Book IV : Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

Chapter [Sarga] 22
Verses converted to UTF-8, Nov 09

Introduction


Vali recovers from his swoon and gives his parting messages to Sugreeva and Angada. He also gives his miraculous pendant, given by his father Indra, to Sugreeva and asks him to assume authority of Kishkindha kingdom, for he won it in this fight. Angada is advised to conduct appropriately for he is becoming a father-less son now. Then Vali breathes his last to pave the way for Seetha's search.


Verse Locator

वीक्षमाणः तु मंदासुः सर्वतो मंदम् उच्छ्वसन् |
आदौ एव तु सुग्रीवम् ददर्श अनुजम् अग्रतः || ४-२२-१

1. manda asuH = slowed, lives; mandam ucChvasan = slowly, respiring; such as Vali is; sarvataH viikSamaaNaH tu = everywhere, glancing, but; aadau eva = firstly, thus; agrataH anujam sugriivam dadarsha = afore, brother, at Sugreeva, seen.

With his life-force slowing down Vali respired slowly glancing everywhere, and he firstly saw his brother Sugreeva afore him. [4-22-1]

Verse Locator

तम् प्राप्त विजयम् वाली सुग्रीवम् प्लवग ईश्वरम् |
आभाष्य व्यक्तया वाचा सस्नेहम् इदम् अब्रवीत् || ४-२२-२

2. praapta vijayam = at one who achieved, triumph; plavaga iishvaram = fly-jumper's, lord of; tam sugriivam = him, at Sugreeva; vaalii = Vali; aabhaaSya = greeted - nodded at; vyaktayaa vaacaa = unambiguous, with tone; sa sneham = with, amicability; idam abraviit = this, spoke.

Vali nodding at Sugreeva, who achieved triumph and became the lord of fly-jumpers, amicably spoke this to him in an unambiguous tone. [4-22-2]

Verse Locator

सुग्रीव दोषेण न माम् गन्तुम् अर्हसि किल्बिषात् |
कृष्यमाणम् भविष्येण बुद्धि मोहेन माम् बलात् || ४-२२-३

3. sugriiva = oh, Sugreeva; maam = me; doSeNa gantum = by fault, to know - reckon me by iniquities; na arhasi = not, apt of you; kilbiSaat = owing to sin - impropriety; bhaviSyeNa = futurity; buddhi mohena = mind's, covetousness - obduracy; balaat maam kR^iSyamaaNam = forcibly, me, one who is all the while attracted - hauled, [thus you reckon.]

"Sugreeva, reckon me not by my iniquities, but reckon as one who is all the while forcibly hauled into this futurity owing to my impropriety and obduracy. [4-22-3]

Verse Locator

युगपद् विहितम् तात न मन्ये सुखम् अवयोः |
सौहार्दम् भ्रातृ युक्तम् हि तद् इदम् जातम् अन्यथा || ४-२२-४

4. taata = oh boy; avayoH = for two of us; sukham = blissfulness; yuga pad = yoked, walk in unison = simultaneously; vihitam = ordained - fated to [share]; na manye = not, I deem; bhraatR^i yuktam = for brothers, seemly to; tat idam = that, this - therefore; sauhaardam = amity; anyathaa jaatam = otherwise, cropped up.

"I do not think that we two are fated to share blissfulness simultaneously, oh, boy, therefore the amity seemly to brothers has cropped up otherwise. [4-22-4]

Verse Locator

प्रतिपद्य त्वम् अद्य एव राज्यम् एषाम् वन ओकसाम् |
माम् अपि अद्य एव गच्छंतम् विद्धि वैवस्वत क्षयम् || ४-२२-५

5. tvam adya eva = you, now, only; eSaam vana okasaam raajyam = this one, forest, dwellers, kingdom; pratipadya = propose yourself; maam api = me, even; adya eva = now, only; vaivasvata kSayam gacChantam = Time-god's, abode, one who is going to; viddhi = you know - you realize.

"You realize that I am going to the abode of Time-god now itself, and hence propose yourself as king of this forest-dweller's kingdom, now itself. [4-22-5]

Vali's supremacy does not die with him. Here also he is taking a high profile and he himself is proposing the kingship to Sugreeva, without any grudge or grouse, on two counts. One, Sugreeva is the triumphant one and thus he shall get the kingdom forthwith, not Angada, as proposed by Hanuma. Next, Sugreeva is the next best choice for the kingship, rather than Angada, and a younger brother and also as a one-time prince regent. In either way the dying Vali is keeping his nobility high up, as an unrivalled champion and even as an elderly brother.

Verse Locator

जीवितम् च हि राज्यम् च श्रियम् च विपुलाम् इमाम् |
प्रजहामि एष वै तूर्णम् अहम् च अगर्हितम् यशः || ४-२२-४-२२-६

6. eSa aham = this, me such as I am - who is going to Yama; jiivitam ca hi raajyam ca = life, also, verily, kingdom, also; [tathaa = like that]; imaam vipulaam shriyam ca = this, immense, prosperity, too; a garhitam yashaH ca = un, enviable, glory, also; tuurNam pra jahaami vai = right away, forgoing, indeed.

"Such as I am, I am indeed forgoing my life, kingdom, and this immense prosperity and even the unenviable glory which adduces that 'Vali is unkillable,' right away. [4-22-6]

Verse Locator

अस्याम् त्वम् अहम् अवस्थायाम् वीर वक्ष्यामि यद् वचः |
यदि अपि असुकरम् राजन् कर्तुम् एव तद् अर्हसि || ४-२२-७

7. viira = oh, valiant one; raajan = oh, king; asyaam avasthaayaam = in this, situation; aham yat vacaH vakSyaami = I, which, word, going to speak; [them]; a su karam = not, easily, doable - difficult; yadi api = even if; tat kartum eva = that, to do, only - infeasible; tvam arhasi = you are, apt of.

"Oh, valiant Sugreeva, it will be apt of you to make happen the word I am going to say even in such a situation in which now I am, and oh, king, even if that word of mine is infeasible. [4-22-7]

Verse Locator

सुखार्हम् सुख संवृद्धम् बालम् एनम् अबालिशम् |
बाष्प पूर्ण मुखम् पश्य भूमौ पतितम् अंगदम् || ४-२२-८

8. sukha arham = happiness, privileged for; sukha sam vR^iddham = in comforts, well, brought up; baalam = at boy; a baalisham = not, immature [mannerly one]; baaSpa puurNa mukham = tear, filled, faced; bhuumau patitam = on ground, fallen; enam angadam pashya = at this, Angada, have a look at.

"Have a look at this Angada, who is privileged for all happiness, brought up in all comforts, though a boy he is mannerly, and who with his tear-filled face fallen onto ground. [4-22-8]

Verse Locator

मम प्राणैः प्रियतरम् पुत्रम् पुत्रम् इव औरसम् |
मया हीनम् अहीनार्थम् सर्वतः परिपालय || ४-२२-९

9. mama praaNaiH = ] by my, lives; priya taram = dearer, than; mayaa hiinam putram = me, without [deprived of me,] son; aurasam putram iva = your own, son, as if; sarvataH = in every way; a hiina artham = not, sparse, of resources; paripaalaya = you foster.

"More dear than my own lives is my son, and when he is deprived of me you have to foster him as if he is your own son, with no resources becoming sparse in every way. [4-22-9]

Verse Locator

त्वम् अपि अस्य पिता दाता च परित्राता च सर्वतः |
भयेषु अभयदः चैव यथा अहम् प्लवगेश्वर || ४-२२-१०

10. plavaga iishvara = oh, fly-jumper's, king; aham yathaa = I, as to how; thus you; tvam api = you, even; asya = his; pitaa daataa = father, patron; sarvataH pari traataa ca = from all sides, overall, protector, also; bhayeSu abhaya da caiva = in fear, assurance, giver, also thus.

"Oh, king of fly-jumpers, as with me you too are his father, patron, an overall protector from all sides, and also thus an assurer in fear. [4-22-10]

Verse Locator

एष तारात्मजः श्रीमान् त्वया तुल्य पराक्रमः |
रक्षसाम् च वधे तेषाम् अग्रतः ते भविष्यति || ४-२२-११

11. shriimaan = admirable one; tvayaa tulya paraakramaH = to you, coequal, triumphant; eSa taara aatmajaH = this, Tara's, son - Angada; teSaam rakSasaam vadhe = those, demons, in elimination; te agrataH bhaviSyati = your, in fore, he will be - will be in advance guard.

"This admirable son of Tara is a coequal of yours in triumphs, and in eliminating those demons he will be in your advance guard. [4-22-11]

Verse Locator

अनुरूपाणि कर्माणि विक्रम्य बलवान् रणे |
करिष्यति एष तारेयः तरस्वी तरुणो अंगदः || ४-२२-१२

12. balavaan = mighty one; taareyaH = Tara's [son]; tarasvii = sinewy; taruNaH = youthful one; eSa angadaH = this, Angada; raNe vikramya = in war, on overtaking; anuruupaaNi karmaaNi = reflective [of me, seemly for my son,] actions; kariSyati = he performs - undertakes.

"This mighty and sinewy son of Tara is youthful, and on overtaking in war this Angada will undertake actions seemly for a son of mine. [4-22-12]

Verse Locator

सुषेण दुहिता च इयम् अर्थ सूक्ष्म विनिश्चये |
औत्पातिके च विविधे सर्वतः परिनिष्ठिता || ४-२२-१३

13. suSeNa duhitaa = Sushena's, daughter; iyam ca = this one, also - this Tara, also; artha suukSma vinishcaye = meaning, subtlety, in deciding; vividhe autpaatike ca = diverse in presages, also; sarvataH pari niSThitaa = in every way, an insightful one.

"In deciding meanings in all their subtleties and also in presages of diverse nature this daughter of Sushena, Tara, is an insightful one in every way. [4-22-13]

A parable is said about SusheNa, who is now being called as Tara's father. Tara is said to be the outcome from the churning of Milky Ocean by gods and demons, and she emerged as one among many items that emerged from that Milky Ocean. Seeing her and knowing her as the descendent of Brihaspati, the Jupiter, Vali and Sushena have held her by her hand. Vali held her by her right hand and Sushena held her by her left hand and started to quarrel for her wifedom. Then the elderly sages and gods intervened and decided that one who held her by her right hand is her husband and the other who held her by her left hand is her father. Thus Sushena is said to have become the father of Tara.

Verse Locator

यद् एष साधु इति ब्रूयात् कार्यम् तन् मुक्त संशयम् |
न हि तारा मतम् किंचित् अन्यथा परिवर्तते || ४-२२-१४

14. eSa yat saadhu iti bruuyaat = by her, which, proper, thus, is said; tat = that; mukta samshayam = leaving off, doubt - indubitably; kaaryam = can be done; taaraa matam = Tara's, opinion; kimcit = in the least; anyathaa na parivartate hi = contrarily, not, it deflects [happens,] indeed.

"Whatever is said by her as proper that is doable indubitably, indeed nothing contrary happens to her opinions, in the least. [4-22-14]

Verse Locator

राघवस्य च ते कार्यम् कर्तव्यम् अविशंकया |
स्यात् अधर्मो हि अकरणे त्वाम् च हिंस्यात् अमानितः || ४-२२-१५

15. raaghavasya kaaryam ca = Raghava's, mission, too; te = to you; a vi shankayaa = without, too much, doubt - without a shadow of doubt; kartavyam = is to be accomplished; a akaraNe = in not, doing; a dharmaH = un, righteousness - infraction; syaat hi = will be there, indeed; a maanitaH = not, honoured [Rama]; tvaam himsyaat ca = you, he will torture [punish,] even.

"You have to accomplish Raghava's mission undoubtedly, and if it is unaccomplished there will be infraction on your part because you befriended him before an altar of fire, and you may even be punished for dishonouring him and your given word to him. [4-22-15]

Verse Locator

इमाम् च मालाम् आधत्स्व दिव्याम् सुग्रीव कांचनीम् |
उदारा श्रीः स्थिता हि अस्याम् संप्रजह्यात् मृते मयि || ४-२२-१६

16. sugriiva = oh, Sugreeva; kaancaniim imaam maalaam aadhatsva = golden one, this, pendant, wear; asyaam sthitaa = in it, ensconced in; udaaraa shriiH = bounteous, goddess of triumph; mayi mR^ite = I, when die; sam pra jahyaat = will leave it off completely; hi = isn't it.

"The bounteous goddess of triumph ensconced in this golden pendant will completely leave it off on my death, avoiding the flaw of touching a corpse, isn't it... hence oh, Sugreeva, you wear it." Thus Vali spoke to Sugreeva. [4-22-16]

Sugreeva may not inherit any fortune of invincibility from this invincible pendant, but Vali has to safeguard it without getting into an insulting touch of his dead body shava sparsha doSa. As such, he is giving it Sugreeva, in preference to Angada.

Verse Locator

इति एवम् उक्तः सुग्रीवो वालिना भ्रातृ सौहृदात् |
हर्षम् त्यक्त्वा पुनर् दीनो ग्रह ग्रस्त इव उडु राट् || ४-२२-१७

17. vaalinaa = by Vali; bhraatR^i sauhR^idaat = with brother's, kind-heartedness; iti evam uktaH = thus, that way, who is spoken; sugriivaH = Sugreeva; harSam tyaktvaa = joy, leaving off [joy of winning Vali]; punaH diinaH = again, depressed he became; [raahu] graha grasta uDu raaT iva = by [Rahu, eclipsing,] planet, eaten, star's, lord [moon,] as with - he became.

Thus, that way when Vali spoke to Sugreeva with brotherly kind-heartedness, Sugreeva again waned away forgoing his spiritedness, like the lord of stars, namely the Moon, when eaten away by the planet, namely Rahu, during lunar eclipse. [4-22-17]

Mythologically there are two planets called Raahu and Ketu in Indian astrology. These two have no counterparts in western astrology. These two are neither gods, nor demons, not planets. At the time of churning Milky Ocean one demon had a share of amR^ita, the Divine nectar. But on noticing it the Sun and Moon report that episode to Vishnu. Vishnu slits that demon's throat with his disc. Then that Rahu became a two-piece entity, one with head, named as Raahu and the other with trunk - tail, named as Ketu. Because Sun and Moon reported the wrongdoing of this two-piece entity, that entity prays to subsist on eating away Sun and Moon. That prayer is granted subject to condition, that this eating will be done only occasionally. Those are the occasions of eclipses of either Sun or Moon. Recent astrology gave names to these two entities as 'Dragon with Head' is Raahu and the 'Dragon with Tail' is Ketu.

Verse Locator

तत् वालि वचनात् शान्तः कुर्वन् युक्तम् अतंद्रितः |
जग्राह सो अभ्यनुज्ञातो मालाम् ताम् चैव कांचनीम् || ४-२२-१८

18. saH = he that Sugreeva; tat vaali vacanaat = by that, Vali's, word; shaantaH = is quietened; a tandritaH = without, lethargy - inattention - attentively; yuktam = befitting deeds; kurvan = while doing; abhyanuj~naataH = authorised [by Vali]; kaancaniim taam maalaam jagraaha = golden one, that, pendant, taken.

Quietened by Vali's words and conducting himself befittingly and attentively in the given situation, Sugreeva has then taken that golden chain only when Vali authorised him. [4-22-18]

Verse Locator

ताम् मालाम् कांचनीम् दत्त्वा वाली दृष्ट्वा आत्मजम् स्थितम् |
संसिद्धः प्रेत्य भावाय स्नेहात् अंगदम् अब्रवीत् || ४-२२-१९

19. kaancaniim taam maalaam dattvaa = golden, that, pendant, having given; sthitam aatmajam ca dR^iSTvaa = available [nearby,] his son, also, on seeing; pretya bhaavaaya samsiddhaH = to lay down his life, resolved to, readying himself; vaalii snehaat angadam abraviit = Vali, affectionately, to Angada, spoke.

On giving away that golden pendant, and on seeing his son who is available nearby, readying himself towards his end that is setting in, Vali affectionately spoke to Angada. [4-22-19]

Verse Locator

देश कालौ भजस्व अद्य क्षममाणः प्रिय अप्रिये |
सुख दुःख सहः काले सुग्रीव वशगो भव || ४-२२-२०

20. adya = now [from now on]; priya a priye = pleasant, un, pleasant; kSamamaaNaH = while tolerating; desha kaalau bhajasva = of place, time, be observant of; kaale = according to time; sukha duHkha sahaH = mirth, misery, while enduring; sugriiva vasha gaH bhava = Sugreeva's, control, go into - abide by, you be.

"From now on, observing time and place you have to tolerate pain or pleasure, endure mirth or misery on your going under the control of Sugreeva. [4-22-20]

The vividness of the above parting message is: "On your going under the control of Sugreeva, whether his orders are pleasant or unpleasant to you, you have to execute them enduringly, for you have to conduct yourself according to time and place of your locus standi, and also you have to endure the mirth or misery caused at his behest... for you are no more independent from now on..."

Verse Locator

यथा हि त्वम् महाबाहो लालितः सततम् मया |
न तथा वर्तमानम् त्वाम् सुग्रीवो बहु मन्यते || ४-२२-२१

21. mahaabaahuH = oh, dextrous Angada; tvam satatam mayaa yathaa = you, always, by me, as to how; laalitaH = you are nurtured - entertained; vartamaanam = conducting yourself; tathaa = like that - such a behaviour; tvaam sugriivaH na bahumanyate = you, Sugreeva, may not, approve of it.

"Oh dextrous Angada, as to how I have entertained you in whichever way you conducted yourself with me, Sugreeva may not approve of such a puerile behaviour of yours, if you resort to it. [4-22-21]

Verse Locator

ना अस्य अमित्रैः गतम् गच्छेः मा शत्रुभिः अरिंदम |
भर्तुः अर्थ परो दान्तः सुग्रीव वशगो भव || ४-२२-२२

22. arindama = oh, enemy, destroyer; asya = his; a mitraiH = with un, friendly ones; gatam = going - associating; maa gacCheH = don't, get into; shatrubhiH maa = enemies, don't [come near]; bhartuH = lord's - Sugreeva's; artha paraH = in purposes, be interested in; daantaH = having self-control; sugriiva vashagaH bhava = in Sugreeva's, control, you shall be.

"Do not reach at his unfriendly ones, nor come near his enemies, oh, enemy-destroyer Angada, you shall be in the control of Sugreeva attending to the purposes of your lord with self-control. [4-22-22]

Verse Locator

न च अतिप्रणयः कार्यः कर्तव्यो अप्रणयः च ते |
उभयम् हि महादोषम् तस्मात् अंतर दृक् भव || ४-२२-२३

23. na ca ati praNayaH = not, also, excessive, affinity; te na kaaryaH = for you, not, to be done; a praNayaH ca = non, affinity, also, [na] kartavyaH = [not] to be done; ubhayam mahaa doSam = this pair, has a flaw; tasmaat antara dR^ik bhava = therefore, intermediary, in outlook, you be - you cultivate.

"Do not conduct yourself with excessive friendliness or unfriendliness, as this pair of opposites itself has a flaw, therefore you cultivate an intermediary outlook." Vali thus spoke to Angada. [4-22-23]

Verse Locator

इति उक्त्वा अथ विवृत्त अक्षः शर संपीडितो भृशम् |
विवृतैः दशनैः भीमैः बभूव उत्क्रान्त जीवितः || ४-२२-२४

24. bhR^isham shara sam piiDitaH = highly, by arrow, highly, tortured; iti uktvaa = thus, on saying; atha = thereafter; vi vR^itta akSaH = having rolled-up, eyes; vi vR^itaiH bhiimaiH dashanaiH = wide, opened [mouth hung open baring,] horrid, teeth; ut kraanta jiivitaH = took wings, who has his life - whose life took to flight; babhuuva = he became.

He who is highly tortured by the arrow of Rama spoke to Angada in that way, and afterwards his eyeballs rolled-up, mouth hung open baring his horrid teeth, and his life too took to flight from his body. [4-22-24]

om shantiH shantiH shantiH

Verse Locator

ततो विचुक्रुशुर् तत्र वानरा हत यूथपाः |
परिदेवयमानाः ते सर्वे प्लवग सत्तमाः || ४-२२-२५

25. tataH = then; plavaga sattamaaH = fly-jumpers, the best; sarve te vaanaraaH = all, those, monkeys; hata yuuthapaaH = those that have a dead, chief; paridevayamaanaaH = started to weep; tatra = in that matter of Vali's death; vi cukrushuH = loudly, squawked as a complaint.

Then, all those best monkeys avaialble there have started to weep when their monkey chief is dead, and for that matter they have loudly squawked at his death in this way. [4-22-25]

Verse Locator

किष्किन्धा हि अथ शून्या च स्वर् गते वानरेश्वरे |
उद्यानानि च शून्यानि पर्वताः कानानि च || ४-२२-२६
हते प्लवग शार्दूले निष् प्रभा वानराः कृताः |

26, 27a. vaanara iishvare svar gate = monkey's, lord, on going, to heaven; atha kiSkindhaa shuunyaa hi = Kishkindha, is now, empty - derelict, indeed; udyaanaani ca shuunyaani = gardens, also, empty; parvataaH kaanaani ca = mountains, forests, as well as [are void]; plavaga shaarduule hate = among fly-jumpers, tiger, when killed; vaanaraaH = monkeys; niS prabhaa kR^itaaH = without, brightness - lacklustre, they are made led into a lacklustre life.

"When the lord of monkeys departed to heaven Kishkindha is indeed rendered derelict, dreary are the gardens, deserted are the mountains and forests as well, and when the tiger among fly-jumpers is dead all the vanara-s are rendered up into a lacklustre life. [4-22-26, 27a]

Verse Locator

यस्य वेगेन महता काननानि वनानि च || ४-२२-२७
पुष्प ओघेण अनुबद्धन्ते करिष्यति तत् अद्य कहः |

27b, 28a. yasya mahataa vegena = whose, by great, rapidity - by impetus of it; kaananaani vanaani ca = in forests, in woodlands, also; puSpa ogheNa = flowers, by torrents of; anu baddhante = trailed after, bindingly - flowers followed and enwreathe him; tat = that [type of feat]; adya kaH kariSyati = now, who, can do - who has such impetus.

"And by the impetus of whose great rapidity flowers available in forests and woodlands used to shower on him in torrents and enwreathe him from behind, that Vali is no more, and now who has got such an impetus? [4-22-27b, 28a]

This verse also means: "He who has perfected the gardens and forests with full of flowers and thereby with fruits on which the monkeys subsist, and now who can make these areas so fructified to let all the monkeys thrive?"

This flowers following Vali is the same situation with Hanuma when he jumps from Mt. Mahendra to Lanka. A volley of flowers shower on him owing to kick-start and follow him up to some distance into ocean, as though to worship him.

Verse Locator

येन दत्तम् महत् युद्धम् गन्धर्वस्य महात्मनः || ४-२२-२८
गोलभस्य महाबाहुः दश वर्षाणि पंच च |
न एव रात्रौ न दिवसे तत् युद्धम् उपशाम्यति || ४-२२-२९

28b, 29. yena mahaatmanaH = by which, great souled one - Vali; mahaabaahuH golabhasya gandharvasya = great armed, Golabha's, to gandharva / celestial; dasha panca varSaaNi ca = ten, five, years, also [fifteen years]; mahat yuddham dattam = ferocious, fight - duel, is given; tat yuddham = that, fight; raatrau = in nights; na eva upa shaamyati = not, only, thus, ceased; divase na = in daytime, not.

"By which great-souled Vali a ferocious duel was given to the celestial, namely the great armed Golabha, which did not cease either in the daytime or night till Vali felled Golabha, that Vali is no more. [4-22-28b, 29]

This Sanskrit expression 'giving a duel' is the same that is available in English like - 'give me a duel.' etc.

Verse Locator

ततः षोडशमे वर्षे गोलभो विनिपातितः |
तम् हत्वा दुर्विनीतिम् तु वाली दंष्ट्र करालवान् |
सर्वा अभयम् करः अस्माकम् कथम् एष निपातितः || ४-२२-३०

30. tataH tu = thereafter, but; SoDashame varSe = in sixteenth, year; golabhaH = Golabha is; vinipaatitaH [vi ni paatitaH = surely, down, felled] = unquestionably felled; danSTra karaalavaan = teeth, one with sawteeth, zigzagged teet; vaali = Vali; dur viniitim tu = evil, minded one is, but; tam hatvaa = him - that Golaka, on killing; asmaakam = for us; sarvaa a bhayam karaH = to all of us, no, fear, accorder; eSa vaalii = this, Vali; katham nipaatitaH = how, he is felled.

"Thereafter, in the sixteenth year Vali unquestionably felled Golabha, and on killing that evil-minded Golabha with his zigzag teeth Vali accorded fearlessness to all of us, how such a Vali is felled now?" Thus the monkeys raised hue and cry. [4-22-30]

Verse Locator

हते तु वीरे प्लवगाधिपे तदा
प्लवंगमाः तत्र न शर्म लेभिरे |
वने चराः सिंह युते महावने
यथा हि गावो निहते गवाम् पतौ || ४-२२-३१

31. simha yute mahaavane = lion, possessing with - in great forests a in a lion riddled forest,; gavaam patau nihate = cows, husbander - bull, while killed; vane caraaH gaavaH yathaa = in forest, moving, cows, as with; likewise; viire plavaga adhipe hate tu = brave one, monkeys', lord, when killed, but; tatra = in that matter [of Vali's death]; plavamgamaaH sharma na lebhire = fly-jumpers, quietude, not, obtained - went into a freneticness.

But when that fly-jumper's brave lord Vali is killed, those fly-jumpers have gone into a freneticness in that matter of Vali's killing, as with the cows becoming frenetic when their husbanding bull is killed while moving in a great forest that is riddled with a lion. [4-22-31]

Verse Locator

ततः तु तारा व्यसन अर्णव प्लुता
मृतस्या भर्तुर् वदनम् समीक्ष्य सा |
जगाम भूमिम् परिरभ्य वालिनम्
महा द्रुमम् छिन्नम् इव आश्रिता लता || ४-२२-३२

32. tataH tu saa taaraa = then, but, that, Tara; vyasana arNava plutaa = affliction, ocean, whelmed under; mR^itasyaa bhartuH vadanam sam iikSya = dead, husband's, face, closely, on observing; Chinnam mahaa drumam aashritaa = hacked, giant, tree, hinging on; lataa iva = creeper plant, as with; vaalinam pari rabhya bhuumim jagaama = Vali, embraced, onto earth, gone - collapsed.

But then Tara, whelmed under a ocean called affliction closely observed her dead husband's face, embraced him and collapsed onto ground as with any creeper plant when the giant tree on which it is hinging is hacked down. [4-22-32]

- - - .

End Note

Thus Vali the bad monkey is dead. Even today we have the monkey menace, that too from bad monkeys. In Patiala's Motibagh Bir Zoo there is penitentiary for primates where all bad monkeys are jailed without parole, and there will be a signboard, asking visitor to not to go nearby the enclosure, because it will be dangerous. Each of its inmates is caught, even across Punjab and other places, when that monkey is destroying property, thieving and attacking people and creating havoc. Hence monkey menace is something different from monkey havoc. Throughout India we have monkey menace, which is very frequently beamed by Discovery and National Geography channels, but it is rarely said about bad monkeys. Killing a monkey, however bad it is, is a taboo and sustaining its havoc is an altogether unbearable affair. Now that the bad monkey of Ramayana is eliminated, search for Seetha is possible.

- - -

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे द्वा विंशः सर्गः

Thus, this is the 22nd chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Verse Locator for Book IV : Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys : Chapter 22

Top of Page 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29
30 31 32

© 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : June 04]

Global View of vali and further information concerning verse
The Fastest FTP Client on the Planet, GoFTP FREE Version