Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

ततः तत् दारुणम् कर्म दुष्करम् साहसात् कृतम्
आचचक्षे मुनेः सर्वम् सूर्य अनुगमनम् तथा

tataḥ tat dāruṇam karma duṣkaram sāhasāt kṛtam
ācacakṣe muneḥ sarvam sūrya anugamanam tathā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Then I have informed the Sage Nishaakara all about that impossible and impracticable deed done indiscreetly by me and Jataayu and our following the Sun in red heat, as well..." Thus Sampaati continued his legend. [4-61-1]

VERSE 2

भगवन् व्रण युक्तत्वात् लज्जया च अकुल इन्द्रियः
परिश्रान्तो न शक्नोमि वचनम् परिभाषितुम्

bhagavan vraṇa yuktatvāt lajjayā ca akula indriyaḥ
pariśrānto na śaknomi vacanam paribhāṣitum

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, godly sage, scorching sun has ulcerated me, shame perturbed my senses for not protecting Jatayu, further I am haggard to descend this mountain to come to you, such I am I am incapable to speak on, elaborately... [4-61-2]

VERSE 3

अहम् चैव जटायुः च संघर्षात् दर्प मोहितौ
आकाशम् पतितौ दूरात् जिज्ञासन्तौ पराक्रमम्

aham caiva jaṭāyuḥ ca saṃgharṣāt darpa mohitau
ākāśam patitau dūrāt jijñāsantau parākramam

SYNONYMS

aham caiva jaṭāyuḥ ca: I am, also thus, Jataayu, also | darpa mohitau: by arrogance, fascinated | parākramam jijñāsantau: of [our relative] triumphs, inquisitive about | sangharṣāt: competitively | dūrāt ākāśam patitau = far: away, on sky, we two fell - we flew up. |

TRANSLATION

"Fascinated by our arrogance and inquisitive of our relative triumphs, myself and Jataayu competitively flew up far-away on the sky... [4-61-3]

VERSE 4

कैलास शिखरे बद्ध्वा मुनीनाम् अग्रतः पणम्
रविः स्यात् अनुयातव्यो यावत् अस्तम् महागिरिम्

kailāsa śikhare baddhvā munīnām agrataḥ paṇam
raviḥ syāt anuyātavyo yāvat astam mahāgirim

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Before the sages on the peak of Mt. Kailash we have staked a stake that we two shall follow the Sun till he reaches the great westerly mountain, namely Mt. Dusk... [4-61-4]

VERSE 5

अपि आवाम् युगपत् प्राप्तौ अपश्याव मही तले
रथ चक्र प्रमाणानि नगराणि पृथक् पृथक्

api āvām yugapat prāptau apaśyāva mahī tale
ratha cakra pramāṇāni nagarāṇi pṛthak pṛthak

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"We reached the sky in a trice to a height wherefrom we could see each of the townships on the surface of earth, separately and singly, in the size of a chariot's wheel... [4-61-5]

VERSE 6

क्वचित् वादित्र घोषः च क्वचित् भूषण निःस्वनः
गायन्तीः स्म अंगना बह्वीः पश्यावो रक्त वाससः

kvacit vāditra ghoṣaḥ ca kvacit bhūṣaṇa niḥsvanaḥ
gāyantīḥ sma aṃganā bahvīḥ paśyāvo rakta vāsasaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"We have seen and heard instrumental music somewhere, and somewhere else tinkling of jewellery, and elsewhere singing of many ladies dressed in red... [4-61-6]

VERSE 7

तूर्णम् उत्पत्य च आकाशम् आदित्य पथम् आस्थितौ
आवाम् आलोकयावः तत् वनम् शाद्वल संस्थितम्

tūrṇam utpatya ca ākāśam āditya patham āsthitau
āvām ālokayāvaḥ tat vanam śādvala saṃsthitam

SYNONYMS

ākāśam tūrṇam utpatya: to sky, quickly, on flying up | āditya patham āsthitau: solar, path, abiding in | āvām: we | tat vanam śādvala samsthitam: that, forest, pasture [a patch of pasture,] positioned as | ālokayāvaḥ: we observed. |

TRANSLATION

"On our quick rising to the sky and abiding in solar path we have observed that a forest is positioned just as a patch of pasture on earth... [4-61-7]

VERSE 8

उपलैः इव संछन्ना दृश्यते भूः शिल उच्चयैः
आपगाभिः च संवीता सूत्रैः इव वसुंधरा

upalaiḥ iva saṃchannā dṛśyate bhūḥ śila uccayaiḥ
āpagābhiḥ ca saṃvītā sūtraiḥ iva vasuṃdharā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"From there the earth covered with pebble like mountain heights appeared shingly, and interwoven with yarn like rivers the surface of the earth is thready... [4-61-8]

VERSE 9

हिमवान् चैव विन्ध्यः च मेरुः च सुमहान् गिरिः
भू तले संप्रकाशन्ते नागा इव जल आशये

himavān caiva vindhyaḥ ca meruḥ ca sumahān giriḥ
bhū tale saṃprakāśante nāgā iva jala āśaye

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Himalayas, even Mt. Vindhya, and even the very high mountain Mt. Meru, shone forth like elephants in lakes... [4-61-9]

VERSE 10

तीव्रः स्वेदः च खेदः च भयम् च आसीत् तदा अवयोः
समाविशत मोहः च ततो मूर्च्छा च दारुणा

tīvraḥ svedaḥ ca khedaḥ ca bhayam ca āsīt tadā avayoḥ
samāviśata mohaḥ ca tato mūrcchā ca dāruṇā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Then there bechanced an abnormal sweating, tiredness and fear, and then stupor invading both of us, we two underwent a severe vertigo... [4-61-10]

VERSE 11

न च दिक् ज्ञायते याम्या न आग्नेयी न च वारुणी
युग अन्ते नियतो लोको हतो दग्ध इव अग्निना

na ca dik jñāyate yāmyā na āgneyī na ca vāruṇī
yuga ante niyato loko hato dagdha iva agninā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"We are not in the know of southern direction which belongs to Yama, the Terminator, nor of south-east which belongs to Fire-god, also not of west which belongs to Rain-god... and the world appeared as though burnt down by the fire at the end of era and destructed of its routine... [4-61-11]

PURPORT

Some good words from an unknown author: 'the air of great height must be treated with caution. When all the gods have been dethroned and nothing is left but the 'Self' beware of Vertigo. It was this that made Vivekananda careful in his ascent not to hurry the whole mass of souls as yet uninured to the precipices and the wind of chasms. He made each one to climb by small stages leaning upon the staff of his own religion or of the providential spiritual credos of his age and country. But too often his followers were impatient and sought to gain the summits without due rest and preparation. Hence it was hardly surprising that some fell and in their fall they were not only a danger to themselves but to those ho knew themselves to be inferior...' This we may say niraalamba avyakta upaasana and Gita has to say something about this 'baseless and bottomless adoration of the un-manifest...' klesho adhikataraH teShaam avyakta aasakta cetasaam | avyaktaaH hi gatiH duHkham dehavadbhiH avaapyate || Gita , 12-5- The travail is for such as bend their minds / To reach th' Unmanifest. That viewless path / Shall scarce be trod by man bearing the flesh! - S. M. Arnold. Verse Locator manaḥ ca me hatam bhūyaḥ cakṣuḥ prāpya tu saṃśrayam | yatnena mahatā hi asmin manaḥ saṃdhāya cakṣuṣī || 4-61-12 yatnena mahatā bhūyo bhāskaraḥ pratilokitaḥ | tulyaḥ pṛthvī pramāṇena bhāskaraḥ pratibhāti nau || 4-61-13 12. me manaH hatam = my, brainpower, is deranged; cakshuH samshrayam praapya = eyes, dependency, on obtaining - depending on my sight; mahataa yatnena = laboriously, by trying; asmin = on that [sun]; bhuuyaH = again; manaH cakshuSii sandhaaya = brainpower, sight, keeping fixedly; bhuuyaH mahataa yatnena = again, strenuously, by trying; bhaaskaraH prati lokitaH = Sun, towards, seen by us - saw the sun directly; bhaaskaraH = Sun; pR^ithvii pramaaNena tulyaH = earth, of a size, equal to; nau pratibhaati = to us, appeared. "Though my brainpower is deranged I again tried laboriously just depending on my sight. I again tried strenuously concentrating my brainpower and sight on Sun and I have directly seen the Sun. Then the Sun appeared in a size equal to the earth. [4-61-12, 13] Verse Locator jaṭāyuḥ mām anāpṛcchya nipapāta mahīm tataḥ | tam dṛṣṭvā tūrṇam ākāśāt ātmānam muktavān aham || 4-61-14 14. jaTaayuH maam = Jataayu, me; an aapR^icChya = without, asking [informing]; mahiim nipapaata = on earth, fell down [tripped over]; tataH = then; aham = I; tam dR^iSTvaa = him, on seeing; tuurNam = quickly; aakaashaat = from sky; aatmaanam = myself; muktavaan = let loose- flew down. "Without informing me Jataayu started to trip over the earth, and then on seeing him I too let myself loose from the sky... [4-61-14] Verse Locator pakṣabhyām ca mayā gupto jaṭāyuḥ na pradahyata | pramādāt tatra nirdagdhaḥ patan vāyu pathāt aham || 4-61-15 15. mayaa = by me; pakSabhyaam guptaH = with both wings, hidden - from sun; jaTaayuH = Jataayu; na pra dahyata = not, much, burnt [by Sun]; tatra = there - in sky; pramaadaat = accidentally; vaayu pathaat = from air's, way [sky]; patan = while falling - flying down; aham = I am; nir dagdhaH = completely, burnt - by sun. "I have hidden Jataayu in sky with both my wings from the scorching Sun... hence, he is not burn that much... but I am completely burnt when falling from the sky... [4-61-15] Verse Locator āśanke tam nipatitam janasthāne jaṭāyuṣam | aham tu patito vindhye dagdha pakṣo jaḍī kṛtaḥ || 4-61-16 16. tam jaTaayuSam = him, about Jataayu; janasthaane nipatitam aashanke = in Janasthaana, fell down, I supposed; aham tu = I, for my part; dagdha pakSaH = burnt, winged [bird]; jaDii kR^itaH = insensate, made as; vindhye = on Vindhya; patitaH = fell down. "I supposed that Jataayu as has fallen in Janasthaana, but I have fallen on Mt. Vindhya, as a wing-burnt and insensate eagle... [4-61-16] Verse Locator rājyāt hīno bhrātrā ca pakṣābhyām vikrameṇa ca | sarvathā martum eva icchan patiṣye śikharāt gireḥ || 4-61-17 17. raajyaat = from kingdom; bhraatraa ca = from brother, also; pakSaabhyaam = of both wings; vikrameNa ca = of valance, too; hiinaH = one who is divested of; such as I was I; sarvathaa = anywise; martum eva icChan = to die, only, wishing to; gireH shikharaat patiSye = of mountain, from top, I wished to fall. "As one who is divested of his kingdom, his brother, both of his wings, and his own valance too, such as I was I wished to fall from the mountaintop to die, in any way... [4-61-17] - - - iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe eka ṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ Thus, this is the 61st 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 61 Top of Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 © Mar, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : December 04 What the world says about sun and concerning verse Secure SFTP and FTPS provided by GoFTP FREE This we may say niraalamba avyakta upaasana and Gita has to say something about this 'baseless and bottomless adoration of the un-manifest...' klesho adhikataraH teShaam avyakta aasakta cetasaam | avyaktaaH hi gatiH duHkham dehavadbhiH avaapyate || Gita , 12-5- The travail is for such as bend their minds / To reach th' Unmanifest. That viewless path / Shall scarce be trod by man bearing the flesh! - S. M. Arnold. Verse Locator manaḥ ca me hatam bhūyaḥ cakṣuḥ prāpya tu saṃśrayam | yatnena mahatā hi asmin manaḥ saṃdhāya cakṣuṣī || 4-61-12 yatnena mahatā bhūyo bhāskaraḥ pratilokitaḥ | tulyaḥ pṛthvī pramāṇena bhāskaraḥ pratibhāti nau || 4-61-13 12. me manaH hatam = my, brainpower, is deranged; cakshuH samshrayam praapya = eyes, dependency, on obtaining - depending on my sight; mahataa yatnena = laboriously, by trying; asmin = on that [sun]; bhuuyaH = again; manaH cakshuSii sandhaaya = brainpower, sight, keeping fixedly; bhuuyaH mahataa yatnena = again, strenuously, by trying; bhaaskaraH prati lokitaH = Sun, towards, seen by us - saw the sun directly; bhaaskaraH = Sun; pR^ithvii pramaaNena tulyaH = earth, of a size, equal to; nau pratibhaati = to us, appeared. "Though my brainpower is deranged I again tried laboriously just depending on my sight. I again tried strenuously concentrating my brainpower and sight on Sun and I have directly seen the Sun. Then the Sun appeared in a size equal to the earth. [4-61-12, 13] Verse Locator jaṭāyuḥ mām anāpṛcchya nipapāta mahīm tataḥ | tam dṛṣṭvā tūrṇam ākāśāt ātmānam muktavān aham || 4-61-14 14. jaTaayuH maam = Jataayu, me; an aapR^icChya = without, asking [informing]; mahiim nipapaata = on earth, fell down [tripped over]; tataH = then; aham = I; tam dR^iSTvaa = him, on seeing; tuurNam = quickly; aakaashaat = from sky; aatmaanam = myself; muktavaan = let loose- flew down. "Without informing me Jataayu started to trip over the earth, and then on seeing him I too let myself loose from the sky... [4-61-14] Verse Locator pakṣabhyām ca mayā gupto jaṭāyuḥ na pradahyata | pramādāt tatra nirdagdhaḥ patan vāyu pathāt aham || 4-61-15 15. mayaa = by me; pakSabhyaam guptaH = with both wings, hidden - from sun; jaTaayuH = Jataayu; na pra dahyata = not, much, burnt [by Sun]; tatra = there - in sky; pramaadaat = accidentally; vaayu pathaat = from air's, way [sky]; patan = while falling - flying down; aham = I am; nir dagdhaH = completely, burnt - by sun. "I have hidden Jataayu in sky with both my wings from the scorching Sun... hence, he is not burn that much... but I am completely burnt when falling from the sky... [4-61-15] Verse Locator āśanke tam nipatitam janasthāne jaṭāyuṣam | aham tu patito vindhye dagdha pakṣo jaḍī kṛtaḥ || 4-61-16 16. tam jaTaayuSam = him, about Jataayu; janasthaane nipatitam aashanke = in Janasthaana, fell down, I supposed; aham tu = I, for my part; dagdha pakSaH = burnt, winged [bird]; jaDii kR^itaH = insensate, made as; vindhye = on Vindhya; patitaH = fell down. "I supposed that Jataayu as has fallen in Janasthaana, but I have fallen on Mt. Vindhya, as a wing-burnt and insensate eagle... [4-61-16] Verse Locator rājyāt hīno bhrātrā ca pakṣābhyām vikrameṇa ca | sarvathā martum eva icchan patiṣye śikharāt gireḥ || 4-61-17 17. raajyaat = from kingdom; bhraatraa ca = from brother, also; pakSaabhyaam = of both wings; vikrameNa ca = of valance, too; hiinaH = one who is divested of; such as I was I; sarvathaa = anywise; martum eva icChan = to die, only, wishing to; gireH shikharaat patiSye = of mountain, from top, I wished to fall. "As one who is divested of his kingdom, his brother, both of his wings, and his own valance too, such as I was I wished to fall from the mountaintop to die, in any way... [4-61-17] - - - iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe eka ṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ Thus, this is the 61st 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 61 Top of Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 © Mar, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : December 04 What the world says about sun and concerning verse Secure SFTP and FTPS provided by GoFTP FREE klesho adhikataraH teShaam avyakta aasakta cetasaam | avyaktaaH hi gatiH duHkham dehavadbhiH avaapyate || Gita , 12-5- The travail is for such as bend their minds / To reach th' Unmanifest. That viewless path / Shall scarce be trod by man bearing the flesh! - S. M. Arnold.

VERSE 12

मनः च मे हतम् भूयः चक्षुः प्राप्य तु संश्रयम्
यत्नेन महता हि अस्मिन् मनः संधाय चक्षुषी

manaḥ ca me hatam bhūyaḥ cakṣuḥ prāpya tu saṃśrayam
yatnena mahatā hi asmin manaḥ saṃdhāya cakṣuṣī

SYNONYMS

me manaḥ hatam: my, brainpower, is deranged | cakśuḥ samśrayam prāpya = eyes, dependency, on obtaining: depending on my sight | mahatā yatnena: laboriously, by trying | asmin: on that [sun] | bhūyaḥ: again | manaḥ cakśuṣī sandhāya: brainpower, sight, keeping fixedly | bhūyaḥ mahatā yatnena: again, strenuously, by trying | bhāskaraḥ prati lokitaḥ = ṣun, tovards, sīn by us: saw the sun directly | bhāskaraḥ: Sun | pṛthvī pramāṇena tulyaḥ: earth, of a size, equal to | nau pratibhāti: to us, appeared. |

TRANSLATION

"Though my brainpower is deranged I again tried laboriously just depending on my sight. I again tried strenuously concentrating my brainpower and sight on Sun and I have directly seen the Sun. Then the Sun appeared in a size equal to the earth. [4-61-12, 13]

VERSE 14

जटायुः माम् अनापृच्छ्य निपपात महीम् ततः
तम् दृष्ट्वा तूर्णम् आकाशात् आत्मानम् मुक्तवान् अहम्

jaṭāyuḥ mām anāpṛcchya nipapāta mahīm tataḥ
tam dṛṣṭvā tūrṇam ākāśāt ātmānam muktavān aham

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Without informing me Jataayu started to trip over the earth, and then on seeing him I too let myself loose from the sky... [4-61-14]

VERSE 15

पक्षभ्याम् च मया गुप्तो जटायुः न प्रदह्यत
प्रमादात् तत्र निर्दग्धः पतन् वायु पथात् अहम्

pakṣabhyām ca mayā gupto jaṭāyuḥ na pradahyata
pramādāt tatra nirdagdhaḥ patan vāyu pathāt aham

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"I have hidden Jataayu in sky with both my wings from the scorching Sun... hence, he is not burn that much... but I am completely burnt when falling from the sky... [4-61-15]

VERSE 16

आशन्के तम् निपतितम् जनस्थाने जटायुषम्
अहम् तु पतितो विन्ध्ये दग्ध पक्षो जडी कृतः

āśanke tam nipatitam janasthāne jaṭāyuṣam
aham tu patito vindhye dagdha pakṣo jaḍī kṛtaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"I supposed that Jataayu as has fallen in Janasthaana, but I have fallen on Mt. Vindhya, as a wing-burnt and insensate eagle... [4-61-16]

VERSE 17

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे एक षष्टितमः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe eka ṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"As one who is divested of his kingdom, his brother, both of his wings, and his own valance too, such as I was I wished to fall from the mountaintop to die, in any way... [4-61-17]