Kishkindha Kanda · Sarga 12
Rama's Arrow and the First Duel
Shloka 1 (kishkindha.12.1)
एतच्च वचनं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवस्य सुभाषितम् । प्रत्ययार्थं महातेजा रामो जग्राह कार्मुकम् ॥ 12.1 ॥
etacca vacanaṃ śrutvā sugrīvasya subhāṣitam | pratyayārthaṃ mahātejā rāmo jagrāha kārmukam || 12.1 ||
Hearing this well-spoken word of Sugriva, the greatly resplendent Rama took up his bow, in order to inspire confidence.
Shloka 2 (kishkindha.12.2)
स गृहीत्वा धनुर्घोरं शरमेकं च मानदः । सालमुद्दिश्य चिक्षेप पूरयन् स रवैर्दिशः ॥ 12.2 ॥
sa gṛhītvā dhanurghoraṃ śaramekaṃ ca mānadaḥ | sālamuddiśya cikṣepa pūrayan sa ravairdiśaḥ || 12.2 ||
That giver of honour, taking up his dreadful bow and a single arrow, aimed at the sala tree and loosed it, filling the directions with the twang of the bowstring.
Shloka 3 (kishkindha.12.3)
स विसृष्टो बलवता बाणः स्वर्णपरिष्कृतः । भित्त्वा सालान् गिरिप्रस्थं सप्तं भूमिं विवेश ह ॥ 12.3 ॥
sa visṛṣṭo balavatā bāṇaḥ svarṇapariṣkṛtaḥ | bhittvā sālān giriprasthaṃ saptaṃ bhūmiṃ viveśa ha || 12.3 ||
That gold-adorned arrow, loosed by the mighty one, having pierced the seven sala trees on the mountain ridge, entered the earth.
Shloka 4 (kishkindha.12.4)
सायकस्तु मुहूर्तेन सालान् भित्त्वा महाजवः । निष्पत्य च पुनस्तूणं तमेव प्रविवेश ह ॥ 12.4 ॥
sāyakastu muhūrtena sālān bhittvā mahājavaḥ | niṣpatya ca punastūṇaṃ tameva praviveśa ha || 12.4 ||
That swift arrow, having drilled through the sala trees in an instant, sprang back out of the earth and returned at once to that very quiver.
Shloka 5 (kishkindha.12.5)
तान् दृष्ट्वा सप्त निर्भिन्नान् सालान् वानरपुङ्गवः । रामस्य शरवेगेन विस्मयं परमं गतः ॥ 12.5 ॥
tān dṛṣṭvā sapta nirbhinnān sālān vānarapuṅgavaḥ | rāmasya śaravegena vismayaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ || 12.5 ||
Seeing those seven sala trees rent apart, that foremost of monkeys was struck with the greatest astonishment at the speed of Rama's arrow.
Shloka 6 (kishkindha.12.6)
स मूर्ध्ना न्यपतद् भूमौ प्रलम्बीकृतभूषणः । सुग्रीवः परमप्रीतो राघवाय कृताञ्जलिः ॥ 12.6 ॥
sa mūrdhnā nyapatad bhūmau pralambīkṛtabhūṣaṇaḥ | sugrīvaḥ paramaprīto rāghavāya kṛtāñjaliḥ || 12.6 ||
Greatly delighted, Sugriva, his ornaments swinging loose, fell to the ground before Raghava, head bowed, with joined palms.
Shloka 7 (kishkindha.12.7)
इदं चोवाच धर्मज्ञं कर्मणा तेन हर्षितः । रामं सर्वास्त्रविदुषां श्रेष्ठं शूरमवस्थितम् ॥ 12.7 ॥
idaṃ covāca dharmajñaṃ karmaṇā tena harṣitaḥ | rāmaṃ sarvāstraviduṣāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ śūramavasthitam || 12.7 ||
Overjoyed at that feat, he spoke this to Rama, knower of righteousness, foremost among all skilled in weapons, standing there heroic:
Shloka 8 (kishkindha.12.8)
सेन्द्रानपि सुरान् सर्वांस्त्वं बाणैः पुरुषर्षभ । समर्थः समरे हन्तुं किं पुनर्वालिनं प्रभो ॥ 12.8 ॥
sendrānapi surān sarvāṃstvaṃ bāṇaiḥ puruṣarṣabha | samarthaḥ samare hantuṃ kiṃ punarvālinaṃ prabho || 12.8 ||
"O bull among men, O lord, you are capable of slaying even Indra and all the gods together with your arrows in battle — what then to speak of Vali?
Shloka 9 (kishkindha.12.9)
येन सप्त महासाला गिरिर्भूमिश्च दारिताः । बाणेनैकेन काकुत्स्थ स्थाता ते को रणाग्रतः ॥ 12.9 ॥
yena sapta mahāsālā girirbhūmiśca dāritāḥ | bāṇenaikena kākutstha sthātā te ko raṇāgrataḥ || 12.9 ||
By whom seven great sala trees, the mountain and the very earth were rent with a single arrow — who, O Kakutstha, could stand before you at the forefront of battle?
Shloka 10 (kishkindha.12.10)
अद्य मे विगतः शोकः प्रीतिरद्य परा मम । सुहृदं त्वां समासाद्य महेन्द्रवरुणोपमम् ॥ 12.10 ॥
adya me vigataḥ śokaḥ prītiradya parā mama | suhṛdaṃ tvāṃ samāsādya mahendravaruṇopamam || 12.10 ||
Today my sorrow is gone, today my joy is supreme, having found in you a friend comparable to Mahendra and Varuna.
Shloka 11 (kishkindha.12.11)
तमद्यैव प्रियार्थं मे वैरिणं भ्रातृरूपिणम् । वालिनं जहि काकुत्स्थ मया बद्धोऽयमञ्जलिः ॥ 12.11 ॥
tamadyaiva priyārthaṃ me vairiṇaṃ bhrātṛrūpiṇam | vālinaṃ jahi kākutstha mayā baddho'yamañjaliḥ || 12.11 ||
Kill that Vali this very day, O Kakutstha, my enemy though he wears my brother's form — for my happiness's sake; I fold my palms in this plea."
Shloka 12 (kishkindha.12.12)
ततो रामः परिष्वज्य सुग्रीवं प्रियदर्शनम् । प्रत्युवाच महाप्राज्ञो लक्ष्मणानुगतं वचः ॥ 12.12 ॥
tato rāmaḥ pariṣvajya sugrīvaṃ priyadarśanam | pratyuvāca mahāprājño lakṣmaṇānugataṃ vacaḥ || 12.12 ||
Then Rama, greatly wise, embracing Sugriva, pleasant to behold, replied with these words, Lakshmana attending:
Shloka 13 (kishkindha.12.13)
अस्माद्गच्छाम किष्किन्धां क्षिप्रं गच्छ त्वमग्रतः । गत्वा चाह्वय सुग्रीव वालिनं भ्रातृगन्धिनम् ॥ 12.13 ॥
asmādagacchāma kiṣkindhāṃ kṣipraṃ gaccha tvamagrataḥ | gatvā cāhvaya sugrīva vālinaṃ bhrātṛgandhinam || 12.13 ||
"Let us go from here to Kishkindha at once; you go ahead, O Sugriva, and having gone, challenge Vali, who bears your own brotherhood's stamp."
Shloka 14 (kishkindha.12.14)
सर्वे ते त्वरितं गत्वा किष्किन्धां वालिनः पुरीम् । वृक्षैरात्मानमावृत्य ह्यतिष्ठन् गहने वने ॥ 12.14 ॥
sarve te tvaritaṃ gatvā kiṣkindhāṃ vālinaḥ purīm | vṛkṣairātmānamāvṛtya hyatiṣṭhan gahane vane || 12.14 ||
All of them, going swiftly to Kishkindha, Vali's city, stayed hidden, covering themselves with trees in the dense forest.
Shloka 15 (kishkindha.12.15)
सुग्रीवोऽप्यनदद् घोरं वालिनो ह्वानकारणात् । गाढं परिहितो वेगान्नादैर्भिन्दन्निवाम्बरम् ॥ 12.15 ॥
sugrīvo'pyanadad ghoraṃ vālino hvānakāraṇāt | gāḍhaṃ parihito vegānnādairbhindannivāmbaram || 12.15 ||
Sugriva too, tightening his girdle, roared fearsomely to summon Vali, as though tearing the very sky apart.
Shloka 16 (kishkindha.12.16)
तं श्रुत्वा निनदं भ्रातुः क्रुद्धो वाली महाबलः । निष्पपात सुसंरब्धो भास्करोऽस्ततटादिव ॥ 12.16 ॥
taṃ śrutvā ninadaṃ bhrātuḥ kruddho vālī mahābalaḥ | niṣpapāta susaṃrabdho bhāskaro'stataṭādiva || 12.16 ||
Hearing his brother's roar, the mighty Vali, enraged, rushed out impetuously, like the sun bursting from the mountain's rim at dusk.
Shloka 17 (kishkindha.12.17)
ततः सुतुमुलं युद्धं वालिसुग्रीवयोरभूत् । गगने ग्रहयोर्घोरं बुधाङ्गारकयोरिव ॥ 12.17 ॥
tataḥ sutumulaṃ yuddhaṃ vālisugrīvayorabhūt | gagane grahayorghoraṃ budhāṅgārakayoriva || 12.17 ||
Then a most tumultuous and dreadful battle broke out between Vali and Sugriva, like that between the planets Mercury and Mars in the sky.
Shloka 18 (kishkindha.12.18)
तलैरशनिकल्पैश्च वज्रकल्पैश्च मुष्टिभिः । जघ्नतुः समरेऽन्योन्यं भ्रातरौ क्रोधमूर्च्छितौ ॥ 12.18 ॥
talairaśanikalpaiśca vajrakalpaiśca muṣṭibhiḥ | jaghnatuḥ samare'nyonyaṃ bhrātarau krodhamūrcchitau || 12.18 ||
The two brothers, convulsed with fury, struck one another in that fight with palms like thunderbolts and fists like lightning.
Shloka 19 (kishkindha.12.19)
ततो रामो धनुष्पाणिस्तावुभौ समुदैक्षत । अन्योन्यसदृशौ वीरावुभौ देवाविवाश्विनौ ॥ 12.19 ॥
tato rāmo dhanuṣpāṇistāvubhau samudaikṣata | anyonyasadṛśau vīrāvubhau devāvivāśvinau || 12.19 ||
Then Rama, bow in hand, watched the two of them, so alike each other, like the twin gods, the Ashvins.
Shloka 20 (kishkindha.12.20)
यन्नावगच्छत् सुग्रीवं वालिनं वापि राघवः । ततो न कृतवान् बुद्धिं मोक्तुमन्तकरं शरम् ॥ 12.20 ॥
yannāvagacchat sugrīvaṃ vālinaṃ vāpi rāghavaḥ | tato na kṛtavān buddhiṃ moktumantakaraṃ śaram || 12.20 ||
Because Raghava could not tell Sugriva and Vali apart, he could not bring his mind to release the death-dealing arrow.
Shloka 21 (kishkindha.12.21)
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे भग्नः सुग्रीवस्तेन वालिना । अपश्यन् राघवं नाथमृष्यमूकं प्रदुद्रुवे ॥ 12.21 ॥
etasminnantare bhagnaḥ sugrīvastena vālinā | apaśyan rāghavaṃ nāthamṛṣyamūkaṃ pradudruve || 12.21 ||
Meanwhile, battered by Vali, Sugriva, not seeing Raghava his protector, fled at once toward Rishyamuka.
Shloka 22 (kishkindha.12.22)
क्लान्तो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गः प्रहारैर्जर्जरीकृतः । वालिनाभिद्रुतः क्रोधात् प्रविवेश महावनम् ॥ 12.22 ॥
klānto rudhirasiktāṅgaḥ prahārairjarjarīkṛtaḥ | vālinābhidrutaḥ krodhāt praviveśa mahāvanam || 12.22 ||
Exhausted, his limbs drenched in blood, worn down by blows, chased in fury by Vali, he entered the great forest.
Shloka 23 (kishkindha.12.23)
तं प्रविष्टं वनं दृष्ट्वा वाली शापभयात् ततः । मुक्तो ह्यसि त्वमित्युक्त्वा स निवृत्तो महाबलः ॥ 12.23 ॥
taṃ praviṣṭaṃ vanaṃ dṛṣṭvā vālī śāpabhayāt tataḥ | mukto hyasi tvamityuktvā sa nivṛtto mahābalaḥ || 12.23 ||
Seeing him enter the forest, the mighty Vali, fearing the curse, said, "You are let off indeed," and turned back from there.
Shloka 24 (kishkindha.12.24)
राघवोऽपि सह भ्रात्रा सह चैव हनूमता । तदेव वनमागच्छत् सुग्रीवो यत्र वानरः ॥ 12.24 ॥
rāghavo'pi saha bhrātrā saha caiva hanūmatā | tadeva vanamāgacchat sugrīvo yatra vānaraḥ || 12.24 ||
Raghava too, together with his brother and with Hanuman, came to that same forest where the monkey Sugriva was.
Shloka 25 (kishkindha.12.25)
तं समीक्ष्यागतं रामं सुग्रीवः सहलक्ष्मणम् । ह्रीमान् दीनमुवाचेदं वसुधामवलोकयन् ॥ 12.25 ॥
taṃ samīkṣyāgataṃ rāmaṃ sugrīvaḥ sahalakṣmaṇam | hrīmān dīnamuvācedaṃ vasudhāmavalokayan || 12.25 ||
Seeing Rama arrive there with Lakshmana, Sugriva, ashamed, looking down at the ground, spoke these piteous words:
Shloka 26 (kishkindha.12.26)
आह्वयस्वेति मामुक्त्वा दर्शयित्वा च विक्रमम् । वैरिणा घातयित्वा च किमिदानीं त्वया कृतम् ॥ 12.26 ॥
āhvayasveti māmuktvā darśayitvā ca vikramam | vairiṇā ghātayitvā ca kimidānīṃ tvayā kṛtam || 12.26 ||
"You told me to challenge him, showing me your prowess — and then, having let me be beaten by my enemy, what have you now done?
Shloka 27 (kishkindha.12.27)
तामेव वेलां वक्तव्यं त्वया राघव तत्त्वतः । वालिनं न निहन्मीति ततो नाहमितो व्रजे ॥ 12.27 ॥
tāmeva velāṃ vaktavyaṃ tvayā rāghava tattvataḥ | vālinaṃ na nihanmīti tato nāhamito vraje || 12.27 ||
At that very moment you should have told me the truth, O Raghava — 'I will not kill Vali' — then I would never have come here."
Shloka 28 (kishkindha.12.28)
तस्य चैवं ब्रुवाणस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । करुणं दीनया वाचा राघवः पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ 12.28 ॥
tasya caivaṃ bruvāṇasya sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ | karuṇaṃ dīnayā vācā rāghavaḥ punarabravīt || 12.28 ||
To that great-souled Sugriva, speaking thus with pitiful and woeful words, Raghava replied once more:
Shloka 29 (kishkindha.12.29)
सुग्रीव श्रूयतां तात क्रोधश्च व्यपनीयताम् । कारणं येन बाणोऽयं स मया न विसर्जितः ॥ 12.29 ॥
sugrīva śrūyatāṃ tāta krodhaśca vyapanīyatām | kāraṇaṃ yena bāṇo'yaṃ sa mayā na visarjitaḥ || 12.29 ||
"Listen, dear Sugriva, and set aside your anger — hear the reason why that arrow of mine was not released.
Shloka 30 (kishkindha.12.30)
अलंकारेण वेषेण प्रमाणेन गतेन च । त्वं च सुग्रीव वाली च सदृशौ स्थः परस्परम् ॥ 12.30 ॥
alaṃkāreṇa veṣeṇa pramāṇena gatena ca | tvaṃ ca sugrīva vālī ca sadṛśau sthaḥ parasparam || 12.30 ||
In ornament, in attire, in stature and in bearing, you and Vali closely resemble one another.
Shloka 31 (kishkindha.12.31)
स्वरेण वर्चसा चैव प्रेक्षितेन च वानर । विक्रमेण च वाक्यैश्च व्यक्तिं वां नोपलक्षये ॥ 12.31 ॥
svareṇa varcasā caiva prekṣitena ca vānara | vikrameṇa ca vākyaiśca vyaktiṃ vāṃ nopalakṣaye || 12.31 ||
In voice, in bodily lustre, in glance, O monkey, and in valour and speech too, I could discern no difference between the two of you.
Shloka 32 (kishkindha.12.32)
ततोऽहं रूपसादृश्यान्मोहितो वानरोत्तम । नोत्सृजामि महावेगं शरं शत्रुनिबर्हणम् ॥ 12.32 ॥
tato'haṃ rūpasādṛśyānmohito vānarottama | notsṛjāmi mahāvegaṃ śaraṃ śatrunibarhaṇam || 12.32 ||
Confounded thus by the likeness of your forms, O best of monkeys, I did not release that swift, enemy-destroying arrow.
Shloka 33 (kishkindha.12.33)
जीवितान्तकरं घोरं सादृश्यात् तु विशङ्कितः । मूलघातो न नौ स्याद्धि द्वयोरिति कृतो मया ॥ 12.33 ॥
jīvitāntakaraṃ ghoraṃ sādṛśyāt tu viśaṅkitaḥ | mūlaghāto na nau syāddhi dvayoriti kṛto mayā || 12.33 ||
Doubtful because of that resemblance, I thought: this dreadful, life-ending arrow, if wrongly loosed, would ruin the very purpose of us both — that is why I withheld it.
Shloka 34 (kishkindha.12.34)
त्वयि वीर विपन्ने हि अज्ञानाल्लाघवान्मया । मौढ्यं च मम बाल्यं च ख्यापितं स्यात् कपीश्वर ॥ 12.34 ॥
tvayi vīra vipanne hi ajñānāllāghavānmayā | mauḍhyaṃ ca mama bālyaṃ ca khyāpitaṃ syāt kapīśvara || 12.34 ||
Had you, O hero, come to harm through my ignorance and carelessness, O lord of monkeys, my own folly and immaturity would stand exposed.
Shloka 35 (kishkindha.12.35)
दत्ताभयवधो नाम पातकं महदद्भुतम् । अहं च लक्ष्मणश्चैव सीता च वरवर्णिनी ॥ 12.35 ॥
dattābhayavadho nāma pātakaṃ mahadadbhutam | ahaṃ ca lakṣmaṇaścaiva sītā ca varavarṇinī || 12.35 ||
To kill one who has been granted protection is called a grave and terrible sin. I myself, and Lakshmana too, and the lovely Sita —
Shloka 36 (kishkindha.12.36)
त्वदधीना वयं सर्वे वनेऽस्मिन् शरणं भवान् । तस्माद् युध्यस्व भूयस्त्वं मा माशङ्कीश्च वानर ॥ 12.36 ॥
tvadadhīnā vayaṃ sarve vane'smin śaraṇaṃ bhavān | tasmād yudhyasva bhūyastvaṃ mā māśaṅkīśca vānara || 12.36 ||
all of us depend upon you; in this forest you are our refuge. Therefore, O monkey, go and fight again, and doubt no more.
Shloka 37 (kishkindha.12.37)
एतन्मुहूर्ते तु मया पश्य वालिनमाहवे । निरस्तमिषुणैकेन चेष्टमानं महीतले ॥ 12.37 ॥
etanmuhūrte tu mayā paśya vālinamāhave | nirastamiṣuṇaikena ceṣṭamānaṃ mahītale || 12.37 ||
This very moment you shall see Vali, felled by a single arrow of mine, writhing upon the ground in that combat.
Shloka 38 (kishkindha.12.38)
अभिज्ञानं कुरुष्व त्वमात्मनो वानरेश्वर । येन त्वामभिजानीयां द्वन्द्वयुद्धमुपागतम् ॥ 12.38 ॥
abhijñānaṃ kuruṣva tvamātmano vānareśvara | yena tvāmabhijānīyāṃ dvandvayuddhamupāgatam || 12.38 ||
Make some mark of recognition for yourself, O lord of monkeys, by which I may know you when you are locked in duel."
Shloka 39 (kishkindha.12.39)
गजपुष्पीमिमां फुल्लामुत्पाट्य शुभलक्षणाम् । कुरु लक्ष्मण कण्ठेऽस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः ॥ 12.39 ॥
gajapuṣpīmimāṃ phullāmutpāṭya śubhalakṣaṇām | kuru lakṣmaṇa kaṇṭhe'sya sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ || 12.39 ||
"O Lakshmana, pluck this blossoming gaja-creeper, of auspicious mark, and place it about the neck of noble Sugriva."
Shloka 40 (kishkindha.12.40)
ततो गिरितटे जातामुत्पाट्य कुसुमायुताम् । लक्ष्मणो गजपुष्पीं तां तस्य कण्ठे व्यसर्जयत् ॥ 12.40 ॥
tato giritaṭe jātāmutpāṭya kusumāyutām | lakṣmaṇo gajapuṣpīṃ tāṃ tasya kaṇṭhe vyasarjayat || 12.40 ||
Then Lakshmana, plucking that flowering gaja-creeper growing on the mountain slope, hung it about Sugriva's throat.
Shloka 41 (kishkindha.12.41)
स तया शुशुभे श्रीमाँल्लतया कण्ठसक्तया । मालयेव बलाकानां ससंध्य इव तोयदः ॥ 12.41 ॥
sa tayā śuśubhe śrīmā~llatayā kaṇṭhasaktayā | mālayeva balākānāṃ sasaṃdhya iva toyadaḥ || 12.41 ||
So adorned, that glorious one shone forth, the creeper clinging to his throat, like a raincloud at dusk garlanded with a line of herons.
Shloka 42 (kishkindha.12.42)
विभ्राजमानो वपुषा रामवाक्यसमाहितः । जगाम सह रामेण किष्किन्धां पुनराप सः ॥ 12.42 ॥
vibhrājamāno vapuṣā rāmavākyasamāhitaḥ | jagāma saha rāmeṇa kiṣkindhāṃ punarāpa saḥ || 12.42 ||
Radiant in form and emboldened by Rama's words, he went together with Rama and reached Kishkindha once again.