Journey to Kishkindha

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.13.1)

ऋष्यमूकात् स धर्मात्मा किष्किन्धां लक्ष्मणाग्रजः । जगाम सह सुग्रीवो वालिविक्रमपालिताम् ॥ 13.1 ॥

ṛṣyamūkāt sa dharmātmā kiṣkindhāṃ lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ | jagāma saha sugrīvo vālivikramapālitām || 13.1 ||

From Rishyamuka, that righteous elder brother of Lakshmana, together with Sugriva, went toward Kishkindha, ruled over by Vali's might.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.13.2)

समुद्यम्य महच्चापं रामः काञ्चनभूषितम् । शरांश्चादित्यसंकाशान् गृहीत्वा रणसाधकान् ॥ 13.2 ॥

samudyamya mahaccāpaṃ rāmaḥ kāñcanabhūṣitam | śarāṃścādityasaṃkāśān gṛhītvā raṇasādhakān || 13.2 ||

Raghava, raising his great bow adorned with gold, and taking up arrows resembling the sun, effective in war —

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.13.3)

अग्रतस्तु ययौ तस्य राघवस्य महात्मनः । सुग्रीवः संहतग्रीवो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः ॥ 13.3 ॥

agratastu yayau tasya rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ | sugrīvaḥ saṃhatagrīvo lakṣmaṇaśca mahābalaḥ || 13.3 ||

ahead of that great-souled Raghava went stern-necked Sugriva, and the mighty Lakshmana;

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.13.4)

पृष्ठतो हनुमान् वीरो नलो नीलश्च वीर्यवान् । तारश्चैव महातेजा हरियूथपयूथपः ॥ 13.4 ॥

pṛṣṭhato hanumān vīro nalo nīlaśca vīryavān | tāraścaiva mahātejā hariyūthapayūthapaḥ || 13.4 ||

and behind them walked the heroic Hanuman, the valiant Nala and Nila, and Tara, the greatly energetic captain among the captains of the monkey-hosts.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.13.5)

ते वीक्षमाणा वृक्षांश्च पुष्पभारावलम्बिनः । प्रसन्नाम्बुवहाश्चैव सरितः सागरंगमाः ॥ 13.5 ॥

te vīkṣamāṇā vṛkṣāṃśca puṣpabhārāvalambinaḥ | prasannāmbuvahāścaiva saritaḥ sāgaraṃgamāḥ || 13.5 ||

As they went, they looked upon trees bowed under the weight of blossoms, and clear-watered rivers coursing on to the sea.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.13.6)

कन्दराणि च शैलांश्च निर्दराणि गुहास्तथा । शिखराणि च मुख्यानि दरीश्च प्रियदर्शनाः ॥ 13.6 ॥

kandarāṇi ca śailāṃśca nirdarāṇi guhāstathā | śikharāṇi ca mukhyāni darīśca priyadarśanāḥ || 13.6 ||

And ravines and crags, hollows and caves, lofty and prominent peaks, and valleys pleasant to behold.

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.13.7)

वैदूर्यविमलैस्तोयैः पद्मैश्चाकोशकुड्मलैः । शोभितान् सजलान् मार्गे तटाकांश्चावलोकयन् ॥ 13.7 ॥

vaidūryavimalaistoyaiḥ padmaiścākośakuḍmalaiḥ | śobhitān sajalān mārge taṭākāṃścāvalokayan || 13.7 ||

They journeyed on, gazing at roadside lakes glistening with lotus buds and water clear as beryl.

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.13.8)

कारण्डैः सारसैर्हंसैर्वञ्जुलैर्जलकुक्कुटैः । चक्रवाकैस्तथा चान्यैः शकुनैः प्रतिनादितान् ॥ 13.8 ॥

kāraṇḍaiḥ sārasairhaṃsairvañjulairjalakukkuṭaiḥ | cakravākaistathā cānyaiḥ śakunaiḥ pratināditān || 13.8 ||

Those lakes resounded with the cries of karandava ducks, cranes, swans, vanjula and other water-fowl, chakravakas and many other birds.

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.13.9)

मृदुशष्पाङ्कुराहारान्निर्भयान् वनगोचरान् । चरतः सर्वतः पश्यन् स्थलीषु हरिणान् स्थितान् ॥ 13.9 ॥

mṛduśaṣpāṅkurāhārānnirbhayān vanagocarān | carataḥ sarvataḥ paśyan sthalīṣu hariṇān sthitān || 13.9 ||

Everywhere they saw deer, unafraid, roaming or standing still, feeding on tender grass-shoots, ranging the forest at ease.

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.13.10)

तटाकवैरिणश्चापि शुक्लदन्तविभूषितान् । घोरानेकचरान् वन्यान् द्विरदान् कूलघातिनः ॥ 13.10 ॥

taṭākavairiṇaścāpi śukladantavibhūṣitān | ghorānekacarān vanyān dviradān kūlaghātinaḥ || 13.10 ||

And fearsome wild elephants too, tuskers gleaming white, roaming alone, tormentors of the lake-shores.

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.13.11)

मत्तान् गिरितटोत्कृष्टान् पर्वतानिव जङ्गमान् । वानरान् द्विरदप्रख्यान् महीरेणुसमुक्षितान् ॥ 13.11 ॥

mattān giritaṭotkṛṣṭān parvatāniva jaṅgamān | vānarān dviradaprakhyān mahīreṇusamukṣitān || 13.11 ||

And Sugriva's own vigorous monkeys, bellowing upon the mountain ridges, moving like mountains, elephantine in bulk, their bodies covered in the dust of the earth.

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.13.12)

वने वनचरांश्चान्यान् खेचरांश्च विहंगमान् । पश्यन्तस्त्वरिता जग्मुः सुग्रीववशवर्तिनः ॥ 13.12 ॥

vane vanacarāṃścānyān khecarāṃśca vihaṃgamān | paśyantastvaritā jagmuḥ sugrīvavaśavartinaḥ || 13.12 ||

Seeing other creatures of the forest, and birds ranging the sky, those followers of Sugriva pressed swiftly on.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.13.13)

तेषां तु गच्छतां तत्र त्वरितं रघुनन्दनः । द्रुमषण्डवनं दृष्ट्वा रामः सुग्रीवमब्रवीत् ॥ 13.13 ॥

teṣāṃ tu gacchatāṃ tatra tvaritaṃ raghunandanaḥ | drumaṣaṇḍavanaṃ dṛṣṭvā rāmaḥ sugrīvamabravīt || 13.13 ||

As they journeyed on swiftly, Rama, delight of the line of Raghu, seeing there a dense grove of trees, said to Sugriva:

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.13.14)

एष मेघ इवाकाशे वृक्षषण्डः प्रकाशते । मेघसंघातविपुलः पर्यन्तकदलीवृतः ॥ 13.14 ॥

eṣa megha ivākāśe vṛkṣaṣaṇḍaḥ prakāśate | meghasaṃghātavipulaḥ paryantakadalīvṛtaḥ || 13.14 ||

"This cluster of trees shines in the sky like a cloud-mass, vast as a gathering of clouds, ringed all about with plantains.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.13.15)

किमेतज्ज्ञातुमिच्छामि सखे कौतूहलं मम । कौतूहलापनयनं कर्तुमिच्छाम्यहं त्वया ॥ 13.15 ॥

kimetajjñātumicchāmi sakhe kautūhalaṃ mama | kautūhalāpanayanaṃ kartumicchāmyahaṃ tvayā || 13.15 ||

I wish to know what this is, friend — I am curious, and I wish you to satisfy this curiosity of mine."

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.13.16)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवस्य महात्मनः । गच्छन् नेवाचचक्षेऽथ सुग्रीवस्तन्महद् वनम् ॥ 13.16 ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ | gacchan nevācacakṣe'tha sugrīvastanmahad vanam || 13.16 ||

Hearing those words of the great-souled Raghava, Sugriva, even as they walked on, described that great forest:

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.13.17)

एतद् राघव विस्तीर्णमाश्रमं श्रमनाशनम् । उद्यानवनसम्पन्नं स्वादुमूलफलोदकम् ॥ 13.17 ॥

etad rāghava vistīrṇamāśramaṃ śramanāśanam | udyānavanasampannaṃ svādumūlaphalodakam || 13.17 ||

"This is a spacious hermitage, O Raghava, that dispels all weariness, rich in pleasure-gardens and groves, with sweet roots, fruits and water.

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.13.18)

अत्र सप्तजना नाम मुनयः संशितव्रताः । सप्तैवासन्नधःशीर्षा नियतं जलशायिनः ॥ 13.18 ॥

atra saptajanā nāma munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ | saptaivāsannadhaḥśīrṣā niyataṃ jalaśāyinaḥ || 13.18 ||

Here dwelt seven sages of rigorous vows, called the Saptajanas, who always lay with their heads bowed downward in the water,

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.13.19)

सप्तरात्रे कृताहारा वायुनाचलवासिनः । दिवं वर्षशतैर्याताः सप्तभिः सकलेवराः ॥ 13.19 ॥

saptarātre kṛtāhārā vāyunācalavāsinaḥ | divaṃ varṣaśatairyātāḥ saptabhiḥ sakalevarāḥ || 13.19 ||

living for seven nights at a stretch on air alone, unwavering; and after seven hundred years they ascended to heaven with their very bodies.

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.13.20)

तेषामेतत्प्रभावेण द्रुमप्राकारसंवृतम् । आश्रमं सुदुराधर्षमपि सेन्द्रैः सुरासुरैः ॥ 13.20 ॥

teṣāmetatprabhāveṇa drumaprākārasaṃvṛtam | āśramaṃ sudurādharṣamapi sendraiḥ surāsuraiḥ || 13.20 ||

By their power alone, this hermitage, enclosed by a wall of trees, remains utterly unassailable, even to the gods, the demons and Indra himself.

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.13.21)

पक्षिणो वर्जयन्त्येतत् तथान्ये वनचारिणः । विशन्ति मोहाद् येऽप्यत्र न निवर्तन्ति ते पुनः ॥ 13.21 ॥

pakṣiṇo varjayantyetat tathānye vanacāriṇaḥ | viśanti mohād ye'pyatra na nivartanti te punaḥ || 13.21 ||

Birds and other forest-roaming creatures avoid it; and those who unknowingly enter it never return again.

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.13.22)

विभूषणरवाश्चात्र श्रूयन्ते सकलाक्षराः । तूर्यगीतस्वनश्चापि गन्धो दिव्यश्च राघव ॥ 13.22 ॥

vibhūṣaṇaravāścātra śrūyante sakalākṣarāḥ | tūryagītasvanaścāpi gandho divyaśca rāghava || 13.22 ||

There, O Raghava, the sound of ornaments and clear, melodious speech is heard, along with strains of music and song, and a divine fragrance besides.

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.13.23)

त्रेताग्नयोऽपि दीप्यन्ते धूमो ह्येष प्रदृश्यते । वेष्टयन्निव वृक्षाग्रान् कपोताङ्गारुणो घनः ॥ 13.23 ॥

tretāgnayo'pi dīpyante dhūmo hyeṣa pradṛśyate | veṣṭayanniva vṛkṣāgrān kapotāṅgāruṇo ghanaḥ || 13.23 ||

The sacred triple fires still blaze there too, for this thick, dove-coloured smoke can be seen wreathing the treetops.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.13.24)

एते वृक्षाः प्रकाशन्ते धूमसंसक्तमस्तकाः । मेघजालप्रतिच्छन्ना वैडूर्यगिरयो यथा ॥ 13.24 ॥

ete vṛkṣāḥ prakāśante dhūmasaṃsaktamastakāḥ | meghajālapraticchannā vaiḍūryagirayo yathā || 13.24 ||

These trees, their crowns wrapped in smoke, shine forth like mountains of beryl veiled in a net of cloud.

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.13.25)

कुरु प्रणामं धर्मात्मंस्तेषामुद्दिश्य राघव । लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा प्रयतः संहताञ्जलिः ॥ 13.25 ॥

kuru praṇāmaṃ dharmātmaṃsteṣāmuddiśya rāghava | lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā prayataḥ saṃhatāñjaliḥ || 13.25 ||

"O righteous one, offer your salutation to them" — and Raghava, together with his brother Lakshmana, reverently, with joined palms,

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.13.26)

प्रणमन्ति हि ये तेषामृषीणां भावितात्मनाम् । न तेषामशुभं किंचिच्छरीरे राम विद्यते ॥ 13.26 ॥

praṇamanti hi ye teṣāmṛṣīṇāṃ bhāvitātmanām | na teṣāmaśubhaṃ kiṃciccharīre rāma vidyate || 13.26 ||

"for whoever, O Rama, salutes these sages whose souls are wholly given to contemplation — no harm ever touches their bodies."

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.13.27)

ततो रामः सह भ्रात्रा लक्ष्मणेन कृताञ्जलिः । समुद्दिश्य महात्मानस्तानृषीनभ्यवादयत् ॥ 13.27 ॥

tato rāmaḥ saha bhrātrā lakṣmaṇena kṛtāñjaliḥ | samuddiśya mahātmānastānṛṣīnabhyavādayat || 13.27 ||

Then Rama, together with his brother Lakshmana, joined his palms, addressed those great-souled sages, and paid them homage.

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.13.28)

अभिवाद्य च धर्मात्मा रामो भ्राता च लक्ष्मणः । सुग्रीवो वानराश्चैव जम्मुः संहृष्टमानसाः ॥ 13.28 ॥

abhivādya ca dharmātmā rāmo bhrātā ca lakṣmaṇaḥ | sugrīvo vānarāścaiva jammuḥ saṃhṛṣṭamānasāḥ || 13.28 ||

Having offered their salutation, the righteous Rama, his brother Lakshmana, Sugriva and the monkeys all went on, their hearts filled with joy.

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.13.29)

ते गत्वा दूरमध्वानं तस्मात् सप्तजनाश्रमात् । ददृशुस्तां दुराधर्षां किष्किन्धां वालिपालिताम् ॥ 13.29 ॥

te gatvā dūramadhvānaṃ tasmāt saptajanāśramāt | dadṛśustāṃ durādharṣāṃ kiṣkindhāṃ vālipālitām || 13.29 ||

Having travelled a long way from that hermitage of the Saptajanas, they beheld that unassailable city, Kishkindha, ruled by Vali.

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.13.30)

ततस्तु रामानुजरामवानराः प्रगृह्य शस्त्राण्युदितोग्रतेजसः । पुरीं सुरेशात्मजवीर्यपालितां वधाय शत्रोः पुनरागतास्त्विह ॥ 13.30 ॥

tatastu rāmānujarāmavānarāḥ pragṛhya śastrāṇyuditogratejasaḥ | purīṃ sureśātmajavīryapālitāṃ vadhāya śatroḥ punarāgatāstviha || 13.30 ||

Then Rama's younger brother Lakshmana, Rama himself, and the monkeys, weapons grasped in hand and blazing with fierce splendour, came once more to that city guarded by the might of Indra's son, to slay their enemy.