Book IV : Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys
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Sampaati narrates his legend to Angada and others. He explains how he has fallen on Mt. Vindhya and how he reached a sage called Nishaakara descending Mt. Vindhya with great difficulty. |
tataH kR^ita udakam snaatam tam gR^idhram hari yuuthapaaH |
upaviSTaa girau ramye parivaarya samantataH || 4-60-1
1. tataH= then; hari yuuthapaaH= monkey, commanders; kR^ita udakam= then, who made [offered,] water-oblations; snaatam= bathed [for purification ]; tam gR^idhram= him, that eagle; samantataH parivaarya= all over, surrounding him; ramye girau upaviSTaaH= on beautiful, mountain, they sat.
Then the monkey commanders sat on that beautiful mountain surrounding the eagle from all over, after that eagle has offered water-oblations for his deceased Jataayu and bathed for purification. [4-60-1]
tam a.ngadam upaasiinam taiH sarvaiH haribhiH vR^itam |
janita pratyayo harSaat sa.mpaatiH punaH abraviit || 4-60-2
2. taiH sarvaiH haribhiH vR^itam= by them, all, monkeys, surrounded by; upaasiinam= who sat nearby; tam angadam= to him, to Angada; janita pratyayaH= who caused, trust [trustworthy Sampaati]; sampaatiH= Sampaati; harSaat punaH abraviit= with gladness, again, spoke.
Sampaati who earned trustworthiness of monkeys, and who is sitting surrounded by all monkeys, again gladly spoke to Angada who sat at his close by. [4-60-2]
kR^itvaa niHshabdam eka agraaH shR^iNvantu harayo mama |
tathyam sa.mkiir.htayiSyaami yathaa jaanaami maithiliim || 4-60-3
3. harayaH= oh, monkeys; maithiliim yathaa jaanaami= about Maithili, as to how, I came to know; tathyam= in actuality; samkiirtayiSyaami= I wish to recount; niH shabdam kR^itvaa= without, sound, on making - you become silent, and; eka agraaH= single, pointedly [alertly]; mama shR^iNvantu= mine [words,] you listen.
"Oh, monkeys, you all be quiet and listen to my words alertly as I wish to recount the actuality as to how I came to know about Maithili... [4-60-3]
asya vindhyasya shikhare patito asmi puraa anagha |
suurya taapa pariita a.ngo nir.hdagdhaH suurya rashmibhiH || 4-60-4
4. anagha= oh, impeccable [Angada]; puraa= once; suurya rashmibhiH nirdagdhaH= by sunrays, completely, burnt down; suurya taapa pariita angaH= by sun's, heat, overspread, limbs [sun's heat overspreading my limbs]; asya vindhyasya shikhare= this, Vindhya's, on peak; patitaH asmi= fallen, I was
"Oh, impeccable Angada, once I have fallen on the peak of this Mt. Vindhya when sunrays completely burned my wings and limbs scorching in sun's heat... [4-60-4]
labdha sa.nj~naH tu SaD raatraat vivasho vihvalan iva |
viikSamaaNo dishaH sarvaa na abhijaanaami ki.mcana || 4-60-5
5. SaD raatraat= six, nights after; labdha sanj~naH tu= on getting, sensitivity, but; vihvalan iva= frantic, like; vi vashaH= out, of control [helpless]; sarvaaH dishaH viikSamaaNaH= in all, directions, on looking; kimcana= in the least; na abhijaanaami= not, I recognised.
"On getting sensitivity after six days, and on looking in all directions I could not recognise anything in the least, as I was helpless and frantic... [4-60-5]
tataH tu saagaraan shailaan nadiiH sarvaaH saraa.msi ca |
vanaani ca pradeshaan ca samiikSya matiH aagataam || 4-60-6
6. tataH tu= then, but; sarvaaH saagaraan shailaan nadiiH= all, oceans, mountains, rivers; saraamsi ca vanaani ca pradeshaan ca= lakes, also, forests, also, provinces, also; niriikSya= on observing; matiH aagataam= to senses, came [I could sensate.]
"But then on observing all the oceans, mountains, rivers, lakes, provinces and forests, I could regain senses... [4-60-6]
hR^iSTa pakSi gaNa aakiirNaH kandara udara kuuTavaan |
dakSiNasya udadheH tiire vindhyo ayam iti nishcitaH || 4-60-7
7. hR^iSTa pakSi gaNa aakiirNaH= cheerful, bird, group [flocks, teams] teeming; kandara udara kuuTavaan= caves, at midriffs, with peaks; ayam= this one is this mountain is; dakSiNasya udadheH tire= southerly, ocean's, at coast of; vindhyaH iti nishcitaH= Mt. Vindhya, thus, I resolved.
"Since this mountain is teeming with teams of birds, caves in its midriffs, and it is with peaks of its own kind, thus I resolved this to be Mt. Vindhya at the coast of southern ocean... [4-60-7]
aasiit ca atra aashramam puNyam suraiH api supuujitam |
R^iSiH nishaakaro naama yasmin ugra tapaa abhavat || 4-60-8
8. atra= there; suraiH api su puujitam= by gods, even, well, reverenced; puNyam aashramam aasiit= a sacred, hermitage, is there; yasmin= wherein; nishaakaraH naama= sage Nishaakara, known as; ugra tapaaH= of intense, ascesis; R^iSiH abhavat= a sage, was there.
"There was a sacred hermitage belonging to a sage of intense ascesis known as Sage Nishaakara which was reverenced even by gods. [4-60-8]
aSTau varSa sahasraaNi tena asmin R^iSiNaa girau |
vasato mama dharmaj~no svar gate tu nishaakare || 4-60-9
9. dharma j~naH= probity, knower of; nishaakare= of Nishaakara's; svar gate tu= to heaven, after going, on his part; tena R^iSiNaa= by him, that sage; [vinaa= without]; asmin girau vasataH= on this, mountain, while living; mama= for me; aSTau varSa sahasraaNi eight, years, thousand - eight thousand years; [gatau= lapsed.]
"Eight thousand years have lapsed while I was living here on this mountain after the departure of that probity knowing sage Nishakara to heaven. [4-60-9]
avatiirya ca vindhya agraat kR^icChreNa viSamaat shanaiH |
tiikSNa darbhaam vasumatiim duHkhena punar aagataH || 4-60-10
10. viSamaat vindhya agraat= lopsided [mountainsides,] from Vindhya's, peak; shanaiH= slowly; kR^icChreNa= onerously; ava tiirya= down, scending - on descending; tiikSNa darbhaam= sharp [thorny,] sacred-grass-blades having; vasumatiim= earth; duHkhena punaH aagataH= with distress, again, I reached.
'I again reached the earth descending from the lopsided peak of Mt. Vindhya, onerously and slowly, whereat the sacred-grass-blades are thorny... [4-60-10]
The grass blades became thorny because sages nipped their apices and they dried up and became thorny for a wingless eagle perching almost on its belly.
tam R^iSim draSTu kaamo asmi duHkhena abhyaagato bhR^isham |
jaTaayuSaa mayaa caiva bahusho abhigato hi saH || 4-60-11
11. bhR^isham duHkhena abhyaagataH= with much, with anguish, one who neared - such as me; tam R^iSim draSTu kaamaH asmi= him, sage, to see, desiring, I have become; saH= he - that sage; jaTaayuSaa mayaa caiva= by Jataayu, by me, also thus; bahushaH abhigataH hi= many times, [he was] approached, indeed.
"As I was desiring to see that sage I neared that place with much anguish, because I and Jataayu approached that sage for many a time in earlier times... [4-60-11]
tasya aashrama padaabhyaashe vavuH vaataaH sugandhinaH |
vR^ikSo na apuSpitaH kashcit aphalo vaa na dR^ishyate || 4-60-12
12. tasya aashrama padaabhyaashe= his, hermitage near about; su gandhinaH vaataaH vavuH= sweet, smelling, wind, whiffled; a + puSpitaH vR^ikSaH= not, flowered, trees; kashcit= whatsoever; na dR^ishyate= not, seen; a +phalaH vaa= without, fruits, either; na= is not seen.
"Near about his hermitage wind wiffles with a sweet-smell, and no tree is flowerless and no tree is fruitless, whatsoever it is... [4-60-12]
upetya ca aashramam puNyam vR^ikSa muulam upaashritaH |
draSTu kaamaH pratiikSe ca bhagava.ntam nishaakaram || 4-60-13
13. puNyam aashramam= to sacred, hermitage; upetya [upa etya= near, on going]= drawing nigh of; vR^ikSa muulam upa aashritaH= at a tree, base, near, sheltering [myself]; bhagavantam nishaakaram= at godly, Nishaakara; draSTu kaamaH= to see, desirous of; pratiikSe= I am awaiting - [historical present] I awaited.
"On nearing that sacred hermitage and sheltering myself at the base of a tree, I waited there desirous to see that godly Nishaakara... [4-60-13]
atha pashyami duurastham R^iSim jvalita tejasam |
kR^ita abhiSekam durdharSam upaavR^ittam udan mukham || 4-60-14
14. atha= then; kR^ita abhiSekam= on performing, holy bath; upa aavR^ittam= return, returning; udan mukham= north, facing; jvalita tejasam= irradiating [the ambience,] with radiance; durdharSam= unassailable one; duura stham R^iSim= distantly, available, sage; pashyami= I am seeing - I saw.
"Then I saw the sage available distantly, returning facing north after performing his holy bath, an unassailable sage irradiating the ambience with his radiance... [4-60-14]
tam R^ikSaaH sR^imaraa vyaaghraaH si.mhaa naanaa sarii
sR^ipaaH |
parivaarya upagacChanti daataaram praaNino yathaa || 4-60-15
15. praaNinaH= by living beings; daataaram [dhaataaram] yathaa= after a donor [or, after Brahma,] as with - the following; tam= him - sage; pari vaarya= around, surrounding; R^ikSaaH sR^imaraa vyaaghraaH simhaa= bears, antelopes, tigers, lions; naanaa sarii sR^ipaaH= diverse, reptiles, snakes; upa gacChanti= at heel, they are going - following him.
"Bears, antelopes, tigers, lions, and diverse reptiles and snakes are following him at his heel, as with living beings following a donor, or all-donating Brahma... [4-60-15]
tataH praaptam R^iSim j~naatvaa taani sattvaani vai yayuH |
praviSTe raajani yathaa sarvam sa amaatyakam balam || 4-60-16
16. raajani praviSTe= on a king's, entry [into palace-chambers]; sarvam sa amaatyakam balam= all of the, with, ministerial, military staff; yathaa= as to how [they retrace their steps]; R^iSim praaptam= sage's, entry [into hermitage]; j~naatvaa= on noticing; tataH taani sattvaani vai yayuH= then, those, beings [animals etc.,] went away.
"As to how the ministerial and military staff retrace steps when a king enters his place-chambers, so also the animals and other beings on knowing the sage's entry into his hermitage, retraced their steps and went away... [4-60-16]
R^iSiH tu dR^iSTvaa maam tuSTaH praviSTaH ca aashramam punaH
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muhuurta maatraan nirgamya tataH kaaryam apR^icChata || 4-60-17
17. R^iSiH tu dR^iSTvaa maam= sage, on his part, on seeing, me; tuSTaH= gladdened; aashramam praviSTaH= into hermitage, [though] entered; tataH= then; punaH= again; muhuurta maatraan= in a moment, that much [after]; nir gamya= out, on coming; kaaryam apR^icChata= then, work [objective of my coming,] he asked about.
"But the sage is gladdened on seeing me and though he has entered into his hermitage he again came out in a moment and asked about the objective of my visit... [4-60-17]
saumya vaikalyataam dR^iSTvaa romNaam te na avagamyate |
agni dagdhau imau pakSau praaNaaH caapi shariirake || 4-60-18
18. saumya= oh, gentle [Sampaati]; te romNaam vaikalyataam= your, hair's [feathers'] deformity; dR^iSTvaa= on seeing; na avagamyate= not, being identified [you are]; imau pakSau agni dagdhau= these two, wings, by fire, burnt; praaNaaH caapi shariirake= lives, only, [remaining] in body.
" 'On seeing the deformity of your feathers, oh, gentle Sampaati, you unidentifiable. These two wings of yours are fire burnt, but lives are let out in your body...' Thus, the sage started to talk to me... [4-60-18]
gR^idhrau dvau dR^iSTa puurvau me maatarishva samau jave |
gR^idhraaNaam caiva raajaanau bhraatarau kaama ruupiNau || 4-60-19
19. gR^idhraaNaam raajaanau= for [among] eagles, kingly ones; jave maatarishva samau= in speed, to Fire-god [but, here it is his friend Wind-god,] similar to; kaama ruupiNau= by wish, form-changers - this is an inconsistent statement; bhraatarau dvau gR^idhrau= bothers, two, eagles; such as you two are, you are; me= by me; dR^iSTa puurvau= were seen, earlier.
" 'I have earlier seen you two eagle brothers, kingly eagles among eagles, similar in your speed to Wind-god and form-changers by your wish... [4-60-19]
jyeSTho avita stvam tu sa.mpaate jaTaayuH anujaH tava |
maanuSam ruupam aasthaaya gR^ihNiitaam caraNau mama || 4-60-20
20. sampaate= oh, Sampaati; tvam tu= you, on your part; jyeSThaH= are the elder; avita= really - isn't it; tava anujaH jaTaayuH =your, younger brother is, Jataayu; maanuSam ruupam aasthaaya= human, forms, taking up; mama caraNau gR^ihNiitaam= my, feet, you took - you touched my feet.
" 'You are the elder, isn't it! And Jataayu is your younger brother. You used to touch my feet taking up human forms... [4-60-20]
kim te vyaadhi samutthaanam pakSayoH patanam katham |
daNDo vaa ayam dhR^itaH kena sarvam aakhyaahi pR^icChataH || 4-60-21
21. te= to you; vyaadhi samutthaanam= illness, result of; kim= what is it; pakSayoH patanam katham= wings, falling, how; kena= by whom; ayam daNDaH dhR^itaH vaa= this, scourge, is imposed, either; pR^icChataH= while I am asking - inquire into; sarvam aakhyaahi= all, you tell.
"Is this falling of wings a result of any illness, if so what is it... or is this any scourge imposed on you, if so, who is he... tell me all who am inquiring into those details... [4-60-21]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye kiSkindha kaaNDe SaSTitamaH sargaH
Thus, this is the 60th chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© Feb, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : December 04]