The Ravaging of Madhuvana

Shloka 1 (sundara.62.1)

तानुवाच हरिश्रेष्ठो हनूमान् वानरर्षभः। अव्यग्रमनसो यूयं मधु सेवत वानराः ॥ 62.1 ॥

tānuvāca hariśreṣṭho hanūmān vānararṣabhaḥ| avyagramanaso yūyaṃ madhu sevata vānarāḥ || 62.1 ||

Hanuman, best among the monkeys, said to them: 'Enjoy the honey, monkeys, with untroubled minds.'

Shloka 2 (sundara.62.2)

अहमावर्जयिष्यामि युष्माकं परिपन्थिनः। श्रुत्वा हनूमतो वाक्यं हरीणां प्रवरोऽङ्गदः ॥ 62.2 ॥

ahamāvarjayiṣyāmi yuṣmākaṃ paripanthinaḥ| śrutvā hanūmato vākyaṃ harīṇāṃ pravaro'ṅgadaḥ || 62.2 ||

'I myself shall ward off any who oppose you.' Hearing Hanuman's words, Angada, foremost of the monkeys,

Shloka 3 (sundara.62.3)

प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नात्मा पिबन्तु हरयो मधु। अवश्यं कृतकार्यस्य वाक्यं हनुमतो मया ॥ 62.3 ॥

pratyuvāca prasannātmā pibantu harayo madhu| avaśyaṃ kṛtakāryasya vākyaṃ hanumato mayā || 62.3 ||

replied with a glad heart: 'Let the monkeys drink the honey. The word of Hanuman, whose task is surely accomplished,'

Shloka 4 (sundara.62.4)

अकार्यमपि कर्तव्यं किमङ्गं पुनरीदृशम्। अङ्गदस्य मुखाच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं वानरर्षभाः ॥ 62.4 ॥

akāryamapi kartavyaṃ kimaṅgaṃ punarīdṛśam| aṅgadasya mukhācchrutvā vacanaṃ vānararṣabhāḥ || 62.4 ||

'ought to be obeyed even were it improper -- how much more so, a task such as this.' Hearing these words from Angada's own mouth, the bull-monkeys,

Shloka 5 (sundara.62.5)

साधु साध्विति संहृष्टा वानराः प्रत्यपूजयन्। पूजयित्वाङ्गदं सर्वे वानरा वानरर्षभम् ॥ 62.5 ॥

sādhu sādhviti saṃhṛṣṭā vānarāḥ pratyapūjayan| pūjayitvāṅgadaṃ sarve vānarā vānararṣabham || 62.5 ||

greatly delighted, cried 'Well said, well said!' and honoured him. Having honoured Angada, best of monkeys, all the monkeys

Shloka 6 (sundara.62.6)

जग्मुर्मधुवनं यत्र नदीवेग इव द्रुमम्। ते प्रविष्टा मधुवनं पालानाक्रम्य शक्तितः ॥ 62.6 ॥

jagmurmadhuvanaṃ yatra nadīvega iva drumam| te praviṣṭā madhuvanaṃ pālānākramya śaktitaḥ || 62.6 ||

rushed to Madhuvana as a river's torrent rushes upon a tree. Entering Madhuvana, they overpowered the guards by force,

Shloka 7 (sundara.62.7)

अतिसर्गाच्च पटवो दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वा च मैथिलीम्। पपुः सर्वे मधु तदा रसवत् फलमाददुः ॥ 62.7 ॥

atisargācca paṭavo dṛṣṭvā śrutvā ca maithilīm| papuḥ sarve madhu tadā rasavat phalamādaduḥ || 62.7 ||

and, skilled as they were, given full licence, having seen and heard of Maithili, they all drank the honey then and took the succulent fruit.

Shloka 8 (sundara.62.8)

उत्पत्य च ततः सर्वे वनपालान् समागतान्। ते ताडयन्तः शतशः सक्ता मधुवने तदा ॥ 62.8 ॥

utpatya ca tataḥ sarve vanapālān samāgatān| te tāḍayantaḥ śataśaḥ saktā madhuvane tadā || 62.8 ||

Then, springing up, all of them, absorbed in the grove, struck by hundreds the guards who had gathered there.

Shloka 9 (sundara.62.9)

मधूनि द्रोणमात्राणि बाहुभिः परिगृह्य ते। पिबन्ति कपयः केचित् सङ्घशस्तत्र हृष्टवत् ॥ 62.9 ॥

madhūni droṇamātrāṇi bāhubhiḥ parigṛhya te| pibanti kapayaḥ kecit saṅghaśastatra hṛṣṭavat || 62.9 ||

Some monkeys, taking up honey by the droṇa-measure in their arms, drank it there in delighted groups.

Shloka 10 (sundara.62.10)

घ्नन्ति स्म सहिताः सर्वे भक्षयन्ति तथापरे। केचित् पीत्वापविध्यन्ति मधूनि मधुपिङ्गलाः ॥ 62.10 ॥

ghnanti sma sahitāḥ sarve bhakṣayanti tathāpare| kecit pītvāpavidhyanti madhūni madhupiṅgalāḥ || 62.10 ||

All together they struck out, others still fed on the honey; some, honey-hued, having drunk, flung the honey about.

Shloka 11 (sundara.62.11)

मधूच्छिष्टेन केचिच्च जघ्नुरन्योन्यमुत्कटाः। अपरे वृक्षमूलेषु शाखा गृह्य व्यवस्थिताः ॥ 62.11 ॥

madhūcchiṣṭena kecicca jaghnuranyonyamutkaṭāḥ| apare vṛkṣamūleṣu śākhā gṛhya vyavasthitāḥ || 62.11 ||

Some, wild with excitement, pelted one another with the honey-leavings; others stood holding a branch at the foot of the trees,

Shloka 12 (sundara.62.12)

अत्यर्थं च मदग्लानाः पर्णान्यास्तीर्य शेरते। उन्मत्तवेगाः प्लवगा मधुमत्ताश्च हृष्टवत् ॥ 62.12 ॥

atyarthaṃ ca madaglānāḥ parṇānyāstīrya śerate| unmattavegāḥ plavagā madhumattāśca hṛṣṭavat || 62.12 ||

and, utterly overcome with intoxication, spread leaves and lay down; the monkeys, their motions wild, delighted and drunk on honey,

Shloka 13 (sundara.62.13)

क्षिपन्त्यपि तथान्योन्यं स्खलन्ति च तथापरे। केचित् क्ष्वेडान् प्रकुर्वन्ति केचित् कूजन्ति हृष्टवत् ॥ 62.13 ॥

kṣipantyapi tathānyonyaṃ skhalanti ca tathāpare| kecit kṣveḍān prakurvanti kecit kūjanti hṛṣṭavat || 62.13 ||

hurled things at one another, and others still stumbled about; some let out lion-like roars, others cooed with delight.

Shloka 14 (sundara.62.14)

हरयो मधुना मत्ताः केचित् सुप्ता महीतले। धृष्टाः केचिद्धसन्त्यन्ये केचित् कुर्वन्ति चेतरत् ॥ 62.14 ॥

harayo madhunā mattāḥ kecit suptā mahītale| dhṛṣṭāḥ keciddhasantyanye kecit kurvanti cetarat || 62.14 ||

The monkeys, drunk on honey -- some lay asleep on the ground; some, grown bold, laughed, while others did quite the opposite.

Shloka 15 (sundara.62.15)

कृत्वा केचिद् वदन्त्यन्ये केचिद् बुध्यन्ति चेतरत्। येऽप्यत्र मधुपालाः स्युः प्रेष्या दधिमुखस्य तु ॥ 62.15 ॥

kṛtvā kecid vadantyanye kecid budhyanti cetarat| ye'pyatra madhupālāḥ syuḥ preṣyā dadhimukhasya tu || 62.15 ||

Some, having done a thing, spoke of another; some understood quite the opposite. As for the honey-keepers there, the servants of Dadhimukha,

Shloka 16 (sundara.62.16)

तेऽपि तैर्वानरैर्भीमैः प्रतिषिद्धा दिशो गताः। जानुभिश्च प्रघृष्टाश्च देवमार्गं च दर्शिताः ॥ 62.16 ॥

te'pi tairvānarairbhīmaiḥ pratiṣiddhā diśo gatāḥ| jānubhiśca praghṛṣṭāśca devamārgaṃ ca darśitāḥ || 62.16 ||

they too were driven off in all directions by those fearsome monkeys, dragged along on their knees and made to see stars.

Shloka 17 (sundara.62.17)

अब्रुवन् परमोद्विग्ना गत्वा दधिमुखं वचः। हनूमता दत्तवरैर्हतं मधुवनं बलात्। वयं च जानुभिर्घृष्टा देवमार्गं च दर्शिताः ॥ 62.17 ॥

abruvan paramodvignā gatvā dadhimukhaṃ vacaḥ| hanūmatā dattavarairhataṃ madhuvanaṃ balāt| vayaṃ ca jānubhirghṛṣṭā devamārgaṃ ca darśitāḥ || 62.17 ||

Greatly agitated, they went and said this to Dadhimukha: 'The Madhuvana has been forcibly ravaged by those to whom Hanuman granted the boon of permission, and we ourselves have been dragged on our knees and made to see stars.'

Shloka 18 (sundara.62.18)

तदा दधिमुखः क्रुद्धो वनपस्तत्र वानरः। हतं मधुवनं श्रुत्वा सान्त्वयामास तान् हरीन् ॥ 62.18 ॥

tadā dadhimukhaḥ kruddho vanapastatra vānaraḥ| hataṃ madhuvanaṃ śrutvā sāntvayāmāsa tān harīn || 62.18 ||

Then Dadhimukha, the monkey guardian of the grove, enraged on hearing that Madhuvana had been ravaged, sought to comfort those monkeys, saying:

Shloka 19 (sundara.62.19)

एतागच्छत गच्छामो वानरानतिदर्पितान्। बलेनावारयिष्यामि प्रभुञ्जानान् मधूत्तमम् ॥ 62.19 ॥

etāgacchata gacchāmo vānarānatidarpitān| balenāvārayiṣyāmi prabhuñjānān madhūttamam || 62.19 ||

'Come, let us go; I shall by force restrain those over-proud monkeys who are feasting on the finest honey.'

Shloka 20 (sundara.62.20)

श्रुत्वा दधिमुखस्येदं वचनं वानरर्षभाः। पुनर्वीरा मधुवनं तेनैव सहिता ययुः ॥ 62.20 ॥

śrutvā dadhimukhasyedaṃ vacanaṃ vānararṣabhāḥ| punarvīrā madhuvanaṃ tenaiva sahitā yayuḥ || 62.20 ||

Hearing these words of Dadhimukha, the heroic bull-monkeys went again to Madhuvana together with him.

Shloka 21 (sundara.62.21)

मध्ये चैषां दधिमुखः सुप्रगृह्य महातरुम्। समभ्यधावन् वेगेन सर्वे ते च प्लवंगमाः ॥ 62.21 ॥

madhye caiṣāṃ dadhimukhaḥ supragṛhya mahātarum| samabhyadhāvan vegena sarve te ca plavaṃgamāḥ || 62.21 ||

Dadhimukha, grasping a great tree, rushed into the midst of them with speed, and all those monkeys likewise rushed forward.

Shloka 22 (sundara.62.22)

ते शिलाः पादपांश्चैव पाषाणानपि वानराः। गृहीत्वाभ्यागमन् क्रुद्धा यत्र ते कपिकुञ्जराः ॥ 62.22 ॥

te śilāḥ pādapāṃścaiva pāṣāṇānapi vānarāḥ| gṛhītvābhyāgaman kruddhā yatra te kapikuñjarāḥ || 62.22 ||

Those monkeys, taking up boulders, trees, and rocks, came on in fury to where those elephant-like monkeys were.

Shloka 23 (sundara.62.23)

ते स्वामिवचनं वीरा हृदयेष्ववसज्य तत्। त्वरया ह्यभ्यधावन्त सालतालशिलायुधाः ॥ 62.23 ॥

te svāmivacanaṃ vīrā hṛdayeṣvavasajya tat| tvarayā hyabhyadhāvanta sālatālaśilāyudhāḥ || 62.23 ||

Those heroic monkeys, keeping their master's word in their hearts, ran swiftly, armed with sala and tala trees and rocks.

Shloka 24 (sundara.62.24)

वृक्षस्थांश्च तलस्थांश्च वानरान् बलदर्पितान्। अभ्यक्रामन्त ते वीराः पालाः तत्र सहस्रशः ॥ 62.24 ॥

vṛkṣasthāṃśca talasthāṃśca vānarān baladarpitān| abhyakrāmanta te vīrāḥ pālāḥ tatra sahasraśaḥ || 62.24 ||

Then those valiant guards of the grove, in their thousands, fell upon the monkeys -- those on the trees and those at their foot -- who were arrogant of strength.

Shloka 25 (sundara.62.25)

बलान्निवारयन्तश्च आसेदुर्हरयो हरीन्। संदष्टौष्ठपुटाः क्रुद्धा भर्त्सयन्तो मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ 62.25 ॥

balānnivārayantaśca āsedurharayo harīn| saṃdaṣṭauṣṭhapuṭāḥ kruddhā bhartsayanto muhurmuhuḥ || 62.25 ||

Forcibly restraining them, the guard-monkeys closed upon the revelling monkeys; biting their lips in rage, they threatened them again and again.

Shloka 26 (sundara.62.26)

अथ दृष्ट्वा दधिमुखं क्रुद्धं वानरपुङ्गवाः। अभ्यधावन्त वेगेन हनुमत्प्रमुखास्तदा ॥ 62.26 ॥

atha dṛṣṭvā dadhimukhaṃ kruddhaṃ vānarapuṅgavāḥ| abhyadhāvanta vegena hanumatpramukhāstadā || 62.26 ||

Then, seeing Dadhimukha enraged, the bull-monkeys headed by Hanuman ran towards him swiftly.

Shloka 27 (sundara.62.27)

सवृक्षं तं महाबाहुमापतन्तं महाबलम्। वेगवन्तं विजग्राह बाहुभ्यां कुपितोऽङ्गदः ॥ 62.27 ॥

savṛkṣaṃ taṃ mahābāhumāpatantaṃ mahābalam| vegavantaṃ vijagrāha bāhubhyāṃ kupito'ṅgadaḥ || 62.27 ||

The enraged Angada seized with both arms that long-armed, mighty Dadhimukha, tree still in hand, as he charged with speed.

Shloka 28 (sundara.62.28)

मदान्धो न कृपां चक्रे आर्यकोऽयं ममेति सः। अथैनं निष्पिपेषाशु वेगेन वसुधातले ॥ 62.28 ॥

madāndho na kṛpāṃ cakre āryako'yaṃ mameti saḥ| athainaṃ niṣpipeṣāśu vegena vasudhātale || 62.28 ||

Blinded with rage, Angada showed him no mercy though thinking 'he is my grandfather's kinsman,' and swiftly dashed him to the ground with force.

Shloka 29 (sundara.62.29)

स भग्नबाहूरुमुखो विह्वलः शोणितोक्षितः। प्रमुमोह महावीरो मुहूर्तं कपिकुञ्जरः ॥ 62.29 ॥

sa bhagnabāhūrumukho vihvalaḥ śoṇitokṣitaḥ| pramumoha mahāvīro muhūrtaṃ kapikuñjaraḥ || 62.29 ||

With his arms, thighs and face broken, dazed and drenched in blood, that great hero, elephant among monkeys, swooned for a moment.

Shloka 30 (sundara.62.30)

स कथंचिद् विमुक्तस्तैर्वानरैर्वानरर्षभः। उवाचैकान्तमागत्य स्वान् भृत्यान् समुपागतान् ॥ 62.30 ॥

sa kathaṃcid vimuktastairvānarairvānararṣabhaḥ| uvācaikāntamāgatya svān bhṛtyān samupāgatān || 62.30 ||

Somehow released by those monkeys, that bull among monkeys went aside to a solitary place and spoke to his own servants who had gathered there:

Shloka 31 (sundara.62.31)

एतागच्छत गच्छामो भर्ता नो यत्र वानरः। सुग्रीवो विपुलग्रीवः सह रामेण तिष्ठति ॥ 62.31 ॥

etāgacchata gacchāmo bhartā no yatra vānaraḥ| sugrīvo vipulagrīvaḥ saha rāmeṇa tiṣṭhati || 62.31 ||

'Come, let us go to where our lord, the thick-necked monkey Sugriva, dwells together with Rama.'

Shloka 32 (sundara.62.32)

सर्वं चैवाङ्गदे दोषं श्रावयिष्याम पार्थिवे। अमर्षी वचनं श्रुत्वा घातयिष्यति वानरान् ॥ 62.32 ॥

sarvaṃ caivāṅgade doṣaṃ śrāvayiṣyāma pārthive| amarṣī vacanaṃ śrutvā ghātayiṣyati vānarān || 62.32 ||

'We shall make the king hear of Angada's entire misconduct; hearing our words, the impatient king will have the monkeys slain.'

Shloka 33 (sundara.62.33)

इष्टं मधुवनं ह्येतत् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः। पितृपैतामहं दिव्यं देवैरपि दुरासदम् ॥ 62.33 ॥

iṣṭaṃ madhuvanaṃ hyetat sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ| pitṛpaitāmahaṃ divyaṃ devairapi durāsadam || 62.33 ||

'This Madhuvana is indeed cherished by the great-souled Sugriva, a divine inheritance from his father and grandfather, unapproachable even by the gods.'

Shloka 34 (sundara.62.34)

स वानरानिमान् सर्वान् मधुलुब्धान् गतायुषः। घातयिष्यति दण्डेन सुग्रीवः ससुहृज्जनान् ॥ 62.34 ॥

sa vānarānimān sarvān madhulubdhān gatāyuṣaḥ| ghātayiṣyati daṇḍena sugrīvaḥ sasuhṛjjanān || 62.34 ||

'Sugriva will punish with the rod and put to death all these monkeys, greedy for honey, their days now numbered, together with their kinsfolk.'

Shloka 35 (sundara.62.35)

वध्या ह्येते दुरात्मानो नृपाज्ञापरिपन्थिनः। अमर्षप्रभवो रोषः सफलो मे भविष्यति ॥ 62.35 ॥

vadhyā hyete durātmāno nṛpājñāparipanthinaḥ| amarṣaprabhavo roṣaḥ saphalo me bhaviṣyati || 62.35 ||

'These evil-minded ones, defiers of the king's command, deserve death indeed; my anger, born of indignation, shall now bear fruit.'

Shloka 36 (sundara.62.36)

एवमुक्त्वा दधिमुखो वनपालान् महाबलः। जगाम सहसोत्पत्य वनपालैः समन्वितः ॥ 62.36 ॥

evamuktvā dadhimukho vanapālān mahābalaḥ| jagāma sahasotpatya vanapālaiḥ samanvitaḥ || 62.36 ||

Having said this, the mighty Dadhimukha, together with the grove-guards, rose up at once and departed.

Shloka 37 (sundara.62.37)

निमेषान्तरमात्रेण स हि प्राप्तो वनालयः। सहस्रांशुसुतो धीमान् सुग्रीवो यत्र वानरः ॥ 62.37 ॥

nimeṣāntaramātreṇa sa hi prāpto vanālayaḥ| sahasrāṃśusuto dhīmān sugrīvo yatra vānaraḥ || 62.37 ||

In but the blink of an eye he reached the forest-dwelling where the wise monkey Sugriva, son of the thousand-rayed Sun, was.

Shloka 38 (sundara.62.38)

रामं च लक्ष्मणं चैव दृष्ट्वा सुग्रीवमेव च। समप्रतिष्ठां जगतीमाकाशान्निपपात ह ॥ 62.38 ॥

rāmaṃ ca lakṣmaṇaṃ caiva dṛṣṭvā sugrīvameva ca| samapratiṣṭhāṃ jagatīmākāśānnipapāta ha || 62.38 ||

Seeing Rama and Lakshmana, and Sugriva too, he descended from the sky and alighted upon the level ground.

Shloka 39 (sundara.62.39)

स निपत्य महावीरः सर्वैस्तैः परिवारितः। हरिर्दधिमुखः पालैः पालानां परमेश्वरः ॥ 62.39 ॥

sa nipatya mahāvīraḥ sarvaistaiḥ parivāritaḥ| harirdadhimukhaḥ pālaiḥ pālānāṃ parameśvaraḥ || 62.39 ||

Having alighted, that great hero Dadhimukha, lord supreme among the grove-guards, surrounded by all of them,

Shloka 40 (sundara.62.40)

स दीनवदनो भूत्वा कृत्वा शिरसि चाञ्जलिम्। सुग्रीवस्याशु तौ मूर्ध्ना चरणौ प्रत्यपीडयत् ॥ 62.40 ॥

sa dīnavadano bhūtvā kṛtvā śirasi cāñjalim| sugrīvasyāśu tau mūrdhnā caraṇau pratyapīḍayat || 62.40 ||

his face downcast, joining his palms above his head, quickly pressed his forehead to both of Sugriva's feet.