Sloka & Translation

[ Angada relates the story of Jatayu's combat with Ravana to Sampati]

तत्तु श्रुत्वा तथा वाक्यमङ्गदस्य मुखोद्गतम्।

अब्रवीद्वचनं गृध्रस्तीक्ष्णतुण्डो महास्वनः।।4.57.1।।


तीक्ष्णतुण्डः sharpbeaked, महास्वनः loudvoiced, गृध्रः vulture, तथा like that, अङ्गदस्य of Angada, मुखोद्गतम् came from the mouth, तत् वाक्यम् those words, श्रुत्वा after hearing, वचनम् these words, अब्रवीत् said.

On hearing the words that came from Angada's mouth, the sharpbeaked, loudvoiced vulture (Sampati) said:
कोऽयं गिरा घोषयति प्राणैः प्रियतमस्य मे।

जटायुषो वधं भ्रातुः कम्पयन्निव मे मनः।।4.57.2।।


मे my, प्राणैः with life, प्रियतमस्य dearest, भ्रातुः brother's, जटायुषः Jatayu's, वधम् death, मे my, मनः mind, कम्पयन्निव shaking, गिरा with a word, घोषयति loudly proclaims, अयम् this, कः who is that?

'Who is it that was Pronouncing loudly the death of my dearest brother Jatayu? This news has shaken my mind.
कथमासीज्जनस्थाने युद्धं राक्षसगृध्रयोः।

नामधेयमिदं भ्रातुश्चिरस्याद्य मया श्रुतम्।।4.57.3।।


जनस्थाने at Janasthana, राक्षसगृध्रयोः between the demon and the vulture, युद्धम् fight, कथम् how, आसीत् took place, भ्रातुः brother's, इदं नामधेयम् this name, मया by me, अद्य today, चिरस्य श्रुतम् heard after a long time.

'I heard my brother's name today after a long time.I wish to know how the demon and the vulture fought at Janasthana.
इच्छेयं गिरिदुर्गाच्च भवद्भिरवतारितुम्।

यवीयसो गुणज्ञस्य श्लाघनीयस्य विक्रमैः।।4.57.4।।

अतिदीर्घस्य कालस्य परितुष्टोऽस्मि परिकीर्तनात्।


गिरिदुर्गात् from the inaccessible mountain, भवद्भि: by all of you, अवतारितुम् to help to get down, इच्छेयम् I wish, गुणज्ञस्य of the virtuous, विक्रमैः with valour, श्लाघनीयस्य of the praiseworthy, यवीयसः younger brother, अतिदीर्घस्य after a long, कालस्य time, कीर्तनात् by a mention, परितुष्टः अस्मि I am very glad.

'I wish to be brought down from this inaccessible mountain peak by all of you. I am glad to have heard from you the name of my younger brother after a long time. He is virtuous, valiant and praiseworthy.
तदिच्छेयमहं श्रोतुं विनाशं वानरर्षभाः।।4.57.5।।

भ्रातुर्जटायुषस्तस्य जनस्थाननिवासिनः।


वानरर्षभाः O bulls among monkeys, तत् therefore, अहम् I, जनस्थान्निवासिनः of the inhabitant of Janasthana, भ्रातुः brother's, तस्य his, जटायुषः Jatayu's, विनाशम् death, श्रोतुम् to hear, इच्छेयम् I am desirous.

'O bulls among monkeys I desire to hear about the death of my brother Jatayu, who was dwelling at Janasthana.
तस्यैव च मम भ्रातुस्सखा दशरथः कथम्।।4.57.6।।

यस्य रामः प्रियः पुत्रो ज्येष्ठो गुरुजनप्रियः।


गुरुजनप्रियः loved by elders, रामः Rama, यस्य whose, प्रियः favourite one, ज्येष्ठः पुत्रः eldest son, मम भ्रातुः my brother's, तस्यैव of him alone, सखा friend, दशरथः Dasaratha, कथम् how.

'How did Dasaratha develop friendship with my brother? I hear that Rama who is the favourite firstborn of Dasaratha has endeared himself to all elders.
सूर्यांशुदग्धपक्षत्वान्न शक्नोम्युपसर्पितुम्।।4.57.7।।

इच्छेयं पर्वतादस्मादवतर्तु मरिन्दमाः।


अरिन्दमाः O tamers of enemies, सूर्यांशुदग्धपक्षत्वात् due to the burning of my wings by the Sun's rays, उपसर्पितुम् to move forward, न शक्नोमि it is not possible for me, अस्मात् from this, पर्वतात् from the mountain, अवतर्तुम् to get down, इच्छेयम् I want.

'O tamers of foes as my wings are burnt down by the Sun's rays it is not possible for me to move forward. I wish you help me to get down from this mountain'.
शोकाद्भ्रष्टस्वरमपि श्रुत्वा ते हरियूथपाः।

श्रद्दधुर्नैव तद्वाक्यं कर्मणा तस्य शङ्किताः।।4.57.8।।


हरियूथपाः leaders among monkeys, शोकात् owing to grief, भ्रष्टस्वरमपि even if he had his voice had been choked, तद्वाक्यम् his words, श्रुत्वा on hearing, तस्य his, कर्मणा by the intention, शङ्किताः suspicious, नैव श्रद्दधुः they did not believe.

The leaders among monkeys did not trust his words even though his voice was choked with grief. They suspected his intentions.
ते प्रायमुपविष्टास्तु दृष्ट्वा गृध्रं प्लवङ्गमाः।

चक्रुर्बुद्धिं तदा रौद्रां सर्वान्नो भक्षयिष्यति।।4.57.9।।


प्रायम् fasting unto death, उपविष्टाः seated, ते प्लवङ्गमाः those monkeys, गृध्रम् vulture, दृष्ट्वा after seeing, तदा then, नः us, सर्वान् all, भक्षयिष्यति he will eat away, रौद्रम् terribly, बुद्धिम् in their minds, चक्रुः thought .

On seeing the vulture, the monkeys fasting unto death got a terrible thought in their
minds that the vulture might eat them.
सर्वथा प्रायमासीनान्यदि नो भक्षयिष्यति।

कृतकृत्या भविष्यामः क्षिप्रं सिद्धिमितो गताः।।4.57.10।।


प्रायम् आसीनान् welcoming death, नः us, भक्षयिष्यति यदि if he eats us away, इतः from here, क्षिप्रम् soon, सिद्धिम् accomplishment, गताः attained, सर्वथा by all means, कृतकृत्याः we succeed in our objective, भविष्यामः we will be.

'Since we wish to die, we will be accomplishing our objective successfully if he eats us soon'.
एतां बुद्धिं ततश्चक्रुस्सर्वे ते वानरर्षभाः।

अवतार्य गिरेश्शृङ्गाद्गृध्रमाहाङ्गदस्तदा।।4.57.11।।


ततः then, सर्वे all, ते वानरर्षाभाः those heroic monkeys, एताम् this way, बुद्धिम् thought, चक्रुः they entertained, तदा then, अङ्गदः Angada, गृध्रम् vulture, गिरेः mountain's, शृङ्गात् from the peak, अवतार्य having brought down, आह he said.

Thus thought the chief among the monkeys. Angada having helped the vulture come down the mountain peak, said:
बभूवर्क्षरजा नाम वानरेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्।

ममार्यः पार्थिवः पक्षिन् धार्मिक स्तस्य चात्मजौ।।4.57.12।

सुग्रीवश्चैव वाली च पुत्रावोघबलावुभौ।

लोकेविश्रुतकर्माभूद्राजा वाली पिता मम।।4.57.13।।


पक्षिन् O bird, प्रतापवान् powerful, वानरेन्द्रः king of monkeys, मम my, आर्यः revered ancestor, ऋक्षरजा Riksharaja's, नाम named, पार्थिवः a king, बभूव was, ओघबलौ strong like flood water, उभौ both, सुग्रीवश्चैव Sugriva, वाली च and Vali, तस्य his, धार्मिकौ righteous, आत्मजौ पुत्रौ his
two sons, मम my, पिता father, वाली Vali, लोके in the world, विश्रुतकर्मा famous by his great deeds, राजा king, अभूत् was.

'O powerful bird my revered grandfather Riksharaja was a glorious king of monkeys. He had two sons called Sugriva and Vali.Both were strong like floodwaters. My father Vali was wellknown in this world for his remarkable deeds.
राजा कृत्स्नस्य जगत इक्ष्वाकूणां महारथः।

रामो दाशरथिः श्रीमान्प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम्।।4.57.14।।

लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा वैदेह्या चापि भार्यया।

पितुर्निदेशनिरतो धर्म्यं पन्थानमाश्रितः।।4.57.15।।


इक्ष्वाकूणाम् of Ikshvaku race, महारथः great warrior, कृत्स्नस्य of the entire, जगतः world, राजा king, श्रीमान् illustrious, दाशरथिः Dasaratha's son, रामः Rama's, पितुः father's, निदेशनिरतः obeying his command, धर्म्यम् righteous, पन्थानम् path, आश्रितः seeking, भ्रात्रा with his brother, लक्ष्मणेन सह along with Lakshmana, भार्यया with his wife, वैदेह्या चापि and with Vaidehi, दण्डकावनम् forest of Dandaka, प्रविष्टः he entered.

'The great warrior Rama is the son of Dasaratha, the scion of the Ikshvaku race and the king of the entire world. He entered Dandaka forest along with his brother Lakshmana and consort Vaidehi obeying his father's command following a righteous path.
तस्य भार्या जनस्थानाद्रावणेन हृता बलात्।

रामस्य तु पितुर्मित्रं जटायुर्नाम गृध्रराट्।।4.57.16।।

ददर्श सीतां वैदेहीं ह्रियमाणां विहायसा।


तस्य his, भार्या wife, जनस्थानात् from Janasthana, रावणेन by Ravana, बलात् with force, हृता is abducted, रामस्य Rama's, पितुः father's, मित्रम् friend, जटायुर्नाम called Jatayu, गृध्रराट् king of vultures, विहायसा flying through aerial region, ह्रियमाणाम् forcibly taken away, वैदेहीम् princess of Videha, सीताम् Sita, ददर्श he saw.

'His wife was abducted from Janasthana by Ravana. The king of vultures Jatayu, a friend of Rama's father observed princess of Videha, being forcibly carried away through the aerial region.
रावणं विरथं कृत्वा स्थापयित्वा च मैथिलीम्।

परिश्रान्तश्च वृद्धश्च रावणेन हतो रणे।।4.57.17।।


रावणम् Ravana, विरथम् deprived of the chariot, कृत्वा after defeating, मैथिलीं च and Maithili, स्थापयित्वा putting her at a place, परिश्रान्तश्च exhausted one, वृद्धश्च and old one also, रणे in combat, रावणेन by Ravana, हतः was killed.

'Jatayu destroyed Ravana's aerial chariot and put Maithili in a (safe) place. But being old and exhausted, he was killed in a combat by Ravana.
एवं गृध्रो हतस्तेन रावणेन बलीयसा।

संस्कृतश्चापि रामेण गतश्च गतिमुत्तमाम्।।4.57.18।।


गृध्रः vulture, एवम् that way, बलीयसा by a stronger one, तेन रावणेन by that Ravana, हतः slain, रामेण by Rama, संस्कृतश्चासि cremated according to rites, उत्तमां गतिम् supreme abode, गतश्च reached.

'Thus the vulture was slain by Ravana who was stronger. Cremated by Rama and his last rites performed, he reached the supreme heavenly abode. (It was the luck of Jatayu, unlike Dasaratha, to be cremated by Rama.)
ततो मम पितृव्येण सुग्रीवेण महात्मना।

चकार राघवस्सख्यं सोऽवधीत्पितरं मम।।4.57.19।।


ततः then, राघवः Rama, मम my, पितृव्येण with my father's brother, महात्मना by the great self, सुग्रीवेण with Sugriva, सख्यम् friendship, चकार made, सः he, Rama, पितरम् my father, अवधीत् killed.

'Then Rama made friendship with my father's brother, great self Sugriva and killed my father.
मम पित्रा विरुद्धो हि सुग्रीवस्सचिवैस्सह।

निहत्य वालिनं रामस्ततस्तमभिषेचयत्।।4.57.20।।


सुग्रीवः Sugriva, सचिवैः सह along with ministers, मम my, पित्रा with my father's, विरुद्धः was hostile, रामः Rama, वालिनम् Vali, निहत्य having killed, ततः then, तम् him, अभिषेचयत् installed as king.

'Sugriva and his ministers developed hostility towards my father. Rama killed Vali and installed Sugriva as king.
स राज्ये स्थापितस्तेन सुग्रीवो वानराधिपः।

राजा वानरमुख्यानां येन प्रस्थापिता वयम्।।4.57.21।।


तेन by him, राज्ये in the kingdom, स्थापितः established, वानरेश्वरः lord of monkeys, सः सुग्रीवः that Sugriva, वानरमुख्यानाम् of all the great monkeys, राजा king, तेन by him, वयम् we, प्रस्थापिताः we have been sent.

'Sugriva, the monkey king, was installed by him and crowned as king of the monkeys. Sugriva is the king of all great monkeys. We have been sent by him in search of Sita.
एवं रामप्रयुक्तास्तु मार्गमाणास्ततस्ततः।

वैदेहीं नाधिगच्छामो रात्रौ सूर्यप्रभामिव।।4.57.22।।


एवम् thus, रामप्रयुक्ताः at the behest of Rama, ततस्ततः here and there, मार्गमाणाः while we searched, रात्रौ at night, सूर्यप्रभामिव like the Sun's radiance, वैदेहीम् Vaidehi, नाधिगच्छामः could not reach.

find her just as one fails to see Sun's radiance at night.
ते वयं दण्डकारण्यं विचित्य सुसमाहिताः।।4.57.23।।

अज्ञानात्तु प्रविष्टास्स्म धर्मिण्या विवृतं बिलम्।


ते वयम् all of us, सुसमाहिताः attentive ones, दण्डकारण्यम् forest of Dandaka, विचित्य having searched, अज्ञानात् unknowingly, धर्मिण्याः of the ascetic, विवृतम् hole, बिलम् cave, प्रविष्टाः स्म we entered.

'Having searched the forest of Dandaka carefully, we all entered this large hole unknowingly.
मयस्य मायाविहितं तद्बिलं च विचिन्वताम्।।4.57.24।।

व्यतीतस्तत्र नो मासो यो राज्ञा समयः कृतः।


मयस्य by Maya's, मायाविहितम् built by his magic, तत् that, बिलम् cave, विचिन्वताम् while we were searching, नः for us, यः who, राज्ञा by the king, समयः time limit, कृतः fixed, मासः one month, तत्र there, व्यतीतः was exceeded.

ते वयं कपिराजस्य सर्वे वचनकारिणः।।4.57.25।।

कृतां संस्थामतिक्रान्ता भयात्प्रायमुपास्महे।


कपिराजस्य king Sugriva's, वचनकारिणः obedient, सर्वे all, ते वयम् of us, कृताम् fixed, संस्थाम् condition, अतिक्रान्ताः we exceeded, भयात् out of fear, प्रायम् death, उपास्महे fasting unto death.

'Because of the fear of king Sugriva all of us have decided to stay here fasting unto death,since we have exceeded the time fixed for us (to find Sita).
क्रुद्धे तस्मिंस्तु काकुत्स्थे सुग्रीवे च सलक्ष्मणे।।4.57.26।।

गतानामपि सर्वेषां तत्र नो नास्ति जीवितम्।


तस्मिन् when such, काकुत्स्थे Rama of Kakutstha dynasty, सलक्ष्मणे along with Lakshmana, सुग्रीवे च and when Sugriva, क्रुद्धे when he is angry, तत्र there, गता नामपि even if we go, नः for us, सर्वेषाम् for all of us, जीवितम् life, नास्ति not there.

'Even if we go back, there is no hope of our survival before the anger of Sugriva and of Rama and Lakshmana of the Kakutstha dynasty.'
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे सप्तपञ्चशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends of fiftyseventh sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramyana composed by sage Valmiki.