Sloka & Translation

[Svayamprabha helps the monkeys to reach out of the cave --- Angada regrets for exceeding the time limit --- proposes fasting unto death fearing punishment --- the monkeys decide to end their life rather than return without Sita.]

ēvamuktaśśubhaṅ vākyaṅ tāpasyā dharmasaṅhitam.

uvāca hanumānvākyaṅ tāmaninditacēṣṭitām৷৷4.53.1৷৷


tāpasyā by the hermitess, ēvam that way, dharmasaṅhitam coupled with righteousness, śubham auspicious, vākyam words, uktaḥ expressed, hanumān Hanuman, aninditacēṣṭitām blameless in actions, tām her, vākyam words, uvāca said.

To the auspicious words of the righteous, blameless hermitess Hanuman replied:
śaraṇaṅ tvāṅ prapannā sma sarvē vai dharmacāriṇīṅ.

yaḥ kṛtassamayō.smākaṅ sugrīvēṇa mahātmanā৷৷4.53.2৷৷

sa ca kālō hyatikrāntō bilē ca parivartatām.


dharmacāriṇīm to the righteous lady, tvām you, sarvē all, śaraṇaṅ prasannāḥ smaḥ have taken refuge, mahātmanā by the great self, sugrīvēṇa by Sugriva, asmākaṅ to us, yaḥ such, samayaḥ condition, kṛtaḥ having given, saḥ that, bilē in the cave, parivartatām while we were moving about, hyatikrāntaḥ exceeded.

'You are a righteous lady. You have given us refuge. Now in moving about the cave we have exceeded the time limit given by Sugriva.'
sā tvamasmādbilādghōrāduttārayitumarhasi৷৷4.53.3৷৷

tasmātsugrīvavacanādatikrāntāngatāyuṣaḥ.


sā such lady, tvam you, tasmāt therefore, sugrīvavacanāt Sugriva's words, atikrāntān those who exceeded, gatāyuṣaḥ lost our lives, ghōrāt from the dreadful, asmāt from this, bilāt from this cave, uttārayitum to help us go out, arhasi should.

trātumarhasi nassarvānsugrīvabhayakarśitān৷৷4.53.4৷৷

mahaccakāryamasmābhiḥ kartavyaṅ dharmacāriṇi.

taccāpi na kṛtaṅ kāryamasmābhiriha vāsibhiḥ৷৷4.53.5৷৷


dharmacāriṇi a woman of righteous practices, sugrīvabhayakarśitān who are afraid of Sugriva, naḥ us, sarvān all, trātum to save, arhasi should, asmābhiḥ by us, mahat great, kāryaṅ ca task also, kartavyam should be done, iha now, vāsibhiḥ staying here, asmābhiḥ by us, tat that, kāryaṅ cāpi the objective, na kṛtam not accomplished.

'O righteous lady! we have a great task waiting. We are afraid of Sugriva as we could not accomplish our objective by staying here. Save us.'
ēvamuktā hanumatā tāpasī vākyamabravīt.

jīvatā duṣkaraṅ manyē praviṣṭēna nivartitum৷৷4.53.6৷৷


hanumatā by Hanuman, ēvam in that manner, uktā being told, tāpasī ascetic, vākyam these words, abravīt said, praviṣṭēna by one who entered, jīvatā with life, nivartitum to go back, duṣkaram it is difficult, manyē I think.

To the words of Hanuman the ascetic replied, 'I consider it difficult for any one who enters here to go back alive.'
tapasastu prabhāvēna niyamōpārjitēna ca.

sarvānēva bilādasmāduddhariṣyāmi vānarān৷৷4.53.7৷৷


niyamōpārjitēna earned by practising, tapasaḥ by asceticism, tu prabhāvēna by virtue of it, sarvānēva all of you, vānarān monkeys, asmāt bilāt from this cave, uddhariyiṣyāmi I will help you out.

'I will help all monkeys out of this cave by virtue of my power of asceticism duly practised.
nimīlayata cakṣūṅṣi sarvē vānarapuṅgavāḥ!.

na hi niṣkramituṅ śakyamanimīlitalōcanaiḥ৷৷4.53.8৷৷


sarvē all, vānarapuṅgavāḥ great monkeys, cakṣūṅṣi eyes, nimīlayataḥ keep them closed, animīlitalōcanaiḥ if you do not close your eyes, niṣkramitum to get out, naśakyaṅ hi is not possible.

tatassammīlitāssarvē sukumārāṅgulaiḥ karaiḥ.

sahasā.pidadhurdṛṣṭiṅ hṛṣṭā gamanakāṅkṣayā৷৷4.53.9৷৷


tataḥ then, gamanakāṅkṣayā with a desire to get out, hṛṣṭāḥ joyful ones, sarvē all, sammīlitāḥ closed their eye lids, sahasā at once, sukumārāṅgulaiḥ with delicate fingers, karaiḥ with hands, dṛṣṭim eyes, pidadhuḥ closed.

Happy at the prospect of getting out (of the cave) they all not only closed their eyes but also covered them with their delicate fingers.
vānarāstu mahātmānō hastaruddhamukhāstadā.

nimēṣāntaramātrēṇa bilāduttāritāstayā৷৷4.53.10৷৷


tadā then, hastaruddhamukhāḥ faces covered with hands, mahātmānaḥ great souls, vānarāḥ monkeys, tayā with her help, nimēṣāntaramātrēṇa in a moment, bilāt from the cave, uttāritāḥ came out.

Then the great monkeys, faces covered with their hands, emerged from the cave in a moment.
tatastānvānarānsarvāṅstāpasī dharmacāriṇī.

nissṛtānviṣamāttasmātsamāśvāsyēdamabravīt৷৷4.53.11৷৷


dharmacāriṇī righteous, tāpasī ascetic, tatra there, tān sarvān all of them, viṣamāt from the difficult situation, tasmāt from that, nissṛtān those who were released, samāśvāsya after consoling them all, idam these words, abravīt said.

The righteous hermitess released all the monkeys out of that difficult situation and said these words of consolation:
ēṣa vindhyō giriśśrīmānnānādrumalatākulaḥ.

ēṣa prasravaṇaśśailassāgarō.yaṅ mahōdadhiḥ৷৷4.53.12৷৷

svasti vō.stu gamiṣyāmi bhavanaṅ vānararṣabhāḥ!.

ityuktvā tadbilaṅ śrīmatpravivēśa svayamprabhā৷৷4.53.13৷৷


ēṣaḥ this, śrīmān rich, nānādrumalatākulaḥ filled with different kinds of trees and vines, vindhyaḥ Vindhya, giriḥ mountain, ēṣaḥ this, prasravaṇaḥ Prasravana, śailaḥ hill, ayam this, sāgaraḥ sea, mahōdadhiḥ great ocean, vānararṣabhāḥ bulls among monkeys vaḥ you, svasti be happy, astu so be it, bhavanam to my house, gamiṣyāmi I will go, iti thus, uktvā having said, svayamprabhā Svayamprabha, śrīmat splendid, tat bilam that cave, pravivēśa entered.

'This Vindhya mountain has a rich collection of trees and bushes. This is Prasravana hill and this is the great ocean.O monkeys. Good luck to you. (Now) I am going back home'. Having said so, Svayamprabha entered the splendid cave.
tatastē dadṛśurghōraṅ sāgaraṅ varuṇālayam.

apāramabhigarjantaṅ ghōrairūrmibhirāvṛtam৷৷4.53.14৷৷


tataḥ then, tē they, ghōram dreadful, varuṇālayam abode of Varuna, apāram endless, abhigarjantam roaring wildly, ghōrai: with terrific, ūrmibhiḥ with waves, āvṛtam spread over, sāgaram ocean, dadṛśuḥ saw.

Then the monkeys saw the boundless, dreary ocean roaring wild with its terrific waves spread all over.
mayasya māyāvihitaṅ giridurgaṅ vicinvatām.

tēṣāṅ māsō vyatikrāntō yō rājñā samayaḥ kṛtaḥ৷৷4.53.15৷৷


tēṣām for them, mayasya Maya's, māyāvihitam created by his Maya, giridurgam impassable mountain, vicinvatām while searching, yaḥ such, rājñā by the king, samayaḥ time set, kṛtaḥ was fixed, māsaḥ month, vyatikrāntaḥ exceeded.

While they were ransacking the impassable mountain created with the magical powers of Maya, the time limit of one month set by the king was over.
vindhyasya tu girēḥ pādē samprapuṣpitapādapē.

upaviśya mahābhāgāścintāmāpēdirē tadā৷৷4.53.16৷৷


tadā then, mahābhāgā: great souls, samprapuṣpitapādapē in a location where trees are in full bloom, vindhyasya tu of Vindhya, girēḥ of that mountain, pādē adjacent, upaviśya sat, cintām thinking, āpēdirē did.

Then the high-soul monkeys reached the hill adjacent to Vindhya mountain on which trees were in full bloom.They sat there, lost in thought.
tataḥ puṣpātibhārāgrān latāśatasamāvṛtān.

drumānvāsantikāndṛṣṭavā babhūvurbhayaśaṅkitāḥ৷৷4.53.17৷৷


tataḥ then, puṣpātibhārāgrān heavily loaded with flowers on top, latāśatasamāvṛtān entwined by hundreds of creepers, vāsantikān spring, drumān trees, dṛṣṭvā saw, bhayaśaṅkitāḥ frightened, babhūvuḥ became.

Alarmed at the thought (of transgression of time limit), the monkeys kept looking at the tree tops entwined with a hundred oreepers heavily loaded with the flowers of spring.
tē vasantamanuprāptaṅ pratibuddhvā parasparam.

naṣṭasandēśakālārthā nipēturdharaṇītalē৷৷4.53.18৷৷


tē they, vasantam spring, anuprāptam set in, parasparam with one onather, pratibuddhvā after realising, naṣṭasandēśakālārthāḥ having exceeded the time set, dharaṇītalē on the ground, nipētuḥ fell down.

Having realised (looking at the flowers) that spring has set in and they have exceeded the time limit, they all fell down on the ground.
tatastānkapivṛddhāṅstu śiṣṭāṅścaiva vanaukasaḥ.

vācā madhurayā.bhāṣya yathāvadanumānya ca৷৷4.53.19৷৷

sa tu siṅhavṛṣaskandhaḥ pīnāyatabhujaḥ kapiḥ.

yuvarājō mahāprājñaḥ aṅgadō vākyamabravīt৷৷4.53.20৷৷


tataḥ then, siṅhavṛṣaskandhaḥ one who has shoulders like a lion or bull, pīnāyatabhujaḥ of sturdy and long arms, yuvarājaḥ heir apparent, mahāprājñaḥ very wise, kapiḥ monkey, aṅgadaḥ Angada, tān them, kapivṛddhāṅstu to the elderly monkeys, śiṣṭān respectable, vanaikasaścaiva forest-dwellers (monkeys), madhurayā with a sweet, vācā tone, ābhāṣya spoke, yathāvat properly, anumānya ca after coming to a decision, vākyam these words, abravīt said.

Coming to a conclusion after due deliberation Angada, heir apparent, profoundly wise, endowed with sturdy and broad shoulders like those of a lion or a bull, spoke in a sweet voice to the elderly, respectable monkeys, dwellers of the forest:
śāsanātkapirājasya vayaṅ sarvē vinirgatāḥ.

māsaḥ pūrṇō bilasthānāṅ harayaḥ kiṅ na buddhyatē৷৷4.53.21৷৷


harayaḥ O monkeys, vayaṅ sarvē all of us, kapirājasya monkey king's, śāsanāt by his command, vinirgatāḥ came here, bilasthānām for us staying in the cave, māsaḥ a month, pūrṇaḥ is completed, kim what, na buddhyatē do you not know?

'O monkeys! don't you realize that all of us have come here at the command of the monkey king, and while we were in the cave a whole month has gone by?
vayamāśvayujē māsi kālasaṅkhyāvyavasthitāḥ.

prasthitāssō.pi cātītaḥ kimataḥ kāryamuttaram৷৷4.53.22৷৷


vayam we, kālasaṅkhyāvyavasthitāḥ with time limit, āśvayujē māsi the month of Ashvayuja, prasthitāḥ we started our journey, sō.pi even that has, atītaḥ exceeded, ataḥ therefore, uttaraṅ later, kāryam task, kim what?

'We started our journey in the month of Ashvayuja with a certain time limit. That has exceeded. What is the future course of action?
bhavantaḥ pratyayaṅ prāptāḥ nītimārgaviśāradāḥ.

hitēṣvabhiratā bharturnisṛṣṭāssarvakarmasu৷৷4.53.23৷৷


bhavantaḥ all of you, pratyayam trusted, prāptāḥ you have got, nītimārgaviśāradāḥ experts in morals, bhartuḥ king's, hitēṣu well-wishers, abhiratāḥ dedicated, sarvakarmasu in all tasks, nisṛṣṭāḥ sent with specific instructions.

karmasvapratimāssarvē dikṣu viśrutapauruṣāḥ.

māṅ puraskṛtya niryātāḥ piṅgākṣapraticōditāḥ৷৷4.53.24৷৷


sarvē all, karmasu in actions, apratimāḥ incomparable, dikṣu in all quarters, viśrutapauruṣāḥ very famous for bravery, piṅgākṣapraticōditāḥ sent by tawny-eyed Sugriva, mām me, puraskṛtya obeying the orders, niryātāḥ you have followed me.

'You are all celebrated for bravery and incomparable in your activities. You have followed me in obedience to the orders of the tawny-eyed Sugriva.
idānīmakṛtārthānāṅ martavyaṅ nātra saṅśayaḥ.

harirājasya sandēśamakṛtvā kassukhī bhavēt৷৷4.53.25৷৷


idānīm at this time, akṛtārthānām not having achieved the objective (of finding Sita), martavyam we should die, atra here, saṅśayaḥ doubt, na not, harirājasya the king's, sandēśam orders, akṛtvā not executing, kaḥ who, sukhī happy, bhavēt will be

'We should be killed since we have failed to achieve the objective (of finding Sita). There is no doubt about it. Who can live in peace without executing the orders of the king?
tasminnatītē kālē tu sugrīvēṇa kṛtē svayam.

prāyōpavēśanaṅ yuktaṅ sarvēṣāṅ ca vanaukasām৷৷4.53.26৷৷


sugrīvēṇa by Sugriva, kṛtē fixed, tasmin kālē at this time, atītē when exceeded, sarvēṣām for all of us,vanaukasām for the forest dwellers (monkeys) svayam personally, prāyōpavēśanam fasting unto death, yuktam is right.

'Now that the time limit fixed by Sugriva has expired, the right thing to do for the monkeys is to fast unto death.
tīkṣṇaḥ prakṛtyā sugrīvassvāmibhāvē vyavasthitaḥ.

na kṣamiṣyati nassarvānaparādhakṛtō gatān৷৷4.53.27৷৷


sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, prakṛtyā by nature, tīkṣṇaḥ harsh, svāmibhāvē as a king, vyavasthitaḥ consecrated, gatān when we reach, aparādhakṛtaḥ us who are real offenders, naḥ not, sarvān to all, na kṣamiṣyati will not forgive us.

'By nature Sugriva is harsh, and being a king now, he will not forgive us who are real offenders and have not done the task assigned.
apravṛttau ca sītāyāḥ pāpamēva kariṣyati.

tasmāt kṣamamihādyaiva gantuṅ prāyōpavēśanam hi naḥ৷৷4.53.28৷৷

tyaktvā putrāṅśca dārāṅśca dhanāni ca gṛhāṇi ca.


sītāyāḥ Sita, apravṛttau for not bringing any clue, pāpamēva sin, kariṣyati he will do, tasmāt therefore, putrāṅśca sons, dārāṅśca wives, dhanāni ca and wealth, gṛhāṇi ca and houses, tyaktyā bid farewell to, iha here, adyaiva today itself, prāyōpavēśanam death, gantum take recourse, kṣamam proper.

dhṛvaṅ nō hiṅsitā rājā sarvānpratigatānitaḥ৷৷4.53.29৷৷

vadhēnāpratirūpēṇa śrēyānmṛtyurihaiva naḥ.


rājā king, itaḥ here, pratigatān when we return, naḥ us, sarvān all, apratirūpēṇa in an incomparable manner, vadhēna with death sentence, dhruvam surely, hiṅsitā will torture us, naḥ us, ihaiva here itself, mṛtyu: death, śrēyān it is better.

'Surely the king will torture us by awarding death sentence in a singular manner when we go back. It is better for us to meet death here itself.
na cāhaṅ yauvarājyēna sugrīvēṇābhiṣēcitaḥ৷৷4.53.30৷৷

narēndrēṇābhiṣiktō.smi rāmēṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā.


aham I, sugrīvēṇa by Sugriva, yauvarājyēna as heir apparent, na abhiṣēcitaḥ not installed, akliṣṭakarmaṇā who never harms others, narēndrēṇa by the king of the people, rāmēṇa by Rama, abhiṣiktaḥ crowned -prince, asmi I was.

'I was not installed as heir apparent by Sugriva. I was made crowned -prince by king Rama, the king of the people who never hurts others.
sa pūrvaṅ baddhavairō māṅ rājā dṛṣṭvā vyatikramam৷৷4.53.31৷৷

ghātayiṣyati daṇḍēna tīkṣṇēna kṛtaniścayaḥ.


pūrvam earlier, baddhavairaḥ nursed bitter enmity, saḥ rājā that king, vyatikramam lapse, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, kṛtaniścayaḥ decidedly, mām me, tīkṣṇēna with a severe, daṇḍēna with punishment, ghātayiṣyati he will inflict.

'The Monkey-king nursed bitter enmity against me even earlier. Now seeing my lapse, he will decidedly inflict severe punishment on me.
kiṅ mē suhṛdabhirvyasanaṅ paśyadbhirjīvitāntarē৷৷4.53.32৷৷

ihaiva prāyamāsiṣyē puṇyē sāgararōdhasi.


jīvitāntarē at the end of life, mē vyasanam my calamity, paśyadbhiḥ by seeing, suhṛdabhi: by my friends, kim what, ihaiva here itself, puṇyē in a sacred, sāgararōdhasi on the shores of the ocean, prāyamāsiṣyē I shall sit down and await my death.

'I do not want my friends to see my calamity, my death. I shall sit here on the sacred shores of this ocean and await my death'.
ētacchrutvā kumārēṇa yuvarājēna bhāṣitam৷৷4.53.33৷৷

sarvē tē vānaraśrēṣṭhāḥ karuṇaṅ vākyamabruvan.


yuvarājēna by heir apparent, kumārēṇa by the young prince, bhāṣitam talk, ētat this, śrutvā heard, sarvē all, tē they, vānaraśrēṣṭhāḥ best of the monkeys karuṇam kindly, vākyam these words, abruvan said.

Hearing the young heir apparent thus speaking, the best of the monkeys kindly responded:
tīkṣṇaḥ prakṛtyā sugrīvaḥ priyāsaktaśca rāghavaḥ৷৷4.53.34৷৷

adṛṣṭāyāṅ tu vaidēhyāṅ dṛṣṭvā.smāṅśta samāgatān.

rāghavapriyakāmārthaṅ ghātayiṣyatyasaṅśayam৷৷4.53.35৷৷


sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, prakṛtyā by nature, tīkṣṇaḥ harsh, rāghava: Rama, priyāsaktaḥ devoted to his wife, vaidēhyām princess of Videha, adṛṣṭāyām when she is not found, asmān us, tu indeed, samāgatān reaching, dṛṣṭvā on seeing, rāghavapriyakāmārtham in order to please Rama, asaṅśayam without any doubt, ghātayiṣyati he will punish us to death.

'By nature Sugriva is harsh. Rama is devoted to his wife. Therefore, if Sugriva sees that we have not found Vaidehi and have returned (without fulfilling the mission) he will award death sentence to us in order to please Rama.There is no doubt.
na kṣamaṅ cāparāddhānāṅ gamanaṅ svāmipārśvataḥ.

ihaiva sītāmanviṣya pravṛttimupalabhya vā৷৷4.53.36৷৷

nō cēdgacchāma taṅ vīraṅ gamiṣyāmō yamakṣayam.


aparāddhānām for offenders, svāmipārśvataḥ to the king's presence, gamanam going, nakṣamam is not proper, ihaiva here itself, sītām Sita, anviṣya after searching, pravṛttim whereabouts, upalabhya vā or after finding out, taṅ vīram to that hero, nō gacchāma cēt if we cannot go, yamakṣayam to the abode of Yama, gamiṣyāmaḥ we will go.

'Those who have failed in their mission, being offenders should not go to meet the king. Offenders are not forgiven. Here itself we will search for Sita and if we are able to know her whereabouts we will go back. Or else we will go to the abode of Yama'.
plavaṅgamānāṅ tu bhayārditānāṅ

śrutvā vacastāra idaṅ babhāṣē.

alaṅ viṣādēna bilaṅ praviśya

vasāma sarvē yadi rōcatē vaḥ৷৷4.53.37৷৷


tāraḥ Tara, bhayārditānām those shaken with fear, plavaṅgamānām of the monkeys, vacaḥ words, śrutvā after hearing, idam this, babhāṣē he spoke, viṣādēna with sorrow, alam enough, vaḥ to you, rōcatē yadi if it pleases you, sarvē all of us, bilam cave, praviśya after entering, vasāma let us reside.

'On hearing the words of the frightened monkeys, Tara said, 'Enough of this sorrow. If it pleases you, we will all go to the cave and reside there' ''
idaṅ hi māyāvihitaṅ sudurgamaṅ

prabhūtavṛkṣōdakabhōjyapēyakam.

ihāsti nō naiva bhayaṅ purandarā

nna rāghavādvānararājatō.pi vā৷৷4.53.38৷৷


māyāvihitam built by magic, prabhūtavṛkṣōdakabhōjyapēyakam with many trees, water, food and drinks, idam this, sudurgamaṅ hi inaccessible, iha here, naḥ for us, purandarāt from Indra, the breaker of enemy citadel, bhayam fear, naiva not there, rāghavāt of Rama even, vānararājatō.pi vā also of king of monkeys, na not.

'This cave built by magic is inaccessible. It has a number of trees, water, eatables and drinks. (If we live here) we need not be afraid of even Indra, the breaker of enemy citadels or even of Rama or also of the king of monkeys'.
śrutvā.ṅgadasyāpi vacō.nukūla-

mūcuśca sarvē harayaḥ pratītāḥ.

yathā na hiṅsyēma tathā vidhāna-

masaktamadyaiva vidhīyatāṅ naḥ৷৷4.53.39৷৷


aṅgadasya Angada's, vacaḥ words, śrutvā after hearing, sarvē all, harayaḥ monkeys, pratītāḥ became agreeable, anukūlam favourable, ūcuḥ spoke, yathā as, na hiṅsyēma we will not be punished, tathā that way, naḥ for us, adyaiva now itself, vidhānam strategy, asaktam not conditional, vidīyatām be planned.

All the monkeys agreed to the favourable suggestion of Tara which was acceptable to Angada. 'A plan may be made in such a way by which we will not be killed by the king. Our strategy should be delinked from the conditions laid down by the king. Let us not face punishment' said the monkeys.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē tripañcāśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fifty-third sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.