Angada's Counsel of Despair

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.53.1)

ततस्ते ददृशुर्घोरं सागरं वरुणालयम् । अपारमभिगर्जन्तं घोरैरूर्मिभिराकुलम् ॥ 53.1 ॥

tataste dadṛśurghoraṃ sāgaraṃ varuṇālayam | apāramabhigarjantaṃ ghorairūrmibhirākulam || 53.1 ||

Then they saw the terrible ocean, the abode of Varuna, boundless, roaring, and agitated with fearsome waves.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.53.2)

मयस्य मायाविहितं गिरिदुर्गं विचिन्वताम् । तेषां मासो व्यतिक्रान्तो यो राज्ञा समयः कृतः ॥ 53.2 ॥

mayasya māyāvihitaṃ giridurgaṃ vicinvatām | teṣāṃ māso vyatikrānto yo rājñā samayaḥ kṛtaḥ || 53.2 ||

While searching that mountain-fortress wrought by Maya's magic, the month that had been fixed as the time-limit by the king had already elapsed for them.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.53.3)

विन्ध्यस्य तु गिरेः पादे सम्प्रपुष्पितपादपे । उपविश्य महात्मानश्चिन्तामापेदिरे तदा ॥ 53.3 ॥

vindhyasya tu gireḥ pāde samprapuṣpitapādape | upaviśya mahātmānaścintāmāpedire tadā || 53.3 ||

Then, seated at the foot of Mount Vindhya, amid trees in full bloom, those great-souled ones fell into anxious thought.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.53.4)

ततः पुष्पातिभाराग्राँल्लताशतसमावृतान् । द्रुमान् वासन्तिकान् दृष्ट्वा बभूवुर्भयशङ्किताः ॥ 53.4 ॥

tataḥ puṣpātibhārāgrā~llatāśatasamāvṛtān | drumān vāsantikān dṛṣṭvā babhūvurbhayaśaṅkitāḥ || 53.4 ||

Then, seeing the spring trees, their tops heavy with flowers, covered by hundreds of creepers, they became apprehensive with fear.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.53.5)

ते वसन्तमनुप्राप्तं प्रतिवेद्य परस्परम् । नष्टसंदेशकालार्था निपेतुर्धरणीतले ॥ 53.5 ॥

te vasantamanuprāptaṃ prativedya parasparam | naṣṭasaṃdeśakālārthā nipeturdharaṇītale || 53.5 ||

Recognizing among themselves that spring had arrived, and that the time for their errand had passed, they sank down upon the ground.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.53.6)

ततस्तान् कपिवृद्धांश्च शिष्टांश्चैव वनौकसः । वाचा मधुरयाऽऽभाष्य यथावदनुमान्य च ॥ 53.6 ॥

tatastān kapivṛddhāṃśca śiṣṭāṃścaiva vanaukasaḥ | vācā madhurayā''bhāṣya yathāvadanumānya ca || 53.6 ||

Then, addressing those elder monkeys and the other well-disciplined forest-dwellers with sweet words, and duly reassuring them,

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.53.7)

स तु सिंहर्षभस्कन्धः पीनायतभुजः कपिः । युवराजो महाप्राज्ञ अङ्गदो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 53.7 ॥

sa tu siṃharṣabhaskandhaḥ pīnāyatabhujaḥ kapiḥ | yuvarājo mahāprājña aṅgado vākyamabravīt || 53.7 ||

—that monkey, with shoulders like a lion's and a bull's, with stout and long arms, the crown prince, the wise Angada, spoke these words:

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.53.8)

शासनात् कपिराजस्य वयं सर्वे विनिर्गताः । मासः पूर्णो बिलस्थानां हरयः किं न बुध्यत ॥ 53.8 ॥

śāsanāt kapirājasya vayaṃ sarve vinirgatāḥ | māsaḥ pūrṇo bilasthānāṃ harayaḥ kiṃ na budhyata || 53.8 ||

'By the command of the monkey-king we all set forth. A full month has passed for us who dwelt in the cave — do the vanaras not realize this?

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.53.9)

वयमाश्वयुजे मासि कालसंख्याव्यवस्थिताः । प्रस्थिताः सोऽपि चातीतः किमतः कार्यमुत्तरम् ॥ 53.9 ॥

vayamāśvayuje māsi kālasaṃkhyāvyavasthitāḥ | prasthitāḥ so'pi cātītaḥ kimataḥ kāryamuttaram || 53.9 ||

'We set out with our time reckoned from the month of Ashvayuja; that too has now passed — what course of action remains after this?

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.53.10)

भवन्तः प्रत्ययं प्राप्ता नीतिमार्गविशारदाः । हितेष्वभिरता भर्तुर्निसृष्टाः सर्वकर्मसु ॥ 53.10 ॥

bhavantaḥ pratyayaṃ prāptā nītimārgaviśāradāḥ | hiteṣvabhiratā bharturnisṛṣṭāḥ sarvakarmasu || 53.10 ||

'You are all skilled in the path of statecraft, devoted to your lord's welfare, and entrusted with every task — you have earned his trust.

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.53.11)

कर्मस्वप्रतिमाः सर्वे दिक्षु विश्रुतपौरुषाः । मां पुरस्कृत्य निर्याताः पिङ्गाक्षप्रतिचोदिताः ॥ 53.11 ॥

karmasvapratimāḥ sarve dikṣu viśrutapauruṣāḥ | māṃ puraskṛtya niryātāḥ piṅgākṣapraticoditāḥ || 53.11 ||

'All of you, unrivalled in deeds, of prowess renowned in every direction, set forth placing me at your head, sent by the tawny-eyed Sugreeva.

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.53.12)

इदानीमकृतार्थानां मर्तव्यं नात्र संशयः । हरिराजस्य संदेशमकृत्वा कः सुखी भवेत् ॥ 53.12 ॥

idānīmakṛtārthānāṃ martavyaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | harirājasya saṃdeśamakṛtvā kaḥ sukhī bhavet || 53.12 ||

'Now, our purpose unaccomplished, death is certain — there is no doubt of this. Who could live happily without fulfilling the vanara-king's command?

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.53.13)

अस्मिन्नतीते काले तु सुग्रीवेण कृते स्वयम् । प्रायोपवेशनं युक्तं सर्वेषां च वनौकसाम् ॥ 53.13 ॥

asminnatīte kāle tu sugrīveṇa kṛte svayam | prāyopaveśanaṃ yuktaṃ sarveṣāṃ ca vanaukasām || 53.13 ||

'Now that this time, fixed by Sugreeva himself, has passed, it is fitting for all of us forest-dwellers to undertake a fast unto death.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.53.14)

तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः स्वामिभावे व्यवस्थितः । न क्षमिष्यति नः सर्वानपराधकृतो गतान् ॥ 53.14 ॥

tīkṣṇaḥ prakṛtyā sugrīvaḥ svāmibhāve vyavasthitaḥ | na kṣamiṣyati naḥ sarvānaparādhakṛto gatān || 53.14 ||

'Sugreeva is by nature harsh, and is now established in the position of lord; he will not forgive us all, returning as we would, having failed in our duty.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.53.15)

अप्रवृत्तौ च सीतायाः पापमेव करिष्यति । तस्मात् क्षममिहाद्यैव गन्तुं प्रायोपवेशनम् ॥ 53.15 ॥

apravṛttau ca sītāyāḥ pāpameva kariṣyati | tasmāt kṣamamihādyaiva gantuṃ prāyopaveśanam || 53.15 ||

'With no news of Sita, he will surely commit a sinful act against us. It is therefore fitting to resort here today itself to a fast unto death.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.53.16)

त्यक्त्वा पुत्रांश्च दारांश्च धनानि च गृहाणि च । ध्रुवं नो हिंसते राजा सर्वान् प्रतिगतानितः ॥ 53.16 ॥

tyaktvā putrāṃśca dārāṃśca dhanāni ca gṛhāṇi ca | dhruvaṃ no hiṃsate rājā sarvān pratigatānitaḥ || 53.16 ||

'We, who left behind our sons, wives, wealth and homes, will surely be destroyed by the king should we return from here.

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.53.17)

वधेनाप्रतिरूपेण श्रेयान् मृत्युरिहैव नः । न चाहं यौवराज्येन सुग्रीवेणाभिषेचितः ॥ 53.17 ॥

vadhenāpratirūpeṇa śreyān mṛtyurihaiva naḥ | na cāhaṃ yauvarājyena sugrīveṇābhiṣecitaḥ || 53.17 ||

'Better for us is death here itself than an unseemly execution. Moreover, I was not consecrated to the position of crown prince by Sugreeva —

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.53.18)

नरेन्द्रेणाभिषिक्तोऽस्मि रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । स पूर्वं बद्धवैरो मां राजा दृष्ट्वा व्यतिक्रमम् ॥ 53.18 ॥

narendreṇābhiṣikto'smi rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā | sa pūrvaṃ baddhavairo māṃ rājā dṛṣṭvā vyatikramam || 53.18 ||

—rather, I was consecrated by that king of men, Rama of untiring deeds. That king, who once bore enmity toward me, on seeing my failure,

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.53.19)

घातयिष्यति दण्डेन तीक्ष्णेन कृतनिश्चयः । किं मे सुहृद्भिर्व्यसनं पश्यद्भिर्जीवितान्तरे । इहैव प्रायमासिष्ये पुण्ये सागररोधसि ॥ 53.19 ॥

ghātayiṣyati daṇḍena tīkṣṇena kṛtaniścayaḥ | kiṃ me suhṛdbhirvyasanaṃ paśyadbhirjīvitāntare | ihaiva prāyamāsiṣye puṇye sāgararodhasi || 53.19 ||

—will resolve to have me put to death by severe punishment. Of what use to me are friends who would only witness my calamity for the rest of my life? I shall observe the fast unto death here itself, on this sacred shore of the ocean.

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.53.20)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा कुमारेण युवराजेन भाषितम् । सर्वे ते वानरश्रेष्ठाः करुणं वाक्यमब्रुवन् ॥ 53.20 ॥

etacchrutvā kumāreṇa yuvarājena bhāṣitam | sarve te vānaraśreṣṭhāḥ karuṇaṃ vākyamabruvan || 53.20 ||

Hearing these words spoken by the young crown prince, all those foremost of vanaras spoke sorrowfully:

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.53.21)

तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः प्रियारक्तश्च राघवः । समीक्ष्याकृतकार्यांस्तु तस्मिंश्च समये गते ॥ 53.21 ॥

tīkṣṇaḥ prakṛtyā sugrīvaḥ priyāraktaśca rāghavaḥ | samīkṣyākṛtakāryāṃstu tasmiṃśca samaye gate || 53.21 ||

'Sugreeva is harsh by nature, and Raghava is devoted to his beloved; this time having passed, seeing us with our task unaccomplished,

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.53.22)

अदृष्टायां च वैदेह्यां दृष्ट्वा चैव समागतान् । राघवप्रियकामाय घातयिष्यत्यसंशयम् ॥ 53.22 ॥

adṛṣṭāyāṃ ca vaidehyāṃ dṛṣṭvā caiva samāgatān | rāghavapriyakāmāya ghātayiṣyatyasaṃśayam || 53.22 ||

—Vaidehi still unseen, and seeing us returned, he will, to please Raghava, without doubt have us slain.

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.53.23)

न क्षमं चापराद्धानां गमनं स्वामिपार्श्वतः । प्रधानभूताश्च वयं सुग्रीवस्य समागताः ॥ 53.23 ॥

na kṣamaṃ cāparāddhānāṃ gamanaṃ svāmipārśvataḥ | pradhānabhūtāśca vayaṃ sugrīvasya samāgatāḥ || 53.23 ||

'Nor is it fitting for those who have failed in their duty to go before their lord; and we, being chief among those who came with Sugreeva —

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.53.24)

इहैव सीतामन्वीक्ष्य प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य वा । नो चेद् गच्छाम तं वीरं गमिष्यामो यमक्षयम् ॥ 53.24 ॥

ihaiva sītāmanvīkṣya pravṛttimupalabhya vā | no ced gacchāma taṃ vīraṃ gamiṣyāmo yamakṣayam || 53.24 ||

—shall either find Sita here, or obtain news of her; and if we cannot go before that hero, we shall go to the abode of Yama.'

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.53.25)

प्लवङ्गमानां तु भयार्दितानां श्रुत्वा वचस्तार इदं बभाषे । अलं विषादेन बिलं प्रविश्य वसाम सर्वे यदि रोचते वः ॥ 53.25 ॥

plavaṅgamānāṃ tu bhayārditānāṃ śrutvā vacastāra idaṃ babhāṣe | alaṃ viṣādena bilaṃ praviśya vasāma sarve yadi rocate vaḥ || 53.25 ||

But hearing the words of the fear-stricken vanaras, Tara spoke thus: 'Enough of despair — let us all enter that cave and dwell there, if it pleases you.

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.53.26)

इदं हि मायाविहितं सुदुर्गमं प्रभूतवृक्षोदकभोज्यपेयम् । इहास्ति नो नैव भयं पुरंदरान्न राघवाद् वानरराजतोऽपि वा ॥ 53.26 ॥

idaṃ hi māyāvihitaṃ sudurgamaṃ prabhūtavṛkṣodakabhojyapeyam | ihāsti no naiva bhayaṃ puraṃdarānna rāghavād vānararājato'pi vā || 53.26 ||

'For this place, magically wrought, is well-nigh inaccessible, abounding in trees, water, food and drink; here we have no fear at all — neither from Indra, nor from Raghava, nor even from the vanara-king.'

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.53.27)

श्रुत्वाङ्गदस्यापि वचोऽनुकूलमूचुश्च सर्वे हरयः प्रतीताः । यथा न हन्येम तथा विधानमसक्तमद्यैव विधीयतां नः ॥ 53.27 ॥

śrutvāṅgadasyāpi vaco'nukūlamūcuśca sarve harayaḥ pratītāḥ | yathā na hanyema tathā vidhānamasaktamadyaiva vidhīyatāṃ naḥ || 53.27 ||

Hearing Angada's words too, so agreeable, all the vanaras said with delight: 'Let a plan be devised for us at once, without delay, so that we may not be killed.'