Chapter 8
Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys
परितुष्टः तु सुग्रीवः तेन वाक्येन हर्षितः
लक्ष्मणस्य अग्रजम् शूरम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत्
parituṣṭaḥ tu sugrīvaḥ tena vākyena harṣitaḥ
lakṣmaṇasya agrajam śūram idam vacanam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Sugreeva is gladdened and satisfied too by that sentence, and said this sentence to Lakshmana's elder brother, Rama the valiant one. [4-8-1]
सर्वथा अहम् अनुग्राह्यो देवतानाम् न संशयः
उपपन्नः गुण उपेतः सखा यस्य भवान् मम
sarvathā aham anugrāhyo devatānām na saṃśayaḥ
upapannaḥ guṇa upetaḥ sakhā yasya bhavān mama
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When you wth all kinds of endowment and good virtues are my friend, doubtlessly I am worthy to be blessed by all gods in everyway. [4-8-2]
शक्यम् खलु भवेत् राम सहायेन त्वया अनघ
सुर राज्यम् अपि प्राप्तुम् स्व राज्यम् किमुत प्रभो
śakyam khalu bhavet rāma sahāyena tvayā anagha
sura rājyam api prāptum sva rājyam kimuta prabho
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, merited one, with your help it will be possible to achieve kingdom of gods, oh, lord, then why tell about one's own kingdom... [4-8-3]
सो।अहम् सभाज्यो बन्धूनाम् सुहृदाम् चैव राघव
यस्य अग्नि साक्षिकम् मित्रम् लब्धम् राघव वंशजम्
so|aham sabhājyo bandhūnām suhṛdām caiva rāghava
yasya agni sākṣikam mitram labdham rāghava vaṃśajam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He who has gained the one born in Raghava-s dynasty as friend, to which sacred fire bore the witness, such a being like me is estimable among his relative, more so among his kind-hearted friends... [4-8-4]
अहम् अपि अनुरूपः ते वयस्यो ज्ञास्यसे शनैः
न तु वक्तुम् समर्थो।अहम् त्वयि आत्मगतान् गुणान्
aham api anurūpaḥ te vayasyo jñāsyase śanaiḥ
na tu vaktum samartho|aham tvayi ātmagatān guṇān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even though I am a matching friend to you, that you will know soon, it will be inexpedient of myself to talk about my inherent capabilities. [4-8-5]
महात्मनाम् तु भूयिष्ठम् त्वत् विधानाम् कृत आत्मनाम्
निश्चला भवति प्रीतिः धैर्यम् आत्मवताम् वर
mahātmanām tu bhūyiṣṭham tvat vidhānām kṛta ātmanām
niścalā bhavati prītiḥ dhairyam ātmavatām vara
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Great souls of your kind, whose hearts are purified like yours, oh, amiable Rama, their friendship and courage will generally be stable. [4-8-6]
रजतम् वा सुवर्णम् वा शुभानि आभरणानि च
अविभक्तानि साधूनाम् अवगच्छन्ति साधवः
rajatam vā suvarṇam vā śubhāni ābharaṇāni ca
avibhaktāni sādhūnām avagacchanti sādhavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Gentle souls will be knowing that silver or gold, or even prosperous ornaments are not to be apportioned among themselves as this is mine and that is yours. [4-8-7]
आढ्यो वा अपि दरिद्रो वा दुःखितः सुखितो।अपि वा
निर्दोषः च सदोषः च वयस्यः परमा गतिः
āḍhyo vā api daridro vā duḥkhitaḥ sukhito|api vā
nirdoṣaḥ ca sadoṣaḥ ca vayasyaḥ paramā gatiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"May he be rich or poor, saddened or gladdened, flawless or flawed, a friend is the ultimate recourse to any. [4-8-8]
धन त्यागः सुख त्यागो देश त्यागो।अपि वा अनघः
वयस्यार्थे प्रवर्तन्ते स्नेहम् दृष्ट्वा तथा विधम्
dhana tyāgaḥ sukha tyāgo deśa tyāgo|api vā anaghaḥ
vayasyārthe pravartante sneham dṛṣṭvā tathā vidham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On observing the course of friendship and knowing which is true friendship, the true friends do not hesitate to extend wealth, pleasure or even their own country for the sake of friendship." Sugreeva thus extolled Rama and his friendship. [4-8-9]
तत् तथा इति अब्रवीत् रामः सुग्रीवम् प्रिय दर्शनम्
लक्ष्मणस्य अग्रतः लक्ष्म्या वासवस्य इव धीमतः
tat tathā iti abravīt rāmaḥ sugrīvam priya darśanam
lakṣmaṇasya agrataḥ lakṣmyā vāsavasya iva dhīmataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That is thus only," said Rama before Lakshmana, which Lakshmana is sagacious, resplendent and who vies with Indra, about what is said by Sugreeva, which Sugreeva is by now soft-natured in his looks, doffing off his jittery look. [4-8-10]
ततो रामम् स्थितम् दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणम् च महाबलम्
सुग्रीवः सर्वतः चक्षुः वने लोलम् अपातयत्
tato rāmam sthitam dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇam ca mahābalam
sugrīvaḥ sarvataḥ cakṣuḥ vane lolam apātayat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then on seeing Rama standing there with greatly mighty Lakshmana, Sugreeva cast his sight with his bolting eyes around that forest. [4-8-11]
स ददर्श ततः सालम् अविदूरे हरीश्वरः
सुपुष्पम् ईषत् पत्र आढ्यम् भ्रमरैः उपशोभितम्
sa dadarśa tataḥ sālam avidūre harīśvaraḥ
supuṣpam īṣat patra āḍhyam bhramaraiḥ upaśobhitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He that lord of monkeys Sugreeva has then seen a well flowered sala tree not far off from there, covered with some leaves and bedecked with honeybees. [4-8-12]
तस्य एकाम् पर्ण बहुलाम् शाखाम् भंक्त्वा सुशोभिताम्
रामस्य आस्तीर्य सुग्रीवो निषसाद स राघवः
tasya ekām parṇa bahulām śākhām bhaṃktvā suśobhitām
rāmasya āstīrya sugrīvo niṣasāda sa rāghavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
And Sugreeva broke off one branch of that sala tree that is with many leaves and a well charming one, and spreading it out for Rama, he sat on it with Raghava. [4-8-13]
तौ आसीनौ ततः दृष्ट्वा हनूमान् अपि लक्ष्मणम्
साल शाखाम् समुत्पाट्य विनीतम् उपवेशयत्
tau āsīnau tataḥ dṛṣṭvā hanūmān api lakṣmaṇam
sāla śākhām samutpāṭya vinītam upaveśayat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On seeing those two sitting on a branch then Hanuma also broke a branch of sala tree for the modest Lakshmana and seated Lakshmana on it. [4-8-14]
PURPORT
सुख उपविष्टम् रामम् तु प्रसन्नम् उदधिम् यथा
साल पुष्पाव संकीर्णे तस्मिन् गिरिवर उत्तमे
sukha upaviṣṭam rāmam tu prasannam udadhim yathā
sāla puṣpāva saṃkīrṇe tasmin girivara uttame
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then to him, who by now is comfortably sitting on a flowery mat laid by the bestrewn flowers of sala trees on that best mountain like a quiet ocean, to such Rama who by his very presence delights hearts, that gladsome Sugreeva said this in friendship with his gentle and gracious words that fluttered with happiness while he spoke. [4-8-15, 16]
अहम् विनिकृतो भ्रात्रा चरामि एष भयार्दितः
ऋष्यमूकम् गिरि वरम् हृत भार्यः सुदुःखितः
aham vinikṛto bhrātrā carāmi eṣa bhayārditaḥ
ṛṣyamūkam giri varam hṛta bhāryaḥ suduḥkhitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My brother calumniated me and stole my wife, with his fear and my anguish haunting me I am moving about this best mountain Rishyamuka. [4-8-17]
सो।अहम् त्रस्तः भये मग्नः वने संब्रान्त चेतनः
वालिना निकृतः भ्रात्रा कृत वैरः च राघव
so|aham trastaḥ bhaye magnaḥ vane saṃbrānta cetanaḥ
vālinā nikṛtaḥ bhrātrā kṛta vairaḥ ca rāghava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Affronted by my brother, oh, Raghava, I am made as his enemy, such as I am, I am living on with a scared and dazed vitality far flung in fear. [4-8-18]
वालिनः मे भय आर्तस्य सर्वलोक अभयंकर
मम अपि त्वम् अनाथस्य प्रसादम् कर्तुम् अर्हसि
vālinaḥ me bhaya ārtasya sarvaloka abhayaṃkara
mama api tvam anāthasya prasādam kartum arhasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I am agonized by the fear from Vali, oh, protector of all the worlds, you protect me too for I am unprotected, and able are you to accord protection." Thus Sugreeva appealed to Rama. [4-8-19]
एवम् उक्तः तु तेजस्वी धर्मज्ञो धर्म वत्सलः
प्रत्युवाच स काकुत्स्थः सुग्रीवम् प्रहसन् इव
evam uktaḥ tu tejasvī dharmajño dharma vatsalaḥ
pratyuvāca sa kākutsthaḥ sugrīvam prahasan iva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus said by Sugreeva, the resplendent and virtuous Rama, the patron of righteousness replied Sugreeva as though laughing off the task. [4-8-20]
उपकार फलम् मित्रम् अपकारो अरि लक्षणम्
अद्य एव तम् वधिष्यामि तव भार्या अपहारिणम्
upakāra phalam mitram apakāro ari lakṣaṇam
adya eva tam vadhiṣyāmi tava bhāryā apahāriṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Helping is the fruit of friendship while harming is enemy's trait, hence I wish to kill him today only, that abductor of your wife..." Rama continued thus. [4-8-21]
इमे हि मे महाभाग पत्रिणः तिग्म तेजसः
कार्तिकेय वन उद्भूताः शरा हेम विभूषिताः
ime hi me mahābhāga patriṇaḥ tigma tejasaḥ
kārtikeya vana udbhūtāḥ śarā hema vibhūṣitāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"These are my arrows winged from pinion of the hern, oh, highly fortunate Sugreeva, these that are decorated in gold sparkle sharply like the Thunderbolts of Indra, and they are begotten from the reed forest of Kartikeya, ends tied with eagles feathers for fins, smooth are their nodes, sharp are their tips that pierce sharply, and these will be like enraged snakes. [4-8-22, 23]
PURPORT
वालि सज्ञम् अमित्रम् ते भ्रातरम् कृत किल्बिषम्
शरैः विनिहतम् पश्य विकीर्णम् इव पर्वतम्
vāli sajñam amitram te bhrātaram kṛta kilbiṣam
śaraiḥ vinihatam paśya vikīrṇam iva parvatam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You may see your malicious and intimidating brother, someone denotative by name Vali, eradicated with these very arrows and splintered down like a mountain." Rama said so to Sugreeva. [4-8-24]
राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवो वाहिनी पतिः
प्रहर्षम् अतुलम् लेभे साधु साध्विति च अब्रवीत्
rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā sugrīvo vāhinī patiḥ
praharṣam atulam lebhe sādhu sādhviti ca abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing Raghava's words, the lord of monkey-force Sugreeva attained much happiness and said, 'good, good...' [4-8-25]
राम शोक अभिभूतो अहम् शोक आर्तानाम् भवान् गतिः
वयस्य इति कृत्वा हि त्वयि अहम् परिदेवये
rāma śoka abhibhūto aham śoka ārtānām bhavān gatiḥ
vayasya iti kṛtvā hi tvayi aham paridevaye
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama, I am confounded in sadness, and for those lamenting sadly you are the only recourse, and because you have befriended me I am opening up my woes before you. [4-8-26]
त्वम् हि पाणि प्रदानेन वयस्यो मे अग्नि साक्षिकम्
कृतः प्राणैः बहुमतः सत्येन च शपामि अहम्
tvam hi pāṇi pradānena vayasyo me agni sākṣikam
kṛtaḥ prāṇaiḥ bahumataḥ satyena ca śapāmi aham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By extending a helping hand and befriending me while sacred fire bore witness, you have indeed become my dearest friend on par with my life, and hence I take promise on truth to broach. [4-8-27]
वयस्य इति कृत्वा च विस्रब्धः प्रवदामि अहम्
दुःखम् अन्तर्गतम् तन् मे मनो हरति नित्यशः
vayasya iti kṛtvā ca visrabdhaḥ pravadāmi aham
duḥkham antargatam tan me mano harati nityaśaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By befriending you I am able to say clearly about my internal sorrow without any hitches and hold-ups, which is always rending my heart..." So said Sugreeva to Rama. [4-8-28]
एतावत् उक्त्वा वचनम् बाष्प दूषित लोचनः
बाष्प दूषितया वाचा न उच्चैः श्क्नोति भाषितुम्
etāvat uktvā vacanam bāṣpa dūṣita locanaḥ
bāṣpa dūṣitayā vācā na uccaiḥ śknoti bhāṣitum
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Sugreeva said this much sentence with tears abusing his eyes and his voice is unable talk aloud since it is equally abused by tears. [4-8-29]
बाष्प वेगम् तु सहसा नदी वेगम् इव आगतम्
धारयामास धैर्येण सुग्रीवः राम संनिधौ
bāṣpa vegam tu sahasā nadī vegam iva āgatam
dhārayāmāsa dhairyeṇa sugrīvaḥ rāma saṃnidhau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Sugreeva courageously controlled the sudden haste of tears that came up hastily and suddenly like a river in the presence of Rama. [4-8-30]
स निगृह्य तु तम् बाष्पम् प्रमृज्य नयने शुभे
विनिःश्वस्य च तेजस्वी राघवम् पुनरूचिवान्
sa nigṛhya tu tam bāṣpam pramṛjya nayane śubhe
viniḥśvasya ca tejasvī rāghavam punarūcivān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He that bright Sugreeva controlled those tears, and on wiping his fortunate eyes, but sighing heavily he again started to speak this sentence to Raghava. [4-8-31]
पुरा अहम् वलिना राम राज्यात् स्वात् अवरोपितः
परुषाणि च संश्राव्य निर्धूतो अस्मि बलीयसा
purā aham valinā rāma rājyāt svāt avaropitaḥ
paruṣāṇi ca saṃśrāvya nirdhūto asmi balīyasā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Earlier he that forceful Vali deposed me from my kingdom, oh Rama, and speaking harsh words he even banished me. [4-8-32]
हृता भार्या च मे तेन प्राणेभ्यो अपि गरीयसी
सुहृदः च मदीया ये संयता बन्धनेषु ते
hṛtā bhāryā ca me tena prāṇebhyo api garīyasī
suhṛdaḥ ca madīyā ye saṃyatā bandhaneṣu te
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My wife who is loftier than my lives is stolen by him, and those that are my sympathisers they are also captivated and imprisoned by him. [4-8-33]
यत्नवान् च स दुष्टात्मा मद् विनाशाय राघव
बहुशः तत् प्रयुक्ताः च वानरा निहता मया
yatnavān ca sa duṣṭātmā mad vināśāya rāghava
bahuśaḥ tat prayuktāḥ ca vānarā nihatā mayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He that very evil minded one tried many times to annihilate me, and Raghava, I killed those combatants monkeys that are deployed by Vali to kill me. [4-8-34]
शंकया एतया अहम् च दृष्ट्वा त्वाम् अपि राघव
न उपसर्पामि अहम् भीतो भये सर्वे हि बिभ्यति
śaṃkayā etayā aham ca dṛṣṭvā tvām api rāghava
na upasarpāmi aham bhīto bhaye sarve hi bibhyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"With the same doubt I did not even near you when I saw you... in fear everything will be fearsome, isn't it... [4-8-35]
केवलम् हि सहाया मे हनुमत् प्रमुखास्त्विमे
अतः अहम् धारयामि अद्य प्राणान् कृच्छ्र गतः अपि सन्
kevalam hi sahāyā me hanumat pramukhāstvime
ataḥ aham dhārayāmi adya prāṇān kṛcchra gataḥ api san
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Though I am engulfed in tribulations I still bear my lives even today due to these important monkeys like Hanuma and others, who are the only helping hands of mine. [4-8-36]
एते हि कपयः स्निग्धा माम् रक्षन्ति समन्ततः
सह गच्छन्ति गन्तव्ये नित्यम् तिष्ठन्ति च स्थिते
ete hi kapayaḥ snigdhā mām rakṣanti samantataḥ
saha gacchanti gantavye nityam tiṣṭhanti ca sthite
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"These are the friendly monkeys guarding me all over, while I go they go along with me, and if I were to stay they too will stay. [4-8-37]
संक्षेपः ते एष मे राम किम् उक्त्वा विस्तरम् हि ते
स मे ज्येष्ठो रिपुः भ्राता वाली विश्रुत पौरुषः
saṃkṣepaḥ te eṣa me rāma kim uktvā vistaram hi te
sa me jyeṣṭho ripuḥ bhrātā vālī viśruta pauruṣaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama, this is briefly my sad-story and why tell this very broadly to you as it would be too tedious... my elder brother Vali is a renowned one for his intrepidity, and he that Vali alone is my enemy. [4-8-38]
तद् विनाशे अपि मे दुःखम् प्रमृष्टम् स्यात् अनन्तरम्
सुखम् मे जीवितम् चैव तद् विनाश निबन्धनम्
tad vināśe api me duḥkham pramṛṣṭam syāt anantaram
sukham me jīvitam caiva tad vināśa nibandhanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"His end ends my distress and my later life and quietude are subjected to his destruction. [4-8-39]
एष मे राम शोकान्तः शोक आर्तेन निवेदितः
दुःखितः सुखितः वा अपि सख्युः नित्यम् सखा गतिः
eṣa me rāma śokāntaḥ śoka ārtena niveditaḥ
duḥkhitaḥ sukhitaḥ vā api sakhyuḥ nityam sakhā gatiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Grief stricken such as I am, I have submitted as to how my misery ends, whether one is gladdened or saddened he has recourse only to his friend." So said Sugreeva to Rama. [4-8-40]
श्रुत्वा एतत् च वचः रामः सुग्रीवम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
किम् निमित्तम् अभूत् वैरम् श्रोतुम् इच्छामि तत्त्वतः
śrutvā etat ca vacaḥ rāmaḥ sugrīvam idam abravīt
kim nimittam abhūt vairam śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing all that is spoken by Sugreeva, Rama asked, "What for chanced the enmity? I am interested to listen, in its reality...[4-8-41]
सुखम् हि कारणम् श्रुत्वा वैरस्य तव वानर
आनन्तर्यद् विधास्यामि संप्रधार्य बलाबलम्
sukham hi kāraṇam śrutvā vairasya tava vānara
ānantaryad vidhāsyāmi saṃpradhārya balābalam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On knowing the cause of your enmity, oh, monkey, and after a proper thought, and deciding upon the strength and weakness of the cause of enmity, or of the enmity itself, I will do the needful very easily. [4-8-42]
बलवान् हि मम अमर्षः श्रुत्वा त्वाम् अवमानितम्
वर्धते हृदय उत्कम्पी प्रावृड् वेग इव अंभसः
balavān hi mama amarṣaḥ śrutvā tvām avamānitam
vardhate hṛdaya utkampī prāvṛḍ vega iva aṃbhasaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On hearing that you are insulted my intense anger that can flutter my heartbeat is intensifying like the intensifying speed of waters in rainy reason. [4-8-43]
हृष्टः कथय विस्रब्धो यावत् आरोप्यते धनुः
सृष्टः च हि मया बाणो निरस्तः च रिपुः तव
hṛṣṭaḥ kathaya visrabdho yāvat āropyate dhanuḥ
sṛṣṭaḥ ca hi mayā bāṇo nirastaḥ ca ripuḥ tava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Be glad to say in belief, Sugreeva, before I take aim with my bow, and even before I release the arrow, and even before silencing your enemy." Rama assured Sugreeva in this way. [4-8-44]
एवम् उक्तः तु सुग्रीवः काकुत्स्थेन महात्मना
प्रहर्षम् अतुलम् लेभे चतुर्भिः सह वानरैः
evam uktaḥ tu sugrīvaḥ kākutsthena mahātmanā
praharṣam atulam lebhe caturbhiḥ saha vānaraiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus said by the great souled Rama, Sugreeva is very much rejoiced along with four of vanara-s available in his attendance. [4-8-45]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे अष्टमः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe aṣṭamaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then with a pleased countenance Sugreeva started to tell Rama about the cause of the enmity, it all it truthfulness. [4-8-46]