Sloka & Translation

[Hanuman's startegy to change Angada.]

तथा ब्रुवति तारे तु ताराधिपतिवर्चसि।

अथ मेने हृतं राज्यं हनूमानङ्गदेन तत्।।4.54.1।।


ताराधिपतिवर्चसि face like the moon, lord of stars, तारे when Tara, तथा thus, ब्रुवति spoke, अथ then, हनूमान् Hanuman, अङ्गदेन by Angada, तत् that, राज्यम् kingdom, हृतम् taken over, मेने thought.

Hanuman listened to the proposal of Tara, whose face was like the Moon, lord of the stars. (After listening to Tara) he thought Angada might take over the kingdom from Sugriva.
बुद्ध्या ह्यष्टाङ्गया युक्तं चतुर्बलसमन्वितम्।

चतुर्दशगुणं मेने हनूमान्वालिनस्सुतम्।।4.54.2।।


हनूमान् Hanuman, वालिनः Vali's, सुतम् son, अष्टाङ्गया with eight limbs, बुद्ध्या with intellect, युक्तम् endowed, चतुर्बलसमन्वितम् possessed of four kinds of strength, चतुर्दशगुणम् having fourteen qualities, मेने thought.

Hanuman thought Vali's son possessed in addition to his intellect, eight kinds of limbs, four kinds of strength and fourteen qualities (required of a king):
आपूर्यमाणं शश्वच्च तेजोबलपराक्रमैः।

शशिनं शुक्लपक्षादौ वर्धमानमिव श्रिया।।4.54.3।।

बृहस्पतिसमं बुद्ध्या विक्रमे सदृशं पितुः।

शुश्रूषमाणं तारस्य शक्रस्येव पुरन्दरम्।।4.54.4।।

भर्तुरर्थे परिश्रान्तं सर्वशास्त्रविदांवरम्।

अभिसन्धातुमारेभे हनूमानङ्गदं ततः।।4.54.5।।


शश्वत् eternally, तेजोबलपराक्रमैः with brilliance, strength and valour, आपूर्यमाणम् being filled, शुक्लपक्षादौ at the beginning of the bright fortnight, शशिनमिव like the Moon, श्रिया with majesty, वर्धमानम् constantly growing, बुद्ध्या in intellect, बृहस्पतिसमम् equal to Brhaspati, विक्रमे in valour, पितुः of his father, सदृशम् like to, शुक्रस्य Sukra's, पुरन्दरम् इव like Indra, the breaker of citadel, तारस्य Tara's, शुश्रूषमाणम् serving, भर्तुः the king, अर्थे for the sake of, परिश्रान्तम् tired, अङ्गदम् Angada, सर्वशाश्त्रविदांवरम् versed in all sastras, हनुमान् Hanuman, ततः then, अभिसन्धातुम् to consult deliberately, आरेभे started.

Hanuman proceeded to win over Angada, who was ever shining in strength and valour, who was growing in majesty constantly like the Moon in the bright fornight, whose intellectual prowess was equal to that of Brhaspati, who was equal to his father in valour and who was wellversed in all sastras. Angada was listening toTara like Indra listened to Sukra (preceptor of the demons).
स चतुर्णामुपायानां तृतीयमुपवर्णयन्।

भेदयामास तान्सर्वान् वानरान्वाक्यसम्पदा।।4.54.6।।


सः that, चतुर्णाम् of the four, उपायानाम् of means, तृतीयम् third one, उपवर्णयन् while describing, तान्सर्वान् all of them, वानरान् monkeys, वाक्यसम्पदा with wealth of arguments, भेदयामास created differences.

Resorting to the third strategy out of the four ways of achieving an objective Hanuman created differences among the monkeys with skilful arguments. (Sama, Dana, Bheda and Danda are the four means. Hanuman adopted Bheda as a means of winning over an enemy).
तेषु सर्वेषु भिन्नेषु ततोऽभीषयदङ्गदम्।

भीषणैर्भहुभिर्वाक्यै: कोपोपायसमन्वितैः।।4.54.7।।


तेषु of them, सर्वेषु all, भिन्नेषु of the differences, ततः then, कोपोपायसमन्वितैः strategy to cause both anger and expediency, भीषणैः with frightening, बहुभि: by many, वाक्यैः with arguments, अङ्गदम् to Angada, अभीषयत् frightened.

When there were differences among the monkeys over the issue, Hanuman intimidated Angada with frightening words expressing his anger, using skilful arguments:
त्वं समर्थतरः पित्रा युद्धे तारेय वै धुरम्।

दृढं धारयितुं शक्तः कपिराज्यं यथा पिता।।4.54.8।।


तारेय O son of Tara, त्वम् you, युद्धे in combat, पित्रा compared to your father, समर्थतरः you are very efficient, वै indeed, धुरम् yoke (responsibility of running the kingdom), पिता यथा like your father, कपिराज्यम् kingdom of the monkeys, दृढम् firmly, धारयितुम् to hold, शक्तः capable.

'O Son of Tara you are, indeed, very efficient like your father in combat. You can hold firmly the responsibilty of the vanara kingdom like your father.
नित्यमस्थिरचित्ता हि कपयो हरिपुङ्गव।

नाज्ञाप्यं विषहिष्यन्ति पुत्रदारान्विना त्वया।।4.54.9।।


हरिपुङ्गव O leader of monkeys, कपयः vanaras, नित्यम् always, अस्थिरचित्ताः हि they are fickle minded, पुत्रदारान् sons and wives, विना without, त्वया with you, आज्ञाप्यम् command, न विषहिष्यन्ति will never tolerate.

'O leader among monkeys Vanaras are always fickleminded. Being away from their sons and wives they will not always carry out your command and stay here forever.
त्वां नैतेह्यनुयुञ्जेयु: प्रत्यक्षं प्रवदामि ते।

यथायं जाम्बवान्नीलस्सुहोत्रश्च महाकपिः।।4.54.10।।

न ह्यहं ते इमे सर्वे सामदानादिभिर्गुणैः।

दण्डेन वा त्वया शक्यास्सुग्रीवादपकर्षितम्।।4.54.11।।


प्रत्यक्षम् directly, ते to you, यथा as, प्रवदामि I am speaking, अयम् this, जाम्बवान् Jambavan, नीलः Nila, महाकपिः great monkey, सुहोत्रश्च Suhotra also, एते them, त्वाम् you, नानुयुञ्जेयुः हि will not following you, अहम् I am, न हि not, ते you, इमे these, सर्वे all, सामदानादिभिः through the policy of appeasement, गुणैः by merit, दण्डेन by punishment, त्वया by you, सुग्रीवात् from Sugriva, अपकर्षितुम् to avert, न शक्याः not possible.

'This I am telling you openly and frankly. These monkeys are not going to be obedient to you. Neither Jambavan, nor Nila nor the great monkey Suhotra nor even myself would subscribe to this opinion (of staying in the cave) and follow you. It is not possible for you to keep us or these monkeys from Sugriva through the policy of appeasement like Sama, Dana, Bheda or even Danda (persuasion, giving gifts, creating differences or imposing punishment).
विगृह्यासनमप्याहुर्दुर्बलेन बलीयसः।

आत्मरक्षाकरस्तस्मान्न विगृह्णीत दुर्बलः।।4.54.12।।


बलीयस: with a strong man, दुर्बलेन by a weak one, विगृह्य waging war, आसनम् अपि remaining quiet, watching (a kind of war strategy), आहुः it is said, तस्मात् therefore, आत्मरक्षाकरः for selfprotection, दुर्बलः a weak one, न विगृह्णीत should not wage.

'It is said that when a strong man fights a weak one, the weak opponent should adopt the strategy of asana (watching) for selfprotection. The weak should not enter into combat with the strong.
यां चेमां मन्यसे धात्रीमेतद्बिलमिति श्रुतम्।

एतल्लक्ष्मणबाणानामीषत्कार्यं विदारणे।।4.54.13।।


याम् whichever, इमाम् this, धात्रीम् earth, मन्यसे you may be thinking, एतत् this, बिलम् cave, इति in this way, श्रुतम् is known, लक्ष्मणबाणानाम् for the arrows of Lakshmana, एतत् this, विदारणम् breaking, ईषत्कार्यम् is a very small task.

'You may think it safe to stay here in this opening of the earth. It is a petty task for the arrows of Lakshmana to break open this socalled cave.
स्वल्पं हि कृतमिन्द्रेण क्षिपता ह्यशनिं पुरा।

लक्ष्मणो निशितैर्बाणैर्भिन्ध्यात्पत्रपुटं यथा।।4.54.14।।


पुरा earlier, अशनिम् a thunderbolt, क्षिपता by throwing, इन्द्रेण by Indra, स्वल्पम् a little, कृतं हि has done, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, निशितै: with sharp ones, बाणैः with arrows, पत्रपुटम् यथा like tearing a leaf cup, भिन्द्यात् he can shatter.

'In the past Indra had done a small damage (to the cave) with his thunderbolt. But with his sharp arrows Lakshmana will shatter the cave easily as though it is a leaf cup.
लक्ष्मणस्य च नाराचा बहवस्सन्ति तद्विधाः।

वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शा गिरीणामपि दारणाः।।4.54.15।।


वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शाः whose touch has the effect of a thunderbolt, गिरीणामपि even of the mountains, दारणाः breakers, तद्विधाः similarly, बहवः many, लक्ष्मणस्य with Lakshmana, नाराचाः iron arrows, सन्ति there are, च and.

'Lakshmna has many such iron arrows that are equal to the thunderbolt. They can even split the mountains.
अवस्थाने यदैव त्वमासिष्यसि परन्तप।

तदैव हरयस्सर्वे त्यक्ष्यन्ति कृतनिश्चयाः।4.54.16।।


परन्तप O scorcher of enemies, त्वम् you, यदैव whenever, अवस्थाने to stay here, आसिष्यसि decide, तदैव at that moment, सर्वे all these, हरयः monkeys, कृतनिश्चयाः decidedly, त्यक्ष्यन्ति desert

'O scorcher of enemies the moment you decide to establish yourself here, all these
monkeys will surely desert you.
स्मरन्तः पुत्रदाराणां नित्योद्विग्ना बुभुक्षिताः।

खेदिता दुःखशय्याभिस्त्वां करिष्यन्ति पृष्ठतः।।4.54.17।।


पुत्रदाराणाम् about their sons and wives, स्मरन्तः while they are remembering, नित्योद्विग्नाः always anxious, बुभुक्षिताः hungry ones, दुःखशय्याभिः with inconvenient beds, खेदिताः depressed, त्वाम् you, पृष्ठतः करिष्यन्ति will leave you behind.

'The memory of their sons and wives will haunt these hungry monkeys. The inconvenient bed will make them so depressed that they will leave you behind.
स त्वं हीनस्सुहृद्भिश्च हितकामैश्च बन्धुभिः।

तृणादपि भृशोद्विग्नस्स्पन्दमानाद्भविष्यसि।।4.54.18।।


सुहृद्भिश्च even with friends also, हितकामैः by the wellwishers, बन्धुभिश्च even with your relatives, हीनः left out, सः त्वम् such a person, स्पन्दमानात् trembling, तृणादपि from a blade of grass, भृशोद्विग्नः you will be very much frightened, भविष्यसि you will be.

'Left out of your friends and relatives,who are your wellwishers, you will be very frightened even by the trembling of a blade of grass.
न च जातु न हिंस्युस्त्वां घोरा लक्ष्मणसायकाः ।

अपवृत्तं जिघांसन्तो महावेगा दुरासदाः ।। 4.54.19 ।।


In Progress

In Progress
न च जातु न हिंस्युस्त्वा घोरा लक्ष्मणसायकाः।

अपावृत्तं जिघांसन्तो महावेगा दुरासदाः।।4.54.20।।


लक्ष्मणसायकाः Lakshmana's arrows, त्वा (म्) you, न च जातु न हिंस्यु: it is not that they do not torture you, घोराः dreadful, अपावृत्तम् an escaping enemy, जिघांसन्तः while desiring to kill, महावेगाः of great speed, दुरासदाः difficult to challenge.

'It is not that Lakshmana's dreadful arrows flying at great speed will not torture you. It will be difficult for you to avert them as they are eager to kill an escaping enemy.
अस्माभिस्तु गतं सार्धं विनीतवदुपस्थितम्।

आनुपूर्व्यात्तु सुग्रीवो राज्ये त्वां स्थापयिष्यति।।4.54.21।।


अस्माभिः सार्धम् along with us, गतम् when you go, विनीतवत् humbly, उपस्थितम् approached, त्वाम् you, सुग्रीवः Sugriva, राज्ये in the kingdom, आनुपूर्व्यात् following the law of succession, स्थापयिष्यति he will make you king, तु indeed.

'If along with us you approach Sugriva in a humble manner he will make you his successor to the kingdom.
धर्मकामः पितृव्यस्ते प्रीतिकामो दृढव्रतः।

शुचिस्सत्यप्रतिज्ञश्च न त्वां जातु जिघांसति।।4.54.22।।


ते your, पितृव्यः father's brother, धर्मकामः a goodintentioned, प्रीतिकामः pleasureloving, दृढव्रतः steadfast, शुचिः virtuous one, सत्यप्रतिज्ञश्च one who is true to his promise, त्वाम् you also, जातु go with, न जिघांसति will not punish you.

'Your father's brother is virtuous, wellintentioned, loving, steadfast in action, and true to his promise. He will not kill you.
प्रियकामश्च ते मातुस्तदर्थं चास्य जीवितम्।

तस्यापत्यं च नास्त्यन्यत्तस्मादङ्गद गम्यताम्।।4.54.23।।


ते your, मातुः mother's, प्रियकामश्च he would like to please her, अस्य जीवितम् his life, तदर्थं च for that purpose, तस्य her, अन्यत् another one, अपत्यं च offspring, नास्ति is not, अङ्गद Angada, तस्मात् therefore, गम्यताम् go back.

'Your mother is his life and he would love to please her. He has no offspring other than you. Therefore, go back.'
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे चतुष्पञ्चाशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fiftyfourth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.