Book IV : Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys
After Sugreeva's enthronement, Rama and Lakshmana arrive at a mountain called Prasavana for their stay during rainy season. This mountain contains rich flora and fauna as extolled by Rama. On seeing the beauty of nature Rama's thoughts wander over Seetha and he sinks down in his anguish. But Lakshmana comes to rescue imbuing hopeful thoughts in retrieving her with the help of Sugreeva. The readers familiar with critical edition may find only twenty-three verses in that edition, whereas this traditional version contains forty-eight of them. Twenty-five verses that account the names of trees, river-flows, beauty of nature etc., extolling nature are here as an ingredient of epical literature that aim to remind us about the need for a good environment, rather than to worry about global warming, ozone depletion, deforestation etc. |
abhiSikte tu sugriive praviSTe vaanare guhaam |
aajagaama saha bhraatraa raamaH prasravaNam girim || 4-27-1
1. abhiSikte vaanare sugriive tu = anointed, vanara, Sugreeva, on his part; guhaam praviSTe = into cave - Kishkindha, while entering; raamaH bhraatraa saha= Rama, brother, along with; prasravaNam girim aajagaama = to Prasavana, mountain, reached.
Rama along with his brother Lakshmana reached Mt. Prasavana while the enthroned Sugreeva entered the cave-city Kishkindha. [4-27-1]
shaarduula mR^iga sa.mghuSTam si.mhaiH bhiima ravaiH vR^itam |
naanaa gulma lataa guuDham bahu paadapa sa.mkulam || 4-27-2
R^ikSa vaanara gopucChaiH maarjaaraiH ca niSevitam |
megha raashi nibham shailam nityam shucikaram shivam || 4-27-3
2. shaarduula mR^iga sam ghuSTam= with tigers, beasts, verily [noisily,] growling; bhiima ravaiH simhaiH vR^itam = mightily, roaring, with lions, pervaded; naanaa gulma lataa guuDham= divers, shrubs, creeper-plants, compacted with; bahu paadapa samkulam= many, trees, overspread; R^ikSa vaanara gopucChaiH maarjaaraiH ca = with bears, monkeys, baboons, wildcats, also; niSevitam= adored by; megha raashi nibham = clouds, heap of, in shine with; nityam shucikaram shivam shailam [suchi jala aashayam]= always sanctifying, tranquil, mountain, [with unspoilt, water, resorts]; Rama reached such a mountain.
Mt. Prasavana is pervaded with noisily growling tigers and beasts, mightily roaring lions, compacted with diverse shrubs and creeper-plants, overspread with many a kind of tree, thus it is adored by bears, monkeys, baboons, and even by wildcats, and that mountain which is always sanctifying and tranquil is like a heap of clouds in its shine. [4-27-2, 3]
As a mass of clouds always showers water this cloudlike mountain also appears to be always showering unspoilt and sanctifying water by way of its rapids, waterfalls and cascades and other water resorts. Hence, it is water giving earthly cloud.
tasya shailasya shikhare mahatiim aayataam guhaam |
pratyagR^ihNiita vaasaartham raamaH saumitriNaa saha || 4-27-4
4. raamaH saumitriNaa saha = Rama, Saumitri, along with; tasya shailasya shikhare= on that, mountain's, cliff; mahatiim aayataam guhaam= ample, spaced, cave; vaasaartham pratyagR^ihNiita = for residence, has taken up.
Rama along with Lakshmana has taken up an ample spaced cave as residence on the cliff of that mountain. [4-27-4]
kR^itvaa ca samayam raamaH sugriiveNa saha anagha |
kaala yuk{}tam mahad vaakyam uvaaca raghunandana || 4-27-5
viniitam bhraataram bhraataa lakshmaNam lakshmi vardhanam |
5, 6a. anaghaH= faultless one; raghu nandanaH= Raghu's dynasty, delighter of; bhraataa raamaH = brother, Rama; sugriiveNa saha samayam kR^itvaa ca= with Sugreeva, an accord, having made; viniitam bhraataram lakshmi vardhanam= humble one, prosperity, enhancer of, with Lakshmana; kaala yuktam mahat vaakyam= time, bound - befitting to that time, sinificant, word; uvaaca= spoke.
Rama, the faultless one and the elder brother of Lakshmana, who is the delight of Raghu's dynasty, and who made an accord with Sugreeva regarding cessation of activity during rainy season, spoke these significant and timely words to his humble brother Lakshmana who is the enhancer of prosperity. [4-27-5, 6a]
iyam giri guhaa ramyaa vishaalaa yuk{}ta maarutaa || 4-27-6
asyaam vastyaama saumitre varSa raatram ari.ndama |
6b, 7a. arindama saumitre= oh, enemy-destroyer Soumitri; ramyaa iyam giri guhaa= delightful one, this, mountain, cave; vishaalaa= is spacious; yukta maarutaa= with adequate, breeze - pleasantly windy - breezy; varSa raatram= during rainy, nights; asyaam vastyaama= in here, we live.
"This delightful mountain cave is spacious and breezy, hence, oh, enemy destroyer Soumitri, let us stay in this during rainy nights. [4-27-6]
giri shR^i.ngam idam ramyam uttamam paarthivaatmaja || 4-27-7
shvetaabhiH kR^iSNa taamraabhiH shilaabhiH upashobhitam |
naanaa dhaatu samaakiirNam nadii dardura sa.myutam || 4-27-8
vividhaiH vR^iksha SaNDaiH ca caaru citra lataa yutam |
naanaa vihaga sa.mghuSTam mayuura vara naaditam || 4-27-9
maalatii ku.nda gulmaiH ca si.nduvaaraiH shiriiSakaiH |
kada.mba arjuna sarjaiH ca puSpitaiH upashobhitam || 4-27-10
7b, 8, 9, 10. paarthiva aatmaja= oh, king's, son - oh, prince; shvetaabhiH kR^iSNa taamraabhiH = white ones, black ones, coppery ones; shilaabhiH= with boulders - rock faces; upa shobhitam= embellished with; naanaa dhaatu sam aakiirNam= with diverse, ores, fully, overspread; nadii dardura [nirjhara] samyutam= rivers, frogs [rivulets,] bristling with; vividhaiH vR^iksha SaNDaiH ca= various, tree, clumps, also - brimming with; caaru citra lataa yutam = beautiful, amazing, creeper-plants, along with - it is elaborated; naanaa vihaga samghuSTam= diverse, birds, well, reverberated with; mayuura vara naaditam= peacocks, best, filled with screeches of; maalatii kunda gulmaiH ca= Maalati, Jasmine, with bushes, also; sinduvaaraiH shiriiSakaiH= Sindhuvara trees, Shirrishika trees, also; puSpitaiH kadamba arjuna sarjaiH ca= with bloomed, Kadamba, Arjuna, Sarja, also; upashobhitam= it is brightened with; uttamam idam giri shR^ingam= admirable, mountain's, peak; ramyam== is delightful.
"This admirable peak of mountain is embellished with white, black and coppery rock faces, oh, prince, thus this is fully overspread with diverse ores. Bristling with rivers and frogs, and brimmed with clumps of various trees along with beautiful and amazing creeper-plants it is elaborated. It is highly reverberated with diverse birds and filled with the screeches of best peacocks. And bloomed Maalati and Jasmine bushes, also trees like Sindhuvara, Shirrishika, further the trees like Kadamba, Arjuna, and Sarja in bloom, are brightening it and it is delightful. [4-27-7b, 8, 9, 10]
The botanical names for these trees are provided in chapter 1 of Kishkindha, where some more elaborate description of nature is available. These may please be referred there. These lists of trees may not be taken as just for page filling, but they may be regarded as the esteemed natural resources that cause natural and timely rainfalls, which occurs in the next chapter.
iyam ca nalini ramyaa phulla pa.nkaja maNDitaiH |
na ati duure guhaayaa nau bhaviSyati nR^ipaatmaja || 4-27-11
11. nR^ipa aatmaja = oh, king's, son; phulla pankaja maNDitaiH= blossomy, lotuses, enwreathed with; ramyaa= pleasant one; iyam nalini ca = this one, lotus-lake, also; nau guhaayaa= to our, cave; na ati duure = not, very, far from; bhaviSyati= is available.
"This pleasant lake of lotuses enwreathed with its blossomy lotuses, oh, prince, is available not far away from our cave. [4-27-11]
praag udak pravaNe deshe guhaa saadhu bhaviSyati |
pashcaat ca eva unnataa saumya nivaate ayam bhaviSyati || 4-27-12
12. saumya= oh, gentle one; praak udak pravaNe deshe= that is in - east, north, sloppy, place; guhaa= cave; saadhu bhaviSyati = good, it will be - homely; pashcaat unnataa ca eva= in west, upraised, also, thus; ayam= this one - cave; ni vaataa bhaviSyati= without, gust, it will be.
"This cave with its north-easterly slope will be homely for us since the inrush of rainwater will be less, oh, gentle one, also thus with its upraised westerly portion this cave will be less of gusts that come from east. [4-27-12]
guhaa dvaare ca saumitre shilaa sama talaa shivaa |
kR^iSNaa ca eva aayataa caiva bhinna a.njana caya upamamaa || 4-27-13
13. saumitre= oh, Soumitri; guhaa dvaare ca = at cave's, doorway, also; sama talaa= even, surfaced; kR^iSNaa aayataa caiva= black, broad one, also thus; bhinna anjana caya upamamaa= spattered, mascara, mound, in simile; shilaa = stone - available; shivaa= is pleasant.
"The black stone available at the doorway of the cave that looks like a spattered mound of mascara is broad, even-surfaced, and will be pleasant for a repose. [4-27-13]
giri shR^i.ngam idam taata pashya ca uttarataH subham |
bhinna a.njana caya aakaaram a.mbhodharam iva uditam || 4-27-14
14. taata= dear boy; uttarataH= on northern side; bhinna anjana caya aakaaram= scattered, mascara, mound, in shape; uditam= rose up; ambhaH dharam iva = water, carrier - black-cloud, like - cloud turned upside down; subham idam giri shR^ingam pashya ca = auspicious one, this, mountain, peak, see, also.
"See this mountain peak that looks like a scattered mound of mascara, dear boy, which rose up like a black-cloud on the sky, and it is an auspicious one for it is in northern side. [4-27-14]
dakshiNasyaam api disha sthitam shvetam iva a.mbaram |
kailaasa shikhara prakhyam naanaa dhaatu viraajitam || 4-27-15
15. dakshiNasyaam disha api= in southern, quarter, even in; sthitam= available; shvetam ambaram iva = white, cloth, as if; kailaasa shikhara prakhyam= Mt. Kailash, peak, vies with; naanaa dhaatu viraajitam = many, ores, abounding in; [pashya= you see, another mountain.]
"Even see this mountain available in the southerly direction as if a white cloth is spread on sky, which is vying with Mt. Kailash and abounding with many an ore. [4-27-15]
praaciina vaahiniim caiva nadiim bhR^isham akardamam |
guhaayaaH parataH pashya trikuuTe jahnaviim iva || 4-27-16
candanaiH tilakaiH saalaiH tamaalaiH atimuk{}takaiH |
padmakaiH saralaiH caiva ashokaiH caiva shobhitam || 4-27-17
16, 17. praaciina vaahiniim caiva = to east, streaming, at river, also thus; bhR^isham a + kardamam= unusually, without, sludge; candanaiH tilakaiH saalaiH tamaalaiH atimuktakaiH= with trees like - Sandalwood, tialaka, Saala, Tamaala, Atimukta; padmakaiH saralaiH caiva= Padmaka, Sarala, also thus; ashokaiH caiva= with Ashoka trees, even; shobhitam= spruced up; trikuuTe jahnaviim iva= in Trikuta, Jahnvi [Ganga,] like; nadiim= such a river; guhaayaaH parataH pashya= cave's, wide of, see.
"Also see this river unusually sludge-less, flowing from the wide of the cave and streaming eastward, spruced up with trees like Sandalwood, Tilaka, Saala, Tamaala, Atimukta, Padmaka, Sarala, and even with Ashoka trees, and it looks as if River Ganga is flowing in Trikuta. [4-27-16, 17]
They are now in Kishkindha and Trikuta is in Himalayan range. There at Mt. Trikuta or Mt. Meru or Himalayan mountains it is River Jahnavi or Ganga and here at Mt. Prasavana the river is Tungabhadra, which is affectionately remembered as River Ganga.
vaaniiraiH timidaiH caiva vakulaiH ketakaiH api |
hintaalaiH tinishaiH niipaiH vetasaiH kR^itamaalakaiH || 4-27-18
tiirajaiH shobhitaa bhaati naanaa ruupaiH tataH tataH |
vasana aabharaNa upeta pramada eva abhyala.nkR^itaa || 4-27-19
18. tiira jaiH= on riverbank, born; naanaa ruupaiH= various, in their shapes; tataH tataH= there, there; available; vaaniiraiH timidaiH vakulaiH ketakaiH = with trees like Vaaniira, Timida, Vakula, Ketaka; hintaalaiH tinishaiH niipaiH vetasaiH kR^itamaalakaiH= Hintaala, Tinisha, Niipa, Vetasa, Kritamaala trees; shobhitaa= brightened with; that river; vasana aabharaNa upeta= raiment, ornaments, along with; abhi alankR^itaa= finely, bedecked; pramada iva bhaati= lady, as if, [river is] appears to be.
"With the trees born on the riverbank and available here and there in various shapes, like Vaaniira, Timida, Vakula, Ketaka, and with Hintaala, Tinisha, Niipa, Vetasa, Kritamaala trees, that river is brightened up, and thus that river appears as a dame finely bedecked with raiment and ornaments. [4-27-18, 19]
shatashaH pakshi sanghaiH ca naanaa naada vinaaditaa |
ekaikam anurak{}taiH ca cakravaakaiH ala.nkR^itaa || 4-27-20
pulinaiH ati ramyaiH ca ha.msa saarasa sevitaa |
prahasa.ntii iva bhaati eSaa naarii ratna vibhuuSitaa || 4-27-21
20, 21. shatashaH pakshi sanghaiH ca= in hundreds, of bird, flights; naanaa naada vi naaditaa= diverse, calls, verily - fairly, resonated with; eka ekam anuraktaiH ca= one, another, doting upon, also; cakravaakaiH alankR^itaa= with Cakravaka [Ruddy gees,] beautified; ati ramyaiH pulinaiH ca= with highly, appealing, sand-isles, also; hamsa saarasa sevitaa= by swans, Indian cranes, admired; eSaa= she - this river is; naarii ratna vibhuuSita [naanaa ratna samanvitaa]= damsel, jewels, decorated with; [many, jewels, having]; pra hasantii iva bhaati= well, smiling - with a toothy grin, like, appearing to be.
"This river is fairly resonated with the calls of diverse birds in hundreds of flights, beautified with ruddy gees that are doting one upon the other, and admired by the swans and cranes upon her highly appealing sand-isles, thus she appears to be a damsel decorated with jewels with a toothy grin. [4-27-20, 21]
These accounts come under vipra lambha sR^ingaara, dear-departed-romanticism. The ruddy gees are this river-damsel's rubbing breasts under her breast-band. The sandy-mounds are her buttocks, or her pearl-white teeth, saarasa Indian cranes are her eyes. The swans, by their nature they are famous for their majestic floating. With such a floating of swans the majestic cruise of the maiden called river is perceptible. The clucking sounds of the birds are like the tinkles from the tinkling bells of that maiden's anklets. alankaara : utprekhsa say, hyperbolic rhetoric.
kvacit niilotpalaiH cChanna bhaati rak{}totpalaiH kvacit |
kvacit bhaati shuklaiH ca divyaiH kumuda kuDmalaiH || 4-27-22
22. kvacit niila utpalaiH= somewhere, with blue, water-lilies; kvacit rakta utpalaiH= elsewhere, with red, water-lilies; cChannaa= overspread with; bhaati = river is - shining forth; kvacit= somewhere else; shuklaiH ca= with white [lilies,] also; divyaiH kumuda kuDmalaiH= beautiful, with water-lilies, buds; bhaati= shimmering.
"Somewhere overspread with blue water-lilies, elsewhere with red water-lilies she is shining forth, and she is also shimmering with the beautiful buds of white water-lilies, somewhere else. [4-27-22]
paariplava shataiH juSTaa barhi krauncha vinaaditaa |
ramaNiyaa nadii saumya muni sa.ngha niSevitaa || 4-27-23
23. paariplava shataiH juSTaa= waterfowls, in hundreds, cherished by; barhi krauncha vi naaditaa= by peacocks, by curlews, much, noised - reverberant with screams cackles; muni sangha niSevitaa= by saint, assemblages, served by - bustling around; saumya nadii ramaNiyaa = gracious, river, is heart-pleasing.
"With hundreds of waterfowls cherishing it, screeches of peacocks and cackles of curlews reverberating around, assemblages of sages bustling about, this gracious river is heart-pleasing. [4-27-23]
pashya ca.ndana vR^ikshaaNaam pa.nk{}tii suruciraa iva |
kakubhaanam ca dR^ishyante manasaa iva uditaaH samam || 4-27-24
24. candana vR^ikshaaNaam= of sandalwood, trees; suruciraa iva= captivating, as if - virtually; panktiiH pashya = rows, you see; samam= uniformly; manasaa= [seeded] by the wish of [some divine creativity]; uditaaH= sprang forth; iva= as if; they appear; kakubhaanam [panktii] ca dR^ishyante= Kakubha - Arjuna trees, [rows of,] also - appear in similar pattern.
"As if seeded by the wish of some divine creativity the rows of sandalwood trees that are virtually captivating have sprang forth uniformly, so also, the rows of Arjuna trees too appear in a similar pattern. [4-27-24]
aho suramaNiiyo ayam deshaH shatru niSuudana |
dR^iDham ra.msyaava saumitre saadhu atra nivasaavahe || 4-27-25
25. shatru niSuudana saumitre = oh, enemy, eliminator, Soumitri; ayam deshaH su ramaNiiyaH = this, locale is, very, exhilarating; aho= aha; atra saadhu nivasaavahe= here, happily, we reside; dR^iDham ramsyaava= certainly, we take delight - in this environ.
"Aha! Soumitri, very exhilarating is this locale and we can happily reside here, oh, enemy-eliminator, we can certainly take delight in this environ. [4-27-25]
itaH ca na ati duure saa kiSki.ndhaa citra kaananaa |
sugriivasya purii ramyaa bhaviSyati nR^ipaatmaja || 4-27-26
26. nR^ipaatmaja= oh, king's, son; citra kaananaa= with charming, groves - hedged in; ramyaa= exquisite one; sugriivasya purii = Sugreeva's, city; saa kiSkindhaa = she, that Kishkindha; itaH= from here; na ati duure ca= not, very, far off, further; bhaviSyati= it will be.
"Further, oh, prince, hedged in charming groves that exquisite Kishkindha, the city of Sugreeva, will not be very far off from here. [4-27-26]
giita vaaditra nirghoSaH shruuyate jayataam vara |
nadataam vaanaraaNaam ca mR^ida.nga aaDa.mbaraiH saha || 4-27-27
27. jayataam vara = oh, among triumphant ones, best one; giita vaaditra nir ghoSaH= singing, musical instrument's, out flowing - melodies; nadataam vaanaraaNaam ca= blares of, Vanara-s, also; saha mR^idanga aaDambaraiH = along with, drum's - showy extravaganza; shruuyate= is heard - from here.
"The melodies of singing and the tunes of musical instruments played and sung in Kishkindha are heard from here, oh, the best-triumphant Lakshmana, and even the blares of vanara-s together with their snobbish drumming is heard, hence it is not far away. [4-27-27]
labdhvaa bhaaryaam kapivaraH praapya raajyam suhR^it vR^itaH |
dhruvam na.ndati sugriivaH sa.mpraapya mahatiim shriyam || 4-27-28
28. kapi varaH sugriivaH= monkey, the best, Sugreeva; bhaaryaam labdhvaa= wife, on winning back; raajyam praapya= kingdom, on winning; mahatiim shriyam sam praapya= choicest, prosperity, having won,; su hR^it = with good, hearted ones - friends; vR^itaH= surrounded with; nandati= he must be exuberant; dhruvam= definite is that.
"It is definite that the best monkey Sugreeva must be surrounded by his friends, thus he must be exuberant, as he won an utmost prosperity in winning back his wife and winning the kingdom." Rama thus spoke to Lakshmana. [4-27-28]
iti uk{}tvaa nyavasat tatra raaghavaH saha lakSmaNaH |
bahu dR^ishya darii ku.nje tasmin prasravaNe girau || 4-27-29
29. raaghavaH iti uktvaa= Raghava, thus, on saying; bahu dR^ishya darii kunje= with many, sightly, caves, arbours; tasmin prasravaNe girau = in there, on Prasavana, mountain; tatra= there; saha lakSmaNaH nyavasat= with, Lakshmana, resided.
Raghava having said thus resided on that Mt. Prasavana along with Lakshmana, whereat many sightly caves and arbours are there. [4-27-29]
susukhe hi bahu dravye tasmin hi dharaNii dhare |
vasataH tasya raamasya ratiH alpaa api na abhavat || 4-27-30
30. su sukhe hi= very, comfortable, admittedly; bahu dravye= with many, objects - like flowers, water etc; tasmin dharaNii dhare= therein, by earth, borne one - on mountain; vasataH= while residing; tasya raamasya= for him, to Rama; alpaa api= least, even - in the least; ratiH na abhavat hi= bliss, not, chanced, indeed.
Though that mountain is indeed very comfortable, though it possess many objects of nature like flowers, fruits and waters, indeed, there is no slightest bliss to Rama while he resided there. [4-27-30]
hR^itaam hi bhaaryaam smarataH praaNebhyo api gariiyasiim |
udaya abhyuditam dR^iSTvaa shashaa.nkam ca visheSataH || 4-27-31
31. visheSataH= especially; udayat abhi uditam shashaankam dR^iSTvaa= from eastern mountain, just, risen, moon, on seeing; hR^itaam= one who is kidnapped; praaNebhyaH api gariiyasiim hi = than lives, even, loftier, indeed; bhaaryaam smarataH= wife, on reminiscing over; he became despondent.
He felt despondent in reminiscing about his wife who is loftier that his lives, but who is kidnapped, especially on seeing the moon just risen on the eastern mountain. [4-27-31]
aavivesha na tam nidraa nishaasu shayanam gatam |
tat samutthena shokena baaSpa upahata cetasam || 4-27-32
32. tat= that; samutthena shokena = well- high, surging, anguish; baaSpa upahata cetasam= by tears, marred, with a bosom; nishaasu shayanam gatam= in nights, to bed, on going; tam= him; nidraa na aavivesha= sleep, has not, taken hold of - ineffective.
That anguish which is surging high in him has rendered him with a bosom marred with tears, thereby sleep has no effect on him even if he has gone to bed in nights. [4-27-32]
tam shocamaanam kaakutstham nityam shoka paraayaNam |
tulya duHkho abraviid bhraataa lakSmaNo anunayam vacaH || 4-27-33
33. shocamaanam= he who is pensive; nityam shoka paraayaNam= always, to grief, who is subjected to; tam kaakutstham= him, that Rama; anunayan= while pacifying; tulya duHkhaH= one who is - similarly, sad - for his brother; bhraataa lakSmaNaH= brother, Lakshmana; vacaH abraviit= words, said.
While pacifying Rama who is pensive and who is always subjected to grief, his brother Lakshmana who is similarly sad for his brother's sadness spoke these words. [4-27-33]
alam viira vyathaam gatvaa na tvam shocitum arhasi |
shocato hi avasiidanti sarva arthaa viditam hi te || 4-27-34
34. viira= oh, brave one; vyathaam gatvaa alam = anguish, undergoing, is enough; tvam shocitum na arhasi = you, to dishearten, not, apt; shocataH= one who goes on anguishing; sarva arthaa= all, [his] purposes; avasiidanti= will sink down - backslides; te viditam hi = to you, known, indeed - you know it clearly.
"Oh, brave one, enough is this anguishing of yours, and it will be inapt of you to dishearten. All objectives will backslide for them who will be ceaselessly anguishing. That you know clearly. [4-27-34]
bhavaan kriyaa paro loke bhavaan deva paraayaNaH |
aastiko dharma shiilaH ca vyavasaayii ca raaghava || 4-27-35
35. raaghava= oh, Raghava; loke bhavaan kriyaa paraH = in world, you are, results, oriented; bhavaan deva paraayaNaH= you are, to gods, dedicated to - in achieving proper results of your deeds; aastikaH= theist; dharma shiilaH ca= righteous, in conduct [moralist]; vyavasaayii ca= industrious - mobilizer, also.
"Oh, Raghava, in the world you are a result-oriented person, and a devotee of gods for achieving those desired results, you are the theist, moralist, and also the mobilizer.
Or
"You are the only master in all the worlds to undertake certain tasks, and for achieving results of those humanly actions of yours you worship god, leaving the fruits of your action in god... you will do your duty as ordained... you are a theist, for you alone are tat 'that' 'Supreme Person...' thus you cannot self-contradict yourself to behave only in a humanly attitude... and then you are bound to be a moralist for you have all the preceding attributes... you alone are the mobilizer, for none other can accomplish certain tasks for which you are mobilised by all the divinities and you have also come this far... [4-27-35]
na hi avyavasitaH shatrum raakSasam tam visheSataH |
samarthaH tvam raNe hantum vikramaiH jihma kaariNam || 4-27-36
36. a + vyavasitaH= if you are - without, endeavouring - lackadaisical; tvam = you; vikramaiH= by your daring enterprises; jihma kaariNam= trick, one who caused - trickster; shatrum= enemy; visheSataH raakSasam = especially, a demon; tam= him - Ravana; raNe hantum= in war, to kill; na samarthaH hi= not, capable, indeed.
"If you are much too lackadaisical, indeed, you will not be capable to eliminate the enemy in war, specially a demon, especially a trickster, let alone all of your daring enterprises. [4-27-36]
samunmuulaya shokam tvam vyavasaayam sthirii kuru |
tataH saparivaaram tam raakSasam hantum arhasi || 4-27-37
37. tvam shokam sam unmuulaya = you, agony, completely, root out; vyavasaayam sthirii kuru= endeavour, you stabilise; tataH sa parivaaram tam raakSasam= then, with, followers, him, that demon - Ravana; hantum arhasi= to kill, you will be able to.
"On completely rooting out that agony then you stabilise your endeavour, and then you will be able to eliminate that demon Ravana along with his followers. [4-27-37]
pR^ithiviim api kaakutstha sasaagara vana acalaam |
parivar.htayitum shak{}taH kim punaH tam hi raavaNam || 4-27-38
38. kaakutstha= oh, Kakutstha; sa saagara vana acalaam= with, oceans, forests, mountains; pR^ithiviim api= earth, even; pari varta yitum= reverse, motion, to cause - to inverse the order of; shaktaH= you are capable; tam raavaNam kim punaH hi= him, about Ravana, why, [talk about] again, all the more.
"Oh, Kakutstha, you are capable to inverse the order of earth along with all of its oceans, forests, and mountains, then what to speak of that Ravana, all the more. [4-27-38]
sharat kaalam pratiikshasva praavR^iT kaalo ayam aagataH |
tataH sa raaSTram sa gaNaam raavaNam tam vadhiSyasi || 4-27-39
39. ayam praa vR^iT kaalaH aagataH= this one is, heavy, rainy, season, that has come; sharat kaalam prati iikshasva= autumnal, season, forward, look on - look forward to; tataH= thereafter; sa raaSTram sa gaNaam= with, his city-state, with, his followers; tam raavaNam vadhiSyasi= him, Ravana, you will eradicate.
"Look forward to the autumnal season, as this season that has come is of heavy rains, and thereafter, you will eradicate that Ravana along with his city-state and his followers. [4-27-39]
aham tu khalu te viiryam prasuptam pratibodhaye |
diiptaiH aahutibhiH kaale bhasma channam iva analam || 4-27-40
40. aham tu= I, on my part; kaale= on time; diiptaiH aahutibhiH = enkindling, by offering of flammable fire-oblations; bhasma channam analam iva = by embers, concealed, fire, as with; te= about your; pra suptam viiryam = well, slept, vitality; prati bodhaye khalu = in turn, edifying - awakening in you, just.
"I am just awakening the fast sleeping vitality of yours, no more than rekindling fire concealed under embers with the timely offerings of flammable fire-oblations." Thus said Lakshmana to Rama. [4-27-40]
lakSmaNasya hi tad vaakyam pratipuujya hitam shubham |
raaghavaH suhR^idam snigdham idam vacanam abraviit || 4-27-41
41. raaghavaH= Raghava; lakSmaNasya hitam shubham tat vaakyam = Lakshmana's, expedient, propitious, that, sentence - advise; pratipuujya = on honouring; suhR^idam snigdham= to good-hearted, good-natured - Lakshmana; idam vacanam abraviit= this, sentence, spoke.
Honouring that expedient and propitious advise of Lakshmana, Raghava spoke this sentence to that good-hearted and good-natured Lakshmana. [4-27-41]
vaacyam yad anurak{}tena snig.hdhena ca hitena ca |
satya vikrama yuk{}tena tad uk{}tam lakSmaNa tvayaa || 4-27-42
42. lakSmaNa= oh, Lakshmana; anuraktena snigdhena ca hitena ca= by an affectionate one, amiable one, cordial one, also; satya vikrama yuktena= truth, courage, one who has it; by such a person; yat vaacyam = which, word is to be said; tat tvayaa uktam= that, by you, said.
"What is to be said by an affectionate, amiable and cordial person, also whose courage is truth itself, that you have said it, Lakshmana. [4-27-42]
eSa shokaH parityak{}taH sarva kaarya avasaadakaH |
vikrameSu apratihatam tejaH protsaahayaami aham || 4-27-43
43. sarva kaarya ava saadakaH= all, functions, down, casting - retrogressive; eSa shokaH pari tyaktaH= this, distress, is completely, cast-off; aham= I am; vikrameSu= in triumphs; a prati hatam= not, back, strikable - not possible for a strike back - undefeatable; tejaH= ebullience; protsaahayaami= invigorating.
"Yes! Distress is retrogressive to all the functions. I am casting-off this distress completely. As an undefeatable one in my triumphs I am invigorating my ebullience. [4-27-43]
sharat kaalam pratiikshiSye sthito asmi vacane tava |
sugriivasya nadiinaam ca prasaadam anupaalayan || 4-27-44
44. sugriivasya nadiinaam ca= of Sugreeva, of rivers, also; prasaadam anupaalayan= kindness [kind-heartedness,] awaiting for; sharat kaalam pratiikshiSye= autumn, season, I look forward; tava vacane sthitaH asmi = your, word, staying, I am - I abide by your words.
"Awaiting for the kind-heartedness of Sugreeva, and for the kindness of the rivers in their abatement, I look forward for the autumn remaining true to your words. [4-27-44]
upakaareNa viraH tu pratikaareNa yujyate |
akR^itaj~no apratikR^ito hanti satvavataam manaH || 4-27-45
45. upakaareNa= one who extends - succour; viraH tu= valiant one, on his part; pratikaareNa yujyate= with requital, conjoined - indebted with; a + kR^itaj~naH= un, faithful one; further; a + pratikR^itaH= who does not, requite; satvavataam manaH= those with soft, hearts; hanti= wounds.
"A valiant one who is succoured will be indebted with some requital on his part, but besides being unfaithful, if one who does not make requital for all the favours done in his interest, he will be wounding the hearts of soft-hearted people." Rama said so to Lakshmana, keeping Sugreeva in view. [4-27-45]
tat eva yuk{}tam praNidhaaya lakshmaNaH
kR^ita a.njali tat pratipuujaya bhaaSitam |
uvaaca raamam svabhiraama darshanam
pradarshayan darshanam aatmanaH shubham || 4-27-46
46. lakshmaNaH= Lakshmana; tat eva= that, alone - what Rama said about their waiting for cessation of rains; yuktam praNidhaaya = as candid, visualising; kR^ita anjali= making, adjoined-palms; tat bhaaSitam pratipuujaya= that, what is said by Rama, honouring - praisefully; aatmanaH shubham darshanam pradarshayan= his own, opportune, viewpoint, to clarify; sva abhi raama darshanam= one with his - own, best, delightful, aspect - Rama; raamam uvaaca= to Rama, said.
Visualising what Rama said about their waiting for pre-winter season to be candid, and praisefully making palm-fold at that determination of Rama, and even to clarify his own opportune viewpoint, Lakshmana spoke to Rama who by his own aspect is a delightful one for a ken. [4-27-46]
yathok{}tam etat tava sarvam iipsitam
narendra kartaa na ciraat tu vaanara |
sharat pratiikshaH kshamataam imam bhavaan
jala prapaatam ripu nigrahe dhR^itaH || 4-27-47
47. narendra= oh, lord of people; yathaa uktam= as, said; like that; vaanaraH= vanara - Sugreeva; na ciraat tu = not, lately, but; tava iipsitam= by you, desired; etat sarvam kartaa= everything, completely, he will be doing; ripu nigrahe = enemy, in disciplining - elimination; dhR^itaH bhavaan= steadfadt, as you are; sharat pratiikshaH= autumn, while awaiting; imam= this; jala pra paatam= waters, heavy, falling - rainy season; kshamataam= you may bear with.
"Oh, lord of people, Sugreeva will be effectuating everything you have desired and said, not later but soon, hence awaiting autumn you may please bear up these heavy rainfalls, besides bearing with the idea of disciplining the enemy. [4-27-47]
niyamya kopam pratipaalyataam sharat
kSamasva maasaam caturo mayaa saha |
vasa acale asmin mR^iga raaja sevite
sa.mvartayan shatru vadhe samarthaH || 4-27-48
48. shatru vadhe samarthaH [samudyayan]= in enemy, elimination, capable as you are [gearing up]; kSamasva= have patience, unlike a lion; kopam niyamya= anger, while containing; sharat pratipaalyataam = autumn, may be awaited; caturaH maasaam samvartayan= four, months, come to pass - spending time; mR^iga raaja sevite= animals', king, adored by; asmin acale = on this, mountain; mayaa saha vasa= me, along with, you stay.
"Let autumn be awaited while containing your anger, and along with me you may stay on this mountain which is adored by lions, and spend these four rainy months here like a monsoon lion, although you are capable to eliminate the enemy at any moment like a lion. [4-27-48]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye kiSkindha kaaNDe sapta vi.mshaH sargaH
Thus, this is the 27th chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : August 04]