The Muster of the Monkey Chiefs

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.39.1)

इति ब्रुवाणं सुग्रीवं रामो धर्मभृतां वरः । बाहुभ्यां सम्परिष्वज्य प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिम् ॥ 39.1 ॥

iti bruvāṇaṃ sugrīvaṃ rāmo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | bāhubhyāṃ sampariṣvajya pratyuvāca kṛtāñjalim || 39.1 ||

As Sugreeva spoke thus, Rama, best of the upholders of dharma, embraced him with both arms and replied to him as he stood with joined palms.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.39.2)

यदिन्द्रो वर्षते वर्षं न तच्चित्रं भविष्यति । आदित्योऽसौ सहस्रांशुः कुर्याद् वितिमिरं नभः ॥ 39.2 ॥

yadindro varṣate varṣaṃ na taccitraṃ bhaviṣyati | ādityo'sau sahasrāṃśuḥ kuryād vitimiraṃ nabhaḥ || 39.2 ||

"It is no wonder that Indra sends down rain, nor that the sun of a thousand rays clears the darkness from the sky.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.39.3)

चन्द्रमा रजनीं कुर्यात् प्रभया सौम्य निर्मलाम् । त्वद्विधो वापि मित्राणां प्रीतिं कुर्यात् परंतप ॥ 39.3 ॥

candramā rajanīṃ kuryāt prabhayā saumya nirmalām | tvadvidho vāpi mitrāṇāṃ prītiṃ kuryāt paraṃtapa || 39.3 ||

Nor is it a wonder that the moon makes the night clear with its light, gentle one, nor that one such as you, scorcher of foes, should show love for his friends.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.39.4)

एवं त्वयि न तच्चित्रं भवेद् यत् सौम्य शोभनम् । जानाम्यहं त्वां सुग्रीव सततं प्रियवादिनम् ॥ 39.4 ॥

evaṃ tvayi na taccitraṃ bhaved yat saumya śobhanam | jānāmyahaṃ tvāṃ sugrīva satataṃ priyavādinam || 39.4 ||

Thus it would be no wonder in you to act nobly, gentle one; I know you, Sugreeva, as one who has always spoken kindly.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.39.5)

त्वत्सनाथः सखे संख्ये जेतास्मि सकलानरीन् । त्वमेव मे सुहृन्मित्रं साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ 39.5 ॥

tvatsanāthaḥ sakhe saṃkhye jetāsmi sakalānarīn | tvameva me suhṛnmitraṃ sāhāyyaṃ kartumarhasi || 39.5 ||

With you as my protector, friend, I shall conquer all my enemies in battle; you alone are my well-wisher and friend, fit to render me aid.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.39.6)

जहारात्मविनाशाय वैदेहीं राक्षसाधमः । वञ्चयित्वा तु पौलोमीमनुह्लादो यथा शचीम् ॥ 39.6 ॥

jahārātmavināśāya vaidehīṃ rākṣasādhamaḥ | vañcayitvā tu paulomīmanuhlādo yathā śacīm || 39.6 ||

That vile rakshasa, to his own destruction, carried off Vaidehi by deceit, even as Anuhlada once carried off Shachi, daughter of Puloman.

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.39.7)

नचिरात् तं वधिष्यामि रावणं निशितैः शरैः । पौलोम्याः पितरं दृप्तं शतक्रतुरिवारिहा ॥ 39.7 ॥

nacirāt taṃ vadhiṣyāmi rāvaṇaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | paulomyāḥ pitaraṃ dṛptaṃ śatakraturivārihā || 39.7 ||

Before long I shall slay that arrogant Ravana with sharp arrows, as Indra, wielder of a hundred sacrifices, destroyer of foes, slew Shachi's father."

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.39.8)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे चैव रजः समभिवर्तत । उष्णतीव्रां सहस्रांशोश्छादयद् गगने प्रभाम् ॥ 39.8 ॥

etasminnantare caiva rajaḥ samabhivartata | uṣṇatīvrāṃ sahasrāṃśośchādayad gagane prabhām || 39.8 ||

In the meantime a cloud of dust arose there, hot and fierce, and began to veil the glow of the thousand-rayed sun across the sky.

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.39.9)

दिशः पर्याकुलाश्चासंस्तमसा तेन दूषिताः । चचाल च मही सर्वा सशैलवनकानना ॥ 39.9 ॥

diśaḥ paryākulāścāsaṃstamasā tena dūṣitāḥ | cacāla ca mahī sarvā saśailavanakānanā || 39.9 ||

The quarters grew confused, darkened by that dust, and the whole earth, with its mountains, woods and thickets, trembled.

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.39.10)

ततो नगेन्द्रसंकाशैस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रैर्महाबलैः । कृत्स्ना संछादिता भूमिरसंख्येयैः प्लवंगमैः ॥ 39.10 ॥

tato nagendrasaṃkāśaistīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrairmahābalaiḥ | kṛtsnā saṃchāditā bhūmirasaṃkhyeyaiḥ plavaṃgamaiḥ || 39.10 ||

Then the entire earth was covered over by innumerable monkeys, mighty and huge as mountain-lords, with sharp fangs.

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.39.11)

निमेषान्तरमात्रेण ततस्तैर्हरियूथपैः । कोटीशतपरीवारैर्वानरैर्हरियूथपैः ॥ 39.11 ॥

nimeṣāntaramātreṇa tatastairhariyūthapaiḥ | koṭīśataparīvārairvānarairhariyūthapaiḥ || 39.11 ||

Within the blink of an eye it was overspread by those monkey chiefs, capable of taking any form at will, each ringed by a hundred crore followers —

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.39.12)

नादेयैः पार्वतेयैश्च सामुद्रैश्च महाबलैः । हरिभिर्मेघनिर्ह्रादैरन्यैश्च वनवासिभिः ॥ 39.12 ॥

nādeyaiḥ pārvateyaiśca sāmudraiśca mahābalaiḥ | haribhirmeghanirhrādairanyaiśca vanavāsibhiḥ || 39.12 ||

monkeys from the rivers, the mountains, and the seas, mighty ones roaring like thunderclouds, and others who dwell in the forests,

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.39.13)

तरुणादित्यवर्णैश्च शशिगौरैश्च वानरैः । पद्मकेसरवर्णैश्च श्वेतैर्हेमकृतालयैः ॥ 39.13 ॥

taruṇādityavarṇaiśca śaśigauraiśca vānaraiḥ | padmakesaravarṇaiśca śvetairhemakṛtālayaiḥ || 39.13 ||

monkeys the hue of the young sun, moon-pale ones, ones the colour of lotus filaments, and white ones dwelling upon Mount Meru.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.39.14)

कोटीसहस्रैर्दशभिः श्रीमान् परिवृतस्तदा । वीरः शतबलिर्नाम वानरः प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ 39.14 ॥

koṭīsahasrairdaśabhiḥ śrīmān parivṛtastadā | vīraḥ śatabalirnāma vānaraḥ pratyadṛśyata || 39.14 ||

Then, surrounded by ten thousand crores, the glorious and valiant monkey named Shatabali appeared.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.39.15)

ततः काञ्चनशैलाभस्ताराया वीर्यवान् पिता । अनेकैर्बहुसाहस्रैः कोटिभिः प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ 39.15 ॥

tataḥ kāñcanaśailābhastārāyā vīryavān pitā | anekairbahusāhasraiḥ koṭibhiḥ pratyadṛśyata || 39.15 ||

Then the mighty father of Tara, resembling a mountain of gold, appeared, surrounded by many thousand crores.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.39.16)

तथापरेण कोटीनां सहस्रेण समन्वितः । पिता रुमायाः सम्प्राप्तः सुग्रीवश्वशुरो विभुः ॥ 39.16 ॥

tathāpareṇa koṭīnāṃ sahasreṇa samanvitaḥ | pitā rumāyāḥ samprāptaḥ sugrīvaśvaśuro vibhuḥ || 39.16 ||

Likewise, accompanied by yet another thousand crores, the mighty father of Ruma, Sugreeva's father-in-law, arrived.

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.39.17)

पद्मकेसरसंकाशस्तरुणार्कनिभाननः । बुद्धिमान् वानरश्रेष्ठः सर्ववानरसत्तमः ॥ 39.17 ॥

padmakesarasaṃkāśastaruṇārkanibhānanaḥ | buddhimān vānaraśreṣṭhaḥ sarvavānarasattamaḥ || 39.17 ||

The one the hue of lotus filaments, his face like the young sun, wise, foremost of vanaras, best among all —

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.39.18)

अनेकैर्बहुसाहस्त्रैर्वानराणां समन्वितः । पिता हनुमतः श्रीमान् केसरी प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ 39.18 ॥

anekairbahusāhastrairvānarāṇāṃ samanvitaḥ | pitā hanumataḥ śrīmān kesarī pratyadṛśyata || 39.18 ||

Kesari, the glorious father of Hanuman, appeared, accompanied by many thousand troops of monkeys.

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.39.19)

गोलाङ्गूलमहाराजो गवाक्षो भीमविक्रमः । वृतः कोटिसहस्रेण वानराणामदृश्यत ॥ 39.19 ॥

golāṅgūlamahārājo gavākṣo bhīmavikramaḥ | vṛtaḥ koṭisahasreṇa vānarāṇāmadṛśyata || 39.19 ||

The great king of the langurs, Gavaksha, of fearsome prowess, was seen, surrounded by a thousand crores of monkeys.

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.39.20)

ऋक्षाणां भीमवेगानां धूम्रः शत्रुनिबर्हणः । वृतः कोटिसहस्राभ्यां द्वाभ्यां समभिवर्तत ॥ 39.20 ॥

ṛkṣāṇāṃ bhīmavegānāṃ dhūmraḥ śatrunibarhaṇaḥ | vṛtaḥ koṭisahasrābhyāṃ dvābhyāṃ samabhivartata || 39.20 ||

Dhumra, destroyer of foes among the fearsomely swift bears, came forward, surrounded by two thousand crores.

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.39.21)

महाचलनिभैर्घोरैः पनसो नाम यूथपः । आजगाम महावीर्यस्तिसृभिः कोटिभिर्वृतः ॥ 39.21 ॥

mahācalanibhairghoraiḥ panaso nāma yūthapaḥ | ājagāma mahāvīryastisṛbhiḥ koṭibhirvṛtaḥ || 39.21 ||

The troop-leader named Panasa, huge as great mountains, terrible, of vast might, came, ringed by three crores.

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.39.22)

नीलाञ्जनचयाकारो नीलो नामैष यूथपः । अदृश्यत महाकायः कोटिभिर्दशभिर्वृतः ॥ 39.22 ॥

nīlāñjanacayākāro nīlo nāmaiṣa yūthapaḥ | adṛśyata mahākāyaḥ koṭibhirdaśabhirvṛtaḥ || 39.22 ||

The troop-leader named Nila, huge-bodied, dark as a heap of collyrium, was seen, surrounded by ten crores.

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.39.23)

ततः काञ्चनशैलाभो गवयो नाम यूथपः । आजगाम महावीर्यः कोटिभिः पञ्चभिर्वृतः ॥ 39.23 ॥

tataḥ kāñcanaśailābho gavayo nāma yūthapaḥ | ājagāma mahāvīryaḥ koṭibhiḥ pañcabhirvṛtaḥ || 39.23 ||

Then the troop-leader named Gavaya, resembling a golden mountain, of great might, came, surrounded by five crores.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.39.24)

दरीमुखश्च बलवान् यूथपोऽभ्याययौ तदा । वृतः कोटिसहस्रेण सुग्रीवं समवस्थितः ॥ 39.24 ॥

darīmukhaśca balavān yūthapo'bhyāyayau tadā | vṛtaḥ koṭisahasreṇa sugrīvaṃ samavasthitaḥ || 39.24 ||

The mighty troop-leader Darimukha, too, then presented himself before Sugreeva, surrounded by a thousand crores.

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.39.25)

मैन्दश्च द्विविदश्चोभावश्विपुत्रौ महाबलौ । कोटिकोटिसहस्रेण वानराणामदृश्यताम् ॥ 39.25 ॥

maindaśca dvividaścobhāvaśviputrau mahābalau | koṭikoṭisahasreṇa vānarāṇāmadṛśyatām || 39.25 ||

Mainda and Dvivida, both mighty sons of the Ashvins, appeared, surrounded by a thousand crore-crores of monkeys.

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.39.26)

गजश्च बलवान् वीरस्तिसृभिः कोटिभिर्वृतः । आजगाम महातेजाः सुग्रीवस्य समीपतः ॥ 39.26 ॥

gajaśca balavān vīrastisṛbhiḥ koṭibhirvṛtaḥ | ājagāma mahātejāḥ sugrīvasya samīpataḥ || 39.26 ||

The mighty hero Gaja too, of great splendour, came near Sugreeva, surrounded by three crores.

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.39.27)

ऋक्षराजो महातेजा जाम्बवान्नाम नामतः । कोटिभिर्दशभिर्व्याप्तः सुग्रीवस्य वशे स्थितः ॥ 39.27 ॥

ṛkṣarājo mahātejā jāmbavānnāma nāmataḥ | koṭibhirdaśabhirvyāptaḥ sugrīvasya vaśe sthitaḥ || 39.27 ||

Jambavan by name, the mighty king of the bears, ranging over ten crores, stood there under Sugreeva's command.

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.39.28)

रुमणो नाम तेजस्वी विक्रान्तैर्वानरैर्वृतः । आगतो बलवांस्तूर्णं कोटीशतसमावृतः ॥ 39.28 ॥

rumaṇo nāma tejasvī vikrāntairvānarairvṛtaḥ | āgato balavāṃstūrṇaṃ koṭīśatasamāvṛtaḥ || 39.28 ||

The mighty and glorious Rumana, encompassed by valiant monkeys, arrived swiftly, surrounded by a hundred crores.

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.39.29)

ततः कोटिसहस्राणां सहस्रेण शतेन च । पृष्ठतोऽनुगतः प्राप्तो हरिभिर्गन्धमादनः ॥ 39.29 ॥

tataḥ koṭisahasrāṇāṃ sahasreṇa śatena ca | pṛṣṭhato'nugataḥ prāpto haribhirgandhamādanaḥ || 39.29 ||

Then Gandhamadana arrived, followed from behind by monkeys numbering a thousand crores, a thousand, and a hundred more.

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.39.30)

ततः पद्मसहस्रेण वृतः शङ्कुशतेन च । युवराजोऽङ्गदः प्राप्तः पितुस्तुल्यपराक्रमः ॥ 39.30 ॥

tataḥ padmasahasreṇa vṛtaḥ śaṅkuśatena ca | yuvarājo'ṅgadaḥ prāptaḥ pitustulyaparākramaḥ || 39.30 ||

Then the crown prince Angada arrived, of prowess equal to his father's, surrounded by a thousand padmas and a hundred shankus of monkeys.

Shloka 31 (kishkindha.39.31)

ततस्ताराद्युतिस्तारो हरिभिर्भीमविक्रमैः । पञ्चभिर्हरिकोटीभिर्दूरतः पर्यदृश्यत ॥ 39.31 ॥

tatastārādyutistāro haribhirbhīmavikramaiḥ | pañcabhirharikoṭībhirdūrataḥ paryadṛśyata || 39.31 ||

Then Tara, radiant as a star, a monkey of fearsome prowess, was seen from afar, surrounded by five crores of monkeys.

Shloka 32 (kishkindha.39.32)

इन्द्रजानुः कविर्वीरो यूथपः प्रत्यदृश्यत । एकादशानां कोटीनामीश्वरस्तैश्च संवृतः ॥ 39.32 ॥

indrajānuḥ kavirvīro yūthapaḥ pratyadṛśyata | ekādaśānāṃ koṭīnāmīśvarastaiśca saṃvṛtaḥ || 39.32 ||

The heroic monkey troop-leader Indrajanu, lord of eleven crores, was seen, encircled by them.

Shloka 33 (kishkindha.39.33)

ततो रम्भस्त्वनुप्राप्तस्तरुणादित्यसंनिभः । अयुतेन वृतश्चैव सहस्रेण शतेन च ॥ 39.33 ॥

tato rambhastvanuprāptastaruṇādityasaṃnibhaḥ | ayutena vṛtaścaiva sahasreṇa śatena ca || 39.33 ||

Then Rambha arrived, resembling the young sun, surrounded by ten thousand, a thousand, and a hundred more.

Shloka 34 (kishkindha.39.34)

ततो यूथपतिर्वीरो दुर्मुखो नाम वानरः । प्रत्यदृश्यत कोटीभ्यां द्वाभ्यां परिवृतो बली ॥ 39.34 ॥

tato yūthapatirvīro durmukho nāma vānaraḥ | pratyadṛśyata koṭībhyāṃ dvābhyāṃ parivṛto balī || 39.34 ||

Then the mighty, heroic troop-leader named Durmukha was seen, surrounded by two crores.

Shloka 35 (kishkindha.39.35)

कैलासशिखराकारैर्वानरैर्भीमविक्रमैः । वृतः कोटिसहस्रेण हनुमान् प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ 39.35 ॥

kailāsaśikharākārairvānarairbhīmavikramaiḥ | vṛtaḥ koṭisahasreṇa hanumān pratyadṛśyata || 39.35 ||

Hanuman was seen, surrounded by a thousand crores of monkeys of fearsome prowess, resembling the peaks of Kailasa.

Shloka 36 (kishkindha.39.36)

नलश्चापि महावीर्यः संवृतो द्रुमवासिभिः । कोटीशतेन सम्प्राप्तः सहस्रेण शतेन च ॥ 39.36 ॥

nalaścāpi mahāvīryaḥ saṃvṛto drumavāsibhiḥ | koṭīśatena samprāptaḥ sahasreṇa śatena ca || 39.36 ||

Nala, too, of great might, surrounded by tree-dwelling monkeys, arrived with a hundred crores, a thousand, and a hundred more.

Shloka 37 (kishkindha.39.37)

ततो दधिमुखः श्रीमान् कोटिभिर्दशभिर्वृतः । सम्प्राप्तोऽभिनदंस्तस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः ॥ 39.37 ॥

tato dadhimukhaḥ śrīmān koṭibhirdaśabhirvṛtaḥ | samprāpto'bhinadaṃstasya sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ || 39.37 ||

Then the glorious Dadhimukha, surrounded by ten crores, arrived roaring, presenting himself before the great-souled Sugreeva.

Shloka 38 (kishkindha.39.38)

शरभः कुमुदो वह्निर्वानरो रंह एव च । एते चान्ये च बहवो वानराः कामरूपिणः ॥ 39.38 ॥

śarabhaḥ kumudo vahnirvānaro raṃha eva ca | ete cānye ca bahavo vānarāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ || 39.38 ||

Sharabha, Kumuda, Vahni, and the monkey Ramha — these and many other vanaras able to take any shape at will,

Shloka 39 (kishkindha.39.39)

आवृत्य पृथिवीं सर्वां पर्वतांश्च वनानि च । यूथपाः समनुप्राप्ता येषां संख्या न विद्यते ॥ 39.39 ॥

āvṛtya pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ parvatāṃśca vanāni ca | yūthapāḥ samanuprāptā yeṣāṃ saṃkhyā na vidyate || 39.39 ||

these troop-leaders arrived, covering the whole earth, its mountains and its forests; their number cannot be told.

Shloka 40 (kishkindha.39.40)

आगताश्च निविष्टाश्च पृथिव्यां सर्ववानराः । आप्लवन्तः प्लवन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवंगमाः । अभ्यवर्तन्त सुग्रीवं सूर्यमभ्रगणा इव ॥ 39.40 ॥

āgatāśca niviṣṭāśca pṛthivyāṃ sarvavānarāḥ | āplavantaḥ plavantaśca garjantaśca plavaṃgamāḥ | abhyavartanta sugrīvaṃ sūryamabhragaṇā iva || 39.40 ||

All the vanaras of the earth, having come, took their places there; leaping, bounding and roaring, those monkeys converged upon Sugreeva as banks of cloud converge upon the sun.

Shloka 41 (kishkindha.39.41)

कुर्वाणा बहुशब्दांश्च प्रकृष्टा बाहुशालिनः । शिरोभिर्वानरेन्द्राय सुग्रीवाय न्यवेदयन् ॥ 39.41 ॥

kurvāṇā bahuśabdāṃśca prakṛṣṭā bāhuśālinaḥ | śirobhirvānarendrāya sugrīvāya nyavedayan || 39.41 ||

Raising a great tumult, those mighty and eminent ones bowed their heads and presented themselves before Sugreeva, lord of the vanaras.

Shloka 42 (kishkindha.39.42)

अपरे वानरश्रेष्ठाः संगम्य च यथोचितम् । सुग्रीवेण समागम्य स्थिताः प्राञ्जलयस्तदा ॥ 39.42 ॥

apare vānaraśreṣṭhāḥ saṃgamya ca yathocitam | sugrīveṇa samāgamya sthitāḥ prāñjalayastadā || 39.42 ||

The other foremost vanaras, too, having gathered fittingly and greeted Sugreeva, stood there with joined palms.

Shloka 43 (kishkindha.39.43)

सुग्रीवस्त्वरितो रामे सर्वांस्तान् वानरर्षभान् । निवेदयित्वा धर्मज्ञः स्थितः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् ॥ 39.43 ॥

sugrīvastvarito rāme sarvāṃstān vānararṣabhān | nivedayitvā dharmajñaḥ sthitaḥ prāñjalirabravīt || 39.43 ||

Then Sugreeva, knower of dharma, swiftly presented all those bulls among vanaras to Rama, and standing with joined palms, said this:

Shloka 44 (kishkindha.39.44)

यथासुखं पर्वतनिर्झरेषु वनेषु सर्वेषु च वानरेन्द्राः । निवेशयित्वा विधिवद् बलानि बलं बलज्ञः प्रतिपत्तुमीष्टे ॥ 39.44 ॥

yathāsukhaṃ parvatanirjhareṣu vaneṣu sarveṣu ca vānarendrāḥ | niveśayitvā vidhivad balāni balaṃ balajñaḥ pratipattumīṣṭe || 39.44 ||

"These lords of the monkeys, knowing well the disposal of forces, having quartered their armies at ease and by due order beside mountain streams and in every forest, now stand ready to carry out any task of yours."