Sloka & Translation

[ Angada discusses with the monkeys the strategies to cross the ocean.]

ākhyātā gṛdhrarājēna samutplutya plavaṅgamāḥ.

saṅgatāḥ prītisaṅyuktā vinēdurbhīmavikramāḥ৷৷4.64.1৷৷


gṛdhrarājēna by the king of vultures, ākhyātāḥ directed, bhīmavikramā terribly courageous, plavaṅgamāḥ monkeys, saṅgatāḥ assembled, prītisaṅyuktāḥ they were pleased, samutplutya leaped, vinēduḥ screaming in joy.

Hearing the words spoken by the king of vultures, the highly courageous monkeys assembled together and leaped with joy-screaming.
sampātērvacanaṅ śrutvā harayō rāvaṇakṣayam.

hṛṣṭāssāgaramājagmussītādarśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ৷৷4.64.2৷৷


harayaḥ monkeys, sampātēḥ Sampati's, vacanam words, śrutvā on hearing, hṛṣṭāḥ glad, sītādarśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ desiring to see Sita, rāvaṇakṣayam the abode of Ravana, sāgaram ocean, ājagmuḥ reached.

On hearing the words of Sampati, the monkeys felt glad and, eager to see Sita, reached the ocean, the passage to the abode of Ravana.
abhikramya tu taṅ dēśaṅ dadṛśurbhīmavikramāḥ.

kṛtsnaṅ lōkasya mahataḥ pratibimbamiva sthitam৷৷4.64.3৷৷


bhīmavikramāḥ those with frigtening courage, tam that, dēśam place, abhikramya having reached, mahataḥ of a great, lōkasya of the world, kṛtsnam vast, pratibimbamiva like an image, sthitam placed, dadṛśuḥ saw.

Having reached the ocean, the monkeys, endowed with frightening courage, stood looking at the vast ocean which appeared like an image of the whole world.
dakṣiṇasya samudrasya samāsādyōttarāṅ diśam.

sannivēśaṅ tataścakrurharivīrā mahābalāḥ৷৷4.64.4৷৷


mahābalāḥ powerful, harivīrāḥ heroic monkeys, samudrasya ocean's, uttarāṅ diśam northernside, samāsādya having reached, tataḥ then, sannivēśam collected at that, cakruḥ held.

Powerful and heroic monkeys assembled at the northern end of the southern ocean.
sattvairmahadbhirvikṛtaiḥ krīḍadbhirvividhairjalē.

vyāttāsyaissumahākāyairūrmibhiśca samākulam৷৷4.64.5৷৷

prasuptamiva cānyatra krīḍantamiva cānyataḥ.

kvacitparvatamātraiśca jalarāśibhirāvṛtam৷৷4.64.6৷৷

saṅkulaṅ dānavēndraiśca pātālatalavāsibhiḥ.

rōmaharṣakaraṅ dṛṣṭvā viṣēdu: kapikuñjarāḥ৷৷4.64.7৷৷


jalē in water, krīḍadbhiḥ sporting in water, mahadbhi: great ocean, vikṛtaiḥ of terrifying form, vividhaiḥ several, sattvai: species, vyāttāsyaiḥ by grotesque creatures, sumahākāyaiḥ of massive body, ūrmibhiśca with waves, samākulam filled with, yatra there, prasuptamiva as if sleeping, anyataḥ at other places, krīḍantamiva like sporting, kvacit and at some places, parvatamātraiḥ as high as mountain, jalarāśibhiḥ volumes of water, āvṛtam covered, pātālatalavāsibhiḥ who dwell in the underworld, dānavēndraiśca also by lords of demons, saṅkulam filled, rōmaharṣakaram causing horripilation, dṛṣṭvā seeing, kapikuñjarāḥ elephants among monkeys, viṣēduḥ became worried.

The ocean was of terrifying form filled with various violent species of grotesque creatures of huge bodies playing in the water. Full of violent tides, it appeared asleep at one place and apparently sporting in another. In some places it was rising as high
as a mountain with huge volumes of water. It was as if roaring with the demon chiefs residing in the underworld. The great monkeys were worried seeing the huge ocean which created horripilation in them.
ākāśamiva duṣpāraṅ sāgaraṅ prēkṣaya vānarāḥ.

viṣēdu ssahasāsarvē kathaṅ kāryamiti bruvan৷৷4.64.8৷৷


sahasā at once, sarvē all, vānarāḥ monkeys, ākāśamiva looking like the sky, duṣpāram impossible to cross, sāgaram ocean, prēkṣaya seeing, viṣēduḥ worried, katham how, kāryam the task can be performed, iti thus, bruvan while saying;

All the monkeys were worried when they suddenly saw the ocean which looked impassable like the sky. They wondered if they can at all accomplish the task (of finding Sita)
viṣaṇṇāṅ vāhinīṅ dṛṣṭvā sāgarasya nirīkṣaṇāt.

āśvāsayāmāsa harīnbhayārtān harisattamaḥ৷৷4.64.9৷৷


harisattamaḥ Angada, the best of the monkeys, sāgarasya ocean's, nirīkṣaṇāt gazing at, viṣaṇṇām despondent, vāhinīm army, dṛṣṭvā seeing, bhayārtān frightened, harīn monkeys, āśvāsayāmāsa comforted.

Angada, the best among the monkeys saw the worried army despondent gazing at the ocean, and comforted the frightened troops.
tānviṣādēna mahatā viṣaṇṇānvānararṣabhān.

uvāca matimānkālē vālisūnurmahābalaḥ৷৷4.64.10৷৷


matimān wise, mahābalaḥ strong, vālisūnuḥ son of Vali, mahatā great, viṣādēna sorrow, viṣaṇṇān worried, tān vānararṣabhān those bulls among monkeys, kālē in time, uvāca said.

Angada,the strong and wise son of Vali, spoke thus to the tensed vanaras in the right
time:
na viṣādē manaḥ kāryaṅ viṣādō dōṣavattamaḥ.

viṣādō hanti puruṣaṅ bālaṅ kruddha ivōragaḥ৷৷4.64.11৷৷


vaṣādē in despondency, manaḥ mind, na kāryam does not work, viṣādaḥ despair, dōṣavattamāḥ biggest flaw, kruddhaḥ angry, uragaḥ serpent, bālam iva like a child, puruṣam man, viṣādaḥ despondency, hanti destroys.

'Do not be despondent. It is the biggest flaw. It destroys a person like an angry serpent killing a young child.
yō viṣādaṅ prasahatē vikramē paryupasthitē.

tējasā tasya hīnasya puruṣārthō na sidhyati৷৷4.64.12৷৷


vikramē when valiance, samupasthitē needs to be exhibited, yaḥ whoever, viṣādam despondency, prasahatē will succumb, tējasā with brilliant, hīnasya of a deprived one, tasya his, puruṣārthaḥ manly pursuit, na sidhyati will not achieve.

'If one succumbs to despondency while he has to exhibit his valour, his brilliance gets diminished and he does not succeed in his manly pursuits'.
tasyāṅ rātryāṅ vyatītāyāmaṅgadō vānaraissaha.

harivṛddhaissamāgamya punarmantramamantrayat৷৷4.64.13৷৷


tasyām when that, rātrau night, vyatītāyām having ended, aṅgadaḥ Angada, harivṛddhaiḥ with old monkeys, vānaraissaha along with fellow-monkeys, samāgamya joined together, punaḥ again, mantram counsel, amantrayat sought.

With the night over, Angada joined the older monkeys again and sought their counsel.
sā vānarāṇāṅ dhvajinī parivāryāṅgadaṅ babhau.

vāsavaṅ parivāryēva marutāṅ vāhinī sthitā৷৷4.64.14৷৷


vānarāṇām of the monkeys, sā that, dhvajinī army, aṅgadam Angada, parivārya surrounding, sthitā stood, vāsavam Indra, parivārya surrounding, marutām of Maruts, vāhinī iva like the army, babhau appeared.

The army of monkeys encircled Angada like the army of Maruts surrounding Indra.
kō.nyastāṅ vānarīṅ sēnāṅ śakta:stambhayituṅ bhavēt.

anyatra vālitanayādanyatra ca hanūmataḥ৷৷4.64.15৷৷


vālitanayāt anyatra other than Vali's son, hanūmataḥ Hanumat, anyatra other than, anyaḥ another person, kaḥ who, tām that, vānarīm monkey sēnām army, stambhayitum to suspend, śaktaḥ can do, bhavēt will be.

Who else other than the son of Vali and Hanuman can resist and pacify the monkey-army?
tatastānharivṛddhāṅśca tacca sainyamarindamaḥ.

anumānyāṅgadaśśrīmānvākyamarthavadabravīt৷৷4.64.16৷৷


tataḥ then, arindamaḥ subduer of foes, śrīmān illustrious, aṅgadaḥ Angada, tān those, harivṛddhān elderly monkeys, tat that, sainyaṅ ca and the army also, anumānya taking them into confidence, arthavat meaningful, vākyam words, abravīt expressed.

Then the illustrious Angada, subduer of foes took the counsel of elderly monkeys and the army into confidence and thus addressed them all in meaningful words:
ka idānīṅ mahātējā laṅghayiṣyati sāgaram.

kaḥ kariṣyati sugrīvaṅ satyasandhamarindamam৷৷4.64.17৷৷


idānīm now, mahātējāḥ brilliant, kaḥ who, sāgaram ocean, laṅghayiṣyati will cross, kaḥ who, ariṅdamam subduer of foes, sugrīvam Sugriva, satyasandham true to his promise, kariṣyati will render.

'Now which mighty monkey will cross the ocean? Who will prove Sugriva, subduer of enemies, true to his promise?
kō vīrō yōjanaśataṅ laṅghayēta plavaṅgamāḥ.

imāṅśca yūthapān sarvānmōkṣayētkō mahābhayāt৷৷4.64.18৷৷


vīraḥ hero, kaḥ who, plavaṅgamā: O monkeys, yōjanaśatam a hundred yojanas, laṅghayēta can leap, imān these, yūthapān leaders, sarvān all, mahābhayāt from great fear, mōkṣayēta liberate them.

'O monkeys! which one can leap a hundred yojanas and liberate the monkey leaders from the great fear of Sugriva?
kasya prabhāvāddhārāṅśca putrāṅścaiva gṛhāṇi ca.

itō nivṛttāḥ paśyēma siddhārthāssukhinō vayam৷৷4.64.19৷৷


vayam we,kasya whose, prabhāvāt effort,siddhārthāḥ emerge successful,sukhinaḥ happy,itaḥ from here, nivṛttāḥ return,dārāṅśca wives,putrāṅścaiva and sons, gṛhāṇi ca and homes,paśyēma we will see.

'By whose effort can we be successful and return home happily from here to meet wives and sons?
kasya prasādādrāmaṅ ca lakṣmaṇaṅ ca mahābalam.

abhigacchēma saṅhṛṣṭāssugrīvaṅ ca vanaukasam৷৷4.64.20৷৷


kasya whose, prasādāt grace, saṅhṛṣṭā: happily, rāmaṅ ca Rama and, mahābalam mighty, lakṣmaṇaṅ ca Lakshmana also, vanaukasam forester, sugrīvaṅ ca even Sugriva, abhigacchēma can we approach.

'By whose grace shall we approach Rama and Lakshmana and even the monkey king Sugriva happily?
yadi kaścitsamarthō vassāgaraplavanē hariḥ.

sa dadā tviha na śaśīghraṅ puṇyāmabhayadakṣiṇām৷৷4.64.21৷৷


vaḥ among you, kaścit any one, hariḥ vanara, sāgaraplavanē in leaping the ocean, samarthaḥ yadi if he is capable, saḥ he, iha here, naḥ to us, śīghram quickly, puṇyām sacred, abhayadakṣiṇām a gift of assurance, dadātu can he give?

'If there is any one among you who is capable of leaping across the ocean he will be giving all of us the sacred gift of life quickly?'
aṅgadasya vaca śśṛtvā na kaścit kiñcidabravīt.

stimitē vā bhavatsarvā sā tatra harivāhinī৷৷4.64.22৷৷


aṅgadasya Angada's, vacaḥ words, śrutvā hearing, kaścit any one, kiñcit even a little, na abravīt did not speak, tatra there, sarvā the entire, sā that, harivāhinī army of monkeys stimitē motionless, abhavat became.

After hearing Angada, no one spoke a word. The entire army of monkeys became still and motionless.
punarēvāṅgadaḥ prāha tānharīnharisattamaḥ.

sarvē balavatāṅ śrēṣṭhā bhavantō dṛḍhavikramāḥ৷৷4.64.23৷৷

vyapadēśya kulē jātāḥ pūjitāścāpyabhīkṣṇaśaḥ.


harisattamaḥ best of monkeys, aṅgadaḥ Angada, tān harīn those monkeys, punarēva once again, prāha addressed, bhavantaḥ you are, sarvē all, balavatām among strong, śrēṣṭhāḥ eminent, dṛḍhavikramāḥ mighty, vyapadēśakulē in a renowned family, jātāḥ born, abhīkṣṇaśaḥ again and again, pūjitāśca honoured.

Angada, the best of the monkeys again addressed them saying, 'you are all mighty, eminent and courageous, born in renowned families and have been honoured again and again(for your actions).
na hi vō gamanē saṅgaḥ kadācitkasyacitkvacit.

bruvadhvaṅ yasya yā śaktiḥ plavanē plavagarṣabhāḥ!৷৷4.64.24৷৷


vaḥ to you, kasyacit any one of you, kadācit at any time, gamanē fly, saṅgaḥ no obstruction, kvacit hi to carry out, plavagarṣabhāḥ bulls among monkeys, plavanē in leaping, yasya whose, yā such, śaktiḥ capacity, bruvadhvam speak .

'None of you at any time have faced any obstruction in doing your deeds. You are efficient in leaping. O bulls among monkeys! now speak out, who among you can fly and how far?
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē catuṣṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the sixtyfourth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.