Bala Kanda, Sarga 17

पुत्रत्वं तु गते विष्णौ राज्ञस्तस्य सुमहात्मन:। उवाच देवतास्सर्वास्स्वयम्भूर्भगवानिदम्।।1.17.1।।

putratvaṃ tu gate viṣṇau rājñastasya sumahātmana:| uvāca devatāssarvāssvayambhūrbhagavānidam

When Visnu had decided to be born as the son of that great king (Dasaratha), the selfborn Lord (Brahma), addressed all devatas :

सत्यसन्धस्य वीरस्य सर्वेषान्नो हितैषिण:। विष्णोस्सहायान्बलिनस्सृजध्वं कामरूपिण:।।1.17.2।।

satyasandhasya vīrasya sarveṣānno hitaiṣiṇa:| viṣṇossahāyānbalinassṛjadhvaṃ kāmarūpiṇa:

Create strong and powerful beings capable of assuming forms at free will to extend support to Visnu who is true to his word, heroic and benevolent.

मायाविदश्च शूरांश्च वायुवेगसमाञ्जवे। नयज्ञान्बुद्धिसम्पन्नान्विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमान्।।1.17.3।। असंहार्यानुपायज्ञान् दिव्यसंहननान्वितान्। सर्वास्त्रगुणसम्पन्नानमृतप्राशनानिव।।1.17.4।। अप्सरस्सु च मुख्यासु गन्धर्वाणां तनूषु च । सृजध्वं हरिरूपेण पुत्रांस्तुल्यपराक्रमान्।।1.17.5।।

māyāvidaśca śūrāṃśca vāyuvegasamāñjave| nayajñānbuddhisampannānviṣṇutulyaparākramān asaṃhāryānupāyajñān divyasaṃhananānvitān| sarvāstraguṇasampannānamṛtaprāśanāniva apsarassu ca mukhyāsu gandharvāṇāṃ tanūṣu ca | sṛjadhvaṃ harirūpeṇa putrāṃstulyaparākramān

Incarnate as monkeys in the womb of chiefs of apsarasas and gandharvas. Create sons who have the knowledge of deceitful tricks, who are brave, who match wind in speed, who are endowed with intellect and statecraft, who are determined, who are knowledgeable in various means of achieving victory, who are supernatural bodies, who possess capability of employing and resisting weapons, who resemble those who subsist on amrita (immortals) and are equal (to Visnu) in prowess.

मायाविदश्च शूरांश्च वायुवेगसमाञ्जवे। नयज्ञान्बुद्धिसम्पन्नान्विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमान्।।1.17.3।। असंहार्यानुपायज्ञान् दिव्यसंहननान्वितान्। सर्वास्त्रगुणसम्पन्नानमृतप्राशनानिव।।1.17.4।। अप्सरस्सु च मुख्यासु गन्धर्वाणां तनूषु च । सृजध्वं हरिरूपेण पुत्रांस्तुल्यपराक्रमान्।।1.17.5।।

māyāvidaśca śūrāṃśca vāyuvegasamāñjave| nayajñānbuddhisampannānviṣṇutulyaparākramān asaṃhāryānupāyajñān divyasaṃhananānvitān| sarvāstraguṇasampannānamṛtaprāśanāniva apsarassu ca mukhyāsu gandharvāṇāṃ tanūṣu ca | sṛjadhvaṃ harirūpeṇa putrāṃstulyaparākramān

Incarnate as monkeys in the womb of chiefs of apsarasas and gandharvas. Create sons who have the knowledge of deceitful tricks, who are brave, who match wind in speed, who are endowed with intellect and statecraft, who are determined, who are knowledgeable in various means of achieving victory, who are supernatural bodies, who possess capability of employing and resisting weapons, who resemble those who subsist on amrita (immortals) and are equal (to Visnu) in prowess.

मायाविदश्च शूरांश्च वायुवेगसमाञ्जवे। नयज्ञान्बुद्धिसम्पन्नान्विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमान्।।1.17.3।। असंहार्यानुपायज्ञान् दिव्यसंहननान्वितान्। सर्वास्त्रगुणसम्पन्नानमृतप्राशनानिव।।1.17.4।। अप्सरस्सु च मुख्यासु गन्धर्वाणां तनूषु च । सृजध्वं हरिरूपेण पुत्रांस्तुल्यपराक्रमान्।।1.17.5।।

māyāvidaśca śūrāṃśca vāyuvegasamāñjave| nayajñānbuddhisampannānviṣṇutulyaparākramān asaṃhāryānupāyajñān divyasaṃhananānvitān| sarvāstraguṇasampannānamṛtaprāśanāniva apsarassu ca mukhyāsu gandharvāṇāṃ tanūṣu ca | sṛjadhvaṃ harirūpeṇa putrāṃstulyaparākramān

Incarnate as monkeys in the womb of chiefs of apsarasas and gandharvas. Create sons who have the knowledge of deceitful tricks, who are brave, who match wind in speed, who are endowed with intellect and statecraft, who are determined, who are knowledgeable in various means of achieving victory, who are supernatural bodies, who possess capability of employing and resisting weapons, who resemble those who subsist on amrita (immortals) and are equal (to Visnu) in prowess.

पूर्वमेव मया सृष्टो जाम्बवानृक्षपुङ्गव:। जृम्भमाणस्य सहसा मम वक्त्रादजायत।।1.17.6।।

pūrvameva mayā sṛṣṭo jāmbavānṛkṣapuṅgava:| jṛmbhamāṇasya sahasā mama vaktrādajāyata

Earlier Jambavan, the foremost among bears was suddenly emerged out of my face while I was yawning.

ते तथोक्ता भगवता तत्प्रतिश्रुत्य शासनम्। जनयामासुरेवं ते पुत्रान्वानररूपिण:।।1.17.7।।

te tathoktā bhagavatā tatpratiśrutya śāsanam| janayāmāsurevaṃ te putrānvānararūpiṇa:

Instructed by Brahma in that manner, all of them gave birth to sons in the form of monkeys.

ऋषयश्च महात्मानस्सिद्धविद्याधरोरगा:। चारणाश्च सुतान्वीरान्ससृजुर्वनचारिण:।।1.17.8।।

ṛṣayaśca mahātmānassiddhavidyādharoragā:| cāraṇāśca sutānvīrānsasṛjurvanacāriṇa:

Distinguished rishis, siddhas, vidhyadharas, uragas, charanas procreated (in the form of monkeys) heroic sons who became forestdwellers.

वानरेन्द्रं महेन्द्राभमिन्द्रो वालिनमूर्जितम्। सुग्रीवं जनयामास तपनस्तपतां वर:।।1.17.9।।

vānarendraṃ mahendrābhamindro vālinamūrjitam| sugrīvaṃ janayāmāsa tapanastapatāṃ vara:

Indra gave birth to Vali, chief of monkeys resembling Mahendra mountain and having a mighty body. Sun, great among those producing heat, begot Sugriva.

बृहस्पतिस्त्वजनयत्तारं नाम महाहरिम्। सर्ववानरमुख्यानां बुद्धिमन्तमनुत्तमम्।।1.17.10।।

bṛhaspatistvajanayattāraṃ nāma mahāharim| sarvavānaramukhyānāṃ buddhimantamanuttamam

Brihaspati begot the intelligent monkey Tara who had none to surpass him among the monkey chiefs.

धनदस्य सुतश्श्रीमान् वानरो गन्धमादन:। विश्वकर्मात्वजनयन्नलं नाम महाहरिम्।।1.17.11।।

dhanadasya sutaśśrīmān vānaro gandhamādana:| viśvakarmātvajanayannalaṃ nāma mahāharim

Kubera begot glorious Gandhamadana and Viswakarma begot a great monkey Nala.

पावकस्य सुतश्श्रीमान् नीलोऽग्निसदृशप्रभ:। तेजसा यशसा वीर्यादत्यरिच्यत वानरान्।।1.17.12।।

pāvakasya sutaśśrīmān nīlo'gnisadṛśaprabha:| tejasā yaśasā vīryādatyaricyata vānarān

Neela, the prosperous son of Agni the firegod who equalled him in glow surpassed other monkeys in energy, renown and prowess.

रूपद्रविणसम्पन्नावश्विनौ रूपसम्मतौ। मैन्दं च द्विविदं चैव जनयामासतुस्स्वयम्।।1.17.13।।

rūpadraviṇasampannāvaśvinau rūpasammatau| maindaṃ ca dvividaṃ caiva janayāmāsatussvayam

Aswini devatas, endowed with wealth and beauty, procreated Mainda and Dwivida who were highly esteemed for their beauty.

वरुणो जनयामास सुषेणं वानरर्षभम्। शरभं जनयामास पर्जन्यस्तु महाबलम्।।1.17.14।।

varuṇo janayāmāsa suṣeṇaṃ vānararṣabham| śarabhaṃ janayāmāsa parjanyastu mahābalam

Varuna begot the monkey warrior Sushena and Parjanya, Sarabha of great strength.

मारुतस्यात्मजश्श्रीमान्हनुमान्नाम वीर्यवान् । वज्रसंहननोपेतो वैनतेयसमो जवे।।1.17.15।।

mārutasyātmajaśśrīmānhanumānnāma vīryavān | vajrasaṃhananopeto vainateyasamo jave

Vayu, the windgod, begot a son named Hanuman, mighty and graceful, having a body as hard as a diamond and speed equal to Garuda's.

ते सृष्टा बहुसाहस्रा दशग्रीववधे रता:। अप्रमेयबला वीरा विक्रान्ता: कामरूपिण:।।1.17.16।।

te sṛṣṭā bahusāhasrā daśagrīvavadhe ratā:| aprameyabalā vīrā vikrāntā: kāmarūpiṇa:

Thousands of warriors possessing immeasurable strength and courage and capable of assuming any form at will were created to kill Ravana.

मेरुमन्दरसङ्काशा वपुष्मन्तो महाबला:। ऋक्षवानरगोपुच्छा: क्षिप्रमेवाभिजज्ञिरे।।1.17.17।।

merumandarasaṅkāśā vapuṣmanto mahābalā:| ṛkṣavānaragopucchā: kṣipramevābhijajñire

Endowed with bodies similar to the Meru and Mandara mountains and having great strength, bears, monkeys, monkeys with cowtails quickly came into being.

यस्य देवस्य यद्रूपं वेषो यश्च पराक्रम:। अजायत समस्तेन तस्य तस्य सुत: पृथक्।।1.17.18।।

yasya devasya yadrūpaṃ veṣo yaśca parākrama:| ajāyata samastena tasya tasya suta: pṛthak

The sons of devatas retained characteristics like beauty, form and prowess of their procreator (gods).

गोलाङ्गूलीषु चोत्पन्ना: केचित्सम्मतविक्रमा:। ऋक्षीषु च तथा जाता वानरा: किन्नरीषु च।।1.17.19।।

golāṅgūlīṣu cotpannā: kecitsammatavikramā:| ṛkṣīṣu ca tathā jātā vānarā: kinnarīṣu ca

Some monkeys with acknowledged, valour were born to female monkeys with tails Similarly some other monkeys were born to female bears and female kinnaras.

देवा महर्षिगन्धर्वास्तार्क्ष्या यक्षा यशस्विन:। नागा: किम्पुरुषाश्चैव सिद्धविद्याधरोरगा:।।1.17.20।। बहवो जनयामासुर्हृष्टास्तत्र सहस्रश:। वानरान्सुमहाकायान्सर्वान्वै वनचारिण:।।1.17.21।। अप्सरस्सु च मुख्यासु तथा विद्याधरीषु च। नागकन्यासु च तथा गन्धर्वीणां तनूषु च ।।1.17.22।।

devā maharṣigandharvāstārkṣyā yakṣā yaśasvina:| nāgā: kimpuruṣāścaiva siddhavidyādharoragā: bahavo janayāmāsurhṛṣṭāstatra sahasraśa:| vānarānsumahākāyānsarvānvai vanacāriṇa: apsarassu ca mukhyāsu tathā vidyādharīṣu ca| nāgakanyāsu ca tathā gandharvīṇāṃ tanūṣu ca

The devatas, rishis, gandharvas, garudas, yakshas, kimpurushas, siddhas, vidyadharas, uragas and many others were immensely pleased. Thousands of gigantic monkeys wandering in forests were procreated from principal apsarasas vidhyadaris, nagas, and gandharvas.

देवा महर्षिगन्धर्वास्तार्क्ष्या यक्षा यशस्विन:। नागा: किम्पुरुषाश्चैव सिद्धविद्याधरोरगा:।।1.17.20।। बहवो जनयामासुर्हृष्टास्तत्र सहस्रश:। वानरान्सुमहाकायान्सर्वान्वै वनचारिण:।।1.17.21।। अप्सरस्सु च मुख्यासु तथा विद्याधरीषु च। नागकन्यासु च तथा गन्धर्वीणां तनूषु च ।।1.17.22।।

devā maharṣigandharvāstārkṣyā yakṣā yaśasvina:| nāgā: kimpuruṣāścaiva siddhavidyādharoragā: bahavo janayāmāsurhṛṣṭāstatra sahasraśa:| vānarānsumahākāyānsarvānvai vanacāriṇa: apsarassu ca mukhyāsu tathā vidyādharīṣu ca| nāgakanyāsu ca tathā gandharvīṇāṃ tanūṣu ca

The devatas, rishis, gandharvas, garudas, yakshas, kimpurushas, siddhas, vidyadharas, uragas and many others were immensely pleased. Thousands of gigantic monkeys wandering in forests were procreated from principal apsarasas vidhyadaris, nagas, and gandharvas.

देवा महर्षिगन्धर्वास्तार्क्ष्या यक्षा यशस्विन:। नागा: किम्पुरुषाश्चैव सिद्धविद्याधरोरगा:।।1.17.20।। बहवो जनयामासुर्हृष्टास्तत्र सहस्रश:। वानरान्सुमहाकायान्सर्वान्वै वनचारिण:।।1.17.21।। अप्सरस्सु च मुख्यासु तथा विद्याधरीषु च। नागकन्यासु च तथा गन्धर्वीणां तनूषु च ।।1.17.22।।

devā maharṣigandharvāstārkṣyā yakṣā yaśasvina:| nāgā: kimpuruṣāścaiva siddhavidyādharoragā: bahavo janayāmāsurhṛṣṭāstatra sahasraśa:| vānarānsumahākāyānsarvānvai vanacāriṇa: apsarassu ca mukhyāsu tathā vidyādharīṣu ca| nāgakanyāsu ca tathā gandharvīṇāṃ tanūṣu ca

The devatas, rishis, gandharvas, garudas, yakshas, kimpurushas, siddhas, vidyadharas, uragas and many others were immensely pleased. Thousands of gigantic monkeys wandering in forests were procreated from principal apsarasas vidhyadaris, nagas, and gandharvas.

कामरूपबलोपेता यथाकामं विचारिण:। सिंहशार्दूलसदृशा दर्पेण च बलेन च।।1.17.23।।

kāmarūpabalopetā yathākāmaṃ vicāriṇa:| siṃhaśārdūlasadṛśā darpeṇa ca balena ca

They were endowed with the powers to assume any form at will. They possessed enormous strength and power to freely wander in forests. They were like lions and tigers in pride and prowess.

शिलाप्रहरणास्सर्वे सर्वे पादपयोधिन:।।1.17.24।। नखदंष्ट्रायुधास्सर्वे सर्वे सर्वास्त्रकोविदा:।

śilāpraharaṇāssarve sarve pādapayodhina: nakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhāssarve sarve sarvāstrakovidā:|

They all could strike with rocks, use nails and teeth and trees as weapons. They were skilled in the use of all kinds of weapons.

विचालयेयुश्शैलेन्द्रान्भेदयेयुस्स्थिरान्द्रुमान्। क्षोभयेयुश्च वेगेन समुद्रं सरितां पतिम्।।1.17.25।।

vicālayeyuśśailendrānbhedayeyussthirāndrumān| kṣobhayeyuśca vegena samudraṃ saritāṃ patim

They could shake mountains and uproot deeprooted trees. With their speed they could cause disturbance to Samudra, the lord of the rivers.

दारयेयु: क्षितिं पद्भ्यामाप्लवेयुर्महार्णवम्। नभ:स्थलम् विशेयुश्च गृह्णीयुरपि तोयदान्।।1.17.26।।

dārayeyu: kṣitiṃ padbhyāmāplaveyurmahārṇavam| nabha:sthalam viśeyuśca gṛhṇīyurapi toyadān

They could cause cleavage to this earth with their feet, cross the mighty ocean with one leap and enter the sky and even seize the clouds.

गृह्णीयुरपि मातङ्गान्मत्तान्प्रव्रजतो वने। नर्दमानाश्च नादेन पातयेयुर्विहङ्गमान्।।1.17.27।।

gṛhṇīyurapi mātaṅgānmattānpravrajato vane| nardamānāśca nādena pātayeyurvihaṅgamān

They could capture wild elephants sojourning in the forest and make the flying birds drop down screaming.

ईदृशानां प्रसूतानि हरीणां कामरूपिणाम्। शतं शतसहस्राणि यूथपानां महात्मनाम्।।1.17.28।।

īdṛśānāṃ prasūtāni harīṇāṃ kāmarūpiṇām| śataṃ śatasahasrāṇi yūthapānāṃ mahātmanām

A crore of monkeys capable of assuming any form at will, great monkeys and commanders of monkey forces were created.

ते प्रधानेषु यूथेषु हरीणां हरियूथपा:। बभूवुर्यूथपश्रेष्ठा वीरांश्चाजनयन् हरीन्।।1.17.29।।

te pradhāneṣu yūtheṣu harīṇāṃ hariyūthapā:| babhūvuryūthapaśreṣṭhā vīrāṃścājanayan harīn

Those monkey commanders created heroic monkeys among the chief monkey clans who later proved the best among clanleaders.

अन्ये ऋक्षवत: प्रस्थानवतस्थु स्सहस्रश:। अन्ये नानाविधान्शैलान्भेजिरे काननानि च।।1.17.30।।

anye ṛkṣavata: prasthānavatasthu ssahasraśa:| anye nānāvidhānśailānbhejire kānanāni ca

Thousands of monkeys dwelt on the plateaus on the top of mountains abounding in bears. Some others inhabited various hills and forests.

सूर्यपुत्रं च सुग्रीवं शक्रपुत्रं च वालिनम्। भ्रातरावुपतस्थुस्ते सर्व एव हरीश्वरा:।।1.17.31।। नलं नीलं हनूमन्तमन्यांश्च हरियूथपान्। 3

sūryaputraṃ ca sugrīvaṃ śakraputraṃ ca vālinam| bhrātarāvupatasthuste sarva eva harīśvarā: nalaṃ nīlaṃ hanūmantamanyāṃśca hariyūthapān| 3

All those leaders, Nala, Neela, Hanuman and others dwelt near those two brothers Sugriva, the offspring of Surya and Vali, the son of Indra.

ते तार्क्ष्यबलसम्पन्नास्सर्वे युद्धविशारदा:। विचरन्तोऽर्दयन्दर्पात्सिंहव्याघ्रमहोरगान्।।1.17.32।।

te tārkṣyabalasampannāssarve yuddhaviśāradā:| vicaranto'rdayandarpātsiṃhavyāghramahoragān

Endowed with the might of Garuda and wellversed in warfare, all of them moving around tormented ferouious lions, tigers and mighty serpents .

तांश्च सर्वान्महाबाहुर्वाली विपुलविक्रम:। जुगोप भुजवीर्येण ऋक्षगोपुच्छवानरान्।।1.17.33।।

tāṃśca sarvānmahābāhurvālī vipulavikrama:| jugopa bhujavīryeṇa ṛkṣagopucchavānarān

Mighty armed leader Vali endowed with immense prowess protected, with his strong arms all those bears, gopuchhas(cowtailed) and monkeys.

तैरियं पृथिवी शूरैस्सपर्वतवनार्णवा। कीर्णा विविधसंस्थानैर्नानाव्यञ्जनलक्षणै:।।1.17.34।।

tairiyaṃ pṛthivī śūraissaparvatavanārṇavā| kīrṇā vividhasaṃsthānairnānāvyañjanalakṣaṇai:

Born in many forms wih various characteristics (relating to the body and tribe), they pervaded this earth with its mountains, forests and seas.

तैर्मेघबृन्दाचलकूटकल्पै: महाबलैर्वानरयूथपालै:। बभूव भूर्भीमशरीररूपै स्समावृता रामसहायहेतो:।।1.17.35।।

tairmeghabṛndācalakūṭakalpai: mahābalairvānarayūthapālai:| babhūva bhūrbhīmaśarīrarūpai ssamāvṛtā rāmasahāyaheto:

In order to assist Rama, this earth was filled with commanders of those who led the monkey forces resembling masses of clouds and mountains. They loan endowed with immense strength and fearful forms and countenances. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे सप्तदशस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the seventeenth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.