Sloka & Translation

[Sugriva becomes perturbed seeing Rama and Lakshmana --- gives directions to Hanuman to find out their details]

tau tu dṛṣṭvā mahātmānau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau.

varāyudhadharau vīrau sugrīvaśśaṅkitō.bhavat4.2.1৷৷


varāyudhadharau wielders of best of weapons, vīrau heroes, mahātmānau great souls, bhrātarau the two brothers, tau rāmalakṣmaṇau Rama and Lakshmana, dṛṣṭvā seeing, sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, śaṅkitaḥ doubtful, abhūt became

On seeing the two great souls, heroic Rama and Lakshmana wielding the best of weapons, Sugriva was alarmed.
udvignahṛdayassarvā diśassamavalōkayan.

na vyatiṣṭhata kasmiṅściddēśē vānarapuṅgavaḥ. 4.2.2৷৷


vānarapuṅgavaḥ best of vanaras, udvignahṛdayaḥ agitated at heart, sarvāḥ all, diśaḥ directions, samavalōkayan looked at, kasmiṅcaśit dēśē at one place, na vyatiṣṭhata not able to stay

Agitated at heart, the best of vanaras started in all directions and could not settle down at one spot.
naiva cakrē manaḥ sthātuṅ vīkṣamāṇō mahābalau.

kapēḥ paramabhītasya cittaṅ vyavasasāda ha4.2.3৷৷


mahābalau very strong persons, vīkṣamāṇaḥ beholding, sthātum to be steady, manaḥ to his mind, naiva cakrē did not, paramabhītasya much frightened, kapēḥ monkey's, cittam mind, vyavasasāda ha sunk

Beholding the two strong heroes, the monkey (Sugriva) was very much frightened. His
heart sank.
cintayitvā sa dharmātmā vimṛśya gurulāghavam.

sugrīvaḥ paramōdvignassarvairanucaraissaha4.2.4৷৷


dharmātmā righteous, saḥ sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, cintayitvā reflecting, gurulāghavam relative importance of consequences, vimṛśya analysed, sarvaiḥ with all, anucaraiḥ saha with his followers, paramōdvignaḥ highly agitated

Righteous Sugriva, became highly agitated, deliberated with all his followers on the pros and cons of the situation.
tatassa sacivēbhyastu sugrīvaḥ plavagādhipaḥ.

śaśaṅsa paramōdvignaḥ paśyaṅstau rāmalakṣmaṇau4.2.5৷৷


tataḥ then, plavagādhipaḥ lord of monkeys, saḥ sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, tau rāmalakṣmaṇau both Rama and Lakshmana, paśyan seeing, paramōdvignaḥ extremely terrified, sacivēbhyaḥ to his ministers, śaśaṅsa said

Sugriva, lord of monkeys, extremely agitated at the sight of both Rama and Lakshmana, spoke to his minister:
ētau vanamidaṅ durgaṅ vālipraṇihitau dhruvam.

chadmanā cīravasanau pracarantāvihāgatau4.2.6৷৷


cīravasanau both wearing bark garments, chadmanā in cognito, durgam to a difficult place, idaṅ vanam this forest, pracarantau both wandering, ētau these two, vālipraṇihitau both sent by Vali, iha here, āgatau have come, dhruvam surely

tatassugrīvasacivā dṛṣṭvā paramadhanvinau.

jagmurgiritaṭāttasmādanyacchikharamuttamam4.2.7৷৷


tataḥ then, sugrīvasacivāḥ Sugriva's counsellers, paramadhanvinau supreme bowmen, dṛṣṭvā seeing, tasmāt from that, giritaṭāt that mountain, uttamam great, anyat another, śikharam mountain peak, jagmuḥ went

On seeing these supreme bowmen, Sugriva's counsellers left for the peak of another mountain.
tē kṣipramadhigamyātha yūthapā yūthaparṣabham.

harayō vānaraśrēṣṭhaṅ parivāryōpatasthirē4.2.8৷৷


atha then, yūthapāḥ leaders of troops, tē harayaḥ those monkeys, kṣipram quickly, adhigamya having reached, yūthaparṣabham leaders of the group, vānaraśrēṣṭham best of monkeys, parivārya having surrounded, upatasthirē stood

The leaders of the monkey troops reached Sugriva, the lord of monkeys, in no time and stood surrounding him.
ēkamēkāyanagatāḥ plavamānā girērgirim.

prakampayantō vēgēna girīṇāṅ śikharāṇyapi4.2.9৷৷


ēvam in that manner, girēḥ from one mountain, girim to another mountain, plavamānāḥ jumping, vēgēna swiftly, girīṇām of the mountains, śikharāṇi api tops also, prakampayantaḥ shaking, ēkāyanagatāḥ one place.

Jumping from one mountain to another swiftly and shaking the mountain tops, the monkeys reached one spot.
tataśśākhāmṛgāssarvē plavamānā mahābalāḥ.

babhañjuśca nagāṅstatra puṣpitāndurgasaṅśritān4.2.10৷৷


tataḥ then, plavamānāḥ jumping, mahābalāḥ extremely strong, sarvē all, śākhāmṛgāḥ monkeys, tatra there, durgam saṅśritān near hilly side, puṣpitān fully blossomed, nagān trees, babhañjuḥ shattered

Then the mighty monkeys jumping on the trees in full bloom shook them.
āplavantō harivarāssarvatastaṅ mahāgirim.

mṛgamārjāraśārdūlāṅstrāsayantō yayustadā4.2.11৷৷


harivarāḥ the great monkeys, tam them, mahāgirim great mountain, sarvataḥ all over, āplavantaḥ jumping, tadā then, mṛgamārjāraśārdūlān deer, wild cats and tigers, trāsayantaḥ scaring, yayuḥ went

The great monkeys went on leaping all over the great (Rishyamuka) mountain, scaring the deer, wild-cats and tigers.
tatassugrīvasacivāḥ parvatēndraṅ samāśritāḥ.

saṅgamya kapimukhyēna sarvē prāñjalaya sthitāḥ৷৷4.2.12৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, sarvē all, sugrīvasacivāḥ Sugriva's ministers, parvatēndraṅ king of mountains (Rishyamuka), samāhitāḥ collected together, kapimukhyēna with the chief of monkeys, saṅgamya after assembling, prāñjalayaḥ with folded palms in reverence, sthitāḥ stood.

Thereafter, all the ministers of Sugriva assembled together on the king of mountains and stood (in front of Sugriva), with folded hands.
tatastaṅ bhayasaṅvignaṅ vālikilbiṣaśaṅkitam.

uvāca hanumānvākyaṅ sugrīvaṅ vākyakōvidaḥ4.2.13৷৷


tataḥ then, vākyakōvidaḥ eloquent in speech, hanumān Hanuman, bhayasaṅvignaṅ shaken with fear, vālikilbiṣaśaṅkitam suspecting that Vali might have sent, sugrīvam Sugriva, vākyam these
words, uvāca spoke

Suspecting that Vali might have sent them (Rama and Lakshmana), Hanuman, skilful in communication, said to Sugriva who was trembling in fear:
sambhramastyajyatāmēṣa sarvairvālikṛtē mahān.

malayō.yaṅ girivarō bhayaṅ nēhāsti vālinaḥ4.2.14৷৷


sarvaiḥ by all, vālikṛtē due to Vali, ēṣaḥ this, mahān great, sambhramaḥ agitation, tyajyatām give up, ayam this, girivaraḥ great mountain, malayaḥ Malaya, iha here, vālinaḥ from Vali, bhayam fear, nāsti not there.

'This is a great mountain range of Malaya and there is no fear for Vali here. Give up this fear.
yasmādudvignacētāstvaṅ pradrutō haripuṅgava.

taṅ krūradarśanaṅ krūraṅ nēha paśyāmi vālinam4.2.15৷৷


haripuṅgava O chief of monkeys, tvam yourself, yasmāt due to whom, udvignacētāḥ frightened at heart, pradrutaḥ running, tam him, krūradarśanam cruel figure, krūram cruel one, vālinam Vali, iha here, na paśyāmi, not see

'O chief of monkeys! I do not see here any sign of the cruel Vali, of whom you are afraid.
yasmāttava bhayaṅ saumya! pūrvajātpāpakarmaṇaḥ.

sa nēha vālī duṣṭātmā na tē paśyāmyahaṅ bhayam4.2.16৷৷


saumya! O good-natured, tava your, pāpakarmaṇaḥ from the sinner, yasmāt from whom, pūrvajāt from elder brother, bhayam fear, saḥ he, duṣṭātmā evil-minded one, vālī Vali, iha here, na not, aham I, tē to you, bhayam fear, na paśyāmi I do not see

'O good-natured Sugriva! you are afraid of your elder brother Vali as he is evil-minded and sinful. (But) I do not see any reason for you to be frightened as he is not found anywhere here.
ahō śākhāmṛgatvaṅ tē vyaktamēva plavaṅgama.

laghucittatayā.tmānaṅ na sthāpayasi yō matau4.2.17৷৷


ahō Oh!, plavaṅgama monkey, yaḥ whoever, laghucittatayā with low intellect, ātmānam oneself, matau in mind,na sthāpayasi cannot be steady, tē to you, śākhāmṛgatvam monkey-nature, vyaktamēva is very clear.

'Oh monkey, whoever is lily-livered cannot be steady. It is evident that your very nature as a monkey makes you restless.
buddhivijñānasampanna iṅgitaissarvamācara.

na hyabuddhiṅ gatō rājā sarvabhūtāni śāsti hi4.2.18৷৷


buddhivijñānasampannaḥ one endowed with intelligence and knowledge, iṅgitaiḥ by gestures, sarvam everything, ācara you may do, abuddhim lack of intellect , gataḥ reaches, rājā king, sarvabhūtāni all beings, na śāsti hi cannot control

sugrīvastu śubhaṅ vākyaṅ śrutvā sarvaṅ hanūmataḥ.

tataśśubhataraṅ vākyaṅ hanūmantamuvāca ha4.2.19৷৷


sugrīvastu Sugriva also, hanūmataḥ Hanuman, śubham auspicious, sarvaṅ vākyam all words, śrutvā having heard, tataḥ then, hanūmantam of Hanumanta, śubhataram even more auspicious, vākyam words, uvāca ha he spoke

Having heard the wise words of Hanuman, Sugriva addressed him with words more
auspicious.
dīrghabāhū viśālākṣau śaracāpāsidhāriṇau.

kasya na syādbhayaṅ dṛṣṭvā hyētau surasutōpamau4.2.20৷৷


dīrghabāhū long-armed, viśālākṣau two large-eyed ones, śaracāpāsidhāriṇau two wielders of bow, arrows and sword, surasutōpamau both comparable to gods, ētau they both, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, kasya whose, bhayam fear, na syāt will not be created

'Who would not be apprehensive of these two long-armed and large-eyed individuals comparable to sons of gods wielding arrows, bows and swords.
vālipraṇihitāvētau śaṅkē.haṅ puruṣōttamau.

rājānō bahumitrāśca viśvāsō nātra hi kṣamaḥ4.2.21৷৷


puruṣōttamau two excellent men, vālipraṇihitau ētau have been sent by Vali, aham I, śaṅkē doubt, rājānaḥ kings, bahumitrāḥ they have many friends, atra here, viśvāsaḥ trust, na kṣamaḥ not proper

'I support these two excellent men might have been sent by Vali. Kings have many friends and so it may not be appropriate to trust any king.
arayaśca manuṣyēṇa vijñēyāśchadmacāriṇaḥ.

viśvastānāmaviśvastārandhrēṣu praharanti hi4.2.22৷৷


manuṣyēṇa by a man, chadmacāriṇaḥ spies who move about in disguise, arayaḥ enemies, vijñēyāḥ they should be identified, aviśvastāḥ who do not trust, viśvastānām of the trusting men, randhrēṣu when we are not vigilant praharanti, hi will strike

'One has to identify these men roaming in disguise. These are not trust-worthy and could even be our enemies, making us believe them so as to attack us when we are not vigilant.
kṛtyēṣu vālī mēdhāvī rājānō bahudarśinaḥ.

bhavanti parahantārastē jñēyāḥ prākṛtairnaraiḥ4.2.23৷৷


vālī Vali, kṛtyēṣu in his actions, mēdhāvī wise, bahudarśinaḥ they have great vision, rājānaḥ kings, parahantāraḥ they kill enemies, bhavanti will be, prākṛtaiḥ by ordinary ones, naraiḥ by men, tē to you, jñēyāḥ they should be known

'Vali is wise in his actions. Kings employ many strategies to annihilate their enemies. Our gullible individuals should be able to detect them.
tau tvayā prākṛtēnaiva gatvā jñēyau plavaṅgama.

iṅgitānāṅ prakāraiśca rūpavyābhāṣaṇēna ca4.2.24৷৷


plavaṅgama O Monkey!, tvayā by you, prākṛtēnaiva by assuming an ordinary form, gatvā going, tau the two, iṅgitānām their gestures, prakāraiśca by their traits, rūpavyābhāṣaṇēna by their form and conversation, jñēyau should be found out

'O Hanuman! assume an ordinary form and approach them. Try to read them through their gestures, traits, forms and conversations.
lakṣayasva tayōrbhāvaṅ prahṛṣṭamanasau yadi.

viśvāsayanpraśaṅsābhiriṅgitaiśca punaḥ punaḥ4.2.25৷৷

mamaivābhimukhaṅ sthitvā pṛccha tvaṅ haripuṅgava !.

prayōjanaṅ pravēśasya vanasyāsya dhanurdharau4.2.26৷৷


haripuṅgava O best of monkeys, tayōḥ of both, bhāvam intention, lakṣayasva goal, prahṛṣṭamanasau if they are pleasing in that ways, praśaṅsābhiḥ by praising them, iṅgitaiśca by their signs, punaḥ punaḥ again and again, viśvāsayan creating confidence, mama me, abhimukhamēva favourable way only, sthitvā after making sure, dhanurdharau the two wielders of bows, asya vanasya in this forest, pravēśasya of entrance, prayōjanam purpose, tvam you, pṛccha enquire

'O best of monkeys! ascertain their purpose by praising them and studying their honest intentions. Gain the confidence of the wielders of bows and if you find them agreeable, enquire the purpose of their entering this forest.
śuddhātmānau yadi tvētau jānīhi tvaṅ plavaṅgama.

vyābhāṣitairvā vijñēyā syādduṣṭā.duṣṭatā tayōḥ4.2.27৷৷


plavaṅgama O best of monkey! ētau they both, śuddhātmānau yadi if they are found trust worthy you, jānīhi you may know, tayōḥ with them, duṣṭā.duṣṭatā evil minded or otherwise, vyābhāṣitaiḥ with their talk, vā or, vijēyā should be found out

'O best of monkeys! find out whether they are noble in their intentions or evil in their design through your conversation with them.'
ityēvaṅ kapirājēna sandiṣṭō mārutātmajaḥ.

cakāra gamanē buddhiṅ yatra tau rāmalakṣmaṇau4.2.28৷৷


kapirājēna by the king of monkeys, ityēvam in that manner, sandiṣṭaḥ having been instructed, mārutātmajaḥ son of the wind-god, tau they both, rāmalakṣmaṇau Rama and Lakshmana, yatra there, gamanē to go, buddhim decision, cakāra took

Instructed thus by the king of the monkeys, Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, decided to meet both Rama and Lakshmana.
tathēti sampūjya vacastu tasya

tatkapēssubhīmasya durāsadasya ca.

mahānubhāvō hanumānyayau tadā

sa yatra rāmō.tibalaśca lakṣmaṇaḥ4.2.29৷৷


mahānubhāvaḥ highly respected, kapiḥ monkey, hanumān Hanuman, durāsadasya not easily conquerable, bhīmasya powerful, tasya his, vacaḥ words, tathēti so be it, sampūjya offering salutation, atibala mighty, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, saḥ rāma that Rama, yatra wherever, tadā then, yayau went

Hanuman, the venerable, powerful and not easily conquerable monkey, honoured the words of the great Lord of the monkeys, offered salutations and said 'So be it'. And then proceeded towards the mighty Rama and Lakshmana.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē dvitīyassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the second sarga of Kishkindakanda of the Holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by the sage Valmiki.