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.]

एवमुक्तश्शुभं वाक्यं तापस्या धर्मसंहितम्।

उवाच हनुमान्वाक्यं तामनिन्दितचेष्टिताम्।।4.53.1।।


तापस्या by the hermitess, एवम् that way, धर्मसंहितम् coupled with righteousness, शुभम् auspicious, वाक्यम् words, उक्तः expressed, हनुमान् Hanuman, अनिन्दितचेष्टिताम् blameless in actions, ताम् her, वाक्यम् words, उवाच said.

To the auspicious words of the righteous, blameless hermitess Hanuman replied:
शरणं त्वां प्रपन्ना स्म सर्वे वै धर्मचारिणीं।

यः कृतस्समयोऽस्माकं सुग्रीवेण महात्मना।।4.53.2।।

स च कालो ह्यतिक्रान्तो बिले च परिवर्तताम्।


धर्मचारिणीम् to the righteous lady, त्वाम् you, सर्वे all, शरणं प्रसन्नाः स्मः have taken refuge, महात्मना by the great self, सुग्रीवेण by Sugriva, अस्माकं to us, यः such, समयः condition, कृतः having given, सः that, बिले in the cave, परिवर्तताम् while we were moving about, ह्यतिक्रान्तः 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.'
सा त्वमस्माद्बिलाद्घोरादुत्तारयितुमर्हसि।।4.53.3।।

तस्मात्सुग्रीववचनादतिक्रान्तान्गतायुषः।


सा such lady, त्वम् you, तस्मात् therefore, सुग्रीववचनात् Sugriva's words, अतिक्रान्तान् those who exceeded, गतायुषः lost our lives, घोरात् from the dreadful, अस्मात् from this, बिलात् from this cave, उत्तारयितुम् to help us go out, अर्हसि should.

त्रातुमर्हसि नस्सर्वान्सुग्रीवभयकर्शितान्।।4.53.4।।

महच्चकार्यमस्माभिः कर्तव्यं धर्मचारिणि।

तच्चापि न कृतं कार्यमस्माभिरिह वासिभिः।।4.53.5।।


धर्मचारिणि a woman of righteous practices, सुग्रीवभयकर्शितान् who are afraid of Sugriva, नः us, सर्वान् all, त्रातुम् to save, अर्हसि should, अस्माभिः by us, महत् great, कार्यं च task also, कर्तव्यम् should be done, इह now, वासिभिः staying here, अस्माभिः by us, तत् that, कार्यं चापि the objective, न कृतम् 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.'
एवमुक्ता हनुमता तापसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।

जीवता दुष्करं मन्ये प्रविष्टेन निवर्तितुम्।।4.53.6।।


हनुमता by Hanuman, एवम् in that manner, उक्ता being told, तापसी ascetic, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् said, प्रविष्टेन by one who entered, जीवता with life, निवर्तितुम् to go back, दुष्करम् it is difficult, मन्ये I think.

To the words of Hanuman the ascetic replied, 'I consider it difficult for any one who enters here to go back alive.'
तपसस्तु प्रभावेन नियमोपार्जितेन च।

सर्वानेव बिलादस्मादुद्धरिष्यामि वानरान्।।4.53.7।।


नियमोपार्जितेन earned by practising, तपसः by asceticism, तु प्रभावेन by virtue of it, सर्वानेव all of you, वानरान् monkeys, अस्मात् बिलात् from this cave, उद्धरियिष्यामि I will help you out.

'I will help all monkeys out of this cave by virtue of my power of asceticism duly practised.
निमीलयत चक्षूंषि सर्वे वानरपुङ्गवाः।

न हि निष्क्रमितुं शक्यमनिमीलितलोचनैः।।4.53.8।।


सर्वे all, वानरपुङ्गवाः great monkeys, चक्षूंषि eyes, निमीलयतः keep them closed, अनिमीलितलोचनैः if you do not close your eyes, निष्क्रमितुम् to get out, नशक्यं हि is not possible.

ततस्सम्मीलितास्सर्वे सुकुमाराङ्गुलैः करैः।

सहसाऽपिदधुर्दृष्टिं हृष्टा गमनकाङ्क्षया।।4.53.9।।


ततः then, गमनकाङ्क्षया with a desire to get out, हृष्टाः joyful ones, सर्वे all, सम्मीलिताः closed their eye lids, सहसा at once, सुकुमाराङ्गुलैः with delicate fingers, करैः with hands, दृष्टिम् eyes, पिदधुः 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.
वानरास्तु महात्मानो हस्तरुद्धमुखास्तदा।

निमेषान्तरमात्रेण बिलादुत्तारितास्तया।।4.53.10।।


तदा then, हस्तरुद्धमुखाः faces covered with hands, महात्मानः great souls, वानराः monkeys, तया with her help, निमेषान्तरमात्रेण in a moment, बिलात् from the cave, उत्तारिताः came out.

Then the great monkeys, faces covered with their hands, emerged from the cave in a moment.
ततस्तान्वानरान्सर्वांस्तापसी धर्मचारिणी।

निस्सृतान्विषमात्तस्मात्समाश्वास्येदमब्रवीत्।।4.53.11।।


धर्मचारिणी righteous, तापसी ascetic, तत्र there, तान् सर्वान् all of them, विषमात् from the difficult situation, तस्मात् from that, निस्सृतान् those who were released, समाश्वास्य after consoling them all, इदम् these words, अब्रवीत् said.

The righteous hermitess released all the monkeys out of that difficult situation and said these words of consolation:
एष विन्ध्यो गिरिश्श्रीमान्नानाद्रुमलताकुलः।

एष प्रस्रवणश्शैलस्सागरोऽयं महोदधिः।।4.53.12।।

स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु गमिष्यामि भवनं वानरर्षभाः।

इत्युक्त्वा तद्बिलं श्रीमत्प्रविवेश स्वयम्प्रभा।।4.53.13।।


एषः this, श्रीमान् rich, नानाद्रुमलताकुलः filled with different kinds of trees and vines, विन्ध्यः Vindhya, गिरिः mountain, एषः this, प्रस्रवणः Prasravana, शैलः hill, अयम् this, सागरः sea, महोदधिः great ocean, वानरर्षभाः bulls among monkeys वः you, स्वस्ति be happy, अस्तु so be it, भवनम् to my house, गमिष्यामि I will go, इति thus, उक्त्वा having said, स्वयम्प्रभा Svayamprabha, श्रीमत् splendid, तत् बिलम् that cave, प्रविवेश 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.
ततस्ते ददृशुर्घोरं सागरं वरुणालयम्।

अपारमभिगर्जन्तं घोरैरूर्मिभिरावृतम्।।4.53.14।।


ततः then, ते they, घोरम् dreadful, वरुणालयम् abode of Varuna, अपारम् endless, अभिगर्जन्तम् roaring wildly, घोरै: with terrific, ऊर्मिभिः with waves, आवृतम् spread over, सागरम् ocean, ददृशुः saw.

Then the monkeys saw the boundless, dreary ocean roaring wild with its terrific waves spread all over.
मयस्य मायाविहितं गिरिदुर्गं विचिन्वताम्।

तेषां मासो व्यतिक्रान्तो यो राज्ञा समयः कृतः।।4.53.15।।


तेषाम् for them, मयस्य Maya's, मायाविहितम् created by his Maya, गिरिदुर्गम् impassable mountain, विचिन्वताम् while searching, यः such, राज्ञा by the king, समयः time set, कृतः was fixed, मासः month, व्यतिक्रान्तः 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.
विन्ध्यस्य तु गिरेः पादे सम्प्रपुष्पितपादपे।

उपविश्य महाभागाश्चिन्तामापेदिरे तदा।।4.53.16।।


तदा then, महाभागा: great souls, सम्प्रपुष्पितपादपे in a location where trees are in full bloom, विन्ध्यस्य तु of Vindhya, गिरेः of that mountain, पादे adjacent, उपविश्य sat, चिन्ताम् thinking, आपेदिरे did.

Then the highsoul monkeys reached the hill adjacent to Vindhya mountain on which trees were in full bloom.They sat there, lost in thought.
ततः पुष्पातिभाराग्रान् लताशतसमावृतान्।

द्रुमान्वासन्तिकान्दृष्टवा बभूवुर्भयशङ्किताः।।4.53.17।।


ततः then, पुष्पातिभाराग्रान् heavily loaded with flowers on top, लताशतसमावृतान् entwined by hundreds of creepers, वासन्तिकान् spring, द्रुमान् trees, दृष्ट्वा saw, भयशङ्किताः frightened, बभूवुः 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.
ते वसन्तमनुप्राप्तं प्रतिबुद्ध्वा परस्परम्।

नष्टसन्देशकालार्था निपेतुर्धरणीतले।।4.53.18।।


ते they, वसन्तम् spring, अनुप्राप्तम् set in, परस्परम् with one onather, प्रतिबुद्ध्वा after realising, नष्टसन्देशकालार्थाः having exceeded the time set, धरणीतले on the ground, निपेतुः 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.
ततस्तान्कपिवृद्धांस्तु शिष्टांश्चैव वनौकसः।

वाचा मधुरयाऽभाष्य यथावदनुमान्य च।।4.53.19।।

स तु सिंहवृषस्कन्धः पीनायतभुजः कपिः।

युवराजो महाप्राज्ञः अङ्गदो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।4.53.20।।


ततः then, सिंहवृषस्कन्धः one who has shoulders like a lion or bull, पीनायतभुजः of sturdy and long arms, युवराजः heir apparent, महाप्राज्ञः very wise, कपिः monkey, अङ्गदः Angada, तान् them, कपिवृद्धांस्तु to the elderly monkeys, शिष्टान् respectable, वनैकसश्चैव forestdwellers (monkeys), मधुरया with a sweet, वाचा tone, आभाष्य spoke, यथावत् properly, अनुमान्य च after coming to a decision, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् 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:
शासनात्कपिराजस्य वयं सर्वे विनिर्गताः।

मासः पूर्णो बिलस्थानां हरयः किं न बुद्ध्यते।।4.53.21।।


हरयः O monkeys, वयं सर्वे all of us, कपिराजस्य monkey king's, शासनात् by his command, विनिर्गताः came here, बिलस्थानाम् for us staying in the cave, मासः a month, पूर्णः is completed, किम् what, न बुद्ध्यते 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?
वयमाश्वयुजे मासि कालसङ्ख्याव्यवस्थिताः।

प्रस्थितास्सोऽपि चातीतः किमतः कार्यमुत्तरम्।।4.53.22।।


वयम् we, कालसङ्ख्याव्यवस्थिताः with time limit, आश्वयुजे मासि the month of Ashvayuja, प्रस्थिताः we started our journey, सोऽपि even that has, अतीतः exceeded, अतः therefore, उत्तरं later, कार्यम् task, किम् 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?
भवन्तः प्रत्ययं प्राप्ताः नीतिमार्गविशारदाः।

हितेष्वभिरता भर्तुर्निसृष्टास्सर्वकर्मसु।।4.53.23।।


भवन्तः all of you, प्रत्ययम् trusted, प्राप्ताः you have got, नीतिमार्गविशारदाः experts in morals, भर्तुः king's, हितेषु wellwishers, अभिरताः dedicated, सर्वकर्मसु in all tasks, निसृष्टाः sent with specific instructions.

कर्मस्वप्रतिमास्सर्वे दिक्षु विश्रुतपौरुषाः।

मां पुरस्कृत्य निर्याताः पिङ्गाक्षप्रतिचोदिताः।।4.53.24।।


सर्वे all, कर्मसु in actions, अप्रतिमाः incomparable, दिक्षु in all quarters, विश्रुतपौरुषाः very famous for bravery, पिङ्गाक्षप्रतिचोदिताः sent by tawnyeyed Sugriva, माम् me, पुरस्कृत्य obeying the orders, निर्याताः 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 tawnyeyed Sugriva.
इदानीमकृतार्थानां मर्तव्यं नात्र संशयः।

हरिराजस्य सन्देशमकृत्वा कस्सुखी भवेत्।।4.53.25।।


इदानीम् at this time, अकृतार्थानाम् not having achieved the objective (of finding Sita), मर्तव्यम् we should die, अत्र here, संशयः doubt, न not, हरिराजस्य the king's, सन्देशम् orders, अकृत्वा not executing, कः who, सुखी happy, भवेत् 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?
तस्मिन्नतीते काले तु सुग्रीवेण कृते स्वयम्।

प्रायोपवेशनं युक्तं सर्वेषां च वनौकसाम्।।4.53.26।।


सुग्रीवेण by Sugriva, कृते fixed, तस्मिन् काले at this time, अतीते when exceeded, सर्वेषाम् for all of us,वनौकसाम् for the forest dwellers (monkeys) स्वयम् personally, प्रायोपवेशनम् fasting unto death, युक्तम् 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.
तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवस्स्वामिभावे व्यवस्थितः।

न क्षमिष्यति नस्सर्वानपराधकृतो गतान्।।4.53.27।।


सुग्रीवः Sugriva, प्रकृत्या by nature, तीक्ष्णः harsh, स्वामिभावे as a king, व्यवस्थितः consecrated, गतान् when we reach, अपराधकृतः us who are real offenders, नः not, सर्वान् to all, न क्षमिष्यति 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.
अप्रवृत्तौ च सीतायाः पापमेव करिष्यति।

तस्मात् क्षममिहाद्यैव गन्तुं प्रायोपवेशनम् हि नः।।4.53.28।।

त्यक्त्वा पुत्रांश्च दारांश्च धनानि च गृहाणि च।


सीतायाः Sita, अप्रवृत्तौ for not bringing any clue, पापमेव sin, करिष्यति he will do, तस्मात् therefore, पुत्रांश्च sons, दारांश्च wives, धनानि च and wealth, गृहाणि च and houses, त्यक्त्या bid farewell to, इह here, अद्यैव today itself, प्रायोपवेशनम् death, गन्तुम् take recourse, क्षमम् proper.

धृवं नो हिंसिता राजा सर्वान्प्रतिगतानितः।।4.53.29।।

वधेनाप्रतिरूपेण श्रेयान्मृत्युरिहैव नः।


राजा king, इतः here, प्रतिगतान् when we return, नः us, सर्वान् all, अप्रतिरूपेण in an incomparable manner, वधेन with death sentence, ध्रुवम् surely, हिंसिता will torture us, नः us, इहैव here itself, मृत्यु: death, श्रेयान् 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.
न चाहं यौवराज्येन सुग्रीवेणाभिषेचितः।।4.53.30।।

नरेन्द्रेणाभिषिक्तोऽस्मि रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा।


अहम् I, सुग्रीवेण by Sugriva, यौवराज्येन as heir apparent, न अभिषेचितः not installed, अक्लिष्टकर्मणा who never harms others, नरेन्द्रेण by the king of the people, रामेण by Rama, अभिषिक्तः crowned prince, अस्मि 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.
स पूर्वं बद्धवैरो मां राजा दृष्ट्वा व्यतिक्रमम्।।4.53.31।।

घातयिष्यति दण्डेन तीक्ष्णेन कृतनिश्चयः।


पूर्वम् earlier, बद्धवैरः nursed bitter enmity, सः राजा that king, व्यतिक्रमम् lapse, दृष्ट्वा after seeing, कृतनिश्चयः decidedly, माम् me, तीक्ष्णेन with a severe, दण्डेन with punishment, घातयिष्यति he will inflict.

'The Monkeyking nursed bitter enmity against me even earlier. Now seeing my lapse, he will decidedly inflict severe punishment on me.
किं मे सुहृदभिर्व्यसनं पश्यद्भिर्जीवितान्तरे।।4.53.32।।

इहैव प्रायमासिष्ये पुण्ये सागररोधसि।


जीवितान्तरे at the end of life, मे व्यसनम् my calamity, पश्यद्भिः by seeing, सुहृदभि: by my friends, किम् what, इहैव here itself, पुण्ये in a sacred, सागररोधसि on the shores of the ocean, प्रायमासिष्ये 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'.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा कुमारेण युवराजेन भाषितम्।।4.53.33।।

सर्वे ते वानरश्रेष्ठाः करुणं वाक्यमब्रुवन्।


युवराजेन by heir apparent, कुमारेण by the young prince, भाषितम् talk, एतत् this, श्रुत्वा heard, सर्वे all, ते they, वानरश्रेष्ठाः best of the monkeys करुणम् kindly, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रुवन् said.

Hearing the young heir apparent thus speaking, the best of the monkeys kindly responded:
तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः प्रियासक्तश्च राघवः।।4.53.34।।

अदृष्टायां तु वैदेह्यां दृष्ट्वाऽस्मांश्त समागतान्।

राघवप्रियकामार्थं घातयिष्यत्यसंशयम्।।4.53.35।।


सुग्रीवः Sugriva, प्रकृत्या by nature, तीक्ष्णः harsh, राघव: Rama, प्रियासक्तः devoted to his wife, वैदेह्याम् princess of Videha, अदृष्टायाम् when she is not found, अस्मान् us, तु indeed, समागतान् reaching, दृष्ट्वा on seeing, राघवप्रियकामार्थम् in order to please Rama, असंशयम् without any doubt, घातयिष्यति 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.
न क्षमं चापराद्धानां गमनं स्वामिपार्श्वतः।

इहैव सीतामन्विष्य प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य वा।।4.53.36।।

नो चेद्गच्छाम तं वीरं गमिष्यामो यमक्षयम्।


अपराद्धानाम् for offenders, स्वामिपार्श्वतः to the king's presence, गमनम् going, नक्षमम् is not proper, इहैव here itself, सीताम् Sita, अन्विष्य after searching, प्रवृत्तिम् whereabouts, उपलभ्य वा or after finding out, तं वीरम् to that hero, नो गच्छाम चेत् if we cannot go, यमक्षयम् to the abode of Yama, गमिष्यामः 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'.
प्लवङ्गमानां तु भयार्दितानां

श्रुत्वा वचस्तार इदं बभाषे।

अलं विषादेन बिलं प्रविश्य

वसाम सर्वे यदि रोचते वः।।4.53.37।।


तारः Tara, भयार्दितानाम् those shaken with fear, प्लवङ्गमानाम् of the monkeys, वचः words, श्रुत्वा after hearing, इदम् this, बभाषे he spoke, विषादेन with sorrow, अलम् enough, वः to you, रोचते यदि if it pleases you, सर्वे all of us, बिलम् cave, प्रविश्य after entering, वसाम 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' ''
इदं हि मायाविहितं सुदुर्गमं

प्रभूतवृक्षोदकभोज्यपेयकम्।

इहास्ति नो नैव भयं पुरन्दरा

न्न राघवाद्वानरराजतोऽपि वा।।4.53.38।।


मायाविहितम् built by magic, प्रभूतवृक्षोदकभोज्यपेयकम् with many trees, water, food and drinks, इदम् this, सुदुर्गमं हि inaccessible, इह here, नः for us, पुरन्दरात् from Indra, the breaker of enemy citadel, भयम् fear, नैव not there, राघवात् of Rama even, वानरराजतोऽपि वा also of king of monkeys, न 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'.
श्रुत्वाऽङ्गदस्यापि वचोऽनुकूल

मूचुश्च सर्वे हरयः प्रतीताः।

यथा न हिंस्येम तथा विधान

मसक्तमद्यैव विधीयतां नः।।4.53.39।।


अङ्गदस्य Angada's, वचः words, श्रुत्वा after hearing, सर्वे all, हरयः monkeys, प्रतीताः became agreeable, अनुकूलम् favourable, ऊचुः spoke, यथा as, न हिंस्येम we will not be punished, तथा that way, नः for us, अद्यैव now itself, विधानम् strategy, असक्तम् not conditional, विदीयताम् 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.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fiftythird sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.