Rama Bids Farewell to the Vanaras

Shloka 1 (uttara.40.1)

तथा स्म तेषां वसतामृक्षवानररक्षसाम् । राघवस्तु महातेजाः सुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत् ।। 40.1 ।।

tathā sma teṣāṃ vasatāmṛkṣavānararakṣasām | rāghavastu mahātejāḥ sugrīvamidamabravīt || 40.1 ||

Thus, while those bears, monkeys and demons were dwelling there, the greatly splendorous Raghava spoke this to Sugriva.

Shloka 2 (uttara.40.2)

गम्यतां सौम्य किष्किन्धां दुराधर्षां सुरासुरैः । पालयस्व सहामात्यो राज्यं निहतकण्टकम् ।। 40.2 ।।

gamyatāṃ saumya kiṣkindhāṃ durādharṣāṃ surāsuraiḥ | pālayasva sahāmātyo rājyaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam || 40.2 ||

"O gentle one, go now to Kishkindha, unassailable by gods and demons alike; together with your ministers, rule that kingdom, its thorns destroyed.

Shloka 3 (uttara.40.3)

अङ्गदं च महाबाहो प्रीत्या परमया युतः । पश्य त्वं हनुमन्तं च नलं च सुमहाबलम् ।। 40.3 ।।

aṅgadaṃ ca mahābāho prītyā paramayā yutaḥ | paśya tvaṃ hanumantaṃ ca nalaṃ ca sumahābalam || 40.3 ||

O mighty-armed one, watch over Angada with the utmost love, and Hanuman, and the mighty Nala,

Shloka 4 (uttara.40.4)

सुषेणं श्वशुरं वीरं तारं च बलिनां वरम् । कुमुदं चैव दुर्धर्षं नीलं चैव महाबलम् ।। 40.4 ।।

suṣeṇaṃ śvaśuraṃ vīraṃ tāraṃ ca balināṃ varam | kumudaṃ caiva durdharṣaṃ nīlaṃ caiva mahābalam || 40.4 ||

your father-in-law, the hero Sushena, and Tara, foremost among the strong, and the indomitable Kumuda, and the mighty Nila,

Shloka 5 (uttara.40.5)

वीरं शतवलिं चैव मैन्दं द्विविदमेव च । गजं गवाक्षं गवयं शरभं च महाबलम् । पश्य प्रीतिसमायुक्तो गन्धमादनमेव च ।। 40.5 ।।

vīraṃ śatavaliṃ caiva maindaṃ dvividameva ca | gajaṃ gavākṣaṃ gavayaṃ śarabhaṃ ca mahābalam | paśya prītisamāyukto gandhamādanameva ca || 40.5 ||

the hero Shatabali, Mainda and Dvivida, Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, and the mighty Sharabha — watch over all of them with love, and Gandhamadana too.

Shloka 6 (uttara.40.6)

ऋषभं च सुविक्रान्तं जाम्बवन्तं महाबलम् । ये चेमे सुमहात्मानो मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।। 40.6 ।।

ṛṣabhaṃ ca suvikrāntaṃ jāmbavantaṃ mahābalam | ye ceme sumahātmāno madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ || 40.6 ||

And Rishabha of great prowess, and mighty Jambavan, and all the other great souls who gave up their very lives for my sake —

Shloka 7 (uttara.40.7)

पश्य त्वं प्रीतिसंयुक्तो मा चैषां विप्रियं कृथाः ।। 40.7 ।।

paśya tvaṃ prītisaṃyukto mā caiṣāṃ vipriyaṃ kṛthāḥ || 40.7 ||

watch over them with love, and never do anything displeasing to them."

Shloka 8 (uttara.40.8)

एवमुक्त्वा तु सुग्रीवमाश्लिष्य च पुनः पुनः । विभीषणमुवाचाथ रामो मधुरया गिरा ।। 40.8 ।।

evamuktvā tu sugrīvamāśliṣya ca punaḥ punaḥ | vibhīṣaṇamuvācātha rāmo madhurayā girā || 40.8 ||

Having spoken thus to Sugriva, and embracing him again and again, Rama then spoke to Vibhishana in sweet words.

Shloka 9 (uttara.40.9)

लङ्कां प्रशाधि धर्मेण धर्मज्ञस्त्वं मतो मम । पुरस्य राक्षसानां च स्वभ्रातुस्सम्मतो ह्यसि ।। 40.9 ।।

laṅkāṃ praśādhi dharmeṇa dharmajñastvaṃ mato mama | purasya rākṣasānāṃ ca svabhrātussammato hyasi || 40.9 ||

"Rule Lanka in righteousness; you are, in my judgment, a knower of dharma. You are held dear by the city's demons, and by your own brother as well.

Shloka 10 (uttara.40.10)

मा च बुद्धिमधर्मे त्वं कुर्या राजन्कथञ्चन । बुद्धिमन्तो हि राजानो ध्रुवमश्नन्ति मेदिनीम् ।। 40.10 ।।

mā ca buddhimadharme tvaṃ kuryā rājankathañcana | buddhimanto hi rājāno dhruvamaśnanti medinīm || 40.10 ||

And, O king, never let your mind turn toward unrighteousness in any way; for it is wise kings who surely enjoy the earth long.

Shloka 11 (uttara.40.11)

अहं च नित्यशो राजन्सुग्रीवसहितस्त्वया । स्मर्तव्यः परया प्रीत्या गच्छ त्वं विगतज्वरः ।। 40.11 ।।

ahaṃ ca nityaśo rājansugrīvasahitastvayā | smartavyaḥ parayā prītyā gaccha tvaṃ vigatajvaraḥ || 40.11 ||

And, O king, you must ever remember me too, together with Sugriva, with the greatest love. Go now, free of every care."

Shloka 12 (uttara.40.12)

रामस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा ऋक्षवानरराक्षसाः । साधुसाध्विति काकुत्स्थं प्रशशंसुः पुनः पुनः ।। 40.12 ।।

rāmasya bhāṣitaṃ śrutvā ṛkṣavānararākṣasāḥ | sādhusādhviti kākutsthaṃ praśaśaṃsuḥ punaḥ punaḥ || 40.12 ||

Hearing this word of Rama, the bears, monkeys, and demons praised Kakutstha again and again, crying, "Well said, well said!"

Shloka 13 (uttara.40.13)

तव बुद्धिर्महाबाहो वीर्यमद्भुतमेव च । माधुर्यं परमं राम स्वयम्भोरिव नित्यदा ।। 40.13 ।।

tava buddhirmahābāho vīryamadbhutameva ca | mādhuryaṃ paramaṃ rāma svayambhoriva nityadā || 40.13 ||

"O mighty-armed one, your wisdom, and your wondrous valour, and, O Rama, your supreme sweetness — these are ever like the Self-Existent One's."

Shloka 14 (uttara.40.14)

तेषामेवं ब्रुवाणानां वानराणां च राक्षसाम् । हनूमान्प्रवणः भूत्वा राघवं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। 40.14 ।।

teṣāmevaṃ bruvāṇānāṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca rākṣasām | hanūmānpravaṇaḥ bhūtvā rāghavaṃ vākyamabravīt || 40.14 ||

While those monkeys and demons were speaking thus, Hanuman, bowing low, spoke this word to Raghava.

Shloka 15 (uttara.40.15)

स्नेहो मे परमो राजंस्त्वयि तिष्ठतु नित्यदा । भक्तिश्च नियता वीर भावो नान्यत्र गच्छतु ।। 40.15 ।।

sneho me paramo rājaṃstvayi tiṣṭhatu nityadā | bhaktiśca niyatā vīra bhāvo nānyatra gacchatu || 40.15 ||

"O king, may my supreme love for you remain forever; O hero, may my devotion stay ever constant, and my heart never turn elsewhere.

Shloka 16 (uttara.40.16)

यावद्रामकथा वीर चरिष्यति महीतले । तावच्छरीरे वत्स्यन्ति प्राणा मम न संशयः ।। 40.16 ।।

yāvadrāmakathā vīra cariṣyati mahītale | tāvaccharīre vatsyanti prāṇā mama na saṃśayaḥ || 40.16 ||

O hero, as long as the story of Rama shall travel upon this earth, so long, without doubt, shall my life-breath dwell in this body.

Shloka 17 (uttara.40.17)

यच्चैतच्चरितं दिव्यं कथा ते रघुनन्दन । तन्मयाप्सरसो नाम श्रावयेयुर्नरर्षभ ।। 40.17 ।।

yaccaitaccaritaṃ divyaṃ kathā te raghunandana | tanmayāpsaraso nāma śrāvayeyurnararṣabha || 40.17 ||

O delight of the Raghus, O bull among men — this divine story of your deeds, may even the Apsaras keep singing it to me.

Shloka 18 (uttara.40.18)

तच्छ्रुत्वाहं ततो वीर तव चर्यामृतं प्रभो । उत्कण्ठां तां हरिष्यामि मेघलेखामिवानिलः ।। 40.18 ।।

tacchrutvāhaṃ tato vīra tava caryāmṛtaṃ prabho | utkaṇṭhāṃ tāṃ hariṣyāmi meghalekhāmivānilaḥ || 40.18 ||

Hearing that, O hero, O lord, the very nectar of your story, I shall drive away my longing, as the wind scatters a streak of cloud."

Shloka 19 (uttara.40.19)

एवं ब्रुवाणं रामस्तु हनूमन्तं वरासनात् । उत्थाय सस्वजे स्नेहाद्वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। 40.19 ।।

evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ rāmastu hanūmantaṃ varāsanāt | utthāya sasvaje snehādvākyametaduvāca ha || 40.19 ||

As Hanuman spoke thus, Rama, rising from his splendid seat, embraced him with love, and spoke this word.

Shloka 20 (uttara.40.20)

एवमेतत्कपिश्रेष्ठ भविता नात्र संशयः । चरिष्यति कथा यावदेषा लोके च मामिका । तावत्ते भविता कीर्तिः शरीरे ऽप्यसवस्तथा ।। 40.20 ।।

evametatkapiśreṣṭha bhavitā nātra saṃśayaḥ | cariṣyati kathā yāvadeṣā loke ca māmikā | tāvatte bhavitā kīrtiḥ śarīre 'pyasavastathā || 40.20 ||

"So shall it be, O best of monkeys, without doubt. As long as this my story travels through the world, so long shall your fame endure, and likewise your life-breath in your body.

Shloka 21 (uttara.40.21)

लोका हि यावत्स्थास्यन्ति तावत्स्थास्यति मे कथा ।। 40.21 ।।

lokā hi yāvatsthāsyanti tāvatsthāsyati me kathā || 40.21 ||

For as long as these worlds shall stand, so long shall my story stand.

Shloka 22 (uttara.40.22)

एकैकस्योपकारस्य प्राणान्दास्यामि ते कपे । नरः प्रत्युपकाराणामापस्त्वायाति पात्रताम् ।। 40.22 ।।

ekaikasyopakārasya prāṇāndāsyāmi te kape | naraḥ pratyupakārāṇāmāpastvāyāti pātratām || 40.22 ||

O monkey, for each single kindness of yours, I would give even my life-breath; a man rarely comes to be worthy of returning such favours."

Shloka 23 (uttara.40.23)

ततो ऽस्य हारं चन्द्राभं मुच्य कण्ठात्स राघवः । वैडूर्यतरलं कण्ठे बबन्ध च हनूमतः ।। 40.23 ।।

tato 'sya hāraṃ candrābhaṃ mucya kaṇṭhātsa rāghavaḥ | vaiḍūryataralaṃ kaṇṭhe babandha ca hanūmataḥ || 40.23 ||

Then Raghava, loosing from his own neck a necklace bright as the moon, hung with a pendant of beryl, bound it upon Hanuman's neck.

Shloka 24 (uttara.40.24)

तेनोरसि निबद्धेन हारेण महता कपिः । रराज हेमशैलेन्द्रश्चन्द्रेणाक्रान्तमस्तकः ।। 40.24 ।।

tenorasi nibaddhena hāreṇa mahatā kapiḥ | rarāja hemaśailendraścandreṇākrāntamastakaḥ || 40.24 ||

With that great necklace bound upon his chest, the monkey shone like the golden king of mountains with the moon come to rest upon its peak.

Shloka 25 (uttara.40.25)

श्रुत्वा तु राघवस्यैतदुत्थायोत्थाय वानराः । प्रणम्य शिरसा पादौ निर्जग्मुस्ते महाबलाः ।। 40.25 ।।

śrutvā tu rāghavasyaitadutthāyotthāya vānarāḥ | praṇamya śirasā pādau nirjagmuste mahābalāḥ || 40.25 ||

Hearing this from Raghava, those mighty monkeys, rising one by one, bowing their heads to his feet, set out to depart.

Shloka 26 (uttara.40.26)

सुग्रीवः स च रामेण निरन्तरमुरोगतः । विभीषणश्च धर्मात्मा सर्वे ते बाष्पविक्लवाः ।। 40.26 ।।

sugrīvaḥ sa ca rāmeṇa nirantaramurogataḥ | vibhīṣaṇaśca dharmātmā sarve te bāṣpaviklavāḥ || 40.26 ||

Sugriva, embraced close, chest to chest, by Rama, and righteous Vibhishana too — all of them were overwhelmed, choked with tears.

Shloka 27 (uttara.40.27)

सर्वे च ते बाष्पकलाः साश्रुनेत्रा विचेतसः । सम्मूढा इव दुःखेन त्यजन्तो राघवं तदा ।। 40.27 ।।

sarve ca te bāṣpakalāḥ sāśrunetrā vicetasaḥ | sammūḍhā iva duḥkhena tyajanto rāghavaṃ tadā || 40.27 ||

All of them, their voices breaking with tears, their eyes brimming, bewildered, as if stunned with grief, then took their leave of Raghava.

Shloka 28 (uttara.40.28)

कृतप्रसादास्तेनैवं राघवेण महात्मना । जग्मुः स्वं स्वं गृहं सर्वे देही देहमिव त्यजन् ।। 40.28 ।।

kṛtaprasādāstenaivaṃ rāghaveṇa mahātmanā | jagmuḥ svaṃ svaṃ gṛhaṃ sarve dehī dehamiva tyajan || 40.28 ||

Thus blessed by that great-souled Raghava, they all went, each to his own home, as an embodied soul departs, leaving the body.

Shloka 29 (uttara.40.29)

ततस्तु ते राक्षसऋक्षवानराः प्रणम्य रामं रघुवंशवर्धनम् । वियोगजाश्रुप्रतिपूर्णलोचनाः प्रतिप्रयातास्तु यथा निवासिनः ।। 40.29 ।।

tatastu te rākṣasaṛkṣavānarāḥ praṇamya rāmaṃ raghuvaṃśavardhanam | viyogajāśrupratipūrṇalocanāḥ pratiprayātāstu yathā nivāsinaḥ || 40.29 ||

Then those demons, bears, and monkeys, having saluted Rama, increaser of the line of Raghu, their eyes brimming with tears born of parting, went back, each to his own dwelling.