Sloka & Translation

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

श्रुत्वा हनुमतो वाक्यं प्रश्रितं धर्मसंहितम्।

स्वामिसत्कारसंयुक्तमङ्गदो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।4.55.1।।


हनुमतः Hanuman's, प्रश्रितम् humble, धर्मसंहितम् consistent with righteousness, स्वामिसत्कारसंयुक्तम् full of devotion to his master, the king, वाक्यम् words, श्रुत्वा on hearing, अङ्गदः Angada, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् said.

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

विक्रमश्चैव धैर्यं च सुग्रीवे नोपपद्यते।।4.55.2।।


स्थैर्यम् steadfastness, आत्ममनश्शौचम् purity of body and mind, आनृशंस्यम् compassion, अथ and, आर्जवम् rectitude, विक्रमश्चैव valour, धैर्यं च as well as patience, सुग्रीवे in Sugriva, नोपपद्यते not found.

'Sugriva has no steadfastness, purity of body and mind, compassion, rectitude, valour and patience.
भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य यो भार्यां जीवतो महिषीं प्रियाम्।

धर्मेण मातरं यस्तु स्वीकरोति जुगुप्सितः।।4.55.3।।

कथं स धर्मं जानीते येन भ्रात्रा महात्मना।

युद्धायाभिनियुक्तेन बिलस्य पिहितं मुखम्।।4.55.4।।


जुगुप्सितः despicable person, यः who, ज्येष्ठस्य of elder's, भ्रातुः brother's, जीवतः while he was alive, धर्मेण from the point of view of morality, मातरं motherlike, भार्याम् wife, प्रियाम् loved, महिषीम् queen, स्वीकरोति he took over (used her as his wife), महात्मना by the great, भ्रात्रा by the brother, युद्धाय for combat, अभिनियुक्तेन engaged, येन by whom, बिलस्य cave's, मुखम् entrance, पिहितम् blocked, सः he, धर्मम् morals, कथम् how, जानीते 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?
सत्यात्पाणिगृहीतश्च कृतकर्मा महायशाः।

विस्मृतो राघवो येन स कस्य तु कृतं स्मरेत्।।4.55.5।।


सत्यात् truly, पाणिगृहीतश्च held his hand, कृतकर्मा accepted, महायशाः an illustrious man, राघवः Rama, येन whom, विस्मृतः forgotten, सः he, कस्य whose, तु indeed, कृतम् help, स्मरेत् will he remember?

'Illustrious Rama, who faithfully held his hand was forgotten after he received his help. Indeed whose help would he remember?
लक्ष्मणस्य भयाद्येन नाधर्मभयभीरुणा।

आदिष्टा मार्गितुं सीतां धर्ममस्मिन्कथं भवेत्।।4.55.6।।


येन by whom, लक्ष्मणस्य Lakshmana's, भयात् out of fear, सीताम् Sita, मार्गितुम् to search, आदिष्टाः ordered, अधर्मभयभीरुणा out of fear of unrighteousness, न not, अस्मिन् in this, धर्मम् righteousness, कथम् how, भवेत् 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?
तस्मिन्पापे कृतघ्ने तु स्मृतिहीने चलात्मनि।

आर्यः को विश्वसेज्जातु तत्कुलीनो जिजीविषुः।।4.55.7।।


पापे in a sinner, कृतघ्ने in an ungrateful one, स्मृतिहीने in one devoid of memory, चलात्मनि in a fickleminded self, तस्मिन् in him, जातु indeed, आर्यः a respectable one, कः who, विश्वसेत् have confidence, जिजीविषुः who wishes to live, तत् कुलीनः born in that family.

'He is a sinner and an ungrateful person as he does not remember others' help. He is fickleminded. Which respectable person will believe him? Which member of his family will wish to live?
राज्ये पुत्रः प्रतिष्ठाप्यस्सगुणो विगुणोऽपि वा।

कथं शत्रुकुलीनं मां सुग्रीवो जीवयिष्यति।।4.55.8।।


सुगुणः virtuous, विगुणोऽपि or not virtuous also, पुत्रः a son, राज्ये in the kingdom, प्रतिष्ठाप्यः should be installed, सुग्रीवः Sugriva, शत्रुकुलीनम् enemy's descendant, माम् me, कथम् how, जीवयिष्यति 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?
भिन्नमन्त्रोऽपराद्धश्च हीनशक्तिः कथं ह्यहम्।

किष्किन्धां प्राप्य जीवेयमनाथ इव दुर्बलः।।4.55.9।।


भिन्नमन्त्रः my effort failed (my counsels are divided), अपराद्धश्च a crime too, हीनशक्तिः powerless, अहम् I am, किष्किन्धाम् Kishkinda, प्राप्य after reaching, दुर्बलः a weak person, अनाथ इव like an orphan, कथम् how, जीवेयम् 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?
पांशुदण्डेन हि मां बन्धने नोपपादयेत्।

शठः क्रूरो नृशंसश्च सुग्रीवो राज्यकारणात्।।4.55.10।।


शठः deceitful person, क्रूरः cruel one, नृशंसः treacherous person, सुग्रीवः Sugriva, राज्यकारणात् for the sake of kingdom, माम् me, उपांशुदण्डेन with secret punishment, बन्धनेन imprisonment, उपपादयेत् inflict.

'Sugriva is deceitful, cruel and treacherous. He will inflict secret punishment on me by way of imprisonment for the sake of the kingdom.
बन्धनाद्वाऽवसादान्मे श्रेयः प्रायोपवेशनम्।

अनुजानीत मां सर्वे गृहं गच्छन्तु वानराः।।4.55.11।।


बन्धनाद्वा with imprisonment or, अवसादात् with pain, मे me, प्रायोपवेशनम् by fasting unto death, श्रेयः is better, सर्वे all, वानराः monkeys माम् me, अनुजानीत you may permit, गृहम् home, गच्छन्तु 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.
अहं वः प्रतिजानामि नागमिष्याम्यहं पुरीम्।

इहैव प्रायमासिष्ये श्रेयो मरणमेव मे।।4.55.12।।


अहम् I am, वः to you, प्रतिजानामि I pledge, अहम् I am, पुरीम् to city, न आगमिष्यामि I will not come, इहैव here only, प्रायम् आसिष्ये I seek death by fasting, मे to me, मरणमेव death alone, श्रेयः better.

'I swear I will not return to the city. I will fast unto death here only. Death for me is desirable.
अभिवादनपूर्वं हि राघवौ बलशालिनौ।

अभिवादनपूर्वं तु राजा कुशलमेव च।।4.55.13।।

वाच्यस्तातो यवीयान्मे सुग्रीवो वानरेश्वरः।


बलशालिनौ two powerful ones, राघवौ Rama and Lakshmana, अभिवादनपूर्वम् greet them with due courtesy on my behalf, वानरेश्वरः king of monkeys, मे to me, यवीयान् तातः father's younger brother, राजा king, सुग्रीवः Sugriva, अभिवादनपूर्वम् by conveying my respects, कुशलम् wellbeing, वाच्यः 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.
आरोग्यपूर्वं कुशलं वाच्या माता रुमा च मे।।4.55.14।।

मातरं चैव मे तारामाश्वासयितुमर्हथ।


मे my, माता mother, रुमा च also Ruma, आरोग्यपूर्वम् enquire about their health, कुशलम् wellbeing, वाच्या by words, मे my, मातरम् mother, ताराम् Tara, आश्वासयितुं चैव to console, अर्हथ you should.

'You should convey my mother as well as Ruma my good wishes for their health and wellbeing. You should console my mother Tara also.
प्रकृत्या प्रियपुत्रा सा सानुक्रोशा तपस्विनी।।4.55.15।।

विनष्टमिह मां श्रुत्वा व्यक्तं हास्यति जीवितम्।


प्रकृत्या by nature, सानुक्रोशा a compassionate woman, प्रियपुत्रा fond of her son, तपस्विनी a helpless lady, सा she, इह here, माम् me, विनष्टम् dead, श्रुत्वा on hearing, व्यक्तम् certainly, जीवितम् life, हास्यति 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'.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं वृद्धांस्तानभिवाद्य च।।4.55.16।।

विवेश चाङ्गदो भूमौ रुदन्दर्भेषु दुर्मनाः।


एतावत् so much, वचनम् word, उक्त्वा having expressed, तान् them, वृद्धान् old, अभिवाद्य saluted, च and, अङ्गदः Angada, रुदन् started crying, दुर्मना: a disheartened one, भूमौ on the ground, दर्भेषु on darbha (Kusa) grass, विवेश 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.
तस्य संविशतस्तत्र रुदन्तो वानरर्षभाः।।4.55.17।।

नयनेभ्यः प्रमुमुचुरुष्णं वै वारि दुःखिताः।


तस्य his, तत्र there, संविशतः when he sat down, वानरर्षभाः bulls among the monkeys, दुःखिताः said, रुदन्तः cried, नयनेभ्यः from the eyes, उष्णम् hot, वारि tears, प्रमुमुचुः shed.

Seeing him lie down the bulls among the monkeys became sad and shed hot tears from their eyes.
सुग्रीवं चैव निन्दन्तः प्रशंसन्तश्च वालिनम्।।4.55.18।।

परिवार्याङ्गदं सर्वे व्यवसन्प्रायमासितुम्।


सर्वे all , सुग्रीवम् Sugriva, निन्दन्तः while they were blaming, वालिनम् Vali, प्रशंसन्तश्च while praising, अङ्गदम् Angada, परिवार्य after surrounding, प्रायम् आसितुम् to seek fast unto death, व्यवसन् while he decided

Blaming Sugriva and praising Vali, all the companions of Angada sat there surrounding him after having decided to fast unto death .
मतं तद्वालिपुत्रस्य विज्ञाय प्लवगर्षभाः।।4.55.19।।

उपस्पृश्योदकं तत्र प्राङ्मुखास्समुपाविशन्।

दक्षिणाग्रेषु दर्भेषु उदक्तीरं समाश्रिताः।।4.55.20।।

मुमूर्षवो हरिश्रेष्ठा एतत् क्षममिति स्म ह।


वालिपुत्रस्य of Vali's son, तत् मतम् his opinion, विज्ञाय after knowing, प्लवगर्षभाः bulls among monkeys, तत्र there, हरिश्रेष्ठाः best of monkeys, एतत् this, क्षमम् is fitting, इति in this way, मुमूर्षवः they were willing to die, उदकम् water, उपश्पृश्य having sipped, उदक्तीरम् on the (northern) shore of the sea, समाश्रिताः assembled, प्राङ्मुखाः facing the east, दक्षिणाग्रेषु pointing to the south, दर्भेषु darbha grass, समुपाविशन् 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.
रामस्य वनवासं च क्षयं दशरथस्य च।।4.55.21।।

जनस्थानवधं चैव वधं चैव जटायुषः।

हरणं चैव वैदेह्या वालिनश्च वधं रणे।।4.55.22।।

रामकोपं च वदतां हरीणां भयमागतम्।


रामस्य Rama's, वनवासं च exile in the forest, दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, क्षयं च death, जनस्थानवधं चैव destruction of demons in Janasthana, जटायुषः Jatayu's, वधं चैव death, वैदेह्याः Vaidehi's, हरणं चैव and the abduction, रणे in war, वालिनः Vali's, वधं च death, रामकोपं च and Rama's anger, वदताम् while they talked about, हरीणाम् for the monkeys, भयम् fear, आगतम् 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.
स संविशद्भिबहुभिर्महीधरो

महाद्रिकूटप्रतिमैः प्लवङ्गमैः।

बभूव सन्नादितनिर्दरान्तरो

भृशं नदद्भिर्जलदैरिवोल्बणैः।।4.55.23।।


संविशद्भि: preparing to lay down, महाद्रिकूटप्रतिमैः as huge as mountain peaks, बहुभिः by many, प्लवङ्गमैः by monkeys, भृशम् greatly, सन्नादितनिर्दरान्तरः the sound that came from inside the cave, सः that, महीधरः mountain, नदद्भि: by the thundering, जलदैः with clouds, इव like, उल्बणैः stormy clouds, बभूव 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.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे पञ्चपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fiftyfifth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.