Kishkindha Kanda — Sarga 53

ततस्ते ददृशुर्घोरं सागरं वरुणालयम्। अपारमभिगर्जन्तं घोरैरुर्मिभिराकुलम्॥

Then they saw the ocean—abode of Varuņashoreless, resounding, rife with dreadful billows.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.1

मयस्य मायाविहितं गिरिदुर्गे विचिन्वताम्। तेषां मासो व्यतिक्रान्तो यो राज्ञा समयः कृतः॥

Exploring the mountain fateness of Maya*, they spent the month that had been set by the king. *Named Rhiksavila.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.2

विन्ध्यस्य तु गिरेः पाते सम्प्रपुष्पितपादपे। उपविश्य महात्मानश्चिन्तामापेदिरे तदा॥

Then sitting down at the foot of the Vindhya mountain, containing blossoming trees, at that time* those high-souled ones indulged-in reflections. *i.e. at the beginning of winter.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.3

ततः पुष्पातिभाराग्रॉल्लताशतसमावृतान्। दुमान् वासन्तिकान् दृष्ट्वा बभूवुर्भयशङ्किताः॥

Beholding vernal trees bending beneath the load of flowers, and environed by hundreds of plants, they were inspired with apprehension.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.4

ते वसन्तमनुप्राप्तं प्रतिवेद्य परस्परम्। नष्टसंदेशकालार्था निपेतुर्धरणीतले॥

And each knowing that spring had appeared, they, the term appointed for their task having run out, dropped down on the ground.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.5

ततस्तान् कपिवृद्धांश्च शिष्टांश्चैव वनौकसः। वाचा मधुरयाऽऽभाष्य यथावदनुमान्य च॥ स तु सिंहवृषस्कन्धः पीनायतभुजः कपिः। युवराजो महाप्राज्ञ अङ्गदो वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥

Thereat, with bland words properly honouring the aged apes and the rest dwelling in the woods, that monkey having the shoulders of a lion or a bull, and plump and broad arms-the youthful prince Angada, endowed with high wisdom, spoke,

Kishkindha Kanda 53.6

शासनात् कपिराजस्य वयं सर्वे विनिर्गताः। मासः पूर्णो बिलस्थानां हरयः किं न बुध्यत ॥ वयमाश्वयुजे मासि कालसंख्याव्यवस्थिताः। प्रस्थिताः सोऽपि चातीतः किमतः कार्यमुत्तरम्॥

We have come out at the mandate of the monarch of monkeys. While we sojourned in the cave, a full month had passed away, you monkeys. Why do you not understand this? We set out, engaging that our term of search should reach no further than the end of Kärtika;* but that has expired. Now, what next is to be done? *October.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.7

भवन्तः प्रत्ययं प्राप्ता नीतिमार्गविशारदाः। हितेष्वभिरता भर्तुर्निसृष्टाः सर्वकर्मसु॥ कर्मस्वप्रतिमाः सर्वे दिक्षु विश्रुतपौरुषाः। मां पुरस्कृत्य निर्याताः पिङ्गाक्षप्रतिचोदिताः॥ इदानीमकृतार्थानां मर्तव्यं नात्र संशयः। हरिराजस्य संदेशमकृत्वा कः सुखी भवेत्॥ अस्मिन्नतीते काले तु सुग्रीवेण कृते स्वयम्। प्रायोपवेशनं युक्तं सर्वेषां च वनौकसाम्॥

Having received the orders (of the king), you, conversant with polity, engaged in the welfare of your master, expert in every work, incomparable in execution, and renowned in every quarter, have come out, commanded by the lord of monkeys. Now, having failed to attain our object, we shall meet with death. There is no doubt whatever about this. Who, having been unsuccessful in doing the mandate of the king of monkeys, enjoyeth ease? Now all the rangers of the forest should fast for death.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.8

तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः स्वाभिभावे व्यवस्थितः। न क्षमिष्यति नः सर्वानपराधकृतो गतान्॥

Naturally stern, Sugrīva, established as our master, shall not forgive us, when we repair there, after having transgressed thus.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.9

अप्रवृत्तो च सीतायाः पापमेव करिष्यति। तस्मात् क्षममिहाद्यैव्र गन्तुं प्रायोपवेशनम्॥ त्यक्त्वा पुत्रांश्च दारांश्च धनानि च गृहाणि च ।

Sītā not having been found out, Sugrīva, for certain, shall commit this sin.* Therefore it is fit that, forsaking our sons, and wives, and wealth, and homes, we this very day sit down to starve ourselves to death. *i.e. slay us.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.10

ध्रुवं नो हिंसते राजा सर्वान् प्रतिगतानितः॥ वधेनाप्रतिरूपेण श्रेयान् मृत्युरिहैव नः।

Death at this place is preferable to the unequal punishment (we must meet with at the hands of Sugriva).

Kishkindha Kanda 53.11

न चाहं यौवराज्येन सुग्रीवेणाभिषेचितः॥ नरेन्द्रेणाभिषिक्तोऽस्मि रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा।

And, further, I have not been installed heirapparent by Sugrīva: I have been sprinkled by that foremost of kings, Rāma of untiring energy.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.12

स पूर्वं बद्धवैरो मां राजा दृष्ट्वा व्यतिक्रमम्॥ घातयिष्यति दण्डेन तीक्ष्णेन कृतनिश्चयः।

Entertaining enmity against me of old, the king, seeing this lapse, must be firmly determined to take my life by means of a severe sentence.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.13

किं मे सुहद्भिर्व्यसनं पश्यद्भिर्जीवितान्तरे। इहैव प्रायमासिष्ये पुण्ये सागररोधसि ॥

What is the use of suffering my friends to look on my disaster at the last moment of my existence? Therefore even on this sacred shore of the sea shall I sit down to starve myself.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.14

एतच्छ्रुत्वा कुमारेण युवराजेन भाषितम्। सर्वे ते वानरश्रेष्ठाः करुणं वाक्यमब्रुवन् ॥

Hearing the tender prince speak thus, all those principal monkeys pathetically observed,

Kishkindha Kanda 53.15

तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः प्रियारक्तश्च राघवः। समीक्ष्याकृतकार्यांस्तु तस्मिंश्च समये गते ॥ अदृष्टायां च वैदेह्यां दृष्ट्वा चैव समागतान्। राघवप्रियकामाय घातयिष्यत्यसंशयम्॥

Sugrīva is harsh by nature, and Rāghava loveth his wife dearly. The time appointed having passed by, seeing us (come) without attaining success in the task, and seeing us arrive without obtaining a sight of Vaidehi, (Sugrīva) shall certainly slay us from the desire of doing what is agreeable to Rāghava.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.16

न क्षमं चापराद्धानां गमनं स्वामिपार्श्वतः। प्रधानभूताश्च वयं सुग्रीवस्य समागताः॥ इहैव सीतामन्वीक्ष्य प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य वा। नो चेद् गच्छाम तं वीरं गमिष्यामो यमक्षयम्॥

Those who have transgressed, cannot come to the side of their master. Having come hither as the principal servants of Sugrīva, we shall either see Sītā or obtain information concerning her, or else, O hero, we shall repair to the mansion of Yama.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.17

प्लवङ्गमानां तु भयार्दितानां श्रुत्वा वचस्तार इदं बभाषे। अलं विषादेन बिलं प्रविश्य वसाम सर्वे यदि रोचते वः॥

Hearing the speeches of the monkeys afflicted with fear, Tārā said,-No use of indulging in grief. If you relish it, let us all entering the cave, dwell there.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.18

इदं हि मायाविहितं सुदुर्गमं प्रभूतपुष्पोदकभोज्यपेयम्। न राघवाद् वानरराजतोऽपि वा॥

This place abounding in flowers and waters, meats and drinks,—which has been brought forth by the power of ilusion, is incapable of being approached. Here we have no fear from Purandara, or Rāghava, or the king of monkeys.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.19

मूचुश्च सर्वे हरयः प्रतीताः। मसक्तमयैव विधीयतां नः॥

Hearing the welcome words of Angada, the monkeys,-being convinced, said,-Do you this very day so order that we may not be slain.

Kishkindha Kanda 53.20