The Birth of the Vanaras

Shloka 1 (bala.17.1)

पुत्रत्वं तु गते विष्णौ राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः । उवाच देवताः सर्वाः स्वयंभूर्भगवानिदम् ॥ १ ॥

putratvaṃ tu gate viṣṇau rājñastasya mahātmanaḥ | uvāca devatāḥ sarvāḥ svayaṃbhūrbhagavānidam

When Vishnu had gone to become the son of that great-souled king, the Self-existent Lord Brahma spoke thus to all the gods.

Shloka 2 (bala.17.2)

सत्यसंधस्य वीरस्य सर्वेषां नो हितैषिणः । विष्णोः सहायान् बलिनः सृजध्वं कामरूपिणः ॥ २ ॥

satyasaṃdhasya vīrasya sarveṣāṃ no hitaiṣiṇaḥ | viṣṇoḥ sahāyān balinaḥ sṛjadhvaṃ kāmarūpiṇaḥ

"Create powerful, shape-shifting helpers for that truthful and valiant Vishnu, who wishes well for all of us."

Shloka 3 (bala.17.3)

मायाविदश्च शूरांश्च वायुवेगसमान् जवे । नयज्ञान् बुद्धिसंपन्नान् विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमान् ॥ ३ ॥

māyāvidaśca śūrāṃśca vāyuvegasamān jave | nayajñān buddhisaṃpannān viṣṇutulyaparākramān

"Let them be skilled in magic and valiant, swift as the wind in speed, wise in strategy, endowed with intelligence, and equal to Vishnu in prowess."

Shloka 4 (bala.17.4)

असंहार्यानुपायज्ञान् दिव्यसंहननान्वितान् । सर्वास्त्रगुणसंपन्नानमृतप्राशनानिव ॥ ४ ॥

asaṃhāryānupāyajñān divyasaṃhananānvitān | sarvāstraguṇasaṃpannānamṛtaprāśanāniva

"Let them be unconquerable, resourceful, possessed of divinely strong bodies, endowed with the virtues of every weapon, and tireless as if they lived on ambrosia."

Shloka 5 (bala.17.5)

अप्सरस्सु च मुख्यासु गन्धर्वीणां तनूषु च । यक्षपन्नगकन्यासु ऋक्षविद्याधरीषु च ॥ ५ ॥

apsarassu ca mukhyāsu gandharvīṇāṃ tanūṣu ca | yakṣapannagakanyāsu ṛkṣavidyādharīṣu ca

"In the persons of the foremost apsaras, in the bodies of gandharva women, of yaksha and naga maidens, of she-bears and vidyadhara women,"

Shloka 6 (bala.17.6)

किंनरीणां च गात्रेषु वानरीणां तनूषु च । सृजध्वं हरिरूपेण पुत्रांस्तुल्यपराक्रमान् ॥ ६ ॥

kiṃnarīṇāṃ ca gātreṣu vānarīṇāṃ tanūṣu ca | sṛjadhvaṃ harirūpeṇa putrāṃstulyaparākramān

"and in the limbs of kinnara women and the bodies of she-monkeys, beget sons in monkey form, equal to Vishnu in valour."

Shloka 7 (bala.17.7)

पूर्वमेव मया सृष्टो जांबवानृक्षपुङ्गवः । जृंभमाणस्य सहसा मम वक्रादजायत ॥ ७ ॥

pūrvameva mayā sṛṣṭo jāṃbavānṛkṣapuṅgavaḥ | jṛṃbhamāṇasya sahasā mama vakrādajāyata

"I myself have already created the foremost of bears, Jambavan, who suddenly sprang forth from my mouth as I yawned."

Shloka 8 (bala.17.8)

ते तथोक्ता भगवता तत् प्रतिश्रुत्य शासनम् । जनयामासुरेवं ते पुत्रान् वानररूपिणः ॥ ८ ॥

te tathoktā bhagavatā tat pratiśrutya śāsanam | janayāmāsurevaṃ te putrān vānararūpiṇaḥ

Thus commanded by the Lord Brahma, they accepted his command and began begetting sons in the form of monkeys.

Shloka 9 (bala.17.9)

ऋषयश्च महात्मानः सिद्धविद्याधरोरगाः । चारणाश्च सुतान् वीरान् ससृजुर्वनचारिणः ॥ ९ ॥

ṛṣayaśca mahātmānaḥ siddhavidyādharoragāḥ | cāraṇāśca sutān vīrān sasṛjurvanacāriṇaḥ

The great sages, siddhas, vidyadharas, nagas, and charanas begot valiant, forest-dwelling sons.

Shloka 10 (bala.17.10)

वानरेन्द्रं महेद्राभमिन्द्रो वालिनमात्मजम् । सुग्रीवं जनयामास तपनस्तपतां वरः ॥ १० ॥

vānarendraṃ mahedrābhamindro vālinamātmajam | sugrīvaṃ janayāmāsa tapanastapatāṃ varaḥ

Indra begot his own son Vali, lord of monkeys, radiant as Mount Mahendra; and the Sun, foremost among luminaries, begot Sugriva.

Shloka 11 (bala.17.11)

बृहस्पतिस्त्वजनयत्तारं नाम महाकपिम् । सर्ववानरमुख्यानां बुद्धिमन्तमनुत्तमम् ॥ ११ ॥

bṛhaspatistvajanayattāraṃ nāma mahākapim | sarvavānaramukhyānāṃ buddhimantamanuttamam

Brihaspati begot the great monkey named Tara, unsurpassed in wisdom among all the leading monkeys.

Shloka 12 (bala.17.12)

धनदस्य सुतः श्रीमान् वानरो गन्धमादनः । विश्वकर्मा त्वजनयन्नलं नाम महाकपिम् ॥ १२ ॥

dhanadasya sutaḥ śrīmān vānaro gandhamādanaḥ | viśvakarmā tvajanayannalaṃ nāma mahākapim

The glorious monkey Gandhamadana is the son of Kubera, the lord of wealth; and Vishvakarma begot the great monkey named Nala.

Shloka 13 (bala.17.13)

पावकस्य सुतः श्रीमान्नीलोऽग्नि सदृशप्रभः । तेजसा यशसा वीर्यादत्यरिच्यत वानरान् ॥ १३ ॥

pāvakasya sutaḥ śrīmānnīlo'gni sadṛśaprabhaḥ | tejasā yaśasā vīryādatyaricyata vānarān

The glorious Nila, son of Fire, radiant like fire itself, surpassed the other monkeys in splendour, fame, and valour.

Shloka 14 (bala.17.14)

रूपद्रविणसंपन्नावश्विनौ रूपसंमतौ । मैन्दं च द्विविदं चैव जनयामासतुः स्वयम् ॥ १४ ॥

rūpadraviṇasaṃpannāvaśvinau rūpasaṃmatau | maindaṃ ca dvividaṃ caiva janayāmāsatuḥ svayam

The two Ashvins, themselves endowed with wealth of beauty, personally begot Mainda and Dvivida, who were likewise blessed with fine form.

Shloka 15 (bala.17.15)

वरुणो जनयामास सुषेणं नाम वानरम् । शरभं जनयामास पर्जन्यस्तु महाबलम् ॥ १५ ॥

varuṇo janayāmāsa suṣeṇaṃ nāma vānaram | śarabhaṃ janayāmāsa parjanyastu mahābalam

Varuna begot the monkey named Sushena; and Parjanya, the rain-god, begot the mighty Sharabha.

Shloka 16 (bala.17.16)

मारुतस्यौरसः श्रीमान् हनुमान्नाम वानरः । वज्रसंहननोपेतो वैनतेयसमो जवे ॥ १६ ॥

mārutasyaurasaḥ śrīmān hanumānnāma vānaraḥ | vajrasaṃhananopeto vainateyasamo jave

The glorious monkey named Hanuman is the true son of the Wind-god, endowed with a body as hard as thunderbolt, and equal to Garuda in speed.

Shloka 17 (bala.17.17)

सर्ववानरमुख्येषु बुद्धिमान् बलवानपि । ते सृष्टा बहुसाहस्रा दशग्रीववधोद्यताः ॥ १७ ॥

sarvavānaramukhyeṣu buddhimān balavānapi | te sṛṣṭā bahusāhasrā daśagrīvavadhodyatāḥ

Among all the foremost monkeys he was both the wisest and the strongest. Thus were created many thousands, all resolved upon the killing of the ten-necked Ravana.

Shloka 18 (bala.17.18)

अप्रमेयबला वीरा विक्रान्ताः कामरूपिणः । ते गजाचलसंकाशा वपुष्मंतो महाबलाः ॥ १८ ॥

aprameyabalā vīrā vikrāntāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ | te gajācalasaṃkāśā vapuṣmaṃto mahābalāḥ

Of immeasurable strength, valiant, bold, and able to change form at will, they had huge bodies resembling elephants and mountains, and were mighty indeed.

Shloka 19 (bala.17.19)

ऋक्षवानरगोपुच्छाः क्षिप्रमेवाभिजज्ञिरे । यस्य देवस्य यद्रूपं वेषो यश्च पराक्रमः ॥ १९ ॥

ṛkṣavānaragopucchāḥ kṣipramevābhijajñire | yasya devasya yadrūpaṃ veṣo yaśca parākramaḥ

They quickly took birth as bears, monkeys, and langurs. Whatever form, appearance, and valour each god possessed,

Shloka 20 (bala.17.20)

अजायत समं तेन तस्य तस्य पृथक् पृथक् । गोलांगूलीषु चोत्पन्नाः केचिदुन्नतविक्रमाः ॥ २० ॥

ajāyata samaṃ tena tasya tasya pṛthak pṛthak | golāṃgūlīṣu cotpannāḥ kecidunnatavikramāḥ

that same form, separately, was born to each one's offspring. Some of surpassing prowess were born of the golangula females,

Shloka 21 (bala.17.21)

ऋक्षीषु च तथा जाता वानराः किंनरीषु च । देवा महर्षिगन्धर्वास्तार्क्ष्या यक्षा यशस्विनः ॥ २१ ॥

ṛkṣīṣu ca tathā jātā vānarāḥ kiṃnarīṣu ca | devā maharṣigandharvāstārkṣyā yakṣā yaśasvinaḥ

and likewise monkeys were born of she-bears and of kinnara women, begotten by gods, great sages, gandharvas, garudas, and illustrious yakshas.

Shloka 22 (bala.17.22)

नागाः किंपुरुषाश्चैव सिद्धविद्याधरोरगाः । बहवो जनयामासुर्हृष्टास्तत्र सहस्रशः ॥ २२ ॥

nāgāḥ kiṃpuruṣāścaiva siddhavidyādharoragāḥ | bahavo janayāmāsurhṛṣṭāstatra sahasraśaḥ

Nagas, kimpurushas, siddhas, vidyadharas, and serpents too, gladly begot many thousands of them there.

Shloka 23 (bala.17.23)

चारणाश्च सुतान् वीरान् ससृजुर्वनचारिणः । वानरान् सुमहाकायान् सर्वान् वै वनचारिणः ॥ २३ ॥

cāraṇāśca sutān vīrān sasṛjurvanacāriṇaḥ | vānarān sumahākāyān sarvān vai vanacāriṇaḥ

The charanas too begot valiant, forest-roaming sons, all of them monkeys of immense bodily size, dwellers of the forest.

Shloka 24 (bala.17.24)

अप्सरस्सु च मुख्यासु तदा विद्यधरीषु च । नागकन्यासु च तथा गन्धर्वीणां तनूषु च । कामरूपबलोपेता यथाकामं विचारिणः ॥ २४ ॥

apsarassu ca mukhyāsu tadā vidyadharīṣu ca | nāgakanyāsu ca tathā gandharvīṇāṃ tanūṣu ca | kāmarūpabalopetā yathākāmaṃ vicāriṇaḥ

From the foremost apsaras, from vidyadhara women, from naga maidens, and likewise from the bodies of gandharva women, were born these monkeys endowed with the power to change form at will, roaming freely as they pleased.

Shloka 25 (bala.17.25)

सिंहशार्दूलसदृशा दर्पेण च बलेन च । शिलाप्रहरणाः सर्वे सर्वे पादपयोधिनः ॥ २५ ॥

siṃhaśārdūlasadṛśā darpeṇa ca balena ca | śilāpraharaṇāḥ sarve sarve pādapayodhinaḥ

In pride and strength they resembled lions and tigers; all of them fought with boulders as weapons, all fought with trees.

Shloka 26 (bala.17.26)

नखदंष्ट्रायुधाः सर्वे सर्वे सर्वास्त्रकोविदाः । विचालयेयुः शैलेन्द्रान् भेदयेयुः स्थिरान् द्रुमान् ॥ २६ ॥

nakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhāḥ sarve sarve sarvāstrakovidāḥ | vicālayeyuḥ śailendrān bhedayeyuḥ sthirān drumān

All had claws and fangs for weapons, and all were skilled in every kind of weaponry. They could shake the greatest mountains and shatter firmly rooted trees.

Shloka 27 (bala.17.27)

क्षोभयेयुश्च वेगेन समुद्रं सरितां पतिम् । दारयेयुः क्षितिं पद्भ्यामाप्लवेयुर्महार्णवम् ॥ २७ ॥

kṣobhayeyuśca vegena samudraṃ saritāṃ patim | dārayeyuḥ kṣitiṃ padbhyāmāplaveyurmahārṇavam

With their speed they could churn up the ocean, lord of rivers; they could split the earth with their feet, and leap across the great sea.

Shloka 28 (bala.17.28)

नभस्थलं विशेयुश्च गृह्णीयुरपि तोयदान् । गृह्णीयुरपि मातंगान् मत्तान् प्रव्रजतो वने ॥ २८ ॥

nabhasthalaṃ viśeyuśca gṛhṇīyurapi toyadān | gṛhṇīyurapi mātaṃgān mattān pravrajato vane

They could soar into the sky and even seize the clouds; they could capture rutting elephants roaming through the forest.

Shloka 29 (bala.17.29)

नर्दमानाश्च नादेन पातयेयुर्विहंगमान् । ईदृशानां प्रसूतानि हरीणां कामरूपिणाम् ॥ २९ ॥

nardamānāśca nādena pātayeyurvihaṃgamān | īdṛśānāṃ prasūtāni harīṇāṃ kāmarūpiṇām

With their roaring alone they could bring down birds flying in the sky. Of such vanaras, capable of changing form at will,

Shloka 30 (bala.17.30)

शतं शतसहस्राणि यूथपानां महात्मनाम् । ते प्रधानेषु यूथेषु हरीणां हरियूथपाः ॥ ३० ॥

śataṃ śatasahasrāṇi yūthapānāṃ mahātmanām | te pradhāneṣu yūtheṣu harīṇāṃ hariyūthapāḥ

hundreds and hundreds of thousands of great-souled troop-leaders were born; and among the principal troops of monkeys, they became the chiefs of those troops.

Shloka 31 (bala.17.31)

बभूवुर्यूथपश्रेष्ठा वीरांश्चाजनयन् हरीन् । अन्ये ऋक्षवतः प्रस्थानुपतस्थुः सहस्रशः ॥ ३१ ॥

babhūvuryūthapaśreṣṭhā vīrāṃścājanayan harīn | anye ṛkṣavataḥ prasthānupatasthuḥ sahasraśaḥ

They became the foremost among troop-leaders and themselves begot valiant monkeys. Others, in their thousands, took up abode on the slopes of Mount Rikshavat.

Shloka 32 (bala.17.32)

अन्ये नानाविधान् शैलान् काननानि च भेजिरे । सूर्यपुत्रं च सुग्रीवं शक्रपुत्रं च वालिनम् ॥ ३२ ॥

anye nānāvidhān śailān kānanāni ca bhejire | sūryaputraṃ ca sugrīvaṃ śakraputraṃ ca vālinam

Others took to various mountains and forests. Both brothers, Sugriva son of the Sun and Vali son of Indra,

Shloka 33 (bala.17.33)

भ्रातरावुपतस्थुस्ते सर्वे च हरियूथपाः । नलं नीलं हनूमन्तमन्यांश्च हरियूथपान् ॥ ३३ ॥

bhrātarāvupatasthuste sarve ca hariyūthapāḥ | nalaṃ nīlaṃ hanūmantamanyāṃśca hariyūthapān

were served and attended by all those monkey chieftains, together with Nala, Nila, Hanuman, and the other troop-leaders of the monkeys.

Shloka 34 (bala.17.34)

ते तार्क्ष्यबलसंपन्नाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः । विचरन्तोऽर्दयन् दर्पात् सिंहव्याघ्रमहोरगान् ॥ ३४ ॥

te tārkṣyabalasaṃpannāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ | vicaranto'rdayan darpāt siṃhavyāghramahoragān

Endowed with the strength of Garuda, all skilled in battle, they roamed about and, out of sheer pride, harried lions, tigers, and great serpents.

Shloka 35 (bala.17.35)

महाबलो महाबाहुर्वाली विपुलविक्रमः । जुगोप भुजवीर्येण ऋक्षगोपुच्छवानरान् ॥ ३५ ॥

mahābalo mahābāhurvālī vipulavikramaḥ | jugopa bhujavīryeṇa ṛkṣagopucchavānarān

The mighty-armed Vali, of immense strength and vast valour, protected all the bears, langurs, and monkeys by the might of his own arms.

Shloka 36 (bala.17.36)

तैरियं पृथिवी शूरैः सपर्वतवनार्णवा । कीर्णा विविधसंस्थानैर्नानाव्यंजनलक्षणैः ॥ ३६ ॥

tairiyaṃ pṛthivī śūraiḥ saparvatavanārṇavā | kīrṇā vividhasaṃsthānairnānāvyaṃjanalakṣaṇaiḥ

By these valiant ones, of varied forms and diverse distinguishing marks, this whole earth, with its mountains, forests, and oceans, was filled.

Shloka 37 (bala.17.37)

तैर्मेघबृन्दाचलकूटसंनिभैः महाबलैर्वानरयूथपाधिपैः । बभूव भूर्भीमशरीररूपैः समावृता रामसहायहेतोः ॥ ३७ ॥

tairmeghabṛndācalakūṭasaṃnibhaiḥ mahābalairvānarayūthapādhipaiḥ | babhūva bhūrbhīmaśarīrarūpaiḥ samāvṛtā rāmasahāyahetoḥ

By those mighty lords of the monkey troops, whose massive bodies resembled banks of clouds or mountain peaks, and whose forms were formidable, the earth became covered over, all for the purpose of aiding Rama.