Sloka & Translation

[Samapati narrates his story to the monkeys says he saw Sita being carried off by Ravana to Lanka.]

इत्युक्तः करुणं वाक्यं वानरैस्त्यक्तजीवितैः।

सबाष्पो वानरान्गृध्रः प्रत्युवाच महास्वनः।।4.58.1।।


त्यक्तजीवितैः who had given up hope of life, वानरैः by monkeys, इति thus, करुणम् pathetic, वाक्यम् words, उक्तः spoken, महास्वनः loudvoiced, गृध्रः vulture, सबाष्पः with tears, वानरान् the monkeys, प्रत्युवाच replied.

On hearing the pathetic words from the monkeys who had given up hope of life, the loudvoiced vulture wailing replied:
यवीयान्मम भ्राता जटायुर्नाम वानराः।

यमाख्यात हतं युद्धे रावणेन बलीयसा।।4.58.2।।


वानराः O monkeys, यम् whom, बलीयसा by a strong, रावणेन by Ravana, युद्धे in the combat, हतम् killed, आख्यात you told, जटायुः नाम called Jatayu, सः he is, मम my, यवीयान् younger, भ्राता brother.

'O monkeys, the one you said to have been killed by mighty Ravana in a combat was my younger brother, Jatayu.
वृद्धभावादपक्षत्वाच्छृण्वंस्तदपि मर्षये।

न हि मे शक्तिरस्त्यद्य भ्रातुर्वैरविमोक्षणे।।4.58.3।।


तत् that, श्रुण्वन् अपि even after hearing , वृद्धभावात् due to old age, अपक्षत्वात् since I have no wings, मे to me, अद्य now, भ्रातुः brother's, वैरविमोक्षणे to avenge the death, शक्तिः energy, नास्ति हि I do not have.

'Even after I have heard this, I cannot avenge my brother's death as I am old, I have no wings, and I have no energy enough (to fight).
पुरा वृत्रवधे वृत्ते परस्परजयैषिणौ।

आदित्यमुपयातौ स्वो ज्वलन्तं रश्मिमालिनम्।।4.58.4।।


पुरा in olden days, वृत्रवधे at the time of the death of Vrutra, वृत्ते परस्पर when Vrutra and Indra, जयैषिणौ wishing to win, ज्वलन्तम् blazing, रश्मिमालिनम् with a garland of beams, आदित्यम् to Sun, उपयातौ both went, स्वः we both.

'In olden days, when Indra killed Vrutra we (Jatayu and I) seeking to challenge him reached the Sun blazing with a garland of beams.
आवृत्त्याऽकाशमार्गे तु जवेन स्म गतौ भृशम्।

मध्यं प्राप्ते दिनकरे जटायुरवसीदति।।4.58.5।।


आकाशमार्गे in the sky, आवृत्य surrounding, भृशम् violently, जवेन at high speed, गतौ स्म both of us reached, मध्यम् in the midst, प्राप्ते when reached, दिनकरे when the Sun, जटायुः Jatayu's, अवसीदति became weak.

'Flying in the sky at a violently high speed, we reached the meridian of the Sun when, unable to bear the heat, Jatayu became weak.
तमहं भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यरश्मिभिरर्दितम्।

पक्षाभ्यां छादयामास स्नेहात्परमविह्वलः।।4.58.6।।


भ्रातरम् my brother, तम् him, सूर्यरश्मिभिः with Sun's radiance, अर्दितम् tormented, दृष्ट्वा on seeing, परमविह्वल: overwhelmed, अहम् I, स्नेहात् lovingly, पक्षाभ्याम् with both my wings, छादयामास I covered.

'Seeing my brother tormented due to the Sun's radiance I was overwhelmed with
grief. Out of love I covered him with both my wings.
निर्दग्धपक्षः पतितो विन्ध्येऽहं वानरर्षभाः।

अहमस्मिन्वसन्भ्रातुः प्रवृत्तिं नोपलक्षये।।4.58.7।।


वानरर्षभाः O bulls among monkeys, अहम् I am, निर्दग्धपत्रः with burnt wings, विन्ध्ये on Vindhya, पतितः dropped down, अस्मिन् in this place, वसन् while I lived, अहम् I, भ्रातुः brother's, प्रवृत्तिम् news, नोपलक्षये not known to me.

'O bulls among monkeys, consequently my wings were burnt and I dropped down on Vindhya. Here I have been living, knowing not my brother's whereabouts.'
जटायुषस्त्वेवमुक्तो भ्रात्रा सम्पातिना तदा।

युवराजो महाप्राज्ञः प्रत्युवाचाङ्गदस्ततः।।4.58.8।।


तदा then, जटायुषः Jatayu's, भ्रात्रा by brother, सम्पातिना by Sampathi, एवम् in that way, उक्तः having been told, महाप्राज्ञः highly learned one, युवराजः heir apparent, अङ्गदः Angada, ततः then, प्रत्युवाच replied.

To these words of Jatayu's brother, Sampati, Angada, the learned heir apparent replied:
जटायुषो यदि भ्राता श्रुतं ते गदितं मया।

आख्या हि यदि जानासि निलयं तस्य रक्षसः।।4.58.9।।


ते your, गदितम् word, मया by me, श्रुतम् is heard, जटायुषः Jatayu's, भ्राता यदि if you are brother, जानासि यदि if you know, तस्य his, रक्षसः demon's निलयम् residence, आख्याहि tell.

'I have heard you. If you are the brother of Jatayu, tell us about the abode of that demon if you know.
अदीर्घदर्शिनं तं वै रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्।

अन्तिके यदि वा दूरे यदि जानासि शंस नः।।4.58.10।।


अदीर्घदर्शिनम् one who is not farsighted, राक्षसाधिपम् king of demons, तं रावणम् that Ravana, अन्तिके near, दूरे यदि वा far away, जानासि यदि if you know, नः us, शंस tell.

'Tell us about Ravana, king of the demons who is unaware of the consequences. If you know his residence, tell us if it is near or far.'
ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा ज्येष्ठो भ्राता जटायुषः।

आत्मानुरूपं वचनं वानरान्सम्प्रहर्षयन्।।4.58.11।।


ततः then, जटायुषः Jatayu's, ज्येष्ठः भ्राता elder brother, महातेजाः very glorious, वानरान् monkeys, अत्मानुरूपम् in a befitting manner, वचनम् these words, अब्रवीत् said, सम्प्रहर्षयन् while pleasing them.

Then Jatayu's elder brother, the glorious Sampati, said these pleasing, befitting words:
निर्दग्धपक्षो गृध्रोऽहं हीनवीर्य: प्लवङ्गमाः।

वाङ्मात्रेण तु रामस्य करिष्ये साह्यमुत्तमम्।।4.58.12।।


प्लवङ्गमाः O monkeys, निर्दग्धपक्षः my wings are totally burnt, हीनवीर्यः my strength is reduced, गृध्रः vulture, अहम् I, वाङ्मात्रेणा only by my words, रामस्य to Rama, उत्तमम् substantial, साह्यम् help, करिष्ये I will do.

'O monkeys I am a vulture. My wings are burnt and my strength is depleted. The only substantial help I can render Rama is through my words.
जानामि वारुणान्लोकान्विष्णोस्त्रै विक्रमानपि।

महासुरविमर्दन्वा श्च ह्यमृतस्य च मन्थनम्।।4.58.13।।


वारुणान् Varuna's, लोकान् world, त्रैविक्रमान् three strides, विष्णोः Visnu's, लोकान् worlds, महासुरविमर्दान् the fricton between gods and demons, अमृतस्य for the nectar , च मन्थनम् and the churning, जानामि I know, अपि indeed.

'I know Varuna's worlds(seas and oceans) and all the three worlds measured by three strides by Vamana. Indeed I also know about the friction between the great gods and demons and the churning of the ocean for nectar.
रामस्य यदिदं कार्यं कर्तव्यं प्रथमं मया।

जरया च हृतं तेजः प्राणाश्च शिथिला मम।।4.58.14।।


रामस्य Rama's, यत् if, इदं कार्यम् this task, मया by me, प्रथमम् first, कर्तव्यम् duty, हृतम् should be done, प्राणाश्च vitality, शिथिलाः reduced, मम my, जरया due to old age, तेज: strength.

'Rama's work is my primary duty. (But) my strength is drained by age and I have lost my vitality.
तरुणी रूपसम्पन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता।

ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना।।4.58.15।।

क्रोशन्ती राम रामेति लक्ष्मणेति च भामिनी।

भूषणान्यपविध्यन्ती गात्राणि च विधुन्वती।।4.58.16।।


दुरात्मना by the evilminded, रावणेन by Ravana, ह्रियमाणा being borne away, तरुणी young lady, रूपसम्पन्ना beautiful in appearance, सर्वाभरणभूषिता adorned with all kinds of jewels, रामरामेति calling out 'Rama, Rama', लक्ष्मणेति च and calling out 'Lakshmana', क्रोशन्ती crying aloud, भूषणानि ornaments, अपविध्यन्ती thrown down, गात्राणि limbs,विधून्वती wriggling to get out, भामिनी a dainty lady, मया by me, दृष्टा was seen.

'I saw a young lady of beautiful appearance, adorned with all kinds of ornaments borne away by the evilminded Ravana. That dainty lady was calling out, 'O Rama, O Lakshmana' and was crying aloud. She was throwing away her ornaments and was
wriggling to get out of Ravana's grip.
सूर्यप्रभेव शैलाग्रे तस्याः कौशेयमुत्तमम्।

असिते राक्षसे भाति यथा वा तटिदम्बुदे।।4.58.17।।


असिते in dark, राक्षसे on the demon, तस्याः her, उत्तमम् fine, कौशेयम् silken cloth, शैलाग्रे on the peak of the mountain, सूर्यप्रभेव like the radiance of Sun, अम्बुदे in the dark cloud, यथा like that, वा तटित् यथा like lightning, भाति shining.

'Her fine silk garment was shining like the radiance of the Sun on the mountain peak, like lightning against the dark cloud. (That was Ravana).
तां तु सीतामहं मन्ये रामस्य परिकीर्तनात्।

श्रूयतां मे कथयतो निलयं तस्य रक्षसः।।4.58.18।।


रामस्य Rama's, परिकीर्तनात् was uttering, ताम् her, सीताम् Sita, अहम् I, मन्ये I think, तस्य his, रक्षसः demon's, निलयम् abode, कथयतः described, मे by me, श्रूयताम् you may listen.

'Since she was uttering Rama's name I think she is Sita. (Now) I will tell you about the demon's abode. Listen
पुत्रो विश्रवस स्साक्षाद्भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च।

अध्यास्ते नगरीं लङ्कां रावणो नाम राक्षसः।।4.58.19।।


विश्रवसः Vishravas's, पुत्रः son, साक्षात् real, वैश्रवणस्य Vyshravana's, भ्राता brother, रावणो नाम called Ravana, राक्षसः rakshasa, लङ्कां नगरीम् city of Lanka, अध्यास्ते resides.

'He is Vishrava's son and halfbrother of Vaishravana. His name is Ravana and he resides in the city of Lanka.
इतो द्वीपस्समुद्रस्य सम्पूर्णे शतयोजने।

तस्मिन्लङ्कापुरी रम्या निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा।।4.58.20।।


इतः from here, सम्पूर्णे when completed, शतयोजने a hundred yojanas, द्वीपः island, तस्मिन् in it, विश्वकर्मणा by Visvakarma, निर्मिता built, रम्या beautiful, लङ्कापुरी capital of Lanka.

'The beautiful city of Lanka is an island, a hundred yojanas away from here.It was built by Visvakarma.
जाम्बूनदमयैर्द्वारैश्चित्रैः काञ्चनवेदिकैः।

प्रासादैर्हेमवर्णैश्च महद्भिः सुसमा कृता।।4.58.21।।

प्राकारेणार्कवर्णेन महता च समान्विता।


जाम्बूनदमयैः made of gold, चित्रैः wonderful, द्वारैः doors, काञ्चनवेदिकैः with golden platforms, हेमवर्णैश्च of golden colour, महद्भिः with a huge, प्रासादैः mansions, सुसमाः uniformly built, आवृता covered, अर्कवर्णेन in the colour of Sun light, महता प्राकारेण with a tall boundary wall, समन्विता endowed.

'The city has golden gates, golden platforms, huge, goldencoloured, uniformly built mansions surrounded by a tall boundary wall of the colour of sunlight.
तस्यां वसति वैदेही दीना कौशेयवासिनी।।4.58.22।।

रावणान्तःपुरे रुद्धा राक्षसीभिस्सुरक्षिता।

जनकस्यात्मजां राज्ञस्तत्र द्रक्ष्यथ मैथिलीम्।।4.58.23।।


दीना dejected, कौशेयवासिनी lady wearing silk garment, वैदेही Vaidehi, तस्याम् in the city, रावणान्तःपुरे in the harem, रुद्धा confined, राक्षसीभिः by demonesses, सुरक्षिता well protected, वसति lives, तस्याम् in that city, राज्ञः the king's, जनकस्य Janaka's, आत्मजाम् daughter, मैथिलीम् Maithili, द्रक्ष्यथ you will see.

'You will see in the city of Lanka, the princess from Videha, daughter of Janaka, a picture of dejection, robed in silk, confined in the harem of Ravana, wellprotected by
demonesses.
लङ्कायामथ गुप्तायां सागरेण समन्ततः।

सम्प्राप्य सागरस्यान्तं सम्पूर्णं शतयोजनम्।।4.58.24।।

आसाद्य दक्षिणं तीरं ततो द्रक्ष्यथ रावणम्।

तत्रैव त्वरिताः क्षिप्रं विक्रमध्वं प्लवङ्गमाः।।4.58.25।।


प्लवङ्गमाः O monkeys, सम्पूर्णम् a complete, शतयोजनम् hundred yojanas, सागरस्य of the sea, अन्तम् end, सम्प्राप्य having reached, अथ then, दक्षिणं तीरम् southern coast, आसाद्य on reaching, ततः then, समन्ततः all around, सागरेण by the sea, गुप्तायाम् protected, लङ्कायाम् at Lanka, रावणम् Ravana, द्रक्ष्यथ will see, त्वरिताः swiftly, तत्रैव there, क्षिप्रम् at once, विक्रमध्वम् prove your strength.

'O monkeys traverse a hundred yojanas across the sea. On reaching the southern coast you will be able to see Ravana's Lanka defended and surrounded by the sea. Now proceed swiftly and prove your strength.
ज्ञानेन खलु पश्यामि दृष्ट्वा प्रत्यागमिष्यथ।

आद्यः पन्थाः कुलिङ्गानां ये चान्ये धान्यजीविनः।।4.58.26।।

द्वितीयो बलिभोजानां ये च वृक्षफलाशिनः।

भासास्तृतीयं गच्छन्ति क्रौञ्चाश्च कुररैस्सह।।4.58.27।।

श्येनाश्चतुर्थं गच्छन्ति गृध्रा गच्छन्ति पञ्चमम्।


ज्ञानेन by intuition, पश्यामि खलु I can see, दृष्टवा seeing, प्रत्यागमिष्यथ you will return, कुलिङ्गानाम् of sparrows, अन्ये and other, धान्यजीविनः living on grain, ये those, आद्यः first, पन्थाः path, बलिभोजानाम् crows living on the offerings of food, वृक्षफलाशनाः eating the fruits of trees, ये those, द्वितीयः second, भासाः cocks, कुररैस्सह along with cranes, क्रौञ्चाश्च and Kraunchas, तृतीयम् third, गच्छन्ति move about, श्येनाः hawks and falcons, चतुर्थम् fourth,
गच्छन्ति move about, गृध्राः vultures, पञ्चमम् fifth, गच्छन्ति moving.

'By intuition I know you would see Sita and return. On the first plane you will see sparrows and birds which live on grain. On the second, you will see crows living on the food offered to the dead and birds living on the fruits of trees, and then cocks, cranes and kraunchas moving on the third plane, on the fourth, hawks and falcons and on the fifth, vultures.
बलवीर्योपपन्नानां रूपयौवनशालिनाम्।।4.58.28।।

षष्ठस्तु पन्था हंसानां वैनतेयगतिः परा।

वैनतेयाच्च नो जन्म सर्वेषां वानरर्षभाः।।4.58.29।।


वानरर्षभाः O bulls among monkeys बलवीर्योपपन्नानाम् endowed with strength and vigour, रूपयौवनशालिनाम् with beauty and youth, हंसानाम् of swans, षष्ठः the sixth, पन्थाः path, वैनतेयगतिः the path of Garuda, परा is over that, सर्वेषाम् of all, नः of us, जन्म birth, वैनतेयात् from the son of Vinata (Garuda).

'O bulls among monkeys swans blessed with strength, vigour, beauty and youth move in the sixth region. Beyond, on the seventh plane, you will see the descendants of Garuda.
इहस्थोऽहं प्रपश्यामि रावणं जानकीं तथा।

अस्माकमपि सौवर्णं दिव्यं चक्षुर्बलं तथा।।4.58.30।।


इहस्थः from here, अहम् I am, रावणम् Ravana, तथा so also, जानकीम् Janaki also, प्रपश्यामि I can see, अस्माकमपि for us also, सौवर्णम् golden, दिव्यम् divine, चक्षुः vision, तथा so also, बलम् power.

'From here I see Ravana and Janaki. We (vultures) have a divine golden vision and great power.
तस्मादाहारवीर्येण निसर्गेण च वानराः।

आयोजनशतात्साग्राद्वयं पश्याम नित्यशः।।4.58.31।।


वानराः O monkeys, तस्मात् therefore, वयम् we, आहारवीर्येण with the strength of our food, निसर्गेण च and by nature, साग्रात् from the edge, आयोजनशतात् up to a hundred yojanas, नित्यशः always, पश्याम we can see.

'O monkeys therefore, by the strength of food and by nature we can always see beyond a hundred yojanas from this edge.
अस्माकं विहिता वृत्तिर्निसर्गेण च दूरतः।

विहिता पादमूले तु वृत्तिश्चरणयोधिनाम्।।4.58.32।।


अस्माकम् for us, वृत्ति: movement, निसर्गेण by nature, दूरतः at a distance, विहिता is fixed (by destiny), चरणयोधिनाम् for those fighting on foot, पादमूले at their feet, वृत्ति: movement, विहिता is fixed.

'Our movement and vision naturally extends to distant places. For those fighting on foot, the movement is restricted to the extent of foot movement.
गर्हितं तु कृतं कर्म येन स्म पशिताशिना।

प्रतीकार्यं च मे तस्य वैरं भ्रातृकृतं भवेत्।।4.58.33।।


येन by whomsoever, गर्हितम् despised, कर्म action, कृतम् done, तस्य पिशिताशिनाः by that flesheater (demon), भ्रातृकृतं due to my brother's, वैरं enmity, च and, प्रतिकार्यम् deserves retaliation, भवेत् it will be.

उपायो दृश्यतां कश्चिल्लङ्घने लवणाम्भसः।

अभिगम्य तु वैदेहीं समृद्धार्था गमिष्यथ।।4.58.34।।


लवणाम्भसः of the salt ocean, लङ्घने in crossing, कश्चित् some, उपायः means, दृश्यताम् you may look for, वैदेहीम् Vaidehi, अभिगम्य after approaching her, समृद्धार्थाः as accomplished ones, गमिष्यथ you will return.

'Look out for some means to cross the salty ocean. You will see Vaidehi, and return, your mission accomplished.
समुद्रं नेतुमिच्छामि भवद्भिर्वरुणालयम्।

प्रदास्याम्युदकं भ्रातुस्स्वर्गतस्य महात्मनः।।4.58.35।।


भवद्भिः by you, वरुणालयम् abode of Varuna, समुद्रम् ocean, नेतुम् to lead, इच्छामि I intend, स्वर्गतस्य for him who is in heaven, महात्मनः of the great soul, भ्रातुः to my brother, उदकम् oblation, प्रदास्यामि I will offer.

'Take me to the ocean, the abode of Varuna. I intend to offer oblation to my brother, a great soul who is in heaven.'
ततो नीत्वा तु तं देशं तीरं नदनदीपतेः।

निर्दग्धपक्षं सम्पातिं वानरास्सुमहौजसः।।4.58.36।।

पुनः प्रत्यानयित्वा च तं देशं पतगेश्वरम्।

बभूवुर्वानरा हृष्टाः प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य ते।।4.58.37।।


सुमहौजसः mightiest, वानराः monkeys, निर्दग्धपक्षम् whose wings were totally burnt, सम्पातिम् Sampati, ततः then, नदनदीपतेः of lord of rivers, तीरं shore, तं देशम् that place, नीत्वा after taking, पतगेश्वरम् the king of vultures, पुनः again, प्रत्यानयित्वा after bringing him back, वानराः monkeys, प्रवृत्तिम् all the information, उपलभ्य having obtained, हृष्टाः pleased, ते बभूवु they were.

Th mightiest of monkeys carried Sampati, whose wings were totally burnt, to the sea shore and after he had offered oblations took him back to the same place. Having obtained all information from the king of vultures the monkeys were very happy.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fiftyeighth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.