Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 59

ततस्तदमृतास्वादं गृध्रराजेन भाषितम्। निशम्य मुदिता हृष्टास्ते वचः प्लवगर्षभाः।।4.59.1।।

tatastadamṛtāsvādaṃ gṛdhrarājena bhāṣitam| niśamya muditā hṛṣṭāste vacaḥ plavagarṣabhāḥ

The mighty monkeys were delighted to hear the nectarlike words of the king of vultures.

जाम्बवान् वानरश्रेष्ठस्सह सर्वैः प्लवङ्गमैः। भूतलात्सहसोत्थाय गृध्रराजानमब्रवीत्।।4.59.2।।

jāmbavān vānaraśreṣṭhassaha sarvaiḥ plavaṅgamaiḥ| bhūtalātsahasotthāya gṛdhrarājānamabravīt

Jambavan the king of bears got up at once from the ground along with the monkeys and spoke to the king of vultures:

क्व सीता केन वा दृष्टा को वा हरति मैथिलीम्। तदाख्यातु भवात्सर्वं गतिर्भव वनौकसाम्।।4.59.3।।

kva sītā kena vā dṛṣṭā ko vā harati maithilīm| tadākhyātu bhavātsarvaṃ gatirbhava vanaukasām

'Where is Sita now? By whom else was she seen while being carried? Pray, tell us everything. You are the ultimate saviour of monkeys.

को दाशरथि बाणानां वज्रवेगनिपातिनाम्। स्वयं लक्ष्मणमुक्तानां न चिन्तयति विक्रमम्।।4.59.4।।

ko dāśarathi bāṇānāṃ vajraveganipātinām| svayaṃ lakṣmaṇamuktānāṃ na cintayati vikramam

'Who is not aware of Rama's swift arrows which are like thunderbolt? Who is not able to assess the speed and power of arrows of Lakshmana released directly?'

स हरीन्प्रीतिसंयुक्तान्सीताश्रुतिसमाहितान्। पुनराश्वसयन्प्रीत: इदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।4.59.5।।

sa harīnprītisaṃyuktānsītāśrutisamāhitān| punarāśvasayanprīta: idaṃ vacanamabravīt

Pleased to see the happiness and eagernes of the monkeys assembled to hear about Sita, Sampati continued in order to reassure them:

श्रूयतामिह वैदेह्या यथा मे हरणं श्रुतम्। येन चापि ममाऽख्यातं यत्र वायतलोचना।।4.59.6।।

śrūyatāmiha vaidehyā yathā me haraṇaṃ śrutam| yena cāpi mamā'khyātaṃ yatra vāyatalocanā

'Now hear by whom I was informed about the abduction of the largeeyed princess from Videha and where she is at present.

अहमस्मिन्गिरौ दुर्गे बहुयोजनमायते। चिरान्निपतितो वृद्धः क्षीणप्राणपराक्रमः।।4.59.7।।

ahamasmingirau durge bahuyojanamāyate| cirānnipatito vṛddhaḥ kṣīṇaprāṇaparākramaḥ

'With my vitality and prowess depleted, I have been staying for a long time on this mountain, extended by several yojanas and inaccessible.

तं मामेवं गतं पुत्रस्सुपार्श्वोनाम नामतः। आहारेण यथाकालं बिभर्ति पततां वरः।।4.59.8।।

taṃ māmevaṃ gataṃ putrassupārśvonāma nāmataḥ| āhāreṇa yathākālaṃ bibharti patatāṃ varaḥ

'Reduced to this state, I have been maintained by food given in time by my son named Suparshva, best among birds.

तीक्ष्णकामास्तु गन्धर्वास्तीक्ष्णकोपा भुजङ्गमाः। मृगाणां तु भयं तीक्ष्णं ततस्तीक्ष्णक्षुधा वयम्।।4.59.9।।

tīkṣṇakāmāstu gandharvāstīkṣṇakopā bhujaṅgamāḥ| mṛgāṇāṃ tu bhayaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ tatastīkṣṇakṣudhā vayam

'Gandharvas have intense passion. Serpents show violent anger. Deer have great fear. And we vultures have great hunger.

स कदाचित्क्षुधार्तस्य ममाहाराभिकाङ्क्षिणः। गतसूर्येऽहनि प्राप्तो मम पुत्रो ह्यनामिषः।।4.59.10।।

sa kadācitkṣudhārtasya mamāhārābhikāṅkṣiṇaḥ| gatasūrye'hani prāpto mama putro hyanāmiṣaḥ

'Once my son came to me without meat after sunset while I was feeling hungry for food.

स मामाहारसंरोधात्पीडितं प्रीतिवर्धनः। अनुमान्य यथातत्त्वमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।4.59.11।।

sa māmāhārasaṃrodhātpīḍitaṃ prītivardhanaḥ| anumānya yathātattvamidaṃ vacanamabravīt

'I was thinking, tormented with hunger, my son who always keeps me happy told me exactly what had happened:

अहं तात यथाकालमामिषार्थी खमाप्लुतः। महेन्द्रस्य गिरेर्द्वारमावृत्य सुसमास्थितः।।4.59.12।।

ahaṃ tāta yathākālamāmiṣārthī khamāplutaḥ| mahendrasya girerdvāramāvṛtya susamāsthitaḥ

'O dear father I went to get food at the right time and stood blocking the entrance of mount Mahendra.

तत्र सत्त्वसहस्राणां सागरान्तरचारिणाम्। पन्थानमेकोऽध्यवसं सन्निरोद्धुमवाङ्मुखः।।4.59.13।।

tatra sattvasahasrāṇāṃ sāgarāntaracāriṇām| panthānameko'dhyavasaṃ sanniroddhumavāṅmukhaḥ

'There I stood alone looking down, obstructing the path of thousands of creatures inhabiting the ocean.

तत्र कश्चिन्मया दृष्ट स्सूर्योदयसमप्रभाम्। स्त्रियमादाय गच्छन्वै भिन्नाञ्जनचयप्रभः।।4.59.14।।

tatra kaścinmayā dṛṣṭa ssūryodayasamaprabhām| striyamādāya gacchanvai bhinnāñjanacayaprabhaḥ

'I saw a person who was dark and huge like a mass of collyrium carrying a lady whose radiance was like the rising Sun.

सोऽहमभ्यवहारार्थी तौ दृष्ट्वा कृतनिश्चयः। तेन साम्ना विनीतेन पन्थानमभियाचितः।।4.59.15।।

so'hamabhyavahārārthī tau dṛṣṭvā kṛtaniścayaḥ| tena sāmnā vinītena panthānamabhiyācitaḥ

'Since I was looking for food I resolved to seize both of them. (But) he asked me in a gentle and courteous manner to make way (since I was blocking the aerial path).

न हि सामोपपन्नानां प्रहर्ता विद्यते क्वचित्। नीचेष्वपि जनः कश्चित्किमङ्ग बत मद्विधः।।4.59.16।।

na hi sāmopapannānāṃ prahartā vidyate kvacit| nīceṣvapi janaḥ kaścitkimaṅga bata madvidhaḥ

'Who will strike polite people? Even the mean do not do it anywhere. And what to speak of me.

स यातस्तेजसा व्योम सङ्क्षिपन्निव वेगतः। अथाऽहं खेचरैर्भूतैरभिगम्य सभाजितः।।4.59.17।।

sa yātastejasā vyoma saṅkṣipanniva vegataḥ| athā'haṃ khecarairbhūtairabhigamya sabhājitaḥ

'He flew hurriedly with splendour as though he was enveloping the sky (making it small). All the flying creatures in the sky came and greeted me with respect.

दिष्ट्या जीवसि तातेति ह्यब्रुवन्मां महर्षयः। कथञ्चित्सकळत्रोऽसौ गतस्ते स्वस्त्यसंशयम्।।4.59.18।।

diṣṭyā jīvasi tāteti hyabruvanmāṃ maharṣayaḥ| kathañcitsakaḻatro'sau gataste svastyasaṃśayam

'I heard the great sages saying, 'O dear you are lucky to be saved. He has somehow gone from here with that lady (without hurting you). Undoubtedly you are lucky.'

एव मुक्तस्ततोऽहं तैस्सिद्धै: परमशोभनैः। स च मे रावणो राजा रक्षसां प्रतिवेदितः।।4.59.19।। हरन्दाशरथेर्भार्यां रामस्य जनकात्मजाम्। भ्रष्टाभरणकौशेयां शोकवेगपराजिताम्।।4.59.20।। रामलक्ष्मणयोर्नाम क्रोशन्तीं मुक्तमूर्धजाम्।

eva muktastato'haṃ taissiddhai: paramaśobhanaiḥ| sa ca me rāvaṇo rājā rakṣasāṃ prativeditaḥ harandāśaratherbhāryāṃ rāmasya janakātmajām| bhraṣṭābharaṇakauśeyāṃ śokavegaparājitām rāmalakṣmaṇayornāma krośantīṃ muktamūrdhajām|

'I was greeted by the most illustrious siddhas. I came to know from them that he was Ravana, the king of demons. I was looking at him while he was abducting Janaka's daughter, who was the wife of Dasaratha's Rama. Her ornaments had dropped and silken robes had slipped since she lost hold on herself. She was crying, loudly calling out the names of Rama and Lakshmana, her hair dishevelled.

एव मुक्तस्ततोऽहं तैस्सिद्धै: परमशोभनैः। स च मे रावणो राजा रक्षसां प्रतिवेदितः।।4.59.19।। हरन्दाशरथेर्भार्यां रामस्य जनकात्मजाम्। भ्रष्टाभरणकौशेयां शोकवेगपराजिताम्।।4.59.20।। रामलक्ष्मणयोर्नाम क्रोशन्तीं मुक्तमूर्धजाम्।

eva muktastato'haṃ taissiddhai: paramaśobhanaiḥ| sa ca me rāvaṇo rājā rakṣasāṃ prativeditaḥ harandāśaratherbhāryāṃ rāmasya janakātmajām| bhraṣṭābharaṇakauśeyāṃ śokavegaparājitām rāmalakṣmaṇayornāma krośantīṃ muktamūrdhajām|

'I was greeted by the most illustrious siddhas. I came to know from them that he was Ravana, the king of demons. I was looking at him while he was abducting Janaka's daughter, who was the wife of Dasaratha's Rama. Her ornaments had dropped and silken robes had slipped since she lost hold on herself. She was crying, loudly calling out the names of Rama and Lakshmana, her hair dishevelled.

एष कालात्ययस्तावदिति कालविदां वरः।।4.59.21।। एतमर्थं समग्रं मे सुपार्श्वः प्रत्यवेदयत्।

eṣa kālātyayastāvaditi kālavidāṃ varaḥ etamarthaṃ samagraṃ me supārśvaḥ pratyavedayat|

'O father this is the cause of my delay', said Suparshva, who knew the value of time. Thus he gave the entire account to me.

तच्छृत्वाऽपि हि मे बुद्धिर्नासीत्काचित्पराक्रमे।।4.59.22।। अपक्षो हि कथं पक्षी कर्म किञ्चिदुपक्रमे।

tacchṛtvā'pi hi me buddhirnāsītkācitparākrame apakṣo hi kathaṃ pakṣī karma kiñcidupakrame|

'Even after hearing this I could not advance (against Ravana). How could I, a vulture without wings, leap even a little?

यत्तु शक्यं मया कर्तुं वाग्बुद्धिगुणवर्तिना।।4.59.23।। श्रूयतां तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि भवतां पौरुषाश्रयम्।

yattu śakyaṃ mayā kartuṃ vāgbuddhiguṇavartinā śrūyatāṃ tatpravakṣyāmi bhavatāṃ pauruṣāśrayam|

'Being endowed with the faculty of thinking and speech I shall tell you what is possible for you to execute with your prowess. Listen.

वाङ्मतिभ्यां तु सर्वेषां करिष्यामि प्रियं हि वः।।4.59.24।। यद्धि दाशरथेः कार्यं मम तन्नात्र संशयः।

vāṅmatibhyāṃ tu sarveṣāṃ kariṣyāmi priyaṃ hi vaḥ yaddhi dāśaratheḥ kāryaṃ mama tannātra saṃśayaḥ|

'I will please you with my word and thought and do not doubt that Rama's task is dear to me as well.

ते भवन्तो मतिश्रेष्ठा बलवन्तो मनस्विनः।।4.59.25।। प्रेषिताः कपिराजेन देवैरपि दुरासदाः।

te bhavanto matiśreṣṭhā balavanto manasvinaḥ preṣitāḥ kapirājena devairapi durāsadāḥ|

'Indeed, you monkeys are very wise, strong and sensitive. The king of monkeys has sent you on this mission. You cannot be conquered even by gods.

रामलक्ष्मणबाणाश्च निशिताः कङ्कपत्रिणः।।4.59.26।। त्रयाणामपि लोकानां पर्याप्तास्त्राणनिग्रहे।

rāmalakṣmaṇabāṇāśca niśitāḥ kaṅkapatriṇaḥ trayāṇāmapi lokānāṃ paryāptāstrāṇanigrahe|

'The heronfeathered arrows of Rama and Lakshmana are sharp and strong enough to protect or subdue all the three worlds.

कामं खलु दशग्रीव स्तेजोबलसमन्वितः।।4.59.27।। भवतां तु समर्थानां न किञ्चिदपि दुष्करम्।

kāmaṃ khalu daśagrīva stejobalasamanvitaḥ bhavatāṃ tu samarthānāṃ na kiñcidapi duṣkaram|

'The tenheaded Ravana is mighty, powerful and strong, indeed. But you are efficient and it will not be difficult for you to achieve this task.

तदलं कालसङ्गेन क्रियतां बुद्धिनिश्चयः।।4.59.28।। न हि कर्मसु सज्जन्ते बुद्धिमन्तो भवद्विधाः।

tadalaṃ kālasaṅgena kriyatāṃ buddhiniścayaḥ na hi karmasu sajjante buddhimanto bhavadvidhāḥ|

'Do not bother about the time limit. Resolve to achieve the objective, for wise people like you should not lag behind in accepting challenges.' इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fiftyninth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.