Sloka & Translation

[ Angada resolves not to return --- monkeys decide to fast unto death]

śrutvā hanumatō vākyaṅ praśritaṅ dharmasaṅhitam.

svāmisatkārasaṅyuktamaṅgadō vākyamabravīt৷৷4.55.1৷৷


hanumataḥ Hanuman's, praśritam humble, dharmasaṅhitam consistent with righteousness, svāmisatkārasaṅyuktam full of devotion to his master, the king, vākyam words, śrutvā on hearing, aṅgadaḥ Angada, vākyam these words, abravīt said.

On hearing Hanuman's humble words (of advice) consistent with righteousness and full of devotion to his master, the king, Angada said:
sthairyamātmamanaśśaucamānṛśaṅsyamathā.rjavam.

vikramaścaiva dhairyaṅ ca sugrīvē nōpapadyatē৷৷4.55.2৷৷


sthairyam steadfastness, ātmamanaśśaucam purity of body and mind, ānṛśaṅsyam compassion, atha and, ārjavam rectitude, vikramaścaiva valour, dhairyaṅ ca as well as patience, sugrīvē in Sugriva, nōpapadyatē not found.

'Sugriva has no steadfastness, purity of body and mind, compassion, rectitude, valour and patience.
bhrāturjyēṣṭhasya yō bhāryāṅ jīvatō mahiṣīṅ priyām.

dharmēṇa mātaraṅ yastu svīkarōti jugupsitaḥ৷৷4.55.3৷৷

kathaṅ sa dharmaṅ jānītē yēna bhrātrā mahātmanā.

yuddhāyābhiniyuktēna bilasya pihitaṅ mukham৷৷4.55.4৷৷


jugupsitaḥ despicable person, yaḥ who, jyēṣṭhasya of elder's, bhrātuḥ brother's, jīvataḥ while he was alive, dharmēṇa from the point of view of morality, mātaraṅ mother-like, bhāryām wife, priyām loved, mahiṣīm queen, svīkarōti he took over (used her as his wife), mahātmanā by the great, bhrātrā by the brother, yuddhāya for combat, abhiniyuktēna engaged, yēna by whom, bilasya cave's, mukham entrance, pihitam blocked, saḥ he, dharmam morals, katham how, jānītē will he know?

'He usurped his elder brother's queen, while he was still alive. It is morally abominable since an elder brother's wife is like a mother. How can a person who blocks the entrance of a cave while his noble brother is engaged in fighting inside be treated as righteous?
satyātpāṇigṛhītaśca kṛtakarmā mahāyaśāḥ.

vismṛtō rāghavō yēna sa kasya tu kṛtaṅ smarēt৷৷4.55.5৷৷


satyāt truly, pāṇigṛhītaśca held his hand, kṛtakarmā accepted, mahāyaśāḥ an illustrious man, rāghavaḥ Rama, yēna whom, vismṛtaḥ forgotten, saḥ he, kasya whose, tu indeed, kṛtam help, smarēt will he remember?

'Illustrious Rama, who faithfully held his hand was forgotten after he received his help. Indeed whose help would he remember?
lakṣmaṇasya bhayādyēna nādharmabhayabhīruṇā.

ādiṣṭā mārgituṅ sītāṅ dharmamasminkathaṅ bhavēt৷৷4.55.6৷৷


yēna by whom, lakṣmaṇasya Lakshmana's, bhayāt out of fear, sītām Sita, mārgitum to search, ādiṣṭāḥ ordered, adharmabhayabhīruṇā out of fear of unrighteousness, na not, asmin in this, dharmam righteousness, katham how, bhavēt will be?

'Sugriva ordered search for Sita out of fear of Lakshmana and not out of fear of unrighteousness. How can such a man be pious?
tasminpāpē kṛtaghnē tu smṛtihīnē calātmani.

āryaḥ kō viśvasējjātu tatkulīnō jijīviṣuḥ৷৷4.55.7৷৷


pāpē in a sinner, kṛtaghnē in an ungrateful one, smṛtihīnē in one devoid of memory, calātmani in a fickle-minded self, tasmin in him, jātu indeed, āryaḥ a respectable one, kaḥ who, viśvasēt have confidence, jijīviṣuḥ who wishes to live, tat kulīnaḥ born in that family.

'He is a sinner and an ungrateful person as he does not remember others' help. He is fickle-minded. Which respectable person will believe him? Which member of his family will wish to live?
rājyē putraḥ pratiṣṭhāpyassaguṇō viguṇō.pi vā.

kathaṅ śatrukulīnaṅ māṅ sugrīvō jīvayiṣyati৷৷4.55.8৷৷


suguṇaḥ virtuous, viguṇō.pi or not virtuous also, putraḥ a son, rājyē in the kingdom, pratiṣṭhāpyaḥ should be installed, sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, śatrukulīnam enemy's descendant, mām me, katham how, jīvayiṣyati will allow me to live.

'If I am the king's son, virtuous or otherwise, I will be installed in the kingdom (as successor). How can Sugriva suffer me to live when I am his enemy's descendant?
bhinnamantrō.parāddhaśca hīnaśaktiḥ kathaṅ hyaham.

kiṣkindhāṅ prāpya jīvēyamanātha iva durbalaḥ৷৷4.55.9৷৷


bhinnamantraḥ my effort failed (my counsels are divided), aparāddhaśca a crime too, hīnaśaktiḥ powerless, aham I am, kiṣkindhām Kishkinda, prāpya after reaching, durbalaḥ a weak person, anātha iva like an orphan, katham how, jīvēyam will I live.

'My alternate strategy has failed. I have already made a mistake (by announcing my plan). My advisors are holding different views. I am powerless. How can a weakling, an orphan like me live in Kishkinda?
pāṅśudaṇḍēna hi māṅ bandhanē nōpapādayēt.

śaṭhaḥ krūrō nṛśaṅsaśca sugrīvō rājyakāraṇāt৷৷4.55.10৷৷


śaṭhaḥ deceitful person, krūraḥ cruel one, nṛśaṅsaḥ treacherous person, sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, rājyakāraṇāt for the sake of kingdom, mām me, upāṅśudaṇḍēna with secret punishment, bandhanēna imprisonment, upapādayēt inflict.

'Sugriva is deceitful, cruel and treacherous. He will inflict secret punishment on me by way of imprisonment for the sake of the kingdom.
bandhanādvā.vasādānmē śrēyaḥ prāyōpavēśanam.

anujānīta māṅ sarvē gṛhaṅ gacchantu vānarāḥ৷৷4.55.11৷৷


bandhanādvā with imprisonment or, avasādāt with pain, mē me, prāyōpavēśanam by fasting unto death, śrēyaḥ is better, sarvē all, vānarāḥ monkeys mām me, anujānīta you may permit, gṛham home, gacchantu may go.

'It is better for me to fast unto death rather than suffer imprisonment. Permit me to do so. You may all go back.
ahaṅ vaḥ pratijānāmi nāgamiṣyāmyahaṅ purīm.

ihaiva prāyamāsiṣyē śrēyō maraṇamēva mē৷৷4.55.12৷৷


aham I am, vaḥ to you, pratijānāmi I pledge, aham I am, purīm to city, na āgamiṣyāmi I will not come, ihaiva here only, prāyam āsiṣyē I seek death by fasting, mē to me, maraṇamēva death alone, śrēyaḥ better.

'I swear I will not return to the city. I will fast unto death here only. Death for me is desirable.
abhivādanapūrvaṅ hi rāghavau balaśālinau.

abhivādanapūrvaṅ tu rājā kuśalamēva ca৷৷4.55.13৷৷

vācyastātō yavīyānmē sugrīvō vānarēśvaraḥ.


balaśālinau two powerful ones, rāghavau Rama and Lakshmana, abhivādanapūrvam greet them with due courtesy on my behalf, vānarēśvaraḥ king of monkeys, mē to me, yavīyān tātaḥ father's younger brother, rājā king, sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, abhivādanapūrvam by conveying my respects, kuśalam well-being, vācyaḥ greet.

'Convey my greetings with due courtesy to Rama and Lakshmana on my behalf and my respects to my father's younger brother, king of monkeys, Sugriva and wish him well.
ārōgyapūrvaṅ kuśalaṅ vācyā mātā rumā ca mē৷৷4.55.14৷৷

mātaraṅ caiva mē tārāmāśvāsayitumarhatha.


mē my, mātā mother, rumā ca also Ruma, ārōgyapūrvam enquire about their health, kuśalam well-being, vācyā by words, mē my, mātaram mother, tārām Tara, āśvāsayituṅ caiva to console, arhatha you should.

'You should convey my mother as well as Ruma my good wishes for their health and well-being. You should console my mother Tara also.
prakṛtyā priyaputrā sā sānukrōśā tapasvinī৷৷4.55.15৷৷

vinaṣṭamiha māṅ śrutvā vyaktaṅ hāsyati jīvitam.


prakṛtyā by nature, sānukrōśā a compassionate woman, priyaputrā fond of her son, tapasvinī a helpless lady, sā she, iha here, mām me, vinaṣṭam dead, śrutvā on hearing, vyaktam certainly, jīvitam life, hāsyati she will give up.

'By nature my mother, is compassionate. She is fond of me. (But) she is helpless. On hearing about my death, she will certainly give up her life'.
ētāvaduktvā vacanaṅ vṛddhāṅstānabhivādya ca৷৷4.55.16৷৷

vivēśa cāṅgadō bhūmau rudandarbhēṣu durmanāḥ.


ētāvat so much, vacanam word, uktvā having expressed, tān them, vṛddhān old, abhivādya saluted, ca and, aṅgadaḥ Angada, rudan started crying, durmanā: a disheartened one, bhūmau on the ground, darbhēṣu on darbha (Kusa) grass, vivēśa lay down.

Having expresed so much of his feelings, disheartened Angada saluted the elderly monkeys and started crying. Then he spread the darbha grass and lay down on the ground.
tasya saṅviśatastatra rudantō vānararṣabhāḥ৷৷4.55.17৷৷

nayanēbhyaḥ pramumucuruṣṇaṅ vai vāri duḥkhitāḥ.


tasya his, tatra there, saṅviśataḥ when he sat down, vānararṣabhāḥ bulls among the monkeys, duḥkhitāḥ said, rudantaḥ cried, nayanēbhyaḥ from the eyes, uṣṇam hot, vāri tears, pramumucuḥ shed.

Seeing him lie down the bulls among the monkeys became sad and shed hot tears from their eyes.
sugrīvaṅ caiva nindantaḥ praśaṅsantaśca vālinam৷৷4.55.18৷৷

parivāryāṅgadaṅ sarvē vyavasanprāyamāsitum.


sarvē all , sugrīvam Sugriva, nindantaḥ while they were blaming, vālinam Vali, praśaṅsantaśca while praising, aṅgadam Angada, parivārya after surrounding, prāyam āsitum to seek fast unto death, vyavasan while he decided

Blaming Sugriva and praising Vali, all the companions of Angada sat there surrounding him after having decided to fast unto death .
mataṅ tadvāliputrasya vijñāya plavagarṣabhāḥ৷৷4.55.19৷৷

upaspṛśyōdakaṅ tatra prāṅmukhāssamupāviśan.

dakṣiṇāgrēṣu darbhēṣu udaktīraṅ samāśritāḥ৷৷4.55.20৷৷

mumūrṣavō hariśrēṣṭhā ētat kṣamamiti sma ha.


vāliputrasya of Vali's son, tat matam his opinion, vijñāya after knowing, plavagarṣabhāḥ bulls among monkeys, tatra there, hariśrēṣṭhāḥ best of monkeys, ētat this, kṣamam is fitting, iti in this way, mumūrṣavaḥ they were willing to die, udakam water, upaśpṛśya having sipped, udaktīram on the (northern) shore of the sea, samāśritāḥ assembled, prāṅmukhāḥ facing the east, dakṣiṇāgrēṣu pointing to the south, darbhēṣu darbha grass, samupāviśan sat down together.

With the opinion of Vali's son ascertained, all the great monkeys thought it proper to die. They sipped water and assembled on the northern shore of the sea facing the east with the darbha grass spread on the ground, their edges pointing southward.
rāmasya vanavāsaṅ ca kṣayaṅ daśarathasya ca৷৷4.55.21৷৷

janasthānavadhaṅ caiva vadhaṅ caiva jaṭāyuṣaḥ.

haraṇaṅ caiva vaidēhyā vālinaśca vadhaṅ raṇē৷৷4.55.22৷৷

rāmakōpaṅ ca vadatāṅ harīṇāṅ bhayamāgatam.


rāmasya Rama's, vanavāsaṅ ca exile in the forest, daśarathasya Dasaratha's, kṣayaṅ ca death, janasthānavadhaṅ caiva destruction of demons in Janasthana, jaṭāyuṣaḥ Jatayu's, vadhaṅ caiva death, vaidēhyāḥ Vaidehi's, haraṇaṅ caiva and the abduction, raṇē in war, vālinaḥ Vali's, vadhaṅ ca death, rāmakōpaṅ ca and Rama's anger, vadatām while they talked about, harīṇām for the monkeys, bhayam fear, āgatam overtook.

Overtaken by the fear of death, the monkeys kept talking about Rama's exile into the forest, Dasaratha's death, destruction of demons in Janasthana, the death of Jatayu, abduction of Sita, Vali's death and Rama's anger.
sa saṅviśadbhibahubhirmahīdharō

mahādrikūṭapratimaiḥ plavaṅgamaiḥ.

babhūva sannāditanirdarāntarō

bhṛśaṅ nadadbhirjaladairivōlbaṇaiḥ৷৷4.55.23৷৷


saṅviśadbhi: preparing to lay down, mahādrikūṭapratimaiḥ as huge as mountain peaks, bahubhiḥ by many, plavaṅgamaiḥ by monkeys, bhṛśam greatly, sannāditanirdarāntaraḥ the sound that came from inside the cave, saḥ that, mahīdharaḥ mountain, nadadbhi: by the thundering, jaladaiḥ with clouds, iva like, ulbaṇaiḥ stormy clouds, babhūva appeared.

While the numerous monkeys, resembling peaks of high mountains were roaring, it resounded through the mountain caves. It was like the sound of the stormy thunderclouds.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē pañcapañcāśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftyfifth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.