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राम

दक्षिणखण्ड · अध्याय 173

Sugrīva Sends Hanumān to the Brothers

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Chapter context and opening material

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa approach Ṛṣyamūka while Sugrīva and his four companions watch warily from the mountain. Sugrīva recognizes the brothers from reports of their earlier deeds, sees that Rāma's loss of Sītā mirrors his own exile and loss, and imagines an alliance in which each can restore the other. He sends Hanumān to learn their identity, beginning the meeting that will join Rāma's search with Sugrīva's struggle against Vālin. The Brothers Approach Ṛṣyamūka

Passage 1

ब्रह्मोवाच— स आरादृष्यमूकाद्रिं बभूव रघुनन्दनः। सलक्ष्मणः प्रियतमाविश्लेषक्लिशविग्रहः॥१॥

Brahmā said: The delight of the Raghus drew near Mount Ṛṣyamūka with Lakṣmaṇa, his body afflicted by separation from his beloved.

Passage 2

कुर्वन्तौ विविधां वार्तां नीलनीरदसुन्दरौ। घोषयन्तौ धनुर्ज्यां यान्तौ तौ भ्रातरौ पथि॥२॥

Beautiful as dark rainclouds, the two brothers traveled the road conversing on many matters and making their bowstrings resound.

Passage 3

दूरान्निरीक्षितौ वीरौ कमनीयसुविग्रहौ। ऋष्यमूकाद्रिशिखरे निषण्णैः कपिपुङ्गवैः॥३॥

From afar, the eminent monkeys seated upon Ṛṣyamūka's peak observed the two heroes of handsome and excellent form.

Passage 4

सुग्रीवहनुमत्प्रमुखैः कावेताविति तर्कितौ। प्रेक्षमाणैश्च साशङ्कं स्वभावाच्चललोचनैः॥४॥

Sugrīva, Hanumān, and their companions watched with suspicion, their naturally restless eyes wondering, “Who are these two?” Sugrīva's Exile

Passage 5

तत्र वीरो रवेः पुत्रः सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः। भ्रात्रा पराजितोऽत्यर्थं किष्किन्धाया विवासितः॥५॥

There lived the valiant monkey Sugrīva, son of the sun, utterly defeated by his brother and driven out of Kiṣkindhā.

Passage 6

मन्त्रयाणश्चिरेणास्ते प्रच्छन्नः कपिभिः समम्। वालिनो वधमन्विच्छंस्ताराभोगाभिलाषुकः॥६॥

He had long remained concealed with the monkeys, taking counsel and seeking Vālin's death while longing to recover Tārā and his realm.

Passage 7

नलो नीलोऽङ्गदश्चैव तुरीयो हनुमांस्तथा। कपयोऽमी महावीराः सुग्रीवस्य हिते स्थिताः॥७॥

Nala, Nīla, Aṅgada, and fourth Hanumān—these mighty monkey heroes stood devoted to Sugrīva's welfare.

Passage 8

तेषां चिरादभून्मन्त्रस्तत्र वालिवधं प्रति। त्रैलोक्ये को नु पर्याप्तो हन्तु तं बलिनां वरम्। अतः सर्वेऽपि कपयो मूढाः कर्तव्यकर्मणि॥८॥

For a long time their deliberation concerned Vālin's death: who in the three worlds was capable of killing that foremost of the strong? Thus all the monkeys remained bewildered about what action to take.

Passage 9

प्रच्छन्नास्तद्भयादेव ऋष्यमूके महीधरे। निलीय खलु सुग्रीव आस्ते कपिभटैः समम्॥९॥

Out of fear of him, Sugrīva remained hidden on Mount Ṛṣyamūka together with his monkey warriors. Sugrīva Recognizes Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

Passage 10

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तौ तु दृष्टौ तैः कृततर्कणैः। राघवौ लोकरुचिरौ घोषयन्तौ धनुर्गुणम्॥१०॥

At that moment the two world-enchanting Rāghavas, making their bowstrings sound, were seen by the monkeys as they speculated.

Passage 11

ततः सुग्रीव आहेंदं हनुमन्तं महाबलम्। अये कपिवर ज्ञेयौ कौ चैतौ लोकसुन्दरौ॥११॥

Sugrīva then said to mighty Hanumān, “Best of monkeys, we must discover who these two beauties of the world are.

Passage 12

वीराधिवीरौ विमलौ पुण्डरीकविलोचनौ। तापसौ जटिलौ चीरवल्कलाजिनवाससौ॥१२॥

“They are heroes beyond heroes, spotless and lotus-eyed—ascetics with matted hair, dressed in bark cloth, rags, and deerskin.

Passage 13

विभूतिधवलौ श्यामौ ज्वलन्तौ पावकोपमौ। धनुर्धरौ नराकारौ निर्जराविव तेजसा॥१३॥

“Dark and bright with sacred ash, they blaze like fire. Though human in form and carrying bows, in splendor they resemble immortals.

Passage 14

सर्वावयवशोभाढ्यौ सिंहविक्रान्तिशालिनौ। अमानुषबलोपेतौ वीर्यवन्तौ दुरासदौ॥१४॥

“Every limb is filled with beauty; they possess a lion's stride, superhuman strength, heroic power, and are difficult to assail.

Passage 15

प्रायस्तावेव खल्वेतौ श्रीमन्तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। यौ पुरोदाहृतौ मह्यं मुनिभिः शैलवासिभिः॥१५॥

“These must surely be the illustrious Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa whom mountain-dwelling sages described to me before.

Passage 16

खरदूषणहन्तारौ त्रिशिरोवधकारकौ। एकबाणहृतानेकसहस्रबलराक्षसौ॥१६॥

“They killed Khara and Dūṣaṇa and brought about Triśiras's death, destroying many thousands of powerful rākṣasas with their arrows.

Passage 17

हृतशूर्पणखानासाश्रवणौ खड्गधारया। कृतरुद्रधनुर्भङ्गौ बालकावेव यौ पुरा॥१७॥

“With a sword stroke they took Śūrpaṇakhā's nose and ears; while still youths, they broke Rudra's bow.

Passage 18

हृतभार्गवसंदर्पौ विश्वामित्रमखावनौ। ताडकामारणकरौ सुबाहुवधपण्डितौ॥१८॥

“They removed Bhārgava's arrogance, protected Viśvāmitra's sacrifice, killed Tāṭakā, and expertly slew Subāhu.

Passage 19

भुवि विख्यातयशसौ संस्तुतौ मुनिपुङ्गवैः। तावुभौ भ्रातरावेतौ मद्भाग्यान्न भविष्यतः॥१९॥

“Their fame is renowned upon earth and eminent sages praise them. Could these two brothers have come here through my good fortune? A Shared Need and Possible Alliance

Passage 20

तयोर्ज्येष्ठस्तु यो रामः स वै पुरुषपुङ्गवः। स चेन्मद्भ्रातरं हन्यात् कृतार्थः स्यां तदा न किम्॥२०॥

“The elder of them, Rāma, is the foremost of men. If he were to kill my brother, would I not then attain my purpose?

Passage 21

श्रूयतेऽपि च तद्भार्या रावणेन बलीयसा। हृता रक्षोधिनाथेन ततश्चिन्तातुरोऽप्ययम्॥२१॥

“It is also reported that his wife was carried away by mighty Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, and that he is therefore afflicted with anxiety.

Passage 22

तस्य मे च गतिस्तुल्या ततो मैत्री न किं भवेत्। कृतकृत्यावुभौ स्यातां साहाय्यं चेत्परस्परम्॥२२॥

“His condition and mine are alike; why then should friendship not arise? If each helps the other, both can accomplish their purposes.

Passage 23

अतोऽहं वेत्तुमिच्छामि कावेतौ पुरुषोत्तमौ। तद्गच्छ हनुमञ्छीघ्रमानयोदन्तमेतयोः॥२३॥

“Therefore I wish to learn who these two excellent men are. Hanumān, go quickly and bring me their account.” Hanumān Goes to Meet Them

Passage 24

इत्युक्तो हनुमांस्तेन ऋष्यमूकस्य मूर्धनि। प्रणम्य तं विनिर्यातो रामलक्ष्मणसन्निधौ॥२४॥

Thus addressed by him on Ṛṣyamūka's summit, Hanumān bowed to Sugrīva and set out for the presence of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Passage 25

सोऽपश्यदागत्य पथि प्रयान्तौ धनुर्धरौ तौ पुरुषप्रवीरौ। परस्परं कोमलमालपन्तौ निशागमे स्थानपरिग्रहार्थम्॥२५॥

Approaching, he saw those foremost bow-bearing men traveling the road and speaking gently with one another as night approached, seeking a place to stay.