The Monkeys Bring News of Sita to Rama

Shloka 1 (sundara.64.1)

सुग्रीवेणैवमुक्तस्तु हृष्टो दधिमुखः कपिः। राघवं लक्ष्मणं चैव सुग्रीवं चाभ्यवादयत् ॥ 64.1 ॥

sugrīveṇaivamuktastu hṛṣṭo dadhimukhaḥ kapiḥ| rāghavaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ caiva sugrīvaṃ cābhyavādayat || 64.1 ||

Thus addressed by Sugriva, the delighted monkey Dadhimukha offered his salutation to Raghava, Lakshmana, and Sugriva.

Shloka 2 (sundara.64.2)

स प्रणम्य च सुग्रीवं राघवौ च महाबलौ। वानरैः सहितः शूरैर्दिवमेवोत्पपात ह ॥ 64.2 ॥

sa praṇamya ca sugrīvaṃ rāghavau ca mahābalau| vānaraiḥ sahitaḥ śūrairdivamevotpapāta ha || 64.2 ||

Having bowed to Sugriva and to the mighty Raghava, he sprang up into the sky together with the heroic monkeys.

Shloka 3 (sundara.64.3)

स यथैवागतः पूर्वं तथैव त्वरितं गतः। निपत्य गगनाद् भूमौ तद् वनं प्रविवेश ह ॥ 64.3 ॥

sa yathaivāgataḥ pūrvaṃ tathaiva tvaritaṃ gataḥ| nipatya gaganād bhūmau tad vanaṃ praviveśa ha || 64.3 ||

As he had come before, so swiftly he went back; descending from the sky to the ground, he entered that grove.

Shloka 4 (sundara.64.4)

स प्रविष्टो मधुवनं ददर्श हरियूथपान्। विमदानुद्धतान् सर्वान् मेहमानान् मधूदकम् ॥ 64.4 ॥

sa praviṣṭo madhuvanaṃ dadarśa hariyūthapān| vimadānuddhatān sarvān mehamānān madhūdakam || 64.4 ||

Entering, he saw all the monkey-troop leaders there, their intoxication spent, exuberant, passing the honey off as urine.

Shloka 5 (sundara.64.5)

स तानुपागमद् वीरो बद्ध्वा करपुटाञ्जलिम्। उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णमिदं हृष्टवदङ्गदम् ॥ 64.5 ॥

sa tānupāgamad vīro bad‍dhvā karapuṭāñjalim| uvāca vacanaṃ ślakṣṇamidaṃ hṛṣṭavadaṅgadam || 64.5 ||

That hero approached them with joined palms and spoke these gentle words, cheerfully, to Angada:

Shloka 6 (sundara.64.6)

सौम्य रोषो न कर्तव्यो यदेभिः परिवारणम्। अज्ञानाद् रक्षिभिः क्रोधाद् भवन्तः प्रतिषेधिताः ॥ 64.6 ॥

saumya roṣo na kartavyo yadebhiḥ parivāraṇam| ajñānād rakṣibhiḥ krodhād bhavantaḥ pratiṣedhitāḥ || 64.6 ||

'Gentle prince, no anger should be harboured that these guards obstructed you; it was from ignorance and anger that they hindered you.'

Shloka 7 (sundara.64.7)

श्रान्तो दूरादनुप्राप्तो भक्षयस्व स्वकं मधु। युवराजस्त्वमीशश्च वनस्यास्य महाबल ॥ 64.7 ॥

śrānto dūrādanuprāpto bhakṣayasva svakaṃ madhu| yuvarājastvamīśaśca vanasyāsya mahābala || 64.7 ||

'You, weary, having come from afar, have but eaten your own honey. You, mighty one, are the crown prince and lord of this very grove.'

Shloka 8 (sundara.64.8)

मौर्ख्यात् पूर्वं कृतो रोषस्तद् भवान् क्षन्तुमर्हति। यथैव हि पिता तेऽभूत् पूर्वं हरिगणेश्वरः ॥ 64.8 ॥

maurkhyāt pūrvaṃ kṛto roṣastad bhavān kṣantumarhati| yathaiva hi pitā te'bhūt pūrvaṃ harigaṇeśvaraḥ || 64.8 ||

'The anger shown earlier out of folly, you should forgive; just as your father was formerly lord of the monkey-troops,'

Shloka 9 (sundara.64.9)

तथा त्वमपि सुग्रीवो नान्यस्तु हरिसत्तम। आख्यातं हि मया गत्वा पितृव्यस्य तवानघ ॥ 64.9 ॥

tathā tvamapi sugrīvo nānyastu harisattama| ākhyātaṃ hi mayā gatvā pitṛvyasya tavānagha || 64.9 ||

'so are you also Sugriva, best of monkeys, and none other. O sinless one, I went and reported to your uncle'

Shloka 10 (sundara.64.10)

इहोपयानं सर्वेषामेतेषां वनचारिणाम्। भवदागमनं श्रुत्वा सहैभिर्वनचारिभिः ॥ 64.10 ॥

ihopayānaṃ sarveṣāmeteṣāṃ vanacāriṇām| bhavadāgamanaṃ śrutvā sahaibhirvanacāribhiḥ || 64.10 ||

'that all these forest-roamers have arrived here. Hearing of your arrival together with these forest-roamers,'

Shloka 11 (sundara.64.11)

प्रहृष्टो न तु रुष्टोऽसौ वनं श्रुत्वा प्रधर्षितम्। प्रहृष्टो मां पितृव्यस्ते सुग्रीवो वानरेश्वरः ॥ 64.11 ॥

prahṛṣṭo na tu ruṣṭo'sau vanaṃ śrutvā pradharṣitam| prahṛṣṭo māṃ pitṛvyaste sugrīvo vānareśvaraḥ || 64.11 ||

'he was pleased, not angry, though he had heard the grove was ravaged. O lord of monkeys, your uncle Sugriva, pleased with me, said to me:'

Shloka 12 (sundara.64.12)

शीघ्रं प्रेषय सर्वांस्तानिति होवाच पार्थिवः। श्रुत्वा दधिमुखस्यैतद् वचनं श्लक्ष्णमङ्गदः ॥ 64.12 ॥

śīghraṃ preṣaya sarvāṃstāniti hovāca pārthivaḥ| śrutvā dadhimukhasyaitad vacanaṃ ślakṣṇamaṅgadaḥ || 64.12 ||

'"Send all of them here quickly" -- so said the king.' Hearing this gentle speech of Dadhimukha, Angada,

Shloka 13 (sundara.64.13)

अब्रवीत् तान् हरिश्रेष्ठो वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः। शङ्के श्रुतोऽयं वृत्तान्तो रामेण हरियूथपाः ॥ 64.13 ॥

abravīt tān hariśreṣṭho vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ| śaṅke śruto'yaṃ vṛttānto rāmeṇa hariyūthapāḥ || 64.13 ||

foremost of monkeys and skilled in speech, said this to them: 'I suspect Rama has already heard this news, O leaders of the monkeys,'

Shloka 14 (sundara.64.14)

अयं च हर्षादाख्याति तेन जानामि हेतुना। तत् क्षमं नेह नः स्थातुं कृते कार्ये परंतपाः ॥ 64.14 ॥

ayaṃ ca harṣādākhyāti tena jānāmi hetunā| tat kṣamaṃ neha naḥ sthātuṃ kṛte kārye paraṃtapāḥ || 64.14 ||

'and this Dadhimukha himself tells it with such joy -- by that very sign I know it. O scorchers of foes, now that our task is done, it is not fitting for us to remain here.'

Shloka 15 (sundara.64.15)

पीत्वा मधु यथाकामं विक्रान्ता वनचारिणः। किं शेषं गमनं तत्र सुग्रीवो यत्र वानरः ॥ 64.15 ॥

pītvā madhu yathākāmaṃ vikrāntā vanacāriṇaḥ| kiṃ śeṣaṃ gamanaṃ tatra sugrīvo yatra vānaraḥ || 64.15 ||

'Having drunk their fill of honey, these forest-roamers have rested; what remains but to go there, where Sugriva my lord is?'

Shloka 16 (sundara.64.16)

सर्वे यथा मां वक्ष्यन्ति समेत्य हरिपुङ्गवाः। तथास्मि कर्ता कर्तव्ये भवद्भिः परवानहम् ॥ 64.16 ॥

sarve yathā māṃ vakṣyanti sametya haripuṅgavāḥ| tathāsmi kartā kartavye bhavadbhiḥ paravānaham || 64.16 ||

'Whatever all the leaders of monkeys, gathering together, shall tell me, that I shall do; in what needs doing, I am subject to you all.'

Shloka 17 (sundara.64.17)

नाज्ञापयितुमीशोऽहं युवराजोऽस्मि यद्यपि। अयुक्तं कृतकर्माणो यूयं धर्षयितुं बलात् ॥ 64.17 ॥

nājñāpayitumīśo'haṃ yuvarājo'smi yadyapi| ayuktaṃ kṛtakarmāṇo yūyaṃ dharṣayituṃ balāt || 64.17 ||

'Though I am the crown prince, I am not the lord to command you; it is not fitting for me to rule by force over you who have accomplished your task.'

Shloka 18 (sundara.64.18)

ब्रुवतश्चाङ्गदस्यैवं श्रुत्वा वचनमुत्तमम्। प्रहृष्टमनसो वाक्यमिदमूचुर्वनौकसः ॥ 64.18 ॥

bruvataścāṅgadasyaivaṃ śrutvā vacanamuttamam| prahṛṣṭamanaso vākyamidamūcurvanaukasaḥ || 64.18 ||

Hearing these excellent, steadfast words spoken thus by Angada, the forest-dwellers, their minds delighted, spoke these words:

Shloka 19 (sundara.64.19)

एवं वक्ष्यति को राजन् प्रभुः सन् वानरर्षभ। ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तो हि सर्वोऽहमिति मन्यते ॥ 64.19 ॥

evaṃ vakṣyati ko rājan prabhuḥ san vānararṣabha| aiśvaryamadamatto hi sarvo'hamiti manyate || 64.19 ||

'O king, O bull among monkeys, who else, being lord, would speak thus? Drunk with the pride of power, everyone thinks, "I alone am everything."'

Shloka 20 (sundara.64.20)

तव चेदं सुसदृशं वाक्यं नान्यस्य कस्यचित्। सन्नतिर्हि तवाख्याति भविष्यच्छुभयोग्यताम् ॥ 64.20 ॥

tava cedaṃ susadṛśaṃ vākyaṃ nānyasya kasyacit| sannatirhi tavākhyāti bhaviṣyacchubhayogyatām || 64.20 ||

'This speech befits you alone, none other; your very humility foretells your future good fortune.'

Shloka 21 (sundara.64.21)

सर्वे वयमपि प्राप्तास्तत्र गन्तुं कृतक्षणाः। स यत्र हरिवीराणां सुग्रीवः पतिरव्ययः ॥ 64.21 ॥

sarve vayamapi prāptāstatra gantuṃ kṛtakṣaṇāḥ| sa yatra harivīrāṇāṃ sugrīvaḥ patiravyayaḥ || 64.21 ||

'We too have all arrived here, ready and waiting to go there, where Sugriva, the imperishable lord of the heroic monkeys, is.'

Shloka 22 (sundara.64.22)

त्वया ह्यनुक्तैर्हरिभिर्नैव शक्यं पदात् पदम्। क्वचिद् गन्तुं हरिश्रेष्ठ ब्रूमः सत्यमिदं तु ते ॥ 64.22 ॥

tvayā hyanuktairharibhirnaiva śakyaṃ padāt padam| kvacid gantuṃ hariśreṣṭha brūmaḥ satyamidaṃ tu te || 64.22 ||

'O foremost of monkeys, without your word it is not possible for us monkeys to go even a single step anywhere; this we tell you as the truth.'

Shloka 23 (sundara.64.23)

एवं तु वदतां तेषामङ्गदः प्रत्यभाषत। साधु गच्छाम इत्युक्त्वा खमुत्पेतुर्महाबलाः ॥ 64.23 ॥

evaṃ tu vadatāṃ teṣāmaṅgadaḥ pratyabhāṣata| sādhu gacchāma ityuktvā khamutpeturmahābalāḥ || 64.23 ||

While they were thus speaking, Angada replied. Saying 'Well then, let us go,' those mighty ones sprang up into the sky.

Shloka 24 (sundara.64.24)

उत्पतन्तमनूत्पेतुः सर्वे ते हरियूथपाः। कृत्वाऽऽकाशं निराकाशं यन्त्रोत्क्षिप्ता इवोपलाः ॥ 64.24 ॥

utpatantamanūtpetuḥ sarve te hariyūthapāḥ| kṛtvā''kāśaṃ nirākāśaṃ yantrotkṣiptā ivopalāḥ || 64.24 ||

As he sprang up, all those monkey-troop leaders sprang up after him, making the very sky seem crowded, like stones flung from a catapult.

Shloka 25 (sundara.64.25)

अङ्गदं पुरतः कृत्वा हनूमन्तं च वानरम्। तेऽम्बरं सहसोत्पत्य वेगवन्तः प्लवङ्गमाः ॥ 64.25 ॥

aṅgadaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā hanūmantaṃ ca vānaram| te'mbaraṃ sahasotpatya vegavantaḥ plavaṅgamāḥ || 64.25 ||

Placing Angada in front, and the monkey Hanuman too, those swift monkeys sprang suddenly into the sky,

Shloka 26 (sundara.64.26)

विनदन्तो महानादं घना वातेरिता यथा। अङ्गदे समनुप्राप्ते सुग्रीवो वानरेश्वरः ॥ 64.26 ॥

vinadanto mahānādaṃ ghanā vāteritā yathā| aṅgade samanuprāpte sugrīvo vānareśvaraḥ || 64.26 ||

roaring a great roar, like clouds driven by the wind. When Angada had drawn near, Sugriva, lord of the monkeys,

Shloka 27 (sundara.64.27)

उवाच शोकसंतप्तं रामं कमललोचनम्। समाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते दृष्टा देवी न संशयः ॥ 64.27 ॥

uvāca śokasaṃtaptaṃ rāmaṃ kamalalocanam| samāśvasihi bhadraṃ te dṛṣṭā devī na saṃśayaḥ || 64.27 ||

said to the grief-stricken, lotus-eyed Rama: 'Be consoled, may all be well with you; Sita has surely been seen, there is no doubt.'

Shloka 28 (sundara.64.28)

नागन्तुमिह शक्यं तैरतीतसमयैरिह। अङ्गदस्य प्रहर्षाच्च जानामि शुभदर्शन ॥ 64.28 ॥

nāgantumiha śakyaṃ tairatītasamayairiha| aṅgadasya praharṣācca jānāmi śubhadarśana || 64.28 ||

'It would not be possible for them to come here, the appointed time now past, had they failed; and by Angada's own joy, O fair one, I know it.'

Shloka 29 (sundara.64.29)

न मत्सकाशमागच्छेत् कृत्ये हि विनिपातिते। युवराजो महाबाहुः प्लवतामङ्गदो वरः ॥ 64.29 ॥

na matsakāśamāgacchet kṛtye hi vinipātite| yuvarājo mahābāhuḥ plavatāmaṅgado varaḥ || 64.29 ||

'Had the task been left undone, the long-armed crown prince, best of leapers, Angada, would not have come into my presence.'

Shloka 30 (sundara.64.30)

यद्यप्यकृतकृत्यानामीदृशः स्यादुपक्रमः। भवेत् तु दीनवदनो भ्रान्तविप्लुतमानसः ॥ 64.30 ॥

yadyapyakṛtakṛtyānāmīdṛśaḥ syādupakramaḥ| bhavet tu dīnavadano bhrāntaviplutamānasaḥ || 64.30 ||

'Even if such conduct were possible for those who had failed, he would still have worn a downcast face, his mind bewildered and distraught.'

Shloka 31 (sundara.64.31)

पितृपैतामहं चैतत् पूर्वकैरभिरक्षितम्। न मे मधुवनं हन्याददृष्ट्वा जनकात्मजाम् ॥ 64.31 ॥

pitṛpaitāmahaṃ caitat pūrvakairabhirakṣitam| na me madhuvanaṃ hanyādadṛṣṭvā janakātmajām || 64.31 ||

'This grove, my father's and grandfather's, protected by my forebears -- that lord of monkeys would never have ravaged my Madhuvana without having seen Janaka's daughter.'

Shloka 32 (sundara.64.32)

कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम समाश्वसिहि सुव्रत। दृष्टा देवी न संदेहो न चान्येन हनूमता ॥ 64.32 ॥

kausalyā suprajā rāma samāśvasihi suvrata| dṛṣṭā devī na saṃdeho na cānyena hanūmatā || 64.32 ||

'O virtuous Rama, fair son of Kausalya, be consoled; Sita has surely been seen, there is no doubt, and by none other than Hanuman.'

Shloka 33 (sundara.64.33)

नह्यन्यः कर्मणो हेतुः साधनेऽस्य हनूमतः। हनूमतीह सिद्धिश्च मतिश्च मतिसत्तम ॥ 64.33 ॥

nahyanyaḥ karmaṇo hetuḥ sādhane'sya hanūmataḥ| hanūmatīha siddhiśca matiśca matisattama || 64.33 ||

'For there is no other cause of accomplishing this task than Hanuman; O best of the wise, in Hanuman alone is this success and this intelligence.'

Shloka 34 (sundara.64.34)

व्यवसायश्च शौर्यं च श्रुतं चापि प्रतिष्ठितम्। जाम्बवान् यत्र नेता स्यादङ्गदश्च हरीश्वरः ॥ 64.34 ॥

vyavasāyaśca śauryaṃ ca śrutaṃ cāpi pratiṣṭhitam| jāmbavān yatra netā syādaṅgadaśca harīśvaraḥ || 64.34 ||

'Where effort and valour and learning too stand firmly established, and where Jambavan is the leader and Angada, lord of monkeys, is present,'

Shloka 35 (sundara.64.35)

हनूमांश्चाप्यधिष्ठाता न तत्र गतिरन्यथा। मा भूश्चिन्तासमायुक्तः सम्प्रत्यमितविक्रम ॥ 64.35 ॥

hanūmāṃścāpyadhiṣṭhātā na tatra gatiranyathā| mā bhūścintāsamāyuktaḥ sampratyamitavikrama || 64.35 ||

'and where Hanuman too presides, that undertaking cannot but succeed. O one of measureless valour, be free of anxiety now.'

Shloka 36 (sundara.64.36)

यदा हि दर्पितोदग्राः संगताः काननौकसः। नैषामकृतकार्याणामीदृशः स्यादुपक्रमः ॥ 64.36 ॥

yadā hi darpitodagrāḥ saṃgatāḥ kānanaukasaḥ| naiṣāmakṛtakāryāṇāmīdṛśaḥ syādupakramaḥ || 64.36 ||

'For when those forest-dwellers, proud and exultant, had gathered together, such conduct would never occur in those who had not accomplished their task.'

Shloka 37 (sundara.64.37)

वनभङ्गेन जानामि मधूनां भक्षणेन च। ततः किलकिलाशब्दं शुश्रावासन्नमम्बरे ॥ 64.37 ॥

vanabhaṅgena jānāmi madhūnāṃ bhakṣaṇena ca| tataḥ kilakilāśabdaṃ śuśrāvāsannamambare || 64.37 ||

'By the ravaging of the grove and the feasting on the honey, I know it.' Then Sugriva heard, close by in the sky, a joyful clamour --

Shloka 38 (sundara.64.38)

हनूमत्कर्मदृप्तानां नदतां काननौकसाम्। किष्किन्धामुपयातानां सिद्धिं कथयतामिव ॥ 64.38 ॥

hanūmatkarmadṛptānāṃ nadatāṃ kānanaukasām| kiṣkindhāmupayātānāṃ siddhiṃ kathayatāmiva || 64.38 ||

the roar of the forest-dwellers, exultant over Hanuman's feat, as they approached Kishkindha as though proclaiming their success.

Shloka 39 (sundara.64.39)

ततः श्रुत्वा निनादं तं कपीनां कपिसत्तमः। आयताञ्चितलाङ्गूलः सोऽभवद्हृष्टमानसः ॥ 64.39 ॥

tataḥ śrutvā ninādaṃ taṃ kapīnāṃ kapisattamaḥ| āyatāñcitalāṅgūlaḥ so'bhavadhṛṣṭamānasaḥ || 64.39 ||

Hearing that clamour of the monkeys, Sugriva, foremost among monkeys, was delighted at heart, and his long, curled tail stretched out in joy.

Shloka 40 (sundara.64.40)

आजग्मुस्तेऽपि हरयो रामदर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः। अङ्गदं पुरतः कृत्वा हनूमन्तं च वानरम् ॥ 64.40 ॥

ājagmuste'pi harayo rāmadarśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ| aṅgadaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā hanūmantaṃ ca vānaram || 64.40 ||

Those monkeys too arrived, eager for the sight of Rama, with Angada in front, and the monkey Hanuman too,

Shloka 41 (sundara.64.41)

तेऽङ्गदप्रमुखा वीराः प्रहृष्टाश्च मुदान्विताः। निपेतुर्हरिराजस्य समीपे राघवस्य च ॥ 64.41 ॥

te'ṅgadapramukhā vīrāḥ prahṛṣṭāśca mudānvitāḥ| nipeturharirājasya samīpe rāghavasya ca || 64.41 ||

and those heroes, headed by Angada, filled with delight and joy, fell down near the monkey-king and near Raghava.

Shloka 42 (sundara.64.42)

हनूमांश्च महाबाहुः प्रणम्य शिरसा ततः। नियतामक्षतां देवीं राघवाय न्यवेदयत् ॥ 64.42 ॥

hanūmāṃśca mahābāhuḥ praṇamya śirasā tataḥ| niyatāmakṣatāṃ devīṃ rāghavāya nyavedayat || 64.42 ||

Then the mighty-armed Hanuman, bowing his head in salutation, informed Raghava that the lady Sita was constant and unharmed.

Shloka 43 (sundara.64.43)

दृष्टा देवीति हनुमद्वदनादमृतोपमम्। आकर्ण्य वचनं रामो हर्षमाप सलक्ष्मणः ॥ 64.43 ॥

dṛṣṭā devīti hanumadvadanādamṛtopamam| ākarṇya vacanaṃ rāmo harṣamāpa salakṣmaṇaḥ || 64.43 ||

Hearing from Hanuman's own mouth the nectar-sweet words, 'Sita has been seen,' Rama, together with Lakshmana, was filled with joy.

Shloka 44 (sundara.64.44)

निश्चितार्थं ततस्तस्मिन् सुग्रीवं पवनात्मजे। लक्ष्मणः प्रीतिमान् प्रीतं बहुमानादवैक्षत ॥ 64.44 ॥

niścitārthaṃ tatastasmin sugrīvaṃ pavanātmaje| lakṣmaṇaḥ prītimān prītaṃ bahumānādavaikṣata || 64.44 ||

Then, the matter thus made certain, the loving Lakshmana gazed with great regard upon Sugriva, who had been made glad by the Wind-god's son,

Shloka 45 (sundara.64.45)

प्रीत्या च परयोपेतो राघवः परवीरहा। बहुमानेन महता हनूमन्तमवैक्षत ॥ 64.45 ॥

prītyā ca parayopeto rāghavaḥ paravīrahā| bahumānena mahatā hanūmantamavaikṣata || 64.45 ||

and Raghava too, slayer of enemy heroes, filled with the greatest delight, gazed upon Hanuman with the deepest regard.