Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 58

इत्युक्तः करुणं वाक्यं वानरैस्त्यक्तजीवितैः। सबाष्पो वानरान्गृध्रः प्रत्युवाच महास्वनः।।4.58.1।।

ityuktaḥ karuṇaṃ vākyaṃ vānaraistyaktajīvitaiḥ| sabāṣpo vānarāngṛdhraḥ pratyuvāca mahāsvanaḥ

On hearing the pathetic words from the monkeys who had given up hope of life, the loudvoiced vulture wailing replied:

यवीयान्मम भ्राता जटायुर्नाम वानराः। यमाख्यात हतं युद्धे रावणेन बलीयसा।।4.58.2।।

yavīyānmama bhrātā jaṭāyurnāma vānarāḥ| yamākhyāta hataṃ yuddhe rāvaṇena balīyasā

'O monkeys, the one you said to have been killed by mighty Ravana in a combat was my younger brother, Jatayu.

वृद्धभावादपक्षत्वाच्छृण्वंस्तदपि मर्षये। न हि मे शक्तिरस्त्यद्य भ्रातुर्वैरविमोक्षणे।।4.58.3।।

vṛddhabhāvādapakṣatvācchṛṇvaṃstadapi marṣaye| na hi me śaktirastyadya bhrāturvairavimokṣaṇe

'Even after I have heard this, I cannot avenge my brother's death as I am old, I have no wings, and I have no energy enough (to fight).

पुरा वृत्रवधे वृत्ते परस्परजयैषिणौ। आदित्यमुपयातौ स्वो ज्वलन्तं रश्मिमालिनम्।।4.58.4।।

purā vṛtravadhe vṛtte parasparajayaiṣiṇau| ādityamupayātau svo jvalantaṃ raśmimālinam

'In olden days, when Indra killed Vrutra we (Jatayu and I) seeking to challenge him reached the Sun blazing with a garland of beams.

आवृत्त्याऽकाशमार्गे तु जवेन स्म गतौ भृशम्। मध्यं प्राप्ते दिनकरे जटायुरवसीदति।।4.58.5।।

āvṛttyā'kāśamārge tu javena sma gatau bhṛśam| madhyaṃ prāpte dinakare jaṭāyuravasīdati

'Flying in the sky at a violently high speed, we reached the meridian of the Sun when, unable to bear the heat, Jatayu became weak.

तमहं भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यरश्मिभिरर्दितम्। पक्षाभ्यां छादयामास स्नेहात्परमविह्वलः।।4.58.6।।

tamahaṃ bhrātaraṃ dṛṣṭvā sūryaraśmibhirarditam| pakṣābhyāṃ chādayāmāsa snehātparamavihvalaḥ

'Seeing my brother tormented due to the Sun's radiance I was overwhelmed with grief. Out of love I covered him with both my wings.

निर्दग्धपक्षः पतितो विन्ध्येऽहं वानरर्षभाः। अहमस्मिन्वसन्भ्रातुः प्रवृत्तिं नोपलक्षये।।4.58.7।।

nirdagdhapakṣaḥ patito vindhye'haṃ vānararṣabhāḥ| ahamasminvasanbhrātuḥ pravṛttiṃ nopalakṣaye

'O bulls among monkeys, consequently my wings were burnt and I dropped down on Vindhya. Here I have been living, knowing not my brother's whereabouts.'

जटायुषस्त्वेवमुक्तो भ्रात्रा सम्पातिना तदा। युवराजो महाप्राज्ञः प्रत्युवाचाङ्गदस्ततः।।4.58.8।।

jaṭāyuṣastvevamukto bhrātrā sampātinā tadā| yuvarājo mahāprājñaḥ pratyuvācāṅgadastataḥ

To these words of Jatayu's brother, Sampati, Angada, the learned heir apparent replied:

जटायुषो यदि भ्राता श्रुतं ते गदितं मया। आख्या हि यदि जानासि निलयं तस्य रक्षसः।।4.58.9।।

jaṭāyuṣo yadi bhrātā śrutaṃ te gaditaṃ mayā| ākhyā hi yadi jānāsi nilayaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ

'I have heard you. If you are the brother of Jatayu, tell us about the abode of that demon if you know.

अदीर्घदर्शिनं तं वै रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्। अन्तिके यदि वा दूरे यदि जानासि शंस नः।।4.58.10।।

adīrghadarśinaṃ taṃ vai rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam| antike yadi vā dūre yadi jānāsi śaṃsa naḥ

'Tell us about Ravana, king of the demons who is unaware of the consequences. If you know his residence, tell us if it is near or far.'

ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा ज्येष्ठो भ्राता जटायुषः। आत्मानुरूपं वचनं वानरान्सम्प्रहर्षयन्।।4.58.11।।

tato'bravīnmahātejā jyeṣṭho bhrātā jaṭāyuṣaḥ| ātmānurūpaṃ vacanaṃ vānarānsampraharṣayan

Then Jatayu's elder brother, the glorious Sampati, said these pleasing, befitting words:

निर्दग्धपक्षो गृध्रोऽहं हीनवीर्य: प्लवङ्गमाः। वाङ्मात्रेण तु रामस्य करिष्ये साह्यमुत्तमम्।।4.58.12।।

nirdagdhapakṣo gṛdhro'haṃ hīnavīrya: plavaṅgamāḥ| vāṅmātreṇa tu rāmasya kariṣye sāhyamuttamam

'O monkeys I am a vulture. My wings are burnt and my strength is depleted. The only substantial help I can render Rama is through my words.

जानामि वारुणान्लोकान्विष्णोस्त्रै विक्रमानपि। महासुरविमर्दन्वा श्च ह्यमृतस्य च मन्थनम्।।4.58.13।।

jānāmi vāruṇānlokānviṣṇostrai vikramānapi| mahāsuravimardanvā śca hyamṛtasya ca manthanam

'I know Varuna's worlds(seas and oceans) and all the three worlds measured by three strides by Vamana. Indeed I also know about the friction between the great gods and demons and the churning of the ocean for nectar.

रामस्य यदिदं कार्यं कर्तव्यं प्रथमं मया। जरया च हृतं तेजः प्राणाश्च शिथिला मम।।4.58.14।।

rāmasya yadidaṃ kāryaṃ kartavyaṃ prathamaṃ mayā| jarayā ca hṛtaṃ tejaḥ prāṇāśca śithilā mama

'Rama's work is my primary duty. (But) my strength is drained by age and I have lost my vitality.

तरुणी रूपसम्पन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता। ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना।।4.58.15।। क्रोशन्ती राम रामेति लक्ष्मणेति च भामिनी। भूषणान्यपविध्यन्ती गात्राणि च विधुन्वती।।4.58.16।।

taruṇī rūpasampannā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā| hriyamāṇā mayā dṛṣṭā rāvaṇena durātmanā krośantī rāma rāmeti lakṣmaṇeti ca bhāminī| bhūṣaṇānyapavidhyantī gātrāṇi ca vidhunvatī

'I saw a young lady of beautiful appearance, adorned with all kinds of ornaments borne away by the evilminded Ravana. That dainty lady was calling out, 'O Rama, O Lakshmana' and was crying aloud. She was throwing away her ornaments and was wriggling to get out of Ravana's grip.

तरुणी रूपसम्पन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता। ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना।।4.58.15।। क्रोशन्ती राम रामेति लक्ष्मणेति च भामिनी। भूषणान्यपविध्यन्ती गात्राणि च विधुन्वती।।4.58.16।।

taruṇī rūpasampannā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā| hriyamāṇā mayā dṛṣṭā rāvaṇena durātmanā krośantī rāma rāmeti lakṣmaṇeti ca bhāminī| bhūṣaṇānyapavidhyantī gātrāṇi ca vidhunvatī

'I saw a young lady of beautiful appearance, adorned with all kinds of ornaments borne away by the evilminded Ravana. That dainty lady was calling out, 'O Rama, O Lakshmana' and was crying aloud. She was throwing away her ornaments and was wriggling to get out of Ravana's grip.

सूर्यप्रभेव शैलाग्रे तस्याः कौशेयमुत्तमम्। असिते राक्षसे भाति यथा वा तटिदम्बुदे।।4.58.17।।

sūryaprabheva śailāgre tasyāḥ kauśeyamuttamam| asite rākṣase bhāti yathā vā taṭidambude

'Her fine silk garment was shining like the radiance of the Sun on the mountain peak, like lightning against the dark cloud. (That was Ravana).

तां तु सीतामहं मन्ये रामस्य परिकीर्तनात्। श्रूयतां मे कथयतो निलयं तस्य रक्षसः।।4.58.18।।

tāṃ tu sītāmahaṃ manye rāmasya parikīrtanāt| śrūyatāṃ me kathayato nilayaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ

'Since she was uttering Rama's name I think she is Sita. (Now) I will tell you about the demon's abode. Listen

पुत्रो विश्रवस स्साक्षाद्भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च। अध्यास्ते नगरीं लङ्कां रावणो नाम राक्षसः।।4.58.19।।

putro viśravasa ssākṣādbhrātā vaiśravaṇasya ca| adhyāste nagarīṃ laṅkāṃ rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ

'He is Vishrava's son and halfbrother of Vaishravana. His name is Ravana and he resides in the city of Lanka.

इतो द्वीपस्समुद्रस्य सम्पूर्णे शतयोजने। तस्मिन्लङ्कापुरी रम्या निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा।।4.58.20।।

ito dvīpassamudrasya sampūrṇe śatayojane| tasminlaṅkāpurī ramyā nirmitā viśvakarmaṇā

'The beautiful city of Lanka is an island, a hundred yojanas away from here.It was built by Visvakarma.

जाम्बूनदमयैर्द्वारैश्चित्रैः काञ्चनवेदिकैः। प्रासादैर्हेमवर्णैश्च महद्भिः सुसमा कृता।।4.58.21।। प्राकारेणार्कवर्णेन महता च समान्विता।

jāmbūnadamayairdvāraiścitraiḥ kāñcanavedikaiḥ| prāsādairhemavarṇaiśca mahadbhiḥ susamā kṛtā prākāreṇārkavarṇena mahatā ca samānvitā|

'The city has golden gates, golden platforms, huge, goldencoloured, uniformly built mansions surrounded by a tall boundary wall of the colour of sunlight.

तस्यां वसति वैदेही दीना कौशेयवासिनी।।4.58.22।। रावणान्तःपुरे रुद्धा राक्षसीभिस्सुरक्षिता। जनकस्यात्मजां राज्ञस्तत्र द्रक्ष्यथ मैथिलीम्।।4.58.23।।

tasyāṃ vasati vaidehī dīnā kauśeyavāsinī rāvaṇāntaḥpure ruddhā rākṣasībhissurakṣitā| janakasyātmajāṃ rājñastatra drakṣyatha maithilīm

'You will see in the city of Lanka, the princess from Videha, daughter of Janaka, a picture of dejection, robed in silk, confined in the harem of Ravana, wellprotected by demonesses.

तस्यां वसति वैदेही दीना कौशेयवासिनी।।4.58.22।। रावणान्तःपुरे रुद्धा राक्षसीभिस्सुरक्षिता। जनकस्यात्मजां राज्ञस्तत्र द्रक्ष्यथ मैथिलीम्।।4.58.23।।

tasyāṃ vasati vaidehī dīnā kauśeyavāsinī rāvaṇāntaḥpure ruddhā rākṣasībhissurakṣitā| janakasyātmajāṃ rājñastatra drakṣyatha maithilīm

'You will see in the city of Lanka, the princess from Videha, daughter of Janaka, a picture of dejection, robed in silk, confined in the harem of Ravana, wellprotected by demonesses.

लङ्कायामथ गुप्तायां सागरेण समन्ततः। सम्प्राप्य सागरस्यान्तं सम्पूर्णं शतयोजनम्।।4.58.24।। आसाद्य दक्षिणं तीरं ततो द्रक्ष्यथ रावणम्। तत्रैव त्वरिताः क्षिप्रं विक्रमध्वं प्लवङ्गमाः।।4.58.25।।

laṅkāyāmatha guptāyāṃ sāgareṇa samantataḥ| samprāpya sāgarasyāntaṃ sampūrṇaṃ śatayojanam āsādya dakṣiṇaṃ tīraṃ tato drakṣyatha rāvaṇam| tatraiva tvaritāḥ kṣipraṃ vikramadhvaṃ plavaṅgamāḥ

'O monkeys traverse a hundred yojanas across the sea. On reaching the southern coast you will be able to see Ravana's Lanka defended and surrounded by the sea. Now proceed swiftly and prove your strength.

लङ्कायामथ गुप्तायां सागरेण समन्ततः। सम्प्राप्य सागरस्यान्तं सम्पूर्णं शतयोजनम्।।4.58.24।। आसाद्य दक्षिणं तीरं ततो द्रक्ष्यथ रावणम्। तत्रैव त्वरिताः क्षिप्रं विक्रमध्वं प्लवङ्गमाः।।4.58.25।।

laṅkāyāmatha guptāyāṃ sāgareṇa samantataḥ| samprāpya sāgarasyāntaṃ sampūrṇaṃ śatayojanam āsādya dakṣiṇaṃ tīraṃ tato drakṣyatha rāvaṇam| tatraiva tvaritāḥ kṣipraṃ vikramadhvaṃ plavaṅgamāḥ

'O monkeys traverse a hundred yojanas across the sea. On reaching the southern coast you will be able to see Ravana's Lanka defended and surrounded by the sea. Now proceed swiftly and prove your strength.

ज्ञानेन खलु पश्यामि दृष्ट्वा प्रत्यागमिष्यथ। आद्यः पन्थाः कुलिङ्गानां ये चान्ये धान्यजीविनः।।4.58.26।। द्वितीयो बलिभोजानां ये च वृक्षफलाशिनः। भासास्तृतीयं गच्छन्ति क्रौञ्चाश्च कुररैस्सह।।4.58.27।। श्येनाश्चतुर्थं गच्छन्ति गृध्रा गच्छन्ति पञ्चमम्।

jñānena khalu paśyāmi dṛṣṭvā pratyāgamiṣyatha| ādyaḥ panthāḥ kuliṅgānāṃ ye cānye dhānyajīvinaḥ dvitīyo balibhojānāṃ ye ca vṛkṣaphalāśinaḥ| bhāsāstṛtīyaṃ gacchanti krauñcāśca kuraraissaha śyenāścaturthaṃ gacchanti gṛdhrā gacchanti pañcamam|

'By intuition I know you would see Sita and return. On the first plane you will see sparrows and birds which live on grain. On the second, you will see crows living on the food offered to the dead and birds living on the fruits of trees, and then cocks, cranes and kraunchas moving on the third plane, on the fourth, hawks and falcons and on the fifth, vultures.

ज्ञानेन खलु पश्यामि दृष्ट्वा प्रत्यागमिष्यथ। आद्यः पन्थाः कुलिङ्गानां ये चान्ये धान्यजीविनः।।4.58.26।। द्वितीयो बलिभोजानां ये च वृक्षफलाशिनः। भासास्तृतीयं गच्छन्ति क्रौञ्चाश्च कुररैस्सह।।4.58.27।। श्येनाश्चतुर्थं गच्छन्ति गृध्रा गच्छन्ति पञ्चमम्।

jñānena khalu paśyāmi dṛṣṭvā pratyāgamiṣyatha| ādyaḥ panthāḥ kuliṅgānāṃ ye cānye dhānyajīvinaḥ dvitīyo balibhojānāṃ ye ca vṛkṣaphalāśinaḥ| bhāsāstṛtīyaṃ gacchanti krauñcāśca kuraraissaha śyenāścaturthaṃ gacchanti gṛdhrā gacchanti pañcamam|

'By intuition I know you would see Sita and return. On the first plane you will see sparrows and birds which live on grain. On the second, you will see crows living on the food offered to the dead and birds living on the fruits of trees, and then cocks, cranes and kraunchas moving on the third plane, on the fourth, hawks and falcons and on the fifth, vultures.

बलवीर्योपपन्नानां रूपयौवनशालिनाम्।।4.58.28।। षष्ठस्तु पन्था हंसानां वैनतेयगतिः परा। वैनतेयाच्च नो जन्म सर्वेषां वानरर्षभाः।।4.58.29।।

balavīryopapannānāṃ rūpayauvanaśālinām ṣaṣṭhastu panthā haṃsānāṃ vainateyagatiḥ parā| vainateyācca no janma sarveṣāṃ vānararṣabhāḥ

'O bulls among monkeys swans blessed with strength, vigour, beauty and youth move in the sixth region. Beyond, on the seventh plane, you will see the descendants of Garuda.

बलवीर्योपपन्नानां रूपयौवनशालिनाम्।।4.58.28।। षष्ठस्तु पन्था हंसानां वैनतेयगतिः परा। वैनतेयाच्च नो जन्म सर्वेषां वानरर्षभाः।।4.58.29।।

balavīryopapannānāṃ rūpayauvanaśālinām ṣaṣṭhastu panthā haṃsānāṃ vainateyagatiḥ parā| vainateyācca no janma sarveṣāṃ vānararṣabhāḥ

'O bulls among monkeys swans blessed with strength, vigour, beauty and youth move in the sixth region. Beyond, on the seventh plane, you will see the descendants of Garuda.

इहस्थोऽहं प्रपश्यामि रावणं जानकीं तथा। अस्माकमपि सौवर्णं दिव्यं चक्षुर्बलं तथा।।4.58.30।।

ihastho'haṃ prapaśyāmi rāvaṇaṃ jānakīṃ tathā| asmākamapi sauvarṇaṃ divyaṃ cakṣurbalaṃ tathā

'From here I see Ravana and Janaki. We (vultures) have a divine golden vision and great power.

तस्मादाहारवीर्येण निसर्गेण च वानराः। आयोजनशतात्साग्राद्वयं पश्याम नित्यशः।।4.58.31।।

tasmādāhāravīryeṇa nisargeṇa ca vānarāḥ| āyojanaśatātsāgrādvayaṃ paśyāma nityaśaḥ

'O monkeys therefore, by the strength of food and by nature we can always see beyond a hundred yojanas from this edge.

अस्माकं विहिता वृत्तिर्निसर्गेण च दूरतः। विहिता पादमूले तु वृत्तिश्चरणयोधिनाम्।।4.58.32।।

asmākaṃ vihitā vṛttirnisargeṇa ca dūrataḥ| vihitā pādamūle tu vṛttiścaraṇayodhinām

'Our movement and vision naturally extends to distant places. For those fighting on foot, the movement is restricted to the extent of foot movement.

गर्हितं तु कृतं कर्म येन स्म पशिताशिना। प्रतीकार्यं च मे तस्य वैरं भ्रातृकृतं भवेत्।।4.58.33।।

garhitaṃ tu kṛtaṃ karma yena sma paśitāśinā| pratīkāryaṃ ca me tasya vairaṃ bhrātṛkṛtaṃ bhavet

The despicable deed was done by that flesh-eating demon, and avenging my brother's enmity falls to me.

उपायो दृश्यतां कश्चिल्लङ्घने लवणाम्भसः। अभिगम्य तु वैदेहीं समृद्धार्था गमिष्यथ।।4.58.34।।

upāyo dṛśyatāṃ kaścillaṅghane lavaṇāmbhasaḥ| abhigamya tu vaidehīṃ samṛddhārthā gamiṣyatha

'Look out for some means to cross the salty ocean. You will see Vaidehi, and return, your mission accomplished.

समुद्रं नेतुमिच्छामि भवद्भिर्वरुणालयम्। प्रदास्याम्युदकं भ्रातुस्स्वर्गतस्य महात्मनः।।4.58.35।।

samudraṃ netumicchāmi bhavadbhirvaruṇālayam| pradāsyāmyudakaṃ bhrātussvargatasya mahātmanaḥ

'Take me to the ocean, the abode of Varuna. I intend to offer oblation to my brother, a great soul who is in heaven.'

ततो नीत्वा तु तं देशं तीरं नदनदीपतेः। निर्दग्धपक्षं सम्पातिं वानरास्सुमहौजसः।।4.58.36।। पुनः प्रत्यानयित्वा च तं देशं पतगेश्वरम्। बभूवुर्वानरा हृष्टाः प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य ते।।4.58.37।।

tato nītvā tu taṃ deśaṃ tīraṃ nadanadīpateḥ| nirdagdhapakṣaṃ sampātiṃ vānarāssumahaujasaḥ punaḥ pratyānayitvā ca taṃ deśaṃ patageśvaram| babhūvurvānarā hṛṣṭāḥ pravṛttimupalabhya te

Th mightiest of monkeys carried Sampati, whose wings were totally burnt, to the sea shore and after he had offered oblations took him back to the same place. Having obtained all information from the king of vultures the monkeys were very happy. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fiftyeighth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.