[Information brought by Suparshva, Sampati's son.]
tatastadamṛtāsvādaṅ gṛdhrarājēna bhāṣitam.
niśamya muditā hṛṣṭāstē vacaḥ plavagarṣabhāḥ৷৷4.59.1৷৷
tatastadamṛtāsvādaṅ gṛdhrarājēna bhāṣitam.
niśamya muditā hṛṣṭāstē vacaḥ plavagarṣabhāḥ৷৷4.59.1৷৷
Sloka & Translation
tataḥ then, amṛtāsvādam tasting nectar, gṛdhrarājēna by the king of vultures, bhāṣitam spoken, tat vacaḥ those words, niśamya on listening, tē they, plavagarṣabhāḥ mighty monkeys, muditāḥ delighted, hṛṣṭāḥ pleased.
The mighty monkeys were delighted to hear the nectar-like words of the king of vultures.
jāmbavān vānaraśrēṣṭhassaha sarvaiḥ plavaṅgamaiḥ.
bhūtalātsahasōtthāya gṛdhrarājānamabravīt৷৷4.59.2৷৷
bhūtalātsahasōtthāya gṛdhrarājānamabravīt৷৷4.59.2৷৷
vānaraśrēṣṭhaḥ king of bears, jāmbavān Jambavan, sarvaiḥ by all, plavaṅgamaiḥ saha with all monkeys, sahasā at once, bhūtalāt from the ground, utthāya got up, gṛdhrarājānam to the king of vultures, abravīt said.
Jambavan the king of bears got up at once from the ground along with the monkeys and spoke to the king of vultures:
kva sītā kēna vā dṛṣṭā kō vā harati maithilīm.
tadākhyātu bhavātsarvaṅ gatirbhava vanaukasām৷৷4.59.3৷৷
tadākhyātu bhavātsarvaṅ gatirbhava vanaukasām৷৷4.59.3৷৷
sītā Sita, kva where is she, kēna vā by whom, dṛṣṭā was seen, maithilīm to the princess from Mithila, kō vā who did, harati was carrying, bhavān you, tat sarvam everything about that, ākhyātu tell, vanaukasām to the monkeys, gatiḥ ultimate saviour, bhava you are.
'Where is Sita now? By whom else was she seen while being carried? Pray, tell us everything. You are the ultimate saviour of monkeys.
kō dāśarathi bāṇānāṅ vajravēganipātinām.
svayaṅ lakṣmaṇamuktānāṅ na cintayati vikramam৷৷4.59.4৷৷
svayaṅ lakṣmaṇamuktānāṅ na cintayati vikramam৷৷4.59.4৷৷
vajravēganipātinām of those falling as swiftly as thunderbolt, dāśarathibāṇānām of Rama's arrows, svayam directly, lakṣmaṇamuktānām released by Lakshmana, vikramam power, kaḥ who, na cintayati is not taking seriously.
'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?'
sa harīnprītisaṅyuktānsītāśrutisamāhitān.
punarāśvasayanprīta: idaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷4.59.5৷৷
punarāśvasayanprīta: idaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷4.59.5৷৷
saḥ Sampati, prītaḥ pleased, prītisaṅyuktān happy, sītāśrutisamāhitān assembled to hear about Sita, harīn monkeys, āśvāsayan reassuring them, punaḥ again, idaṅ this vacanam words, abravīt said.
Pleased to see the happiness and eagernes of the monkeys assembled to hear about Sita, Sampati continued in order to reassure them:
śrūyatāmiha vaidēhyā yathā mē haraṇaṅ śrutam.
yēna cāpi mamā.khyātaṅ yatra vāyatalōcanā৷৷4.59.6৷৷
yēna cāpi mamā.khyātaṅ yatra vāyatalōcanā৷৷4.59.6৷৷
vaidēhyā: of the princess from Videha, haraṇam abduction, mē by me, yathā as, śrutam heard, yēna ca and by whom, mama to me, ākhyātam was informed, āyatalōcanā large-eyed lady, yatra ca and where, iha now, śrūyatām you hear.
'Now hear by whom I was informed about the abduction of the large-eyed princess from Videha and where she is at present.
ahamasmingirau durgē bahuyōjanamāyatē.
cirānnipatitō vṛddhaḥ kṣīṇaprāṇaparākramaḥ৷৷4.59.7৷৷
cirānnipatitō vṛddhaḥ kṣīṇaprāṇaparākramaḥ৷৷4.59.7৷৷
bahuyōjanam several yojanas, āyatē wide, durgē in this inaccessible place, asmin girau on this mountain, cirāt for a long time, nipatitaḥ fallen, aham I am, vṛddhaḥ old, kṣīṇaprāṇaparākramaḥ with my vitality and prowess depleted.
'With my vitality and prowess depleted, I have been staying for a long time on this mountain, extended by several yojanas and inaccessible.
taṅ māmēvaṅ gataṅ putrassupārśvōnāma nāmataḥ.
āhārēṇa yathākālaṅ bibharti patatāṅ varaḥ৷৷4.59.8৷৷
āhārēṇa yathākālaṅ bibharti patatāṅ varaḥ৷৷4.59.8৷৷
ēvaṅ gatam Reduced to this state, tam him, mām me, patatām among birds, varaḥ best among, nāmataḥ named, supārśvō nāma Suparshva, putraḥ son, yathākālam in time, āhārēṇa with food, bibharti maintains.
'Reduced to this state, I have been maintained by food given in time by my son named Suparshva, best among birds.
tīkṣṇakāmāstu gandharvāstīkṣṇakōpā bhujaṅgamāḥ.
mṛgāṇāṅ tu bhayaṅ tīkṣṇaṅ tatastīkṣṇakṣudhā vayam৷৷4.59.9৷৷
mṛgāṇāṅ tu bhayaṅ tīkṣṇaṅ tatastīkṣṇakṣudhā vayam৷৷4.59.9৷৷
gandharvāḥ gandharvas, tīkṣṇakāmāḥ with intense passion, bhujaṅgamāḥ serpents, tīkṣṇakōpāḥ with violent anger, mṛgāṇām for the deer, bhayam fear, tīkṣṇam is intense, tataḥ then, vayam we, tīkṣṇakṣudhā: have intense hunger.
'Gandharvas have intense passion. Serpents show violent anger. Deer have great fear. And we vultures have great hunger.
sa kadācitkṣudhārtasya mamāhārābhikāṅkṣiṇaḥ.
gatasūryē.hani prāptō mama putrō hyanāmiṣaḥ৷৷4.59.10৷৷
gatasūryē.hani prāptō mama putrō hyanāmiṣaḥ৷৷4.59.10৷৷
kadācit once, mama putraḥ my son, saḥ he, āhārābhikāṅkṣiṇaḥ with intense longing for food, mama myself, kṣudhārtasya for me so hungry, ahani day, gatasūryē after sun set, anāmiṣaḥ without meat, prāptaḥ came.
'Once my son came to me without meat after sunset while I was feeling hungry for food.
sa māmāhārasaṅrōdhātpīḍitaṅ prītivardhanaḥ.
anumānya yathātattvamidaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷4.59.11৷৷
anumānya yathātattvamidaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷4.59.11৷৷
āhārasaṅrōdhāt with no food, mām me, pīḍitaṅ I was tormented, saḥ he, prītivardhanaḥ who makes me happy, anumānya suspected, yathātattvam what had truly happened, idaṅ vacanam these words, abravīt said.
'I was thinking, tormented with hunger, my son who always keeps me happy told me exactly what had happened:
ahaṅ tāta! yathākālamāmiṣārthī khamāplutaḥ.
mahēndrasya girērdvāramāvṛtya susamāsthitaḥ৷৷4.59.12৷৷
mahēndrasya girērdvāramāvṛtya susamāsthitaḥ৷৷4.59.12৷৷
tāta! O father!, aham I, āmiṣārthī intending to get food, yathākālam at the right time, mahēndrasya girēḥ of Mahendra mountain, dvāram at the entrance, āvṛtya covering, susamāsthitaḥ I was stationed.
'O dear father! I went to get food at the right time and stood blocking the entrance of mount Mahendra.
tatra sattvasahasrāṇāṅ sāgarāntaracāriṇām.
panthānamēkō.dhyavasaṅ sannirōddhumavāṅmukhaḥ৷৷4.59.13৷৷
panthānamēkō.dhyavasaṅ sannirōddhumavāṅmukhaḥ৷৷4.59.13৷৷
tatra there, sāgarāntacāriṇām by the inhabitants of the ocean, sattvasahasrāṇām of thousands of creatures, panthānam path, sannirōddhum obstructing the path, ēkaḥ I alone, avāṅmukhaḥ looking downwards, adhyavasam stood.
'There I stood alone looking down, obstructing the path of thousands of creatures inhabiting the ocean.
tatra kaścinmayā dṛṣṭa ssūryōdayasamaprabhām.
striyamādāya gacchanvai bhinnāñjanacayaprabhaḥ৷৷4.59.14৷৷
striyamādāya gacchanvai bhinnāñjanacayaprabhaḥ৷৷4.59.14৷৷
sūryōdayasamaprabhām a lady like the radiance of the rising Sun, striyam lady, ādāya carrying, gacchan was going, bhinnāñjanacayaprabhaḥ dark and huge like a mass of collyrium, kaścit some one, mayā by me, tatra there, dṛṣṭaḥ was seen.
'I saw a person who was dark and huge like a mass of collyrium carrying a lady whose radiance was like the rising Sun.
sō.hamabhyavahārārthī tau dṛṣṭvā kṛtaniścayaḥ.
tēna sāmnā vinītēna panthānamabhiyācitaḥ৷৷4.59.15৷৷
tēna sāmnā vinītēna panthānamabhiyācitaḥ৷৷4.59.15৷৷
tau both, dṛṣṭvā seeing, abhyavahārārthī looking for food, kṛtaniścayaḥ resolved, vinītēna politely, tēna by him, sāmnā in a courteous manner, panthānam path, anuyācitaḥ requested.
'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).
na hi sāmōpapannānāṅ prahartā vidyatē kvacit.
nīcēṣvapi janaḥ kaścitkimaṅga! bata madvidhaḥ৷৷4.59.16৷৷
nīcēṣvapi janaḥ kaścitkimaṅga! bata madvidhaḥ৷৷4.59.16৷৷
sāmōpapannānām for polite people, prahartā who strikes, janaḥ people, nīcēṣvapi even among the
mean, kaścit any one, kvacit at any place, na hi not do, madvidhaḥ one like me, kimaṅga not to say, bata indeed.
'Who will strike polite people? Even the mean do not do it anywhere. And what to speak of me.
sa yātastējasā vyōma saṅkṣipanniva vēgataḥ.
athā.haṅ khēcarairbhūtairabhigamya sabhājitaḥ৷৷4.59.17৷৷
athā.haṅ khēcarairbhūtairabhigamya sabhājitaḥ৷৷4.59.17৷৷
saḥ he, vēgata: hurriedily, tējasā with splendour, vyōma the sky, saṅkṣipanniva as if he was enveloping, yātaḥ he proceeded, atha now, aham I, khēcaraiḥ by the flying creatures in the sky, bhūtaiḥ by creatures, abhigamya approached, sabhājitaḥ respected me
'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.
diṣṭyā jīvasi tātēti hyabruvanmāṅ maharṣayaḥ.
kathañcitsakaḷatrō.sau gatastē svastyasaṅśayam৷৷4.59.18৷৷
kathañcitsakaḷatrō.sau gatastē svastyasaṅśayam৷৷4.59.18৷৷
tāta O dear child!, diṣṭyā lucky, jīvasi you are, asau he, sakalatraḥ with a lady, kathañcit some how, gataḥ went, tē to you, asaṅśayam no doubt, svasti be it safe, iti thus, maharṣayaḥ the great sages, mām me, abruvan saying.
'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.'
ēva muktastatō.haṅ taissiddhai: paramaśōbhanaiḥ.
sa ca mē rāvaṇō rājā rakṣasāṅ prativēditaḥ৷৷4.59.19৷৷
harandāśarathērbhāryāṅ rāmasya janakātmajām.
bhraṣṭābharaṇakauśēyāṅ śōkavēgaparājitām৷৷4.59.20৷৷
rāmalakṣmaṇayōrnāma krōśantīṅ muktamūrdhajām.
sa ca mē rāvaṇō rājā rakṣasāṅ prativēditaḥ৷৷4.59.19৷৷
harandāśarathērbhāryāṅ rāmasya janakātmajām.
bhraṣṭābharaṇakauśēyāṅ śōkavēgaparājitām৷৷4.59.20৷৷
rāmalakṣmaṇayōrnāma krōśantīṅ muktamūrdhajām.
tataḥ then, aham I, paramaśōbhanaiḥ by the glorious, siddhaiḥ by siddhas, ēvam that way, dāśarathēḥ of the son of Dasaratha, rāmasya Rama's, bhāryām wife, janakātmajām daughter of Janaka, bhraṣṭābharaṇakauśēyām ornaments dropped and silken robe slipping, śōkavēgaparājitām overcome with the force of grief, rāmalakṣmaṇayōḥ of Rama and Lakshmana, nāma name, krōśantīm while she cried, muktamūrdhajām hair dishevelled, haran while abducting, saḥ he, rakṣāsām rājā king of demons, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, prativēditaḥ came to be known.
'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.
ēṣa kālātyayastāvaditi kālavidāṅ varaḥ৷৷4.59.21৷৷
ētamarthaṅ samagraṅ mē supārśvaḥ pratyavēdayat.
ētamarthaṅ samagraṅ mē supārśvaḥ pratyavēdayat.
tāta O dear father!, ēṣaḥ this, kālātyayaḥ cause of delay, iti thus, kālavidāṅ among those who knew the value of time, varaḥ best among birds, supārśvaḥ Suparhsva, ētamartham this account, samagram in detail, mē to me, pratyavēdayat reported.
'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.
tacchṛtvā.pi hi mē buddhirnāsītkācitparākramē৷৷4.59.22৷৷
apakṣō hi kathaṅ pakṣī karma kiñcidupakramē.
apakṣō hi kathaṅ pakṣī karma kiñcidupakramē.
tat that, śrutvā.pi even on hearing, mē me, parākramē in advancing (against Ravana), kācit any such , buddhiḥ thought, nāsīt could not attempt, apakṣaḥ without wings, pakṣī bird, kiñcit karma do even a little , katham how, upakramē could I start.
'Even after hearing this I could not advance (against Ravana). How could I, a vulture
without wings, leap even a little?
yattu śakyaṅ mayā kartuṅ vāgbuddhiguṇavartinā৷৷4.59.23৷৷
śrūyatāṅ tatpravakṣyāmi bhavatāṅ pauruṣāśrayam.
śrūyatāṅ tatpravakṣyāmi bhavatāṅ pauruṣāśrayam.
vāgbuddhiguṇavartinā endowed with the faculty of thinking and speaking, mayā by me, yat such, kartum to execute, śakyam capable, bhavatām to you, pauruṣāśrayam with your prowess, tatra there, vakṣyāmi I shall tell, śrūyatām you may listen.
'Being endowed with the faculty of thinking and speech I shall tell you what is possible for you to execute with your prowess. Listen.
vāṅmatibhyāṅ tu sarvēṣāṅ kariṣyāmi priyaṅ hi vaḥ৷৷4.59.24৷৷
yaddhi dāśarathēḥ kāryaṅ mama tannātra saṅśayaḥ.
yaddhi dāśarathēḥ kāryaṅ mama tannātra saṅśayaḥ.
sarvēṣām for all of you, vaḥ to you, vāṅmatibhyām by word and thought, priyam dear to you, kariṣyāmi I will do, yat hi whatever, dāśarathēḥ to Dasarathi, kāryam is the task, tat that, mama to me, atra there, saṅśayaḥ doubt, na not.
'I will please you with my word and thought and do not doubt that Rama's task is dear to me as well.
tē bhavantō matiśrēṣṭhā balavantō manasvinaḥ৷৷4.59.25৷৷
prēṣitāḥ kapirājēna dēvairapi durāsadāḥ.
prēṣitāḥ kapirājēna dēvairapi durāsadāḥ.
tē those of you, matiśrēṣṭhāḥ very wise, manasvinaḥ sensitive , balavanta: strong, dēvairapi even by gods, durāsadāḥ unapproachable, bhavantaḥ you are, kapirājēna by king of monkeys, prēṣitāḥ sent.
'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.
rāmalakṣmaṇabāṇāśca niśitāḥ kaṅkapatriṇaḥ৷৷4.59.26৷৷
trayāṇāmapi lōkānāṅ paryāptāstrāṇanigrahē.
trayāṇāmapi lōkānāṅ paryāptāstrāṇanigrahē.
kaṅkapatriṇaḥ heron-feathered, niśitāḥ sharp, rāmalakṣmaṇabāṇāśca are the arrows of Rama and Lakshmana, trayāṇām all the three, lōkānām of worlds, trāṇanigrahē to protect or subdue, paryāptāḥ are enough.
'The heron-feathered arrows of Rama and Lakshmana are sharp and strong enough to protect or subdue all the three worlds.
kāmaṅ khalu daśagrīva stējōbalasamanvitaḥ৷৷4.59.27৷৷
bhavatāṅ tu samarthānāṅ na kiñcidapi duṣkaram.
bhavatāṅ tu samarthānāṅ na kiñcidapi duṣkaram.
daśagrīvaḥ the ten-headed Ravana, tējōbalasamanvitaḥ khalu kāmam is mighty, powerful and strong, tu but, samarthānām for the efficient ones, bhavatām for you, duṣkaram difficult, kiñcidapi even a little, na not.
'The ten-headed Ravana is mighty, powerful and strong, indeed. But you are efficient and it will not be difficult for you to achieve this task.
tadalaṅ kālasaṅgēna kriyatāṅ buddhiniścayaḥ৷৷4.59.28৷৷
na hi karmasu sajjantē buddhimantō bhavadvidhāḥ.
na hi karmasu sajjantē buddhimantō bhavadvidhāḥ.
tat then, kālasaṅgēna by complying to the time limit (set by Sugriva), alam enough, buddhiniścayaḥ resolute, kriyatām may be made, bhavadvidhāḥ persons like you, buddhimantaḥ wise people, karmasu in accepting challenges, na sajjantē hi not lag behind.
'Do not bother about the time limit. Resolve to achieve the objective, for wise people like you should not lag behind in accepting challenges.'
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē ēkōnaṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftyninth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.