Chapter 8

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

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

tena vākyena: by that, sentence | harṣitaḥ: gladdened | parituṣṭaḥ tu: satisfied | śūram: to that valiant one, Rama | lakśmanasya agrajam: Lakshmana's, elder | idam vacanam: this, sentence | abravīt: said. |

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]

VERSE 2

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

upapannaḥ: possessor of [all kinds of endowments] | guṇa upetaḥ: having good virtues, with | bhavān yasya mama sakhā: you, whose, mine, friend | aham: sarvathaa = I, in everyway | devatānām anugrāhyaḥ: to gods [also] | na samśayaḥ: no, doubt. |

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]

VERSE 3

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

anagha: oh, merited one | tvayā sahāyena: with your, help | sura rājyam api prāptum śakyam bhavet: god's, kingdom, even, to achieve, possible, it will be | sva rājyam kim utaḥ prabho: one's own, why tell about, oh , lord. |

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]

VERSE 4

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

yasya: to whom such like me | rāghava vamśa jam: in Raghava's, dynasty, one born in | mitram: as friend | agni sākśikam: fire, as witness | labdham: gained by | saḥ aham: such as, I am | bandhūnām: among, relatives | ca iva: also, like that | su hṛdām: kind-hearted friends | sabhājyaḥ: estimable. |

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]

VERSE 5

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

aham api: I am, even | anurūpaḥ: matching | vayasyaḥ: friend | te: to you | jñāsyase: you will know | śanaiḥ: soon | aham ātma gatān gunān: I am my in soul, having [inherent,] capabilities | tvayi: to you | vaktum: to speak | na tu samarthaḥ: not, capable [inexpedient.] |

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]

VERSE 6

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

maha ātmanām tu: for great souls | bhūyiṣṭham: generally | tvat vidhānām: in your manner | kṛta ātmanām: purified, at heart | niścalā: stable | bhavati: will be | prītiḥ: friendship | dhairyam: courage | ātmavatām vara: among hearty ones, the best [amiable one.] |

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]

VERSE 7

रजतम् वा सुवर्णम् वा शुभानि आभरणानि च
अविभक्तानि साधूनाम् अवगच्छन्ति साधवः

rajatam vā suvarṇam vā śubhāni ābharaṇāni ca
avibhaktāni sādhūnām avagacchanti sādhavaḥ

SYNONYMS

sādhūnām: among gentle souls | rajatam vā: silver, or | suvarṇam vā: gold, or | śubhāni ābharaṇāni ca: prosperous ornaments, even | a vibhaktāni: not, in an apportioned manner | [thus] sādhavaḥ: by gentle souls | avagacanti: will be knowing. |

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]

VERSE 8

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

āḍhyaḥ vā api: rich, or, even | daridraḥ vā: poor, or | duhkhitaḥ: saddened | sukhitaḥ api vā: gladdened, even, or | nir doṣaḥ ca: without flaw, or | sa dośaḥ vā: with flaw, or | vayasyaḥ: friend is | paramā gatiḥ: ultimate, recourse. |

TRANSLATION

"May he be rich or poor, saddened or gladdened, flawless or flawed, a friend is the ultimate recourse to any. [4-8-8]

VERSE 9

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

anaghaḥ: oh impeccable one | sneham: friendship | dṛṣṭvā tathā vidham: on observing, thus, course of [friendship] | vayasya arthe: for friend's, sake | dhana tyāgaḥ: wealth, devoting | sukha tyāgaḥ: pleasure devoting | deśa tyāgaḥ vā api: country, devoting, or, even | pravartante: conducts [they don't hesitate to forgo, extend.] |

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]

VERSE 10

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

rāmaḥ: Rama | vāsavasya iva dhīmataḥ: Indra, as with, sagacious one | lakśmyā: one who is resplendent | lakśmanasya agrataḥ: [such] Lakshmana's, before | priya darśanam sugrīvam: one who looks pleasant [soft-natured in his for the onlookers, to such] Sugreeva | tat tathā iti abravīt: that, that way, only, [thus] said Rama. |

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]

VERSE 11

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

tataḥ: then | sthitam rāmam dṛṣṭvā: standing there, at Rama, on seeing | mahābalam: greatly mighty | lakśmaṇam ca: Lakshmana, also | lolam = rolling: bolting | cakśuḥ: eyes | sarvataḥ: around | vane: in forest | apātayat: thrown [he cast sight.] |

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]

VERSE 12

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

tataḥ: then | saḥ harīśvaraḥ: he that, monkeys, lord, | avidūre su puṣpam: not far off, well flowered | īṣat patra āḍhyam: with some, leaves, covering | bhramaraiḥ: with honeybees | upa śobhitam: well bedecked | sālam: sala tree | dadarśa: has seen. |

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]

VERSE 13

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

sugrīvaḥ: Sugreeva | tasya: its, tree's | parṇa bahulām: leaves, many | su sobhitām: well, charming one | ekām: one | śākhām: branch | bhanktvā: broke off | rāmasya āstīrya: for Rama, spread out | saḥ rāghavaḥ: with Raghava | niṣasāda: sat on it. |

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]

VERSE 14

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

tataḥ: then | hanūmān: Hanuma | api: even | āsīnau: sitting | tau: those two | dṟ^stvā: on seeing | sāla śākhām: sala, branch | sam utpāṭya: on breaking | vinītam: modest one | lakśmaṇam: to Lakshmana | upaveśayat: sat on. |

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

This verse and some more will look alike to verses 18, 19, 20 and some more in 5th chapter of this canto, meaning that these actions are repeated whenever Rama and Lakshmana are standing, these monkeys broke the branches of trees and spread its leaves like a leafy mat as a comfortable seat to Rama with their veneration. Some other verses dealing with the agony of Sugreeva and assurances of Rama are also there, indicating that Rama assured the doubting monkeys repeatedly.
VERSE 15

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

, 16| tataḥ: then | prahṛṣṭaḥ: who is pleased | sāla puṣpa: with sala tree's, flowers | samkīrṇne: all over bestrewn with | tasmin girivara uttame: there, on that mountain, the best | sukha upaviṣṭam: comfortably, one who is sitting | prasannam yathā udadhim: quiet, like, ocean | rāmam tu: one who causes delight to heart | rāmam: to such a Rama | ślakśnam śubhayā girā: with gentle, gracious, words | harṣa vyākulita akśaram: in happiness, fluttering, with words | praṇayāt: in friendship | uvāca: said. |

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]

VERSE 17

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

bhrātrā vinikṛtaḥ: by brother, calumniated | eṣaḥ aham: this, me | bhayārditaḥ: with fear haunting | hṛta bhāryaḥ: stolen, wife | su duḥkhitaḥ: highly, anguished | giri varam: mountain the best | ṟiśyamūkam: on Mt. Rishyamuka | carāmi: I am moving. |

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]

VERSE 18

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

bhrātrā: by brother | vālinā: by Vali | nikṛtaḥ = insulted: affronted | kṛta vairaḥ: made, enemy | ca: also | saḥ aham: such as, I am | trastaḥ: scared | sambhrānta: dazed | cetanaḥ: vitality | vasāmi: living | bhaye magnaḥ: in fear, flung in. |

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]

VERSE 19

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

sarva loka: for all worlds | a bhayam kara = no, fear: protection, giver [protector] | me = my: from my brother | vālinaḥ: from Vali | bhaya ārtasya: in fear, agonized | a nāthasya: un, protected one [I am] | mama api: to me, even | tvam: you | prasādam kartum arhasi: protection, to accord, able you are. |

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]

VERSE 20

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

evam uktaḥ tu: thus, said | tejasvī: resplendent | dharmajñaḥ: virtuous | dharma vatsalaḥ: righteousness, the patron of | saḥ kākutsthaḥ: he that, Rama | pra hasan iva: laughing it off, as though | sugrīvam: to Sugreeva | prati uvāca = in turn, said: replied. |

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]

VERSE 21

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

upakāra phalam mitram: helping, fruit of, is a friend | apakāraḥ ari lakśaṇam: harming, is enemy's, trait | adya eva: today, only | vadh iṣyāmi: to kill, I wish to | tam tava bhāryā apahāriṇam: him, your, wife's, abductor. |

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]

VERSE 22

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

, 23| mahā bhāgāḥ = oh, highly fortunate one: Sugreeva | me ime patriṇaḥ śarā: my, these, winged [pinion to hern,] arrows | tigma tejasaḥ: sharply, sparkling | kārtikeya vana udbhūtāḥ: from Kartikeya's, forest, begotten | hema vibhūṣitāḥ: gold, decorated with | kanka patrai pari cchannāḥ: with eagle's, feathers, tied with as fins | mahendra: Indra's | aśani sannibhāḥ: Thunderbolt, like | su parvāṇaḥ: having smooth, nodes, even knots | su tīkśṇa agrā: very, sharply, tipped | sa roṣāḥ: with rage | bhujagā iva: snakes, like. |

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

Please see Ch 37 in Bala Kanda for the legend of Karthikeya and his emergence.
VERSE 24

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

te bhrātaram: your brother | kṛta kilbiśam: who has done, malice | vāli sañjam: Vali, denotative by, named | a mitram = unfriendly: intimidating one | śaraiḥ: with arrows | vi nihatam: verily, eradicated | vikīrṇam iva parvatam: splintered, like, mountain | paśya: you may see. |

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]

VERSE 25

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

rāghavasya: Raghava's | vacaḥ: words | śrutvā: heard | sugrīvaḥ: Sugreeva | vāhinī patiḥ: monkey-force, lord of | praharṣam: happiness | atulam: much | lebhe: attained | sādhu sādhu iti ca: good, good, thus, also | abravīt: said. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing Raghava's words, the lord of monkey-force Sugreeva attained much happiness and said, 'good, good...' [4-8-25]

VERSE 26

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

aham: I am | śoka abhibhūtaḥ: by sadness, confounded in | śoka ārtānām: for sadly, lamenting ones | bhavān gatiḥ: you are, the recourse | vayasya iti kṛtvā: friend, thus, on making [because you are a friend] | hi: verily | tvayi aham: in you, I am | paridevaye: beseeching [I open up my woes before you.]. |

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]

VERSE 27

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

tvam: you are | pāṇi pradānena: hand, by extending | agni ākśikam: of fire, by witness | kṛtaḥ: befriended | prāṇaiḥ bahumataḥ vayasyaḥ me hi: than life, you are dearest, friend you are, of minbe, indeed | aham: I am satyena api shapaami = by truth, only, taking oath. |

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]

VERSE 28

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

vayasya iti kṛtvā ca: friend, thus, making, also | aham: I am | visrabdham: in believability [without hitches and hold-ups] | pra vadāmi: clearly, saying | tat antargatam duḥkham manaḥ harati nityaśaḥ: that which, internal, sorrow is there, my, heart, stealing [rending,] always. |

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]

VERSE 29

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

etāvat: up to here | uktvā vacanam: said, sentence | bāśpa dūṣitayā locanaḥ: with tears, abused, eyes | bāśpa dūṣitayā vācā: tears, abused, voice | na: not | ucchaiḥ: aloud | śknoti: able | bhāśitum: to talk. |

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]

VERSE 30

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

sannidhau: in the presence of | nadī vegam iva: river's, speed, like | sahasā: suddenly | āgatam: came up | bāśpa vegam tu: tears, speed of | dhairyeṇa: courageously | dhārayāmāsa: controlled. |

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]

VERSE 31

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

tejasvī: bright one | saḥ: he | tam bāśpam: those, tears | nigṛhya tu: controlled | pramṛjya śubhe nayane: on wiping out, his fortunate, eyes | vi nisḥvasya ca: verily, sighed, also | rāghavam vākyam punaḥ ūcivān: to Raghava, sentence, again started to speak. |

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]

VERSE 32

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

purā: earlier | aham: I was | balīyasā valinā svāt rājyāt avaropitaḥ: by forceful, Vali, from my, kingdom, dismounted [ deposed] | paruṣāṇi ca samśrāvya nirdhūtaḥ asmi: harsh words, also, made to listen [spoke by him,] shoved off [banished,] I am. |

TRANSLATION

"Earlier he that forceful Vali deposed me from my kingdom, oh Rama, and speaking harsh words he even banished me. [4-8-32]

VERSE 33

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

tena: by him | prāṇebhyaḥ api garīyasī: of lives, even, loftier | me bhāryā ca hṛtā: my, wife, is also, stolen | madīyā ye suhṛdaḥ: my, those, sympathisers are thee | [te: they are] | bandhaneṣu samyatā: in prisons, tied down. |

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]

VERSE 34

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

saḥ duṣṭa atmā: he that, evil, minded one | mat vināśāya: for my, annihilation | yatnavān ca: he tried, also | bahuśaḥ: many times | tat: by him | prayuktāḥ ca: deployed, also | vānarāḥ: monkeys [combatants] | nihatā mayā: are killed, by me. |

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]

VERSE 35

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

aham ca: I, too | etayā: with the same | śankayā tve: doubt | tvām api iha dṛṣṭvā: you, even, here, on seeing | na upasarpāmi: not, I neared you | bhaye sarve bibhyati hi: in fear, all, will be fearsome, isn't it. |

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]

VERSE 36

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

kevalam ime hanumat pramukhāḥ: just, these, Hanuma, important ones | me sahāyā: my, helping hands | ataḥ aham kṛcchra gataḥ api san: thereby, I am, in tribulations, gone in, though, I am | dhārayāmi prāṇān adya: I bear, my lives, even today. |

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]

VERSE 37

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

snigdhā: friendly | ete kapayaḥ mām rakśanti samantataḥ: these, monkeys, me, guarding, from all over | gantavye saha gacchanti nityam sthite tiṣṭhanti ca: while I go, along with, they go, always, while staying, the stay. |

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]

VERSE 38

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

eṣa me samkśepaḥ: this, is my, brief account | te vistaram uktvā kim: to you, in detail, telling, why [what is the use in elaborating it] | me jyeṣṭhaḥ bhrātā: my, elder, brother | viśruta pauruśaḥ: who is renowned, for his intrepidity | saḥ Vali mama ripu: that, Vali, is my, enemy. |

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]

VERSE 39

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

tat vināśe api: his, end, only | me duḥkham pra mṛṣṭtam syāt: my, distress, is wiped out [end,] it will be | anantaram: later | me sukham jīvitam ca eva: my, quietude, life, also, thus | tat vināśa nibandhanam: his, destruction, subjected to. |

TRANSLATION

"His end ends my distress and my later life and quietude are subjected to his destruction. [4-8-39]

VERSE 40

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

śoka ārtena: by grief, stricken one | me eṣa śoka antaḥ: this, misery's, end, [end for my misery] | niveditaḥ: is submitted | sakhyuḥ duḥkhitaḥ sukhitaḥ vā api: for a friend, saddened, gladdened, or, even if | nityam sakhā gatiḥ: at any time, friend, is recourse. |

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]

VERSE 41

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

etat vacaḥ śrutvā: all this, words, on hearing | sugrīvam: to Sugreeva | idam abravīt: this, said | kim nimittam: what, for | abhūt vairam: chanced, enmity | tattvataḥ śrotum icchāmi: in its reality, to listen, interested I am. |

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]

VERSE 42

सुखम् हि कारणम् श्रुत्वा वैरस्य तव वानर
आनन्तर्यद् विधास्यामि संप्रधार्य बलाबलम्

sukham hi kāraṇam śrutvā vairasya tava vānara
ānantaryad vidhāsyāmi saṃpradhārya balābalam

SYNONYMS

vānara: oh, monkey | tava vairasya kāraṇam śrutvā: yours, of enmity, cause, on listening | bala abalam sampradhārya: strength and weakness, on deciding | ānantaryāt: after a proper thought | sukham vidhāsyāmi: easily, I will enforce [do the needful.] |

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]

VERSE 43

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

śrutvā: on hearing | tvām: you are | avamānitam: insulted | utkampī: that can flutter | mama: my | hṛdaya: heart | balavān: intense | amarṣaḥ: anger [is coming to pass, like] | ambhasaḥ prāvṛḍ vega iva varthate: of waters, rainy season's, speediness, like, increasing. |

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]

VERSE 44

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

mayā: by me | yāvat: before | dhanuḥ āropyate: bow, is aimed | bāṇaḥ sṛṣṭaḥ ca: arrow, is released | tava ripuḥ nirastaḥ ca: your, enemy, become helpless [ he dies] | hṛṣṭaḥ visrabdhaḥ kathaya: gladly, in belief, you tell. |

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]

VERSE 45

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

mahātmanā kākutsthena evam uktaḥ tu: by great souled, Rama, thus, when said | sugrīvaḥ: he that Sugreeva | caturbhiḥ vānaraiḥ saha: with four, vanara-s, along with | praharṣam atulam lebhe: rejoice, very much, obtained. |

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]

VERSE 46

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे अष्टमः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe aṣṭamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

tata: then | prahṛṣṭa vadanaḥ: with pleased, countenance | ḻakśmana agraje: to Lakshmana's elder, to Rama | vairasya kāraṇam: enmity's, cause | tattvam: truthfully | ākhyātum: to tell | upacakrame: started. |

TRANSLATION

Then with a pleased countenance Sugreeva started to tell Rama about the cause of the enmity, it all it truthfulness. [4-8-46]