Sampati's Account of Sita's Abduction

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.59.1)

ततस्तदमृतास्वादं गृध्रराजेन भाषितम्। निशम्य वदता हृष्टास्ते वचः प्लवगर्षभाः ॥ 59.1 ॥

tatastadamṛtāsvādaṃ gṛdhrarājena bhāṣitam| niśamya vadatā hṛṣṭāste vacaḥ plavagarṣabhāḥ || 59.1 ||

Then, hearing those words spoken by the kingly vulture, sweet as ambrosia to the ear, those foremost of leaping monkeys were gladdened and filled with joy.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.59.2)

जाम्बवान् वानरश्रेष्ठः सह सर्वैः प्लवङ्गमैः। भूतलात् सहसोत्थाय गृध्रराजानमब्रवीत् ॥ 59.2 ॥

jāmbavān vānaraśreṣṭhaḥ saha sarvaiḥ plavaṅgamaiḥ| bhūtalāt sahasotthāya gṛdhrarājānamabravīt || 59.2 ||

Jambavan, the best of vanaras, rising suddenly from the ground together with all the other vanaras, spoke to the kingly vulture:

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.59.3)

क्व सीता केन वा दृष्टा को वा हरति मैथिलीम्। तदाख्यातु भवान् सर्वं गतिर्भव वनौकसाम् ॥ 59.3 ॥

kva sītā kena vā dṛṣṭā ko vā harati maithilīm| tadākhyātu bhavān sarvaṃ gatirbhava vanaukasām || 59.3 ||

"Where is Sita? By whom was she seen? Who is it that carries off Maithili? Tell us all of this, and be a refuge to us dwellers of the forest.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.59.4)

को दाशरथिबाणानां वज्रवेगनिपातिनाम्। स्वयं लक्ष्मणमुक्तानां न चिन्तयति विक्रमम् ॥ 59.4 ॥

ko dāśarathibāṇānāṃ vajraveganipātinām| svayaṃ lakṣmaṇamuktānāṃ na cintayati vikramam || 59.4 ||

Who is there that does not reckon with the might of Dasharatha's son's arrows, falling with the speed of thunderbolts, or those loosed by Lakshmana himself?

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.59.5)

स हरीन् प्रतिसम्मुक्तान् सीताश्रुतिसमाहितान्। पुनराश्वासयन् प्रीत इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 59.5 ॥

sa harīn pratisammuktān sītāśrutisamāhitān| punarāśvāsayan prīta idaṃ vacanamabravīt || 59.5 ||

He, gladdened, comforting once more those monkeys — who had turned back from self-destruction and now hung eagerly upon news of Sita — spoke these words:

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.59.6)

श्रूयतामिह वैदेह्या यथा मे हरणं श्रुतम्। येन चापि ममाख्यातं यत्र चायतलोचना ॥ 59.6 ॥

śrūyatāmiha vaidehyā yathā me haraṇaṃ śrutam| yena cāpi mamākhyātaṃ yatra cāyatalocanā || 59.6 ||

"Hear now how I came to learn of Vaidehi's abduction, and from whom I was told where that wide-eyed lady is.

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.59.7)

अहमस्मिन् गिरौ दुर्गे बहुयोजनमायते। चिरान्निपतितो वृद्धः क्षीणप्राणपराक्रमः ॥ 59.7 ॥

ahamasmin girau durge bahuyojanamāyate| cirānnipatito vṛddhaḥ kṣīṇaprāṇaparākramaḥ || 59.7 ||

Long ago I fell upon this impassable mountain, which stretches many yojanas in breadth — aged, and my life-force and vigour spent.

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.59.8)

तं मामेवंगतं पुत्रः सुपार्श्वो नाम नामतः। आहारेण यथाकालं बिभर्ति पततां वरः ॥ 59.8 ॥

taṃ māmevaṃgataṃ putraḥ supārśvo nāma nāmataḥ| āhāreṇa yathākālaṃ bibharti patatāṃ varaḥ || 59.8 ||

In this sorry state, my son, named Suparshva, best among birds, has sustained me with food brought at its proper time.

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.59.9)

तीक्ष्णकामास्तु गन्धर्वास्तीक्ष्णकोपा भुजङ्गमाः। मृगाणां तु भयं तीक्ष्णं ततस्तीक्ष्णक्षुधा वयम् ॥ 59.9 ॥

tīkṣṇakāmāstu gandharvāstīkṣṇakopā bhujaṅgamāḥ| mṛgāṇāṃ tu bhayaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ tatastīkṣṇakṣudhā vayam || 59.9 ||

As passion is intense in the gandharvas, as anger is intense in serpents, and fear is intense in deer, so is hunger intense in us, the vultures.

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.59.10)

स कदाचित् क्षुधार्तस्य ममाहाराभिकांक्षिणः। गतसूर्येऽहनि प्राप्तो मम पुत्रो ह्यनामिषः ॥ 59.10 ॥

sa kadācit kṣudhārtasya mamāhārābhikāṃkṣiṇaḥ| gatasūrye'hani prāpto mama putro hyanāmiṣaḥ || 59.10 ||

On a certain day, while I lay tormented by hunger and longing for food, my son returned at nightfall bearing no flesh at all.

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.59.11)

स मयाऽऽहारसंरोधात् पीडितः प्रीतिवर्धनः। अनुमान्य यथातत्त्वमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 59.11 ॥

sa mayā''hārasaṃrodhāt pīḍitaḥ prītivardhanaḥ| anumānya yathātattvamidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 59.11 ||

Deprived of food, I reproached him; and he, the increaser of my joy, appeasing me, told me what had truly happened, saying:

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.59.12)

अहं तात यथाकालमामिषार्थी खमाप्लुतः। महेन्द्रस्य गिरेर्द्वारमावृत्य सुसमाश्रितः ॥ 59.12 ॥

ahaṃ tāta yathākālamāmiṣārthī khamāplutaḥ| mahendrasya girerdvāramāvṛtya susamāśritaḥ || 59.12 ||

'O father, seeking flesh in time, I flew up into the sky, and hovering over the gateway of Mount Mahendra, I settled there securely.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.59.13)

तत्र सत्त्वसहस्राणां सागरान्तरचारिणाम्। पन्थानमेकोऽध्यवसं संनिरोद्धुमवाङ्मुखः ॥ 59.13 ॥

tatra sattvasahasrāṇāṃ sāgarāntaracāriṇām| panthānameko'dhyavasaṃ saṃniroda‍dhumavāṅmukhaḥ || 59.13 ||

There, alone, I lay with my face turned downward, watching to cut off the path of the thousands of creatures that move within the sea.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.59.14)

तत्र कश्चिन्मया दृष्टः सूर्योदयसमप्रभाम्। स्त्रियमादाय गच्छन् वै भिन्नाञ्जनचयोपमः ॥ 59.14 ॥

tatra kaścinmayā dṛṣṭaḥ sūryodayasamaprabhām| striyamādāya gacchan vai bhinnāñjanacayopamaḥ || 59.14 ||

There I saw someone, dark as a heap of collyrium, going along carrying off a woman radiant as the rising sun.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.59.15)

सोऽहमभ्यवहारार्थं तौ दृष्ट्वा कृतनिश्चयः। तेन साम्ना विनीतेन पन्थानमनुयाचितः ॥ 59.15 ॥

so'hamabhyavahārārthaṃ tau dṛṣṭvā kṛtaniścayaḥ| tena sāmnā vinītena panthānamanuyācitaḥ || 59.15 ||

Seeing those two, I resolved to seize them for my food; but he, feigning humility, begged the way of me with gentle, conciliatory words.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.59.16)

नहि सामोपपन्नानां प्रहर्ता विद्यते भुवि। नीचेष्वपि जनः कश्चित् किमङ्ग बत मद्विधः ॥ 59.16 ॥

nahi sāmopapannānāṃ prahartā vidyate bhuvi| nīceṣvapi janaḥ kaścit kimaṅga bata madvidhaḥ || 59.16 ||

There is none on this earth, even among the basest, who strikes one who comes pleading in gentle words — how much less one such as I!

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.59.17)

स यातस्तेजसा व्योम संक्षिपन्निव वेगितः। अथाहं खेचरैर्भूतैरभिगम्य सभाजितः ॥ 59.17 ॥

sa yātastejasā vyoma saṃkṣipanniva vegitaḥ| athāhaṃ khecarairbhūtairabhigamya sabhājitaḥ || 59.17 ||

He went off swiftly, as though gathering up the very sky with his brilliance; and thereupon the beings that move in the firmament came to me and paid me honour,

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.59.18)

दिष्ट्या जीवति सीतेति ह्यब्रुवन् मां महर्षयः। कथंचित् सकलत्रोऽसौ गतस्ते स्वस्त्यसंशयम् ॥ 59.18 ॥

diṣṭyā jīvati sīteti hyabruvan māṃ maharṣayaḥ| kathaṃcit sakalatro'sau gataste svastyasaṃśayam || 59.18 ||

for the great sages said to me, 'Fortunately, Sita still lives; he has somehow gone off with his charge, and your own welfare is assured beyond doubt.'

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.59.19)

एवमुक्तस्ततोऽहं तैः सिद्धैः परमशोभनैः। स च मे रावणो राजा रक्षसां प्रतिवेदितः ॥ 59.19 ॥

evamuktastato'haṃ taiḥ siddhaiḥ paramaśobhanaiḥ| sa ca me rāvaṇo rājā rakṣasāṃ prativeditaḥ || 59.19 ||

When those most resplendent siddhas had spoken thus to me, they made known to me also that it was Ravana, king of the rakshasas —

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.59.20)

पश्यन् दाशरथेर्भार्यां रामस्य जनकात्मजाम्। भ्रष्टाभरणकौशेयां शोकवेगपराजिताम् ॥ 59.20 ॥

paśyan dāśaratherbhāryāṃ rāmasya janakātmajām| bhraṣṭābharaṇakauśeyāṃ śokavegaparājitām || 59.20 ||

and pointed out to me Dasharatha's daughter-in-law, Rama's wife, Janaka's daughter — her ornaments disarrayed, overwhelmed by the surge of her grief,

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.59.21)

रामलक्ष्मणयोर्नाम क्रोशन्तीं मुक्तमूर्धजाम्। एष कालात्ययस्तात इति वाक्यविदां वरः ॥ 59.21 ॥

rāmalakṣmaṇayornāma krośantīṃ muktamūrdhajām| eṣa kālātyayastāta iti vākyavidāṃ varaḥ || 59.21 ||

crying out the names of Rama and Lakshmana, her hair come loose. 'This, O father, is the reason for my delay' — thus spoke that Suparshva, most skilled among speakers.'

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.59.22)

एतदर्थं समग्रं मे सुपार्श्वः प्रत्यवेदयत् । तच्छ्रुत्वापि हि मे बुद्धिर्नासीत् काचित् पराक्रमे ॥ 59.22 ॥

etadarthaṃ samagraṃ me supārśvaḥ pratyavedayat | tacchrutvāpi hi me buddhirnāsīt kācit parākrame || 59.22 ||

He related all this account to me in its entirety. Even on hearing it, no thought whatsoever of daring against Ravana arose in my mind —

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.59.23)

अपक्षो हि कथं पक्षी कर्म किंचित् समारभेत्। यत् तु शक्यं मया कर्तुं वाग्बुद्धिगुणवर्तिना ॥ 59.23 ॥

apakṣo hi kathaṃ pakṣī karma kiṃcit samārabhet| yat tu śakyaṃ mayā kartuṃ vāgbuddhiguṇavartinā || 59.23 ||

for how indeed can a wingless bird undertake any deed of valour? Yet whatever it is possible for me to do, as one who lives by speech, thought and good counsel,

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.59.24)

श्रूयतां तत्र वक्ष्यामि भवतां पौरुषाश्रयम्। वाङ्मतिभ्यां हि सर्वेषां करिष्यामि प्रियं हि वः ॥ 59.24 ॥

śrūyatāṃ tatra vakṣyāmi bhavatāṃ pauruṣāśrayam| vāṅmatibhyāṃ hi sarveṣāṃ kariṣyāmi priyaṃ hi vaḥ || 59.24 ||

hear it now, I shall tell you — its execution will depend upon your own valour; but by my word and my counsel, I shall surely do a good turn for you all.

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.59.25)

यद्धि दाशरथेः कार्यं मम तन्नात्र संशयः। तद् भवन्तो मतिश्रेष्ठा बलवन्तो मनस्विनः ॥ 59.25 ॥

yaddhi dāśaratheḥ kāryaṃ mama tannātra saṃśayaḥ| tad bhavanto matiśreṣṭhā balavanto manasvinaḥ || 59.25 ||

for whatever the task of Dasharatha's son may be, that, without doubt, is my task too; you all are supreme in wisdom, mighty in strength, and steadfast of mind,

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.59.26)

प्रहिताः कपिराजेन देवैरपि दुरासदाः। रामलक्ष्मणबाणाश्च विहिताः कङ्कपत्रिणः ॥ 59.26 ॥

prahitāḥ kapirājena devairapi durāsadāḥ| rāmalakṣmaṇabāṇāśca vihitāḥ kaṅkapatriṇaḥ || 59.26 ||

unassailable even to the gods, sent forth by the king of the vanaras; and Rama's and Lakshmana's arrows, feathered like the kanka bird and razor-sharp,

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.59.27)

त्रयाणामपि लोकानां पर्याप्तास्त्राणनिग्रहे। कामं खलु दशग्रीवस्तेजोबलसमन्वितः। भवतां तु समर्थानां न किंचिदपि दुष्करम् ॥ 59.27 ॥

trayāṇāmapi lokānāṃ paryāptāstrāṇanigrahe| kāmaṃ khalu daśagrīvastejobalasamanvitaḥ| bhavatāṃ tu samarthānāṃ na kiṃcidapi duṣkaram || 59.27 ||

are sufficient to defend or destroy all three worlds. No doubt the ten-necked Ravana is possessed of power and might, but for capable ones such as you, nothing at all is beyond accomplishment.

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.59.28)

तदलं कालसङ्गेन क्रियतां बुद्धिनिश्चयः। नहि कर्मसु सज्जन्ते बुद्धिमन्तो भवद्विधाः ॥ 59.28 ॥

tadalaṃ kālasaṅgena kriyatāṃ buddhiniścayaḥ| nahi karmasu sajjante buddhimanto bhavadvidhāḥ || 59.28 ||

Therefore, enough of this delay — let a firm resolve now be made; the wise and prudent of your kind never falter in their undertakings."