitaḥ: [I was] approached, [I was] applauded. |

TRANSLATION

" 'He hastily went away as though enshrouding the skies with his vigour, and then the beings that move in the firmament have approached and applauded me... [4-59-17]

VERSE 18

दिष्ट्या जीवति सीत इति हि अब्रुवन् माम् महर्षयः
कथंचित् स कलत्रः असौ गतः ते स्वस्ति असंशयम्

diṣṭyā jīvati sīta iti hi abruvan mām maharṣayaḥ
kathaṃcit sa kalatraḥ asau gataḥ te svasti asaṃśayam

SYNONYMS

sīta diṣṭyā jīvati hi: Seetha is, by fortune, living, indeed | asau: he [Ravana] | sa kalatraḥ = along vith, one vho is to be protected: Seetha | kathamcit: somehow | gataḥ: gone away | te a samśayam svasti: to you, without, doubt, safeness will be there | iti: in this way | maharṣayaḥ mām abruvan = great: sages, to me, said - blessed. |

TRANSLATION

" 'The great-sages who approached me in firmament have said to me, 'fortunately Seetha is alive, somehow he that Ravana has gone away with Seetha who in fact is to be protected by one and all like you, anyhow your are blest without a doubt... [4-59-18]

PURPORT

Some other mms contain the wording diSTyaa jiivasi taata where taata 'my boy...' is an addressing to the son of Sampaati and then the meaning is: 'my boy, though Seetha is a saveable, defendable person and though you have shown your concern to stall Ravana like your paternal uncle Jataayu... you have not done it and left him off, then unhurt by Ravana you are living, fortunately...'
VERSE 19

एवम् उक्तः ततो अहम् तैः सिद्धैः परम शोभनैः
स च मे रावणो राजा रक्षसाम् प्रतिवेदितः

evam uktaḥ tato aham taiḥ siddhaiḥ parama śobhanaiḥ
sa ca me rāvaṇo rājā rakṣasām prativeditaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 20, 21a| tataḥ aham: then, I | parama śobhanaiḥ: really, divine | taiḥ siddhaiḥ: by those, siddha-s | evam uktaḥ: thus, said | paśyan = on their sīing: and on showing to me | dāśaratheḥ rāmasya bhāryām: Dasharatha's, Rama's, wife | janaka ātmajām: Janaka's, daughter | bhraṣṭa: disorderly | ābharaṇa: ornments | kauśeyām: silk sari | śoka vega parājitām: by anguish, speediness, vanquished | mukta mūrdhajām: released [tousle,] haired | rāma lakṣmaṇayoḥ: Rama, Lakshmana | nāma: names | krośantīm: yelling | [haran: abducting her] | saḥ ca: him, also | rakṣasām rājā: demons, king | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | [iti: thus] | me: to me | prati veditaḥ: towards [to me,] I was informed [by siddha-s.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'Then those siddha-s, the celestial sages, have informed me on showing her whose ornaments and ochry-silk-sari are disorderly, and who is vanquished by the speediness of her anguish, and who is yelling both the names of Rama and Lakshmana, as the wife of Dasharatha's Rama, the daughter of Janaka. They have also informed on showing him who is abducting her as Ravana, the king of demons. [4-59-19, 20, 21a]

VERSE 21b

एष काल अत्ययः तात इति वाक्यविदाम् वरः

eṣa kāla atyayaḥ tāta iti vākyavidām varaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 22a| tāta: oh, father | eṣa = this is: hence | kāla atyayaḥ = time, lapse of: in my coming home | iti vākyavidām varaḥ: thus, sentence maker the best | supārśvaḥ: Supaarshva | etat artham: all this, drift | samagram: in entirety | me pratyavedayat: to me, informed. |

TRANSLATION

" 'And hence, oh, father, the lapse of time in my returning home...' thus that best sentence maker Supaarshva informed me all the drift in its entirety..." Thus Sampaati is continuing his narration to monkeys. [4-59- 21b, 22a]

VERSE 22

तत् श्रुत्वा अपि हि मे बुद्धिः न आसीत् काचित् पराक्रमे

tat śrutvā api hi me buddhiḥ na āsīt kācit parākrame

SYNONYMS

b, 223a| tat śrutvā api hi: that, on listening, even, indeed | me: to me | parākrame: in daring [Ravana] | kācit: in the least | buddhiḥ na āsīt = mind, not, is there: no thought occurred to me | a pakṣaḥ: without, wings | pakṣī: a bird | kimcit karma: any, action | katham samārabhet hi: how, initiates, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Even on listening that it has not come to my mind to dare Ravana. How a wingless bird can initiate any action, indeed! [4-59-22b, 23a]

VERSE 23

यत् तु शक्यम् मया कर्तुम् वाक् बुद्धि गुण वर्तिना

yat tu śakyam mayā kartum vāk buddhi guṇa vartinā

SYNONYMS

b, 24a| vāk buddhi guṇa vartinā: talking [advising,] thinking, qualities, a votary of | maya: by me [I advise] | yat tu kartum śakyam: what, but, to do, possible to | bhavatām: by your | pauruṣa āśrayam = on [your,] bravery, dependent: an action | tatra: in this matter | vakṣyāmi: I narrate | śrūyatām: let it be heard. |

TRANSLATION

"But that which is possible for me to do is advising as a votary with the qualities of thinking and advising. Let it be heard as I narrate and in that matter of translating my information into action it certainly depends on your bravery. [4-59-23b, 24a]

VERSE 24

वाक् मतिभ्याम् हि सार्वेषाम् करिष्यामि प्रियम् हि वः

vāk matibhyām hi sārveṣām kariṣyāmi priyam hi vaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 25a| sārveṣām vaḥ: to all, of you | vāk matibhyām priyam kariṣyāmi hi: with words [information,] mind [ analysis,] exuberant, I wish to make [you,] indeed | yat dāśaratheḥ kāryam: which is, of Rama of Dasharatha, task | tat mama: that [task,] is mine [too] | na atra samśayaḥ: no, in that matter, doubt. |

TRANSLATION

"Indeed with my analysis and information to you I wish to make all of you exuberant as I deem that I have done my bit, because whatever task of Rama, the son of Dasharatha, is there that task is mine too. There is no doubt bout it. [4-59-24b, 25a]

VERSE 25

तत् भवन्तो मति श्रेष्ठा बलवन्तो मनस्विनः

tat bhavanto mati śreṣṭhā balavanto manasvinaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 26a| tat: thereby | mati śreṣṭhā: in aptitude, best ones | manasvinaḥ: good at attitude | balavantaḥ: having fortitude | devaiḥ api durāsadāḥ: by gods, even, invincible ones | bhavantaḥ: such as you are | kapi rājena: by monkeys, king Sugreeva | prahitāḥ: you are shepherded. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereby, I reckon you as the best ones by your aptitude, fortitude and attitude, and as invincible ones even for gods, hence Sugreeva, the king of monkeys, shepherded you... [4-59-25, 26a]

VERSE 26

राम लक्ष्मण बाणाः च निशिताः कंक पत्रिणः

rāma lakṣmaṇa bāṇāḥ ca niśitāḥ kaṃka patriṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 27a| kanka patriṇaḥ: eagle, feathered ones | niśitāḥ: excruciating ones | rāma lakṣmaṇa bāṇāḥ ca: by Rama's, by Lakshmana's, arrows, what is more | trayāṇām lokānām api: three, worlds, even for | trāṇa nigrahe: for defending, and for offending | paryāptāḥ: are enough. |

TRANSLATION

"What is more, the excruciating eagle-feathered arrows of Rama and Lakshmana are enough to give defence or offence to all the three worlds. [4-59-26b, 27a]

VERSE 27

कामम् खलु दशग्रीवः तेजो बल समन्वितः
भवताम् तु समर्थानाम् न किंचित् अपि दुष्करम्

kāmam khalu daśagrīvaḥ tejo bala samanvitaḥ
bhavatām tu samarthānām na kiṃcit api duṣkaram

SYNONYMS

b, c| daśagrīvaḥ: Decahedral demon | tejaḥ bala samanvitaḥ khalu kāmam: power, pride, possessor of, definitely, perchance | tu: but | samarthānām bhavatām: capable ones, by you | duṣkaram: impossible | kimcit api: in the least, even | na: is not there. |

TRANSLATION

"Perchance that Decahedral demon is definitely a powerful and prideful demon. But, as capable vanara-s there is nothing impossible to you, even in the least. [4-59-27]

VERSE 28

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे एको न षष्टितमः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe eko na ṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

tat: thereby | kāla sangena: with time, lapse | alam: enough | buddhi niścayaḥ kriyatām: mental, determination, be done | bhavat vidhāḥ = your, like: adventurers | buddhimantaḥ: prudent ones | karmasu na sajjante hi: in tasks, will not, backslide, isn't it. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereby, enough is the time-lapse and make a mental determination. Adventurers and prudent souls of your kind with not backslide in tasks, isn't it! [4-59-28]