Kabandha's Liberation

Shloka 1 (aranya.72.1)

एवमुक्तौ तु तौ वीरौ कबन्धेन नरेश्वरौ । गिरिप्रदरमासाद्य पावकं विससर्जतुः ॥ 72.1 ॥

evamuktau tu tau vīrau kabandhena nareśvarau | giripradaramāsādya pāvakaṃ visasarjatuḥ || 72.1 ||

When Kabandha had spoken thus, those two heroic lords of men, having brought him to a mountain cleft, set fire to him.

Shloka 2 (aranya.72.2)

लक्ष्मणस्तु महोल्काभिर्ज्वलिताभिः समन्ततः । चितामादीपयामास सा प्रजज्वाल सर्वतः ॥ 72.2 ॥

lakṣmaṇastu maholkābhirjvalitābhiḥ samantataḥ | citāmādīpayāmāsa sā prajajvāla sarvataḥ || 72.2 ||

Lakshmana kindled the pyre on every side with great blazing torches, and it flared up brightly all around.

Shloka 3 (aranya.72.3)

तच्छरीरं कबन्धस्य घृतपिण्डोपमं महत् । मेदसा पच्यमानस्य मन्दं दहत पावकः ॥ 72.3 ॥

taccharīraṃ kabandhasya ghṛtapiṇḍopamaṃ mahat | medasā pacyamānasya mandaṃ dahata pāvakaḥ || 72.3 ||

That great body of Kabandha, like a mass of ghee melting in its own fat as it burned, the fire consumed slowly.

Shloka 4 (aranya.72.4)

सविधूय चितामाशु विधूमोऽग्निरिवोत्थितः । अरजे वाससी बिभ्रन्माल्यं दिव्यं महाबलः ॥ 72.4 ॥

savidhūya citāmāśu vidhūmo'gnirivotthitaḥ | araje vāsasī bibhranmālyaṃ divyaṃ mahābalaḥ || 72.4 ||

Then, shaking off the pyre, that mighty being rose up in an instant, like a smokeless fire, clad in spotless garments and wearing a divine garland,

Shloka 5 (aranya.72.5)

ततश्चिताया वेगेन भास्वरो विरजाम्बरः । उत्पपाताशु संहृष्टः सर्वप्रत्यङ्गभूषणः ॥ 72.5 ॥

tataścitāyā vegena bhāsvaro virajāmbaraḥ | utpapātāśu saṃhṛṣṭaḥ sarvapratyaṅgabhūṣaṇaḥ || 72.5 ||

and then, radiant, clad in stainless robes, his every limb adorned with ornaments, he leapt up swiftly and joyfully from the pyre.

Shloka 6 (aranya.72.6)

विमाने भास्वरे तिष्ठन् हंसयुक्ते यशस्करे । प्रभया च महातेजा दिशो दश विराजयन् ॥ 72.6 ॥

vimāne bhāsvare tiṣṭhan haṃsayukte yaśaskare | prabhayā ca mahātejā diśo daśa virājayan || 72.6 ||

Standing in a radiant, fame-bestowing chariot yoked with swans, that greatly resplendent being, with his own splendour, illumined all ten directions,

Shloka 7 (aranya.72.7)

सोऽन्तरिक्षगतो वाक्यं कबन्धो राममब्रवीत् । शृणु राघव तत्त्वेन यथा सीतामवाप्स्यसि ॥ 72.7 ॥

so'ntarikṣagato vākyaṃ kabandho rāmamabravīt | śṛṇu rāghava tattvena yathā sītāmavāpsyasi || 72.7 ||

and Kabandha, now risen into the sky, spoke this word to Rama: 'Listen, O Raghava, truly, to how you shall regain Sita.'

Shloka 8 (aranya.72.8)

राम षड् युक्तयो लोके याभिः सर्वं विमृश्यते । परिमृष्टो दशान्तेन दशाभागेन सेव्यते ॥ 72.8 ॥

rāma ṣaḍ yuktayo loke yābhiḥ sarvaṃ vimṛśyate | parimṛṣṭo daśāntena daśābhāgena sevyate || 72.8 ||

O Rama, there are six expedients in this world by which everything is judged: one struck by misfortune should turn for aid to another who shares that same misfortune.

Shloka 9 (aranya.72.9)

दशाभागगतो हीनस्त्वं हि राम सलक्ष्मणः । यत्कृते व्यसनं प्राप्तं त्वया दारप्रधर्षणम् ॥ 72.9 ॥

daśābhāgagato hīnastvaṃ hi rāma salakṣmaṇaḥ | yatkṛte vyasanaṃ prāptaṃ tvayā dārapradharṣaṇam || 72.9 ||

You, O Rama, along with Lakshmana, have indeed fallen into misfortune and are deprived; because of it you have met with the calamity of your wife's violation.

Shloka 10 (aranya.72.10)

तदवश्यं त्वया कार्यः स सुहृत् सुहृदां वर । अकृत्वा नहि ते सिद्धिमहं पश्यामि चिन्तयन् ॥ 72.10 ॥

tadavaśyaṃ tvayā kāryaḥ sa suhṛt suhṛdāṃ vara | akṛtvā nahi te siddhimahaṃ paśyāmi cintayan || 72.10 ||

Therefore, O best of friends, you must certainly make a friend of one in like plight; without doing so, however I ponder, I do not foresee your success.

Shloka 11 (aranya.72.11)

श्रूयतां राम वक्ष्यामि सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः । भ्रात्रा निरस्तः क्रुद्धेन वालिना शक्रसूनुना ॥ 72.11 ॥

śrūyatāṃ rāma vakṣyāmi sugrīvo nāma vānaraḥ | bhrātrā nirastaḥ kruddhena vālinā śakrasūnunā || 72.11 ||

Listen, O Rama, I shall tell you: there is a vanara named Sugriva, cast out by his own brother, the wrathful Vali, son of Indra.

Shloka 12 (aranya.72.12)

ऋष्यमूके गिरिवरे पम्पापर्यन्तशोभिते । निवसत्यात्मवान् वीरश्चतुर्भिः सह वानरैः ॥ 72.12 ॥

ṛṣyamūke girivare pampāparyantaśobhite | nivasatyātmavān vīraścaturbhiḥ saha vānaraiḥ || 72.12 ||

That self-possessed hero now dwells on the excellent mountain Rishyamuka, which shines at the edge of Lake Pampa, together with four other vanaras.

Shloka 13 (aranya.72.13)

वानरेन्द्रो महावीर्यस्तेजोवानमितप्रभः । सत्यसंधो विनीतश्च धृतिमान् मतिमान् महान् ॥ 72.13 ॥

vānarendro mahāvīryastejovānamitaprabhaḥ | satyasaṃdho vinītaśca dhṛtimān matimān mahān || 72.13 ||

That lord of vanaras is of immense might, full of splendour and boundless radiance, true to his word, disciplined, resolute, wise, and great.

Shloka 14 (aranya.72.14)

दक्षः प्रगल्भो द्युतिमान् महाबलपराक्रमः । भ्रात्रा विवासितो वीर राज्यहेतोर्महात्मना ॥ 72.14 ॥

dakṣaḥ pragalbho dyutimān mahābalaparākramaḥ | bhrātrā vivāsito vīra rājyahetormahātmanā || 72.14 ||

Able, bold, radiant, and of great strength and valour, that hero was banished by his own great-souled brother for the sake of the kingdom.

Shloka 15 (aranya.72.15)

स ते सहायो मित्रं च सीतायाः परिमार्गणे । भविष्यति हि ते राम मा च शोके मनः कृथाः ॥ 72.15 ॥

sa te sahāyo mitraṃ ca sītāyāḥ parimārgaṇe | bhaviṣyati hi te rāma mā ca śoke manaḥ kṛthāḥ || 72.15 ||

He will indeed become your helper and friend in the search for Sita, O Rama; so do not let your mind sink into grief.

Shloka 16 (aranya.72.16)

भवितव्यं हि तच्चापि न तच्छक्यमिहान्यथा । कर्तुमिक्ष्वाकुशार्दूल कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः ॥ 72.16 ॥

bhavitavyaṃ hi taccāpi na tacchakyamihānyathā | kartumikṣvākuśārdūla kālo hi duratikramaḥ || 72.16 ||

For, O tiger among the Ikshvakus, whatever must come to pass cannot here be made otherwise; indeed, Time is impossible to overstep.

Shloka 17 (aranya.72.17)

गच्छ शीघ्रमितो वीर सुग्रीवं तं महाबलम् । वयस्यं तं कुरु क्षिप्रमितो गत्वाद्य राघव ॥ 72.17 ॥

gaccha śīghramito vīra sugrīvaṃ taṃ mahābalam | vayasyaṃ taṃ kuru kṣipramito gatvādya rāghava || 72.17 ||

Go quickly from here, O hero, to that mighty Sugriva; go from here at once, O Raghava, and swiftly make him your friend,

Shloka 18 (aranya.72.18)

अद्रोहाय समागम्य दीप्यमाने विभावसौ । न च ते सोऽवमन्तव्यः सुग्रीवो वानराधिपः ॥ 72.18 ॥

adrohāya samāgamya dīpyamāne vibhāvasau | na ca te so'vamantavyaḥ sugrīvo vānarādhipaḥ || 72.18 ||

meeting with him before blazing fire, in a bond of goodwill; and you must not disdain that Sugriva, lord of the vanaras.

Shloka 19 (aranya.72.19)

कृतज्ञः कामरूपी च सहायार्थी च वीर्यवान् । शक्तौ ह्यद्य युवां कर्तुं कार्यं तस्य चिकीर्षितम् ॥ 72.19 ॥

kṛtajñaḥ kāmarūpī ca sahāyārthī ca vīryavān | śaktau hyadya yuvāṃ kartuṃ kāryaṃ tasya cikīrṣitam || 72.19 ||

He is grateful, able to change his form at will, valiant, and himself in need of help; you two are indeed capable of accomplishing what he desires.

Shloka 20 (aranya.72.20)

कृतार्थो वाकृतार्थो वा तव कृत्यं करिष्यति । स ऋक्षरजसः पुत्रः पम्पामटति शङ्कितः ॥ 72.20 ॥

kṛtārtho vākṛtārtho vā tava kṛtyaṃ kariṣyati | sa ṛkṣarajasaḥ putraḥ pampāmaṭati śaṅkitaḥ || 72.20 ||

Whether his own purpose is achieved or not, he will accomplish your task. That son of Riksharajas wanders about Pampa in constant fear,

Shloka 21 (aranya.72.21)

भास्करस्यौरसः पुत्रो वालिना कृतकिल्बिषः । संनिधायायुधं क्षिप्रमृष्यमूकालयं कपिम् ॥ 72.21 ॥

bhāskarasyaurasaḥ putro vālinā kṛtakilbiṣaḥ | saṃnidhāyāyudhaṃ kṣipramṛṣyamūkālayaṃ kapim || 72.21 ||

the true-born son of the Sun-god, wronged by Vali. Swiftly, taking your weapon as witness, go to that monkey dwelling on Rishyamuka —

Shloka 22 (aranya.72.22)

कुरु राघव सत्येन वयस्यं वनचारिणम् । स हि स्थानानि कात्स्न्र्येन सर्वाणि कपिकुञ्जरः ॥ 72.22 ॥

kuru rāghava satyena vayasyaṃ vanacāriṇam | sa hi sthānāni kāts‍n‍‍ryena sarvāṇi kapikuñjaraḥ || 72.22 ||

make that forest-dweller your true friend, O Raghava; for that foremost of monkeys is thoroughly conversant with all the hiding-places —

Shloka 23 (aranya.72.23)

नरमांसाशिनां लोके नैपुण्यादधिगच्छति । न तस्याविदितं लोके किंचिदस्ति हि राघव ॥ 72.23 ॥

naramāṃsāśināṃ loke naipuṇyādadhigacchati | na tasyāviditaṃ loke kiṃcidasti hi rāghava || 72.23 ||

of the flesh-eating demons in this world, through his own skill. Indeed, O Raghava, there is nothing in the world unknown to him.

Shloka 24 (aranya.72.24)

यावत् सूर्यः प्रतपति सहस्रांशुः परंतप । स नदीर्विपुलान् शैलान् गिरिदुर्गाणि कन्दरान् ॥ 72.24 ॥

yāvat sūryaḥ pratapati sahasrāṃśuḥ paraṃtapa | sa nadīrvipulān śailān giridurgāṇi kandarān || 72.24 ||

As far, O scorcher of foes, as the thousand-rayed sun shines forth, so far — the rivers, the vast mountains, the mountain-fastnesses, and the caves —

Shloka 25 (aranya.72.25)

अन्विष्य वानरैः सार्धं पत्नीं तेऽधिगमिष्यति । वानरांश्च महाकायान् प्रेषयिष्यति राघव ॥ 72.25 ॥

anviṣya vānaraiḥ sārdhaṃ patnīṃ te'dhigamiṣyati | vānarāṃśca mahākāyān preṣayiṣyati rāghava || 72.25 ||

he, together with the vanaras, will search out and shall find your wife. He will send forth mighty-bodied vanaras, O Raghava,

Shloka 26 (aranya.72.26)

दिशो विचेतुं तां सीतां त्वद्वियोगेन शोचतीम् । अन्वेष्यति वरारोहां मैथिलीं रावणालये ॥ 72.26 ॥

diśo vicetuṃ tāṃ sītāṃ tvadviyogena śocatīm | anveṣyati varārohāṃ maithilīṃ rāvaṇālaye || 72.26 ||

in every direction to search for that Sita who grieves in separation from you; he will seek out the lovely Maithili in Ravana's very abode.

Shloka 27 (aranya.72.27)

स मेरुशृङ्गाग्रगतामनिन्दितां प्रविश्य पातालतलेऽपि वाश्रिताम् । प्लवङ्गमानामृषभस्तव प्रियां निहत्य रक्षांसि पुनः प्रदास्यति ॥ 72.27 ॥

sa meruśṛṅgāgragatāmaninditāṃ praviśya pātālatale'pi vāśritām | plavaṅgamānāmṛṣabhastava priyāṃ nihatya rakṣāṃsi punaḥ pradāsyati || 72.27 ||

Whether your blameless beloved has gone to the very peak of Mount Meru or taken refuge in the depths of the netherworld, that bull among the leaping ones will enter there, slay the demons, and restore her to you once more.