Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 23

ततस्समुपजिघ्रन्ती कपिराजस्य तन्मुखम्। पतिं लोकाच्च्युतं तारा मृतं वचनमब्रवीत्4.23.1।।

tatassamupajighrantī kapirājasya tanmukham| patiṃ lokāccyutaṃ tārā mṛtaṃ vacanamabravīt4.23.1||

Tara kissed (smelt) the forehead of the king of monkeys who had departed and said:

शेषे त्वं विषमे दुःखमकृत्वा वचनं मम। उपलोपचिते वीर सुदुःखे वसुधातले4.23.2।।

śeṣe tvaṃ viṣame duḥkhamakṛtvā vacanaṃ mama| upalopacite vīra suduḥkhe vasudhātale4.23.2||

'O hero, not caring for my words (of caution), you are now lying with great pain on hard stones on the ground.

मत्तः प्रियतरा नूनं वानरेन्द्र मही तव। शेषे हि तां परिष्वज्य मां च न प्रतिभाषसे4.23.3।।

mattaḥ priyatarā nūnaṃ vānarendra mahī tava| śeṣe hi tāṃ pariṣvajya māṃ ca na pratibhāṣase4.23.3||

'O lord of monkeys you lie in the end, embracing the earth and not replying to me. Surely you deem this earth dearer than me.

सुग्रीवस्य वशं प्राप्तो विधिरेषभवत्यहो। सुग्रीव एव विक्रान्तो वीर साहसिकप्रिय4.23.4।।

sugrīvasya vaśaṃ prāpto vidhireṣabhavatyaho| sugrīva eva vikrānto vīra sāhasikapriya4.23.4||

'O lover of brave deeds, fate has brought you under the sway of Sugriva, although he had lost to you.

ऋक्षवानरमुख्यास्त्वां बलिनः पर्युपासते। एषां विलपितं कृच्छ्रमङ्गदस्य च शोचतः4.23.5।। मम चेमा गिरः श्रुत्वा किं त्वं न प्रतिबुध्यसे।

ṛkṣavānaramukhyāstvāṃ balinaḥ paryupāsate| eṣāṃ vilapitaṃ kṛcchramaṅgadasya ca śocataḥ4.23.5|| mama cemā giraḥ śrutvā kiṃ tvaṃ na pratibudhyase|

'Oh powerful Vali leaders of the bears and monkeys, the entire lot are standing near you, wailing. Angada has been crying in grief. How is it that you are not rising up even after hearing their wailing voices and my call? .

इदं तच्छूरशयनं यत्र शेषे हतो युधि। शायिता निहता यत्र त्वयैव रिपवः पुरा4.23.6।।

idaṃ tacchūraśayanaṃ yatra śeṣe hato yudhi| śāyitā nihatā yatra tvayaiva ripavaḥ purā4.23.6||

'Earlier you have killed enemies in combats and made them lie down where now you lie.

विशुद्धसत्त्वाभिजन प्रिययुद्ध मम प्रिय। मामनाथां विहायैकां गतस्त्वमसि मानद4.23.7।।

viśuddhasattvābhijana priyayuddha mama priya| māmanāthāṃ vihāyaikāṃ gatastvamasi mānada4.23.7||

'O venerable hero, born in a pure and noble family, you are a lover of battles. Now you have left me an orphan.

शूराय न प्रदातव्या कन्या खलु विपश्चिता। शूरभार्यां हतां पश्य सद्यो मां विधवां कृताम्4.23.8।।

śūrāya na pradātavyā kanyā khalu vipaścitā| śūrabhāryāṃ hatāṃ paśya sadyo māṃ vidhavāṃ kṛtām4.23.8||

'It is said by wise men that a girl should not be given in marriage to a warrior. See me, the wife of a warrior, now rendered a widow.

अवभग्नश्च मे मानो भग्ना मे शाश्वती गतिः4.23.9।। अगाधे च निमग्नाऽस्मि विपुले शोकसागरे।

avabhagnaśca me māno bhagnā me śāśvatī gatiḥ4.23.9|| agādhe ca nimagnā'smi vipule śokasāgare|

'My pride is crushed. My husband, the ultimate resort for me is shattered.I am plunged in a vast, bottomless ocean of grief.

अश्मसारमयं नूनमिदं मे हृदयं दृढम्4.23.10।। भर्तारं निहतं दृष्ट्वा यन्नाद्य शतधा कृतम्।

aśmasāramayaṃ nūnamidaṃ me hṛdayaṃ dṛḍham4.23.10|| bhartāraṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā yannādya śatadhā kṛtam|

'My heart is surely made of hard stone yet it has not split into a hundred pieces even on seeing my husband slain৷৷

सुहृच्चैव हि भर्ता च प्रकृत्या मम च प्रियः। आहवे च पराक्रान्तश्शूरः पञ्चत्वमागतः4.23.11।।

suhṛccaiva hi bhartā ca prakṛtyā mama ca priyaḥ| āhave ca parākrāntaśśūraḥ pañcatvamāgataḥ4.23.11||

'He was my husband, my friend and naturally my loving king. He was powerful in battle.Alas the hero has died.

पतिहीना तु या नारी कामं भवतु पुत्रिणी। धनधान्यैस्सुपूर्णाऽपि विधवेत्युच्यते बुधैः4.23.12।।

patihīnā tu yā nārī kāmaṃ bhavatu putriṇī| dhanadhānyaissupūrṇā'pi vidhavetyucyate budhaiḥ4.23.12||

'Even if a woman without husband, is blessed with sons and abundant wealth and grain, still learned people call her a widow.

स्वगात्रप्रभवे वीर शेषे रुधिरमण्डले। क्रिमिरागपरिस्तोमे त्वमात्मशयने यथा4.23.13।।

svagātraprabhave vīra śeṣe rudhiramaṇḍale| krimirāgaparistome tvamātmaśayane yathā4.23.13||

'O hero how is it that you are lying in a crimson bed of the pool of blood flowing from your body?

रेणुशोणितसंवीतं गात्रं तव समन्ततः। परिरब्धुं न शक्नोमि भुजाभ्यां प्लवगर्षभ 4.23.14।।

reṇuśoṇitasaṃvītaṃ gātraṃ tava samantataḥ| parirabdhuṃ na śaknomi bhujābhyāṃ plavagarṣabha 4.23.14||

'O bull among monkeys how can I embrace you with my arms as your body is covered with dust particles and blood?.

कृतकृत्योऽद्य सुग्रीवो वैरेऽस्मिन्नतिदारुणे। यस्य रामविमुक्तेन हृतमेकेषुणा भयम्4.23.15।।

kṛtakṛtyo'dya sugrīvo vaire'sminnatidāruṇe| yasya rāmavimuktena hṛtamekeṣuṇā bhayam4.23.15||

'Sugriva has achieved his goal in his dreadful enmity (with you). His fear is dispelled by a single arrow released by Rama.

शरेण हृदि लग्नेन गात्रसंस्पर्शने तव। वार्यामि त्वां निरीक्षन्ती त्वयि पञ्चत्वमागते4.23.16।।

śareṇa hṛdi lagnena gātrasaṃsparśane tava| vāryāmi tvāṃ nirīkṣantī tvayi pañcatvamāgate4.23.16||

'The arrow which has pierced your body prevents me from embracing you. I am only looking at you lying (not removing the arrow lest you die).'

उद्ववर्ह शरं नीलस्तस्य गात्रगतं तदा। गिरिगह्वरसंलीनं दीप्तमाशीविषं यथा4.23.17।।

udvavarha śaraṃ nīlastasya gātragataṃ tadā| girigahvarasaṃlīnaṃ dīptamāśīviṣaṃ yathā4.23.17||

Then Nila took out the arrow from Vali's heart with due effort as one would pull out a glowing serpent hidden in the mountain cave.

तस्य निष्कृष्यमाणस्य बाणस्य च बभौ द्युतिः। अस्तमस्तकसंरुद्धो रश्मिर्दिनकरादिव4.23.18।।

tasya niṣkṛṣyamāṇasya bāṇasya ca babhau dyutiḥ| astamastakasaṃruddho raśmirdinakarādiva4.23.18||

As the arrrow(drenched in blood) was being pulled out, its glow looked like the Sun's rays obstructed by the peak of the western mountain.

पेतुः क्षतजधारास्तु व्रणेभ्यस्तस्य सर्वशः। ताम्रगैरिकसम्पृक्ता धारा इव धराधरात्4.23.19।।

petuḥ kṣatajadhārāstu vraṇebhyastasya sarvaśaḥ| tāmragairikasampṛktā dhārā iva dharādharāt4.23.19||

The streams of blood that flowed all over from the wounds of his body appeared like streams of water mixed with red and copper colour.

अवकीर्णं विमार्जन्ती भर्तारं रणरेणुना। अस्रैर्नयनजैश्शूरं सिषेचास्त्रसमाहतम्4.23.20।।

avakīrṇaṃ vimārjantī bhartāraṃ raṇareṇunā| asrairnayanajaiśśūraṃ siṣecāstrasamāhatam4.23.20||

She (Tara) wiped the body wounded with the weapon and covered with wardust, sprinkling her tear drops from her eyes.

रुधिरोक्षितसर्वाङ्गं दृष्ट्वा विनिहतं पतिम्। उवाच तारा पिङ्गाक्षं पुत्रमङ्गदमङ्गना4.23.21।।

rudhirokṣitasarvāṅgaṃ dṛṣṭvā vinihataṃ patim| uvāca tārā piṅgākṣaṃ putramaṅgadamaṅganā4.23.21||

Turning to the body of her husband fully drenched in blood, thus spoke Tara to her tawnyeyed son Angada:

अवस्थां पश्चिमां पश्य पितुः पुत्र सुदारुणाम्। सम्प्रसक्तस्य वैरस्य गतोऽन्तः पापकर्मणा4.23.22।।

avasthāṃ paścimāṃ paśya pituḥ putra sudāruṇām| samprasaktasya vairasya gato'ntaḥ pāpakarmaṇā4.23.22||

'O son you see the most terrific end of your father on whom enmity forced sinful deeds.

बालसूर्योदयतनुं प्रयान्तं यमसदनम्। अभिवादय राजानं पितरं पुत्र मानदम्4.23.23।।

bālasūryodayatanuṃ prayāntaṃ yamasadanam| abhivādaya rājānaṃ pitaraṃ putra mānadam4.23.23||

'O son offer salutations to your venerable father, the king, departing for the abode of Yama (lord of death) looking (red with blood) like the rising Sun.'

एवमुक्तस्समुत्थाय जग्राह चरणौ पितुः। भुजाभ्यां पीनवृत्ताभ्यामङ्गदोऽहमिति ब्रुवन्4.23.24।।

evamuktassamutthāya jagrāha caraṇau pituḥ| bhujābhyāṃ pīnavṛttābhyāmaṅgado'hamiti bruvan4.23.24||

Thus advised by Tara, Angada got up, clasped his father's feet with his stout arms, and saluted, saying, 'I am Angada.'

अभिवादयमानं त्वामङ्गदं त्वं यथा पुरा। दीर्घायुर्भव पुत्रेति किमर्थं नाभिभाषसे4.23.25।।

abhivādayamānaṃ tvāmaṅgadaṃ tvaṃ yathā purā| dīrghāyurbhava putreti kimarthaṃ nābhibhāṣase4.23.25||

'Why do you not, with the words 'May you live long'', bless, as before, your son Angada who is greeting you? (said Tara).

अहं पुत्रसहाया त्वामुपासे गतचेतसम्। सिंहेन निहतं सद्यो गौस्सवत्सेव गोवृषम्4.23.26।।

ahaṃ putrasahāyā tvāmupāse gatacetasam| siṃhena nihataṃ sadyo gaussavatseva govṛṣam4.23.26||

'Just like a cow followed by its calf would attend upon a mighty bull struck by a lion I will wait with my son upon you who have lost consciousness (died).

इष्ट्वा सङ्ग्रामयज्ञेन रामप्रहरणाम्भसि। अस्मिन्नवभृथे स्नातः कथं पत्न्या मया विना4.23.27।।

iṣṭvā saṅgrāmayajñena rāmapraharaṇāmbhasi| asminnavabhṛthe snātaḥ kathaṃ patnyā mayā vinā4.23.27||

'You have performed a warsacrifice. You have bathed in the waters of Rama's weapon signifying the end of the sacrifice. How did you take this customary bath without me, your wife?

या दत्ता देवराजेन तव तुष्टेन संयुगे। शातकुम्भमयीं मालां तां ते पश्यामि नेह किम्4.23.28।।

yā dattā devarājena tava tuṣṭena saṃyuge| śātakumbhamayīṃ mālāṃ tāṃ te paśyāmi neha kim4.23.28||

'Why do I not see on your chest the golden necklace gifted by the king of the gods (Indra), pleased with you in the battle?

राज्यश्रीर्न जहाति त्वां गतासुमपि मानद। सूर्यस्यावर्तमानस्य शैलराजमिव प्रभा4.23.29।।

rājyaśrīrna jahāti tvāṃ gatāsumapi mānada| sūryasyāvartamānasya śailarājamiva prabhā4.23.29||

'O venerable one, even though life has departed from you, kingly glory does not leave you any more than the light of the setting son leaves the king of mountains. (western mountain)

न मे वचः पथ्यमिदं त्वया कृतं न चास्मि शक्ता हि निवारणे तव। हता सपुत्राऽस्मि हतेन संयुगे सह त्वया श्रीर्विजहाति मामिह4.23.30।।

na me vacaḥ pathyamidaṃ tvayā kṛtaṃ na cāsmi śaktā hi nivāraṇe tava| hatā saputrā'smi hatena saṃyuge saha tvayā śrīrvijahāti māmiha4.23.30||

'You have not followed my advice. I did not have the capacity to prevent you from going to war. The result is, you are killed and I am ruined along with my son. The goddess of fortune also is deserting me as well as your son.' इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे त्रयोविंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the twentythird sarga of Kishkindakanda of the Holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.