Go to Chapter

Chapter 64

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

आख्याता गृध्र राजेन समुत्प्लुत्य प्लवंगमाः
संगताः प्रीति संयुक्ता विनेदुः सिंह विक्रमाः

ākhyātā gṛdhra rājena samutplutya plavaṃgamāḥ
saṃgatāḥ prīti saṃyuktā vineduḥ siṃha vikramāḥ

SYNONYMS

gṛdhra rājena ākhyātā = by eagle, king, those vho are informed: monkeys | plavan gamāḥ: fly-jumpers | sangatāḥ: in league | prīti samyuktā = gladness, associated vith: gladly | samutplutya [sam ut plutya]: jumped [and loped] | vineduḥ: screamed. |

TRANSLATION

Those lion-hearted fly-jumpers who are informed thus by the kingly eagle Sampaati have gladly jumped and loped and screamed in league [4-64-1]

VERSE 2

संपातेः वचनम् श्रुत्वा हरयो रावण क्षयम्
हृष्टाः सागरम् आजग्मुः सीता दर्शन कान्क्षिणः

saṃpāteḥ vacanam śrutvā harayo rāvaṇa kṣayam
hṛṣṭāḥ sāgaram ājagmuḥ sītā darśana kānkṣiṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

harayaḥ: monkeys | sampāteḥ vacanam śrutvā: Sampaati's, words, on hearing | hṛṣṭāḥ: becoming delighted | sītā darśana kānkṣiṇaḥ: Seetha, a glimpse of, longing for | rāvaṇa kṣayam: [to go to] Ravana's, residence | sāgaram: to ocean | ā jagmuḥ = come, and vent: they have arrived. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing the words of Sampaati, the monkeys have delightedly come to the ocean to go to the residence of Ravana, longing for a glimpse of Seetha. [4-64-2]

VERSE 3

अभिक्रम्य तु तम् देशम् ददृशुर् भीम विक्रमाः
कृत्स्नम् लोकस्य महतः प्रतिबिंबम् इव स्थितम्

abhikramya tu tam deśam dadṛśur bhīma vikramāḥ
kṛtsnam lokasya mahataḥ pratibiṃbam iva sthitam

SYNONYMS

bhīma vikramāḥ: superbly, venturesome ones | tam deśam abhikramya: that, province, passing across | mahataḥ lokasya: of great, world | kṛtsnam: entire | prati bimbam iva sthitam [samudram]: great, mirror-image, like [appearing to be,] available [ocean] | dadṛśuḥ: they saw. |

TRANSLATION

Passing across that province those superbly venturesome monkeys have seen the ocean available there, appearing like a great mirror image of the world in it entirety. [4-64-3]

PURPORT

Here the word pratibimba is taken as entire ocean with its shores, and the ocean is said as a mirror, 'a mirror framed by it shores.' Thus, the ocean is said to contain all the items of entire world and it is becoming a world by itself, together with its own paraphernalia, from fishes to sharks, pebbles to diamonds etc. This is according to Govindaraja.
VERSE 4

सत्त्वैर् महद्भिर् विक्र्^इतैह् क्रिइदद्भिर् विविधैर् जले
व्यअत्त अअस्यैह् सुमहअ कअयैर् उउर्मिभिह् च समअकुलम्

sattvair mahadbhir vikr^itaih kriidadbhir vividhair jale
vyaatta aasyaih sumahaa kaayair uurmibhih ca samaakulam

SYNONYMS

sattvaiḥ: with beings | mahadbhiḥ: gigantic ones | vikṛtaiḥ: misshapen ones | krīḍadbhiḥ: sporting | vividhaiḥ jale: divers, in water | vyātta āsaiḥ: with largely opened, mouths | su mahā kāyaiḥ: with very large bodied ones | ūrmibhiḥ ca samākulam: with tides, also, uproarious. |

TRANSLATION

On reaching the northern side of southern ocean those best monkeys have collectively made a camp there. [4-64-4] That ocean is uproarious with its tides, and with its gigantic and misshapen beings that are sporting in water with their wide-opened mouths.

PURPORT

Here in this mms of Gorakhpur one verse is not given which is available in other versions. That verse is given here for an easy comprehension of the later verses.
VERSE 5

प्रसुप्तम् इव च अन्यत्र क्रीडन्तम् इव च अन्यतः
क्वचित् पर्वत मात्रैः च जल राशिभिः आवृतम्

prasuptam iva ca anyatra krīḍantam iva ca anyataḥ
kvacit parvata mātraiḥ ca jala rāśibhiḥ āvṛtam

SYNONYMS

, 6| anyatra: somewhere | pra suptam iva: well, slept, as though | anyataḥ: somewhere else | krīḍantam iva: sporting, as though | kvacit: elsewhere | parvata mātraiḥ: mountain, as high as | jala rāśibhiḥ āvṛtam: by water, heaps [tidewater,] overspread | pātāla tala vāsibhiḥ: of netherworld, on surface, residents | dānava indraiḥ = vith demonic, best being: demons living in paatala | samkulam: tumultuous with | roma harṣa karam: hair, grin [raising,] causer of | [samudram: ocean] | dṛṣṭvā: on seeing | kapi kunjarāḥ: monkey, elephants | viṣeduḥ: despaired. |

TRANSLATION

Somewhere that ocean is as though sleeping well, and somewhere else it is as though sporting, elsewhere it is overspread with tidewaters as high as mountains, somewhere else it is tumultuous with the best demonic beings who are the residents on the plane of netherworld, and the elephantine monkeys despaired on seeing such a hair-raising ocean.. [4-64-5, 6]

VERSE 7

आकाशम् इव दुष्पारम् सागरम् प्रेक्ष्य वानराः
विषेदुः सहिता सर्वे कथम् कार्यम् इति ब्रुवन्

ākāśam iva duṣpāram sāgaram prekṣya vānarāḥ
viṣeduḥ sahitā sarve katham kāryam iti bruvan

SYNONYMS

sahitā sarve vānarāḥ: collectively [each to each,] all, vanara-s | ākāśam iva duṣ pāram: sky [endless,] like, impossible, to navigate [shoreless, hence unnavigable] | sāgaram prekṣya: ocean, on seeing | viṣeduḥ: despaired | katham kāryam: how, to do [vault] | iti bruvan: thus, saying. |

TRANSLATION

On seeing the shoreless ocean that is like an endless sky, hence unnavigable, the vanara-s are despaired and said each to each, "how to vault this ocean?" [4-64-7]

VERSE 8

विषण्णाम् वाहिनीम् दृष्ट्वा सागरस्य निरीक्षणात्
आश्वासयामास हरीन् भय आर्तान् हरि सत्तमः

viṣaṇṇām vāhinīm dṛṣṭvā sāgarasya nirīkṣaṇāt
āśvāsayāmāsa harīn bhaya ārtān hari sattamaḥ

SYNONYMS

hari sattamaḥ: monkey, the best [Angada] | sāgarasya nir īkṣaṇāt: at ocean, gazing | viṣaṇṇām vāhinīm dṛṣṭvā: despaired, army [of monkeys,] on seeing | bhaya ārtān harīn: by fear, anguished, monkeys | āśvāsayāmāsa: started to inspirit. |

TRANSLATION

Then the best one among monkeys, Angada, started to inspirit the army of monkeys who are anguished by fear on their gazing at the ocean. [4-64-8]

VERSE 9

न विषादे मनः कार्यम् विषादो दोषवत्तरः
विषादो हन्ति पुरुषम् बालम् क्रुद्ध इव उरगः

na viṣāde manaḥ kāryam viṣādo doṣavattaraḥ
viṣādo hanti puruṣam bālam kruddha iva uragaḥ

SYNONYMS

viṣāde manaḥ: to dismay, heart [loosing] | na kāryam: not, workable | viṣādaḥ doṣavattaraḥ: dismaying, is detrimental | kruddha uragaḥ bālam iva [hanti] = vicious, viper, [innocent] cild, like, [ruins: a vicious viper unnecessarily ruins an innocent child] | puruṣam viṣādaḥ hanti: person, dismay, ruins. |

TRANSLATION

"Loosing heart to dismay is an unworkability, because dismaying itself is detrimental, and dismay alone ruins a person, as a vicious viper unworkably ruins an innocent child... [4-64-9]

VERSE 10

यो विषादो प्रसहते विक्रमे समुपस्थिते
तेजसा तस्य हीनस्य पुरुष अर्थो न सिद्ध्यति

yo viṣādo prasahate vikrame samupasthite
tejasā tasya hīnasya puruṣa artho na siddhyati

SYNONYMS

vikrame sam upasthite: [time for] venturesomeness, when verges on | yaḥ viṣādaḥ prasahate: who, despair, readily tolerates [readily braces himself] | tejasā hīnasya tasya: by vitality, one who is lacking, to him | puruṣa arthaḥ: personal, purpose [individual achievement] | na siddhyati: not, achievable. |

TRANSLATION

"Individual achievement will be unachievable to him who readily braces himself with despair when the time for venturesomeness verges on, because of the lacking of his own vitality..." So said Angada and then the nightfall has occurred. [4-64-10]

PURPORT

These two sayings of Angada, and suchlike at other places, become precedent for the sayings of Krishna in Bhagavad Gita, esp., in the Ch. of arjuna viSaadayoga 'Arjuna's Despair'.
VERSE 11

तस्याम् रात्र्याम् व्यतीतायाम् अंगदो वानरैः सह
हरि वृद्धैः समागम्य पुनर् मंत्रम् अमंत्रयत्

tasyām rātryām vyatītāyām aṃgado vānaraiḥ saha
hari vṛddhaiḥ samāgamya punar maṃtram amaṃtrayat

SYNONYMS

tasyām rātryām vyatītāyām: that, night, while elapsing | angadaḥ: Angada | hari vṛddhaiḥ vānaraiḥ saha: old, monkeys [golden-agers,] along with | samāgamya: meeting with | punaḥ mantram amantrayat: again, deliberations, deliberated. |

TRANSLATION

While that night is elapsing into the wee hours of next day, Angada met all the golden-ager monkeys, and again deliberated with them. [4-64-11]

VERSE 12

सा वानराणाम् ध्वजिनी परिवार्य अंगदम् बभौ
वासवम् परिवार्य इव मरुताम् वाहिनी स्थिता

sā vānarāṇām dhvajinī parivārya aṃgadam babhau
vāsavam parivārya iva marutām vāhinī sthitā

SYNONYMS

vānarāṇām: monkey's | sā: she [that] | dhvajinī: the hoister of army-flag [army troops] | angadam: around Angada | parivārya: encircling | sthitā = staying: stood around | vāsavam parivārya: Indra, encircling | marutām vāhinī iva: gods', army, like | babhau: beamed forth. |

TRANSLATION

When those troops of monkey army stood encircling Angada, it beamed forth like the army of gods encircling Indra. [4-64-12]

VERSE 13

को अन्यः ताम् वानरीम् सेनाम् शक्तः स्तंभयितुम् भवेत्
अन्यत्र वालि तनयात् अन्यत्र च हनूमतः

ko anyaḥ tām vānarīm senām śaktaḥ staṃbhayitum bhavet
anyatra vāli tanayāt anyatra ca hanūmataḥ

SYNONYMS

vāli tanayāt anyatra = than Vali's, son, differently: other than | hanūmataḥ anyatra: than Hanuma, other than | anyaḥ: the other | kaḥ: who | tām vānarīm senām: that, monkey's, army | stambhayitum śaktaḥ bhavet: to consolidate, capable, he will be. |

TRANSLATION

Who can capably consolidate that army of monkeys, other than Vali's son Angada, or, other than Hanuma? None. Because that army itself is an army of fickly, tickly monkeys. [4-64-13]

PURPORT

Angada is the crown prince and Hanuma is [non-commissioned] commander-in-chief of monkey forces. It is usual in the military etiquette not to use high rankers in the first instance itself. Here also the same protocol is being followed. In this way, Duryodhana requests Bhishma to become his commander-in-chief: anena sena patiH prabalaH kartavyam iti suucitam | tathaa ca udyoge bhaarate - bhiiShmam prati duryodhanaH - bhavaanushanasaa tulyo hita eShii ca sadaa mama | asamhaaryaH sthito dharme sa naH senaapatiH bhava || dk Now, excepting Angada and Hanuma, some other vaulter is needed.
VERSE 14

ततः तान् हरि वृद्धान् च तत् च सैन्यम् अरिन्दमः
अनुमान्य अंगदः श्रीमान् वाक्यम् अर्थवत् अब्रवीत्

tataḥ tān hari vṛddhān ca tat ca sainyam arindamaḥ
anumānya aṃgadaḥ śrīmān vākyam arthavat abravīt

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | arindamaḥ: enemy-subjugator | śrīmān angadaḥ: illustrious, Angada | tān hari vṛddhān ca: them, monkey, old-agers, also | tat sainyam ca: that, army, even | anumānya = on revering =: paying respects | arthavat vākyam abravīt: meaningful, sentence, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

Then that enemy-subjugator and illustrious Angada, on revering the old-ager monkeys and paying due respects to the army of monkeys, spoke this meaningful sentence. [4-64-14]

VERSE 15

क इदानीम् महातेजा लंघयिष्यति सागरम्
कः करिष्यति सुग्रीवम् सत्य सन्धम् अरिन्दमम्

ka idānīm mahātejā laṃghayiṣyati sāgaram
kaḥ kariṣyati sugrīvam satya sandham arindamam

SYNONYMS

idānīm: now | mahātejā: great-resplendent one | kaḥ: who | sāgaram langhayiṣyati: ocean, vaults over | arindamam sugrīvam: enemy-repressor, Sugreeva | satya sandham: truth [truthful word,] bounden |

TRANSLATION

"Now, who is that great-resplendent one who can vault over the ocean and who is he who can facilitate the enemy-repressor Sugreeva to become truthful to his word... [4-64-15]

VERSE 16

को वीरो योजन शतम् लंघयेत प्लवंगमाः
इमान् च यूथपान् सर्वान् मोचयेत् को महाभयात्

ko vīro yojana śatam laṃghayeta plavaṃgamāḥ
imān ca yūthapān sarvān mocayet ko mahābhayāt

SYNONYMS

plavangamāḥ: oh, fly-jumpers | vīraḥ: a brave one [hurdler] | kaḥ: who | yojana śatam langhayeta: yojana-s [distance,] hundred, hurdles over | imān yūthapān sarvān: these, [monkeys] commanders, all of them | mahā bhayāt: from great fear [of Sugreeva] | kaḥ mocayet: who will, emancipate. |

TRANSLATION

"Who is that brave hurdler who can hurdle over a hundred yojana distance, oh, fly-jumpers, who is he who can even emancipate all these monkey commanders from the great fear of Sugreeva... [4-64-16]

VERSE 17

कस्य प्रसादात् दारान् च पुत्रान् चैव गृहाणि च
इतो निवृत्ताः पश्येम सिद्ध अर्थाः सुखिनो वयम्

kasya prasādāt dārān ca putrān caiva gṛhāṇi ca
ito nivṛttāḥ paśyema siddha arthāḥ sukhino vayam

SYNONYMS

vayam: we | kasya prasādāt: by whose, benignancy | siddha arthāḥ: on achieving, purpose | sukhinaḥ: as rejoicers | itaḥ: from here | nivṛttāḥ: on going back | dārān ca putrān caiva: wives, also, sons, also thus | gṛhāṇi ca: houses [and homes,] even | paśyema: we can see. |

TRANSLATION

"By whose benignancy we can rejoicingly see our wives, sons, houses and homes on going back from here after achieving the purpose of our task... [4-64-17]

VERSE 18

कस्य प्रसादात् रामम् च लक्ष्मणम् च महाबलम्
अभिगच्छेम संहृष्टाः सुग्रीवम् च महाबलम्

kasya prasādāt rāmam ca lakṣmaṇam ca mahābalam
abhigacchema saṃhṛṣṭāḥ sugrīvam ca mahābalam

SYNONYMS

kasya prasādāt: by whose, benevolence | samhṛṣṭāḥ: gladly [trouble-free, unworriedly] | rāmam ca: to Rama, also | mahā balam lakṣmaṇam ca: great-mighty one [irascible,] to Lakshmana, also | mahābalam sugrīvam ca: great-mighty one [here, ruthless one,] to Sugreeva, as well | abhigacchema: we can approach. |

TRANSLATION

"By whose benevolence we can unworriedly approach Rama, or even that irascible Lakshmana, or ruthless Sugreeva, as well... [4-64-18]

VERSE 19

यदि कश्चित् समर्थो वः सागर प्लवने हरिः
स ददातु इह नः शीघ्रम् पुण्याम् अभय दक्षिणाम्

yadi kaścit samartho vaḥ sāgara plavane hariḥ
sa dadātu iha naḥ śīghram puṇyām abhaya dakṣiṇām

SYNONYMS

vaḥ: among you | kaścit hariḥ: someone, a monkey | sāgara plavane: ocean, to jump over | samarthaḥ yadi: competent enough, if | saḥ: he | iha: now | naḥ: to us | śīghram: quickly | puṇyām: solemn | a bhaya: not, fear [impunity] | dakṣiṇām: munificence | dadātu: let him give. |

TRANSLATION

"If someone among you is competent enough to jump over the ocean, that monkey may now quickly give us all, a munificence, called a solemn impunity from Sugreeva..." Angada addressed monkeys in this way. [4-64-19]

VERSE 20

अंगदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा न कश्चित् किंचित् अब्रवीत्
स्तिमिता इव अभवत् सर्वा सा तत्र हरि वाहिनी

aṃgadasya vacaḥ śrutvā na kaścit kiṃcit abravīt
stimitā iva abhavat sarvā sā tatra hari vāhinī

SYNONYMS

angadasya vacaḥ śrutvā: Angada's, words, on hearing | kaścit kimcit: someone, something | na abravīt: not, said | tatra: there [in the matter] | sarvā sā hari vāhinī: all, that, monkey, troop | stimitā iva abhavat: standstill [dumbfounded,] as though, became. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing Angada's words there is none someone to say something in that matter, as the entire monkey troop is as though dumbfounded. [4-64-20]

VERSE 21

पुनर् एव अंगदः प्राह तान् हरीन् हरि सत्तमः
सर्वे बलवताम् श्रेष्ठा भवन्तो दृढ विक्रमाः
व्यपदेश्य
कुले जाताः पूजिताः च अपि अभीक्ष्णशः

punar eva aṃgadaḥ prāha tān harīn hari sattamaḥ
sarve balavatām śreṣṭhā bhavanto dṛḍha vikramāḥ
vyapadeśya
kule jātāḥ pūjitāḥ ca api abhīkṣṇaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

hari sattamaḥ: monkey, the best | angadaḥ: Angada | tān harīn: to those, monkeys | punaḥ eva prāha: again, thus, clearly said | bhavantaḥ sarve balavatām śreṣṭhā: you, all of you, among the powerful, the best | dṛḍha vikramāḥ: determinedly, venturesome | vyapadeśa [vi apa deśa] kule jātāḥ: flawless, family, born in | abhīkṣṇaśaḥ pūjitāḥ ca api: again and again, adored ones [for your adventures,] also, even. |

TRANSLATION

Again that best one among monkeys Angada clearly said to those monkeys thus, "all of you are the best ones among powerful monkeys, you all are determinedly venturesome, born in flawless families and even adored again and again for your adventures... [4-64-21]

VERSE 22

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे चतुः षष्टितमः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe catuḥ ṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

vaḥ: among you | kasyacit: to whomsoever | kadācit: whensoever | gamane sangaḥ na bhavet hi: in going [jumping,] barrier, not, will be there, isn't it | plavagarṣabhāḥ: oh, best fly-jumpers | plavane = in jumping: jump-leaping ocean | yasya yā śaktiḥ = vhose, vhat, capability: is there, that | bruvadhvam: let it be said. |

TRANSLATION

"There will be no barrier to whomsoever, whensoever he wanted essay wheresoever, isn't it! Hence, oh, best fly-jumpers, each one you may give an account as to which one has got which capability in jump-leaping the ocean. [4-64-22]