Sloka & Translation

[Samapati narrates his story to the monkeys says he saw Sita being carried off by Ravana to Lanka.]

ityuktaḥ karuṇaṅ vākyaṅ vānaraistyaktajīvitaiḥ.

sabāṣpō vānarāngṛdhraḥ pratyuvāca mahāsvanaḥ৷৷4.58.1৷৷


tyaktajīvitaiḥ who had given up hope of life, vānaraiḥ by monkeys, iti thus, karuṇam pathetic, vākyam words, uktaḥ spoken, mahāsvanaḥ loud-voiced, gṛdhraḥ vulture, sabāṣpaḥ with tears, vānarān the monkeys, pratyuvāca replied.

On hearing the pathetic words from the monkeys who had given up hope of life, the loud-voiced vulture wailing replied:
yavīyānmama bhrātā jaṭāyurnāma vānarāḥ.

yamākhyāta hataṅ yuddhē rāvaṇēna balīyasā৷৷4.58.2৷৷


vānarāḥ O monkeys, yam whom, balīyasā by a strong, rāvaṇēna by Ravana, yuddhē in the combat, hatam killed, ākhyāta you told, jaṭāyuḥ nāma called Jatayu, saḥ he is, mama my, yavīyān younger, bhrātā brother.

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

na hi mē śaktirastyadya bhrāturvairavimōkṣaṇē৷৷4.58.3৷৷


tat that, śruṇvan api even after hearing , vṛddhabhāvāt due to old age, apakṣatvāt since I have no wings, mē to me, adya now, bhrātuḥ brother's, vairavimōkṣaṇē to avenge the death, śaktiḥ energy, nāsti hi I do not have.

'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).
purā vṛtravadhē vṛttē parasparajayaiṣiṇau.

ādityamupayātau svō jvalantaṅ raśmimālinam৷৷4.58.4৷৷


purā in olden days, vṛtravadhē at the time of the death of Vrutra, vṛttē paraspara when Vrutra and Indra, jayaiṣiṇau wishing to win, jvalantam blazing, raśmimālinam with a garland of beams, ādityam to Sun, upayātau both went, svaḥ we both.

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

madhyaṅ prāptē dinakarē jaṭāyuravasīdati৷৷4.58.5৷৷


ākāśamārgē in the sky, āvṛtya surrounding, bhṛśam violently, javēna at high speed, gatau sma both of us reached, madhyam in the midst, prāptē when reached, dinakarē when the Sun, jaṭāyuḥ Jatayu's, avasīdati became weak.

'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.
tamahaṅ bhrātaraṅ dṛṣṭvā sūryaraśmibhirarditam.

pakṣābhyāṅ chādayāmāsa snēhātparamavihvalaḥ৷৷4.58.6৷৷


bhrātaram my brother, tam him, sūryaraśmibhiḥ with Sun's radiance, arditam tormented, dṛṣṭvā on seeing, paramavihvala: overwhelmed, aham I, snēhāt lovingly, pakṣābhyām with both my wings, chādayāmāsa I covered.

'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.
nirdagdhapakṣaḥ patitō vindhyē.haṅ vānararṣabhāḥ.

ahamasminvasanbhrātuḥ pravṛttiṅ nōpalakṣayē৷৷4.58.7৷৷


vānararṣabhāḥ O bulls among monkeys, aham I am, nirdagdhapatraḥ with burnt wings, vindhyē on Vindhya, patitaḥ dropped down, asmin in this place, vasan while I lived, aham I, bhrātuḥ brother's, pravṛttim news, nōpalakṣayē not known to me.

'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.'
jaṭāyuṣastvēvamuktō bhrātrā sampātinā tadā.

yuvarājō mahāprājñaḥ pratyuvācāṅgadastataḥ৷৷4.58.8৷৷


tadā then, jaṭāyuṣaḥ Jatayu's, bhrātrā by brother, sampātinā by Sampathi, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ having been told, mahāprājñaḥ highly learned one, yuvarājaḥ heir apparent, aṅgadaḥ Angada, tataḥ then, pratyuvāca replied.

To these words of Jatayu's brother, Sampati, Angada, the learned heir apparent replied:
jaṭāyuṣō yadi bhrātā śrutaṅ tē gaditaṅ mayā.

ākhyā hi yadi jānāsi nilayaṅ tasya rakṣasaḥ৷৷4.58.9৷৷


tē your, gaditam word, mayā by me, śrutam is heard, jaṭāyuṣaḥ Jatayu's, bhrātā yadi if you are brother, jānāsi yadi if you know, tasya his, rakṣasaḥ demon's nilayam residence, ākhyāhi tell.

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

antikē yadi vā dūrē yadi jānāsi śaṅsa naḥ৷৷4.58.10৷৷


adīrghadarśinam one who is not far-sighted, rākṣasādhipam king of demons, taṅ rāvaṇam that Ravana, antikē near, dūrē yadi vā far away, jānāsi yadi if you know, naḥ us, śaṅsa tell.

'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.'
tatō.bravīnmahātējā jyēṣṭhō bhrātā jaṭāyuṣaḥ.

ātmānurūpaṅ vacanaṅ vānarānsampraharṣayan৷৷4.58.11৷৷


tataḥ then, jaṭāyuṣaḥ Jatayu's, jyēṣṭhaḥ bhrātā elder brother, mahātējāḥ very glorious, vānarān monkeys, atmānurūpam in a befitting manner, vacanam these words, abravīt said, sampraharṣayan while pleasing them.

Then Jatayu's elder brother, the glorious Sampati, said these pleasing, befitting words:
nirdagdhapakṣō gṛdhrō.haṅ hīnavīrya: plavaṅgamāḥ!.

vāṅmātrēṇa tu rāmasya kariṣyē sāhyamuttamam৷৷4.58.12৷৷


plavaṅgamāḥ O monkeys!, nirdagdhapakṣaḥ my wings are totally burnt, hīnavīryaḥ my strength is reduced, gṛdhraḥ vulture, aham I, vāṅmātrēṇā only by my words, rāmasya to Rama, uttamam substantial, sāhyam help, kariṣyē I will do.

'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.
jānāmi vāruṇānlōkānviṣṇōstrai vikramānapi.

mahāsuravimardanvā śca hyamṛtasya ca manthanam৷৷4.58.13৷৷


vāruṇān Varuna's, lōkān world, traivikramān three strides, viṣṇōḥ Visnu's, lōkān worlds, mahāsuravimardān the fricton between gods and demons, amṛtasya for the nectar , ca manthanam and the churning, jānāmi I know, api indeed.

'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.
rāmasya yadidaṅ kāryaṅ kartavyaṅ prathamaṅ mayā.

jarayā ca hṛtaṅ tējaḥ prāṇāśca śithilā mama৷৷4.58.14৷৷


rāmasya Rama's, yat if, idaṅ kāryam this task, mayā by me, prathamam first, kartavyam duty, hṛtam should be done, prāṇāśca vitality, śithilāḥ reduced, mama my, jarayā due to old age, tēja: strength.

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

hriyamāṇā mayā dṛṣṭā rāvaṇēna durātmanā৷৷4.58.15৷৷

krōśantī rāma rāmēti lakṣmaṇēti ca bhāminī.

bhūṣaṇānyapavidhyantī gātrāṇi ca vidhunvatī৷৷4.58.16৷৷


durātmanā by the evil-minded, rāvaṇēna by Ravana, hriyamāṇā being borne away, taruṇī young lady, rūpasampannā beautiful in appearance, sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā adorned with all kinds of jewels, rāmarāmēti calling out 'Rama, Rama', lakṣmaṇēti ca and calling out 'Lakshmana', krōśantī crying aloud, bhūṣaṇāni ornaments, apavidhyantī thrown down, gātrāṇi limbs,vidhūnvatī wriggling to get out, bhāminī a dainty lady, mayā by me, dṛṣṭā was seen.

'I saw a young lady of beautiful appearance, adorned with all kinds of ornaments borne away by the evil-minded 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.
sūryaprabhēva śailāgrē tasyāḥ kauśēyamuttamam.

asitē rākṣasē bhāti yathā vā taṭidambudē৷৷4.58.17৷৷


asitē in dark, rākṣasē on the demon, tasyāḥ her, uttamam fine, kauśēyam silken cloth, śailāgrē on the peak of the mountain, sūryaprabhēva like the radiance of Sun, ambudē in the dark cloud, yathā like that, vā taṭit yathā like lightning, bhāti shining.

'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).
tāṅ tu sītāmahaṅ manyē rāmasya parikīrtanāt.

śrūyatāṅ mē kathayatō nilayaṅ tasya rakṣasaḥ৷৷4.58.18৷৷


rāmasya Rama's, parikīrtanāt was uttering, tām her, sītām Sita, aham I, manyē I think, tasya his, rakṣasaḥ demon's, nilayam abode, kathayataḥ described, mē by me, śrūyatām you may listen.

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

adhyāstē nagarīṅ laṅkāṅ rāvaṇō nāma rākṣasaḥ৷৷4.58.19৷৷


viśravasaḥ Vishravas's, putraḥ son, sākṣāt real, vaiśravaṇasya Vyshravana's, bhrātā brother, rāvaṇō nāma called Ravana, rākṣasaḥ rakshasa, laṅkāṅ nagarīm city of Lanka, adhyāstē resides.

'He is Vishrava's son and half-brother of Vaishravana. His name is Ravana and he resides in the city of Lanka.
itō dvīpassamudrasya sampūrṇē śatayōjanē.

tasminlaṅkāpurī ramyā nirmitā viśvakarmaṇā৷৷4.58.20৷৷


itaḥ from here, sampūrṇē when completed, śatayōjanē a hundred yojanas, dvīpaḥ island, tasmin in it, viśvakarmaṇā by Visvakarma, nirmitā built, ramyā beautiful, laṅkāpurī capital of Lanka.

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

prāsādairhēmavarṇaiśca mahadbhiḥ susamā kṛtā৷৷4.58.21৷৷

prākārēṇārkavarṇēna mahatā ca samānvitā.


jāmbūnadamayaiḥ made of gold, citraiḥ wonderful, dvāraiḥ doors, kāñcanavēdikaiḥ with golden platforms, hēmavarṇaiśca of golden colour, mahadbhiḥ with a huge, prāsādaiḥ mansions, susamāḥ uniformly built, āvṛtā covered, arkavarṇēna in the colour of Sun light, mahatā prākārēṇa with a tall boundary wall, samanvitā endowed.

'The city has golden gates, golden platforms, huge, golden-coloured, uniformly built mansions surrounded by a tall boundary wall of the colour of sunlight.
tasyāṅ vasati vaidēhī dīnā kauśēyavāsinī৷৷4.58.22৷৷

rāvaṇāntaḥpurē ruddhā rākṣasībhissurakṣitā.

janakasyātmajāṅ rājñastatra drakṣyatha maithilīm৷৷4.58.23৷৷


dīnā dejected, kauśēyavāsinī lady wearing silk garment, vaidēhī Vaidehi, tasyām in the city, rāvaṇāntaḥpurē in the harem, ruddhā confined, rākṣasībhiḥ by demonesses, surakṣitā well protected, vasati lives, tasyām in that city, rājñaḥ the king's, janakasya Janaka's, ātmajām daughter, maithilīm Maithili, drakṣyatha you will see.

'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, well-protected by
demonesses.
laṅkāyāmatha guptāyāṅ sāgarēṇa samantataḥ.

samprāpya sāgarasyāntaṅ sampūrṇaṅ śatayōjanam৷৷4.58.24৷৷

āsādya dakṣiṇaṅ tīraṅ tatō drakṣyatha rāvaṇam.

tatraiva tvaritāḥ kṣipraṅ vikramadhvaṅ plavaṅgamāḥ৷৷4.58.25৷৷


plavaṅgamāḥ O monkeys, sampūrṇam a complete, śatayōjanam hundred yojanas, sāgarasya of the sea, antam end, samprāpya having reached, atha then, dakṣiṇaṅ tīram southern coast, āsādya on reaching, tataḥ then, samantataḥ all around, sāgarēṇa by the sea, guptāyām protected, laṅkāyām at Lanka, rāvaṇam Ravana, drakṣyatha will see, tvaritāḥ swiftly, tatraiva there, kṣipram at once, vikramadhvam prove your strength.

'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.
jñānēna khalu paśyāmi dṛṣṭvā pratyāgamiṣyatha.

ādyaḥ panthāḥ kuliṅgānāṅ yē cānyē dhānyajīvinaḥ৷৷4.58.26৷৷

dvitīyō balibhōjānāṅ yē ca vṛkṣaphalāśinaḥ.

bhāsāstṛtīyaṅ gacchanti krauñcāśca kuraraissaha৷৷4.58.27৷৷

śyēnāścaturthaṅ gacchanti gṛdhrā gacchanti pañcamam.


jñānēna by intuition, paśyāmi khalu I can see, dṛṣṭavā seeing, pratyāgamiṣyatha you will return, kuliṅgānām of sparrows, anyē and other, dhānyajīvinaḥ living on grain, yē those, ādyaḥ first, panthāḥ path, balibhōjānām crows living on the offerings of food, vṛkṣaphalāśanāḥ eating the fruits of trees, yē those, dvitīyaḥ second, bhāsāḥ cocks, kuraraissaha along with cranes, krauñcāśca and Kraunchas, tṛtīyam third, gacchanti move about, śyēnāḥ hawks and falcons, caturtham fourth,
gacchanti move about, gṛdhrāḥ vultures, pañcamam fifth, gacchanti moving.

'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.
balavīryōpapannānāṅ rūpayauvanaśālinām৷৷4.58.28৷৷

ṣaṣṭhastu panthā haṅsānāṅ vainatēyagatiḥ parā.

vainatēyācca nō janma sarvēṣāṅ vānararṣabhāḥ!৷৷4.58.29৷৷


vānararṣabhāḥ O bulls among monkeys! balavīryōpapannānām endowed with strength and vigour, rūpayauvanaśālinām with beauty and youth, haṅsānām of swans, ṣaṣṭhaḥ the sixth, panthāḥ path, vainatēyagatiḥ the path of Garuda, parā is over that, sarvēṣām of all, naḥ of us, janma birth, vainatēyāt from the son of Vinata (Garuda).

'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.
ihasthō.haṅ prapaśyāmi rāvaṇaṅ jānakīṅ tathā.

asmākamapi sauvarṇaṅ divyaṅ cakṣurbalaṅ tathā৷৷4.58.30৷৷


ihasthaḥ from here, aham I am, rāvaṇam Ravana, tathā so also, jānakīm Janaki also, prapaśyāmi I can see, asmākamapi for us also, sauvarṇam golden, divyam divine, cakṣuḥ vision, tathā so also, balam power.

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

āyōjanaśatātsāgrādvayaṅ paśyāma nityaśaḥ৷৷4.58.31৷৷


vānarāḥ O monkeys, tasmāt therefore, vayam we, āhāravīryēṇa with the strength of our food, nisargēṇa ca and by nature, sāgrāt from the edge, āyōjanaśatāt up to a hundred yojanas, nityaśaḥ always, paśyāma we can see.

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

vihitā pādamūlē tu vṛttiścaraṇayōdhinām৷৷4.58.32৷৷


asmākam for us, vṛtti: movement, nisargēṇa by nature, dūrataḥ at a distance, vihitā is fixed (by destiny), caraṇayōdhinām for those fighting on foot, pādamūlē at their feet, vṛtti: movement, vihitā is fixed.

'Our movement and vision naturally extends to distant places. For those fighting on foot, the movement is restricted to the extent of foot movement.
garhitaṅ tu kṛtaṅ karma yēna sma paśitāśinā.

pratīkāryaṅ ca mē tasya vairaṅ bhrātṛkṛtaṅ bhavēt৷৷4.58.33৷৷


yēna by whomsoever, garhitam despised, karma action, kṛtam done, tasya piśitāśināḥ by that flesh-eater (demon), bhrātṛkṛtaṅ due to my brother's, vairaṅ enmity, ca and, pratikāryam deserves retaliation, bhavēt it will be.

upāyō dṛśyatāṅ kaścillaṅghanē lavaṇāmbhasaḥ.

abhigamya tu vaidēhīṅ samṛddhārthā gamiṣyatha৷৷4.58.34৷৷


lavaṇāmbhasaḥ of the salt ocean, laṅghanē in crossing, kaścit some, upāyaḥ means, dṛśyatām you may look for, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, abhigamya after approaching her, samṛddhārthāḥ as accomplished ones, gamiṣyatha you will return.

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

pradāsyāmyudakaṅ bhrātussvargatasya mahātmanaḥ৷৷4.58.35৷৷


bhavadbhiḥ by you, varuṇālayam abode of Varuna, samudram ocean, nētum to lead, icchāmi I intend, svargatasya for him who is in heaven, mahātmanaḥ of the great soul, bhrātuḥ to my brother, udakam oblation, pradāsyāmi I will offer.

'Take me to the ocean, the abode of Varuna. I intend to offer oblation to my brother, a great soul who is in heaven.'
tatō nītvā tu taṅ dēśaṅ tīraṅ nadanadīpatēḥ.

nirdagdhapakṣaṅ sampātiṅ vānarāssumahaujasaḥ৷৷4.58.36৷৷

punaḥ pratyānayitvā ca taṅ dēśaṅ patagēśvaram.

babhūvurvānarā hṛṣṭāḥ pravṛttimupalabhya tē৷৷4.58.37৷৷


sumahaujasaḥ mightiest, vānarāḥ monkeys, nirdagdhapakṣam whose wings were totally burnt, sampātim Sampati, tataḥ then, nadanadīpatēḥ of lord of rivers, tīraṅ shore, taṅ dēśam that place, nītvā after taking, patagēśvaram the king of vultures, punaḥ again, pratyānayitvā after bringing him back, vānarāḥ monkeys, pravṛttim all the information, upalabhya having obtained, hṛṣṭāḥ pleased, tē babhūvu they were.

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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē aṣṭapañcaśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftyeighth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.