Chapter 6

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

पुनरेव अब्रवीत् प्रीतः राघवम् रघुनन्दनम्
अयम् आख्याति ते राम सेवकः मन्त्रि सत्तमः

punareva abravīt prītaḥ rāghavam raghunandanam
ayam ākhyāti te rāma sevakaḥ mantri sattamaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 2, 3| prītaḥ: gladdened | raghu nandanam rāghavam: to Rama | punaḥ eva: again, thus | abravīt: said | rāma: oh, Rama | tvam: you | bhrātrā: brother | lakśmaṇena saha: Lakshmana, along with | yat nimittam: what, for | nir janam vanam: to uninhabited, forest | āgataḥ: have come | te: your | sevakaḥ: servant | mantri sattamaḥ: minister, the best | ayam: he | hanumān: Hanuma | ākhyāti: has said | vane: in forest | vasataḥ: while living | tava: your | tvayā: your | bhāryā: wife | dhīmatā: courageous one | lakśmaṇena ca: without Lakshmana also | viyuktā: not alongside of [her] | rudatī: wailing | janaka ātma jā: King Janaka's, daughter | maithilī: Maithilee [Seetha] | rakśasā: by demon | apahṛtā: stolen. |

TRANSLATION

Then Sugreeva who is gladdened again spoke to Rama of Raghu's dynasty, "My best minister and this servant of yours Hanuma informed me of the reason for which you have come to uninhabited forests along with your brother Lakshmana, and that while living in the forest, and when you and this courageous Lakshmana are not her alongside a demon stole your wife Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, wailing as she was. [4-6-3]

VERSE 4

अन्तरम् प्रेप्सुना तेन हत्वा गृध्रम् जटायुषम्
भार्या वियोगजम् दुःखम् प्रापितः तेन रक्ष्सा

antaram prepsunā tena hatvā gṛdhram jaṭāyuṣam
bhāryā viyogajam duḥkham prāpitaḥ tena rakṣsā

SYNONYMS

antaram: opportune time | prepsunā: waiting for | tena: by an arch demon? | tena rakśasā: by him, that demon | zaṭāyuśam gṛdhram hatvā: one named Jataayu, eagle, on killing | bhāryā viyogajam: wife, separation | duhkham: agony | prāpitaḥ: he caused to you | hanuma ākhyāti: Hanuma, has said. |

TRANSLATION

"And he also said about that arch demon's killing an eagle named Jatayu on waiting for an opportunity, and his causing an agony in you by way of separating your wife. [4-6-4]

VERSE 5

भर्या वियोगजम् दुःखम् न चिरात् त्वम् विमोक्ष्यसे
अहम् ताम् आनयिष्यामि नष्टाम् वेदश्रुतीम् इव

bharyā viyogajam duḥkham na cirāt tvam vimokṣyase
aham tām ānayiṣyāmi naṣṭām vedaśrutīm iva

SYNONYMS

tvam bharyā viyogajam duḥkham: you, wife, caused by separation, agony | na cirāt: not, long [before long] | vimokśyase: you will get rid off | aham: I | tām: her | ānayiśyāmi: will fetch | naṣṭām: lost | veda śrutim: Veda, scriptures | yathā: like. |

TRANSLATION

"Before long you will get rid off your agony caused by the separation of wife, for I will fetch her very soon, like the retrieval Vedic Scriptures. [4-6-5]

PURPORT

When four Veda-s were stolen by demons called Madhu and Kaitabha, Vishnu retrieved them, in his Fish incarnation. Again when demons called Somakaasura stole them Vishnu in the form of Hayagreeva, Horse-faced Divinity, retrieved them. Here it is suggested that Sugreeva is reminding Rama of his earlier incarnation like the fish and horse-faced Hayagriiva, and compares Seetha with the Veda-s, that cannot be humbled down or controlled, or stolen by any single being.
VERSE 6

रसातले वा वर्तन्तीम् वर्तन्तीम् वा नभः तले
अहम् आनीय दास्यामि तव भार्याम् अरिन्दम

rasātale vā vartantīm vartantīm vā nabhaḥ tale
aham ānīya dāsyāmi tava bhāryām arindama

SYNONYMS

arindama: oh, enemy destroyer Rama | rasātale vartantīm vā: in netherworlds, let her be abiding, either | nabhahtale: in empyrean worlds | vartantīm vā: be in, or | aham: I will | ānīya: will bring back | dāsyāmi tava: will give, you | bhāryām: your wife |

TRANSLATION

"Oh! Enemy destroyer, Rama, I will fetch your wife to give her to you whether she is in netherworlds or even in empyrean worlds. [4-6-6]

VERSE 7

इदम् तथ्यम् मम वचः त्वम् अवेहि च राघव
न शक्या सा जरयितुम् अपि सः इन्द्रैः सुर असुरैः

idam tathyam mama vacaḥ tvam avehi ca rāghava
na śakyā sā jarayitum api saḥ indraiḥ sura asuraiḥ

SYNONYMS

mama idam vacaḥ tathyam: my, this, word, is definite | tvam avehi: you, know it | mahābāhuḥ: oh, dextrous one | tava bhāryā: your wife | : she is | viṣakṛtam bhakśyam yathā: with poison, [made-up] foodstuff, as with | sa īndraiḥ sura asuraiḥ api: along with Indra, by gods, or by demons, even | jarayitum: to digest | na śakyā: not, possible she is. |

TRANSLATION

"You may know that this word of mine is definite oh, Raghava. Your wife is as good as an indigestible foodstuff made with poison, indigestive even to Indra, put together with all gods and demons. [4-6-7, 8a]

VERSE 8

त्यज शोकम् महाबाहो ताम् कान्ताम् आनयामि ते
४६८
अनुमानात् तु जानामि मैथिली सा न संशयः
ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रक्षसा रौउद्र कर्मणा

tyaja śokam mahābāho tām kāntām ānayāmi te
4-6-8
anumānāt tu jānāmi maithilī sā na saṃśayaḥ
hriyamāṇā mayā dṛṣṭā rakṣasā rauudra karmaṇā

SYNONYMS

b, 9,10| mahābāhuḥ: great-shouldered one | tyaja śokam: give-up, lamentation | te kāntām tām ānayāmi: your, lady, her, I will bring back | rakśasā raudra karmanā: by demon, with cruel, deeds | hriyamāṇā: while being abducted | rama rāma iti: Rama, Rama thus | ḻakśmana iti ca: Lakshmana, thus, also | visvaram: piteously | krośantī: crying | yathā pannaga indra vadhūḥ: as with, serpent, lord's, wife | rāvaṇasya anke: in Ravana's, flank | sphurantī: writhing | mayā dṛṣṭā: by me, seen | sā maithilī: she, [is definitely,] Seetha | anumānāt jānāmi: by inference, but, I know | tu na samśayaḥ: but, no, doubt. |

TRANSLATION

"Give-up your lamentation, oh, great-shouldered one, for I will bring back that lady for you. And by inference I know her... undoubtedly I have seen Maithilee while that demon with cruel deeds was abducting her... then she was crying piteously calling 'Rama, Rama...' and also calling 'Lakshmana...' and she was writhing in the flanks of Ravana like the wife of serpent's lord... [4-6-8b, 9, 10]

VERSE 11

आत्मना पञ्चमम् माम् हि दृष्ट्वा शैल तले स्थितम्
उत्तरीयम् तया त्यक्तम् शुभानि आभरणानि च

ātmanā pañcamam mām hi dṛṣṭvā śaila tale sthitam
uttarīyam tayā tyaktam śubhāni ābharaṇāni ca

SYNONYMS

śaila tale sthitam: on mountain's, cliff, staying | ātmanā: myself | pancamam: being the fifth one | mām dṛṣṭvā: me, on seeing | tayā uttarīyam tyaktam: by her, her upper cloth, was dropped | śubhāni: auspicious | ābharaṇāni ca: jewellery also. |

TRANSLATION

"Myself being the fifth one on the cliff of the mountain, on seeing me she dropped the upper cloth of her sari along with auspicious jewellery. [4-6-11]

PURPORT

While there are four more besides Sugreeva on the cliff of the mountain, like Hanuma, Nala, Neela, and Taara, Seetha 'has seen' Sugreeva 'alone' and dropped the bundle of jewellery aiming at Sugreeva. It is said that Seetha has blessed Sugreeva by mercifully eying him, and thus his turmoil is going to alleviate at the grace of her divine look, for she is Goddess Lakshmi.
VERSE 12

तानि अस्माभिः गृहीतानि निहितानि च राघव
आनयिष्यामि अहम् तानि प्रत्यभिज्ञातुम् अर्हसि

tāni asmābhiḥ gṛhītāni nihitāni ca rāghava
ānayiṣyāmi aham tāni pratyabhijñātum arhasi

SYNONYMS

tāni: them | asmābhiḥ: we | gṛhītāni: took | nihitāni ca: stored, too | aham tāni ānayiṣyāmi: I, them, will get | prati abhijñātum arhasi: to identify, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"We took those jewellery items and stored them, Raaghava... I will get them and it will be apt of you to identify them..." thus said Sugreeva to Rama. [4-6-12]

VERSE 13

तम् अब्रवीत् ततः रामः सुग्रीवम् प्रिय वादिनम्
आनयस्व सखे शीघ्रम् किम् अर्थम् प्रविलम्बसे

tam abravīt tataḥ rāmaḥ sugrīvam priya vādinam
ānayasva sakhe śīghram kim artham pravilambase

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | rāmaḥ: Rama | tam priya vādinam: to him, to that pleasant talker | sugrīvam: to Sugreeva | abravīt: said thus | śīghram: quickly | ānayasva: get them | sakhe: my friend | kim artham: what, for | pravilambase: you are delaying. |

TRANSLATION

Then Rama said to that pleasant talker Sugreeva, "Get them quickly, my friend, what for you are delaying." [4-6-13]

VERSE 14

एवम् उक्तः तु सुग्रीवः शैलस्य गहनाम् गुहाम्
प्रविवेश ततः शीघ्रम् राघव प्रिय काम्यया

evam uktaḥ tu sugrīvaḥ śailasya gahanām guhām
praviveśa tataḥ śīghram rāghava priya kāmyayā

SYNONYMS

evam uktaḥ tu: thus, said to | rāghava priya kāmyayā: for Raghava's, yearning, to fulfil | tataḥ: then shailasya = of the mountain's | gahanām: cavernous | guhām: cave | śīghram: quickly | praviveśa: on entering. |

TRANSLATION

Thus said Sugreeva then entered the cavernous cave of that mountain quickly, to fulfil the yearning of Raghava. [4-6-14]

VERSE 15

उत्तरीयम् गृहीत्वा तु स तानि आभरणानि च
इदम् पश्य इति रामाय दर्शयामास वानरः

uttarīyam gṛhītvā tu sa tāni ābharaṇāni ca
idam paśya iti rāmāya darśayāmāsa vānaraḥ

SYNONYMS

uttarīyam: upper cloth [the parcel] | gṛhītvā tu: taken, also | śubhāni ābharanāni ca: auspicious, jewellery, also | idam paśya: this, you see | iti ṟāmāya: thus, to Rama | vānaraḥ: the monkey | darśayāmāsa: started to show. |

TRANSLATION

On taking and bringing the parcel of that upper cloth with the auspicious jewellery, "This, you see..." saying thus that monkey started to show them to Rama. [4-6-15]

VERSE 16

ततो गृहीत्वा वासः तु शुभानि आभरणानि च
अभवत् बाष्प सम्रुद्धः नीहारेण इव चन्द्रमाः

tato gṛhītvā vāsaḥ tu śubhāni ābharaṇāni ca
abhavat bāṣpa samruddhaḥ nīhāreṇa iva candramāḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | gṛhītvā: on taking | tat vāsaḥ: that, cloth | śubhāni ābharanāni ca: auspicious, jewellery, too | abhavat: became | bāṣpa samruddhaḥ: tears, obscured [overfilled] | nīhāreṇa iva candramāḥ: by mist, like, the Moon. |

TRANSLATION

Then on taking that cloth and also the auspicious jewellery, Rama became like mist filled moon with overfilling tears. [4-6-16]

VERSE 17

सीता स्नेह प्रवृत्तेन स तु बाष्पेण दूषितः
हा प्रिये इति रुदन् धैर्यम् उत्सृज्य न्यपतत् क्षितौ

sītā sneha pravṛttena sa tu bāṣpeṇa dūṣitaḥ
hā priye iti rudan dhairyam utsṛjya nyapatat kṣitau

SYNONYMS

saḥ tu: he, but | sīta sneha pravṛttena: for Seetha's, friendship, outpoured | bāṣpeṇa dūṣitaḥ: by tears, blemished | hā priye: oh, dear | iti rudan: thus, wailing | dhairyam: courage | utsṛjya: leaving off | nyapatat: fallen | kśitau: on ground. |

TRANSLATION

But he who is blemished by tears that outpoured in all his friendship with Seetha, leaving off his courage fell on the ground wailing, 'oh, dear... oh, dear...' [4-6-17]

VERSE 18

हृदि कृत्वा स बहुशः तम् अलंकारम् उत्तमम्
निशश्वास भृशम् सर्पः बिलस्थ इव रोषितः

hṛdi kṛtvā sa bahuśaḥ tam alaṃkāram uttamam
niśaśvāsa bhṛśam sarpaḥ bilastha iva roṣitaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: he | alankāram uttamam: decorative ornaments, the best ones | bahuśaḥ: many times | hṛdi kṛtvā: at heart, closely kept [on hugging] | rośitaḥ bilastha sarpaḥ iva: wrathful, in snake pit, serpent, as with | bhṛśam: much | niśaśvāsa: sighed [hissed.] |

TRANSLATION

The more he hugged those best decorative ornaments close to his heart, the more he hissed like a wrathful serpent in a snake pit. [4-6-18]

VERSE 19

अविच्छिन्न अश्रु वेगः तु सौमित्रिम् प्रेक्ष्य पार्श्वतः
परिदेवयितुम् दीनम् रामः सम् उपचक्रमे

avicchinna aśru vegaḥ tu saumitrim prekṣya pārśvataḥ
paridevayitum dīnam rāmaḥ sam upacakrame

SYNONYMS

a vicchinna aśru vegāḥ tu: un, ending, tears, with rush of | pārśvataḥ: at his side | ṣaumitrim: at Lakshmana | prekśya: on seeing | dīnam: piteously | paridevayitum: to wail | sam upacakrame: he started to. |

TRANSLATION

With the unending rush of tears he saw Lakshmana at his side and started to wail piteously. [4-6-19]

VERSE 20

पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्या संत्यक्तम् ह्रियमाणया
उत्तरीयम् इदम् भूमौ शरीराद् भूषणानि च

paśya lakṣmaṇa vaidehyā saṃtyaktam hriyamāṇayā
uttarīyam idam bhūmau śarīrād bhūṣaṇāni ca

SYNONYMS

hriyamāṇayā: while being abducted | vaidehyā: from Vaidehi's | śarīrāt: from body [on shedding] | bhūmau: onto ground | sam tyaktam: dropped | idam uttarīyam: this, upper cloth | bhūśaṇāni ca: ornaments, too | paśya: you see. |

TRANSLATION

"Lakshmana, see this upper cloth and these ornaments too of Vaidehi, shed from her body and dropped onto the ground while she is being abducted. [4-6-20]

VERSE 21

शाद्वलिन्याम् ध्रुवम् भूम्याम् सीतया ह्रियमाणया
उत्सृष्टम् भूषणाम् इदम् तथा रूपम् हि दृश्यते

śādvalinyām dhruvam bhūmyām sītayā hriyamāṇayā
utsṛṣṭam bhūṣaṇām idam tathā rūpam hi dṛśyate

SYNONYMS

hriyamāṇayā: when being abducted | sītayā: by Seetha | idam bhūśaṇam: these ornaments | utsṛṣṭam: dropped | śādvalinyām: with green pastures | bhūmyām: on the ground | dhruvam: undoubtedly | tathā rūpam: in their original shape | dṛśyate hi: are appearing, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Seetha must have definitely dropped these ornaments onto pastureland, for they appear to be in their original shape, indeed." So said Rama to Lakshmana. [4-6-21]

VERSE 22

एवम् उक्तसः तु रामेण लक्ष्मणो वाक्यम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
न अहम् जानामि केयूरे न अहम् जानामि कुण्डले

evam uktasaḥ tu rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇo vākyam idam abravīt
na aham jānāmi keyūre na aham jānāmi kuṇḍale

SYNONYMS

evam uktaḥ tu rāmeṇa: thus said, but, by Rama | laśmanaḥ: Lakshmana | vākyam idam abravīt: sentence, this said | aham keyūre na jānāmi: I, bracelets, do not, know | aham na jānāmi kunḍale: I, do not, know, earrings | nityam pāda abhivandanāt: always, to feet, because I salute | nūpure tu: anklets, but | abhijanāmi: I know them well. |

TRANSLATION

When Rama thus said Lakshmana said this, "I know not the bracelets and I know not the earrings But because I always salute her feet I know these anklets well...[4-6-22]

PURPORT

This is a celebrated and controversial stanza. This is not found in ancient manuscripts or in Baroda version. Hanuma inspects the ornaments of Seetha in captivity in Sundara Kanda and a list is narrated there. But here, though no such listing is given, Lakshmana says he does not know the ornaments of upper body, but is aware of the anklets, for he always adores the feet of Seetha. The traditionalists attribute the kainkarya, the dedicated character to Lakshmana, and establish this verse as a supreme characterization of Lakshmana. Lakshmana regards Seetha as one of his mother. The wife of an elder brother is just another mother.
VERSE 23

ततः तु राघवो वाक्यम् सुग्रीवम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

tataḥ tu rāghavo vākyam sugrīvam idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | saḥ: he | sugrīvam: to Sugreeva | dīna: sadly | idam abravīt: this, spoke | mama prāṇa [prāṇaiḥ] priyā priyā: than my, own life-like [more than my life,] dearer | rakśasā raudra rūpeṇa: by demon, ferocious, in look | kam deśam hriyantī: towards which, country, while being abducted | lakśitā tvayā: spotted, by you | brūhi: tell. |

TRANSLATION

" Then Rama sadly asked to Sugreeva, "tell me Sugreeva, towards which country that ferocious looking demon abducted my dear one dearest than my lives, as spotted by you... [4-6-23]

VERSE 25

क्व वा वसति तत् रक्षज़्ः महत् व्यसनदम् मम
यन् निमित्तम् अहम् सर्वान् नाशयिष्यामि राक्षसान्

kva vā vasati tat rakṣazḥ mahat vyasanadam mama
yan nimittam aham sarvān nāśayiṣyāmi rākṣasān

SYNONYMS

aham: I | yat nimittam: in respect of which [demon] | sarvān rākśasān nāśa yiṣyāmi: all, demons, I wish to eliminate | tat mama mahat vyasana dam: that, to me, great, woe, causer [troublemaker] | kva vā vasati: where, either, lives. |

TRANSLATION

"For the sake of which demon I wish to eliminate whole of the demons, that troublemaker of mine, where does he live, either... [4-6-25]

VERSE 26

हरता मैथिलीम् येन माम् च रोषयता ध्रुवम्
आत्मनो जीवित अन्ताय मृत्यु द्वारम् अपावृतम्

haratā maithilīm yena mām ca roṣayatā dhruvam
ātmano jīvita antāya mṛtyu dvāram apāvṛtam

SYNONYMS

yena: by whom | maithilīm haratā: of Maithili, abductor of | mām roṣayatā ca: me, caused indignation, even | mṛtyu dvāram apāvṛtam: death's, doors, opened up. |

TRANSLATION

"By whom Maithili is abducted and thus caused indignation in me, he has opened up the doors of his death suicidally. [4-6-26]

VERSE 27

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे षष्टः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe ṣaṣṭaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

plavagapate: fly-jumper's, king | yena rajani careṇa: by which, night-walker | mama dayita tamā: my, dearest than all | : she who is | vimathya vanāt hṛtā: molesting, in forests, stolen | mama ripum tam kathaya: of my, enemy, about him, you tell | adya vai: today, for sure | yama sannidhim: Yama's, fore of | nayāmi: lead him, I will. |

TRANSLATION

" Oh, king of the fly-jumpers, tell me which demon forcibly stole her, my dearest one than all, by molesting her in the forest, tell me about that enemy of mine, for sure I will lead him to the fore of Death today itself... [4-6-27]