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राम

दक्षिणखण्ड · अध्याय 183

Sugrīva Leads Rāma to Kiṣkindhā

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Chapter context and opening material

Sugrīva vows never to forget the Lord who restores his life and fortune, then leads Rāma toward Vālin's capital. The chapter pauses for an elaborate portrait of Kiṣkindhā: its walls, gardens, markets, warriors, learned citizens, palace, and the immense worldly power Vālin accumulated before his fall. Sugrīva's Vow of Gratitude

Passage 1

ब्रह्मोवाच— इति काकुत्स्थवचसा प्रोत्साहितमनाः कपिः। सत्यमेकं पुरस्कृत्य तमुवाच रघूद्वहम्॥१॥

Brahmā said: Encouraged by Kākutstha's words, the monkey placed truth foremost and addressed the bearer of the Raghu line.

Passage 2

येनाहं विपदः सर्वास्तरिष्यामि रिपूद्भवाः। राज्यं प्राप्स्यामि च महत्किष्किन्धापुरभोगदम्॥२॥

“Through you I shall cross every calamity caused by my enemy and regain the great kingdom that bestows the enjoyments of Kiṣkindhā.

Passage 3

चिराभिलषितां तां च कान्तां चतुरचेतसम्। अलमासादयिष्यामि यस्य विक्रमतेजसा॥३॥

“Through your heroic splendor I shall recover my clever-hearted beloved, whom I have long desired.

Passage 4

निःसपत्नां च भोक्ष्यामि किष्किन्धानगरीधराम्। यस्यैव च प्रसादेन निरायासेन राघव॥४॥

“By your grace alone, Rāghava, I shall effortlessly enjoy the land of Kiṣkindhā without a rival.

Passage 5

तमहं विस्मरिष्यामि यदि त्वां पुरुषोत्तम। पापमेवाश्रयिष्यामि पशुरेव न संशयः॥५॥

“Supreme Person, if I forget you, I shall surely embrace sin and become nothing more than a beast.

Passage 6

सत्यं हि पशवो राम विस्मरन्ति विचेतनाः। मातरं पितरं चापि भ्रातरं भगिनीमपि॥६॥

“Rāma, mindless animals truly forget mother, father, brother, and sister.

Passage 7

भुञ्जते मातरं चापि भगिनीं तनयामपि। पितरं भ्रातरं घ्नन्ति तनयं भक्षलोभतः॥७॥

“They even mate with mother, sister, or daughter, and from hunger kill father, brother, or child.

Passage 8

पशूनां पक्षिणां चापि प्रवृत्तिरियमीदृशी। तथापि भवता राम जाताः स्मोऽद्यानुकम्पिताः॥८॥

“Such is the conduct of beasts and birds; yet today, Rāma, you have shown us compassion.

Passage 9

कथं नु विस्मरिष्यामि त्वामहं जीवितप्रदम्। भवता रघुवीरेन्द्र प्राप्तज्ञानाः पशुष्वपि॥९॥

“How could I forget you, giver of my life? Hero of the Raghus, through you even animals have attained understanding.” The Approach to Kiṣkindhā

Passage 10

इति सुग्रीव आभाष्य श्रीरामं करुणानिधिम्। महत्तस्य बलं चैव समाश्रित्य कपीश्वरः॥१०॥

Having spoken thus to Śrī Rāma, treasury of compassion, the monkey lord took refuge in his immense strength.

Passage 11

आजगाम जवात्तस्य वालिनो बलिनः पुरीम्। किष्किन्धां नाम परिखाप्राकारवलयान्विताम्॥११॥

He swiftly reached mighty Vālin's city, Kiṣkindhā, encircled by moat and rampart.

Passage 12

बृहद्गोपुरसम्बद्धकपाटोत्कीर्णशृङ्खलाम्। प्रासादशिखराकीर्णपताकाविपुलध्वजाम्॥१२॥

Its great gateways bore massive doors and chains; banners and broad standards crowded the palace roofs.

Passage 13

अयस्ताम्रादिधातूनां बृहत्प्राकारदुर्गमाम्। विन्यस्तलोहानियन्त्रकोटिकूटमहोन्नताम्॥१३॥

Great ramparts of iron, copper, and other metals made it inaccessible, while lofty mechanical fortifications of placed iron rose above it.

Passage 14

समन्तात्परिणाहाढ्यां महाजननिषेविताम्। अनेकपण्यसंख्यातकर्णिकाकुलसंकुलाम्॥१४॥

It spread broadly in every direction, was frequented by multitudes, and thronged with innumerable stalls and wares.

Passage 15

परिखाप्राप्तसलिला नादेयस्रोतसान्विताम्। सुभोज्यसंयुतां नित्यं सुपेयसुरसोदकाम्॥१५॥

River channels supplied its moat; it always possessed excellent food and sweet, drinkable water.

Passage 16

फलपत्रप्रसूनाढ्यबृहदारामरोपितैः। पादपैः पूर्णभ्रमरैः समन्ताज्जातसौरभाम्॥१६॥

Great gardens planted with trees rich in fruit, leaves, and blossoms filled it with bees and fragrance on every side.

Passage 17

मणिचत्वरकास्तीर्णहेमास्तरणसंस्तराम्। विश्रान्तवानरश्रेणीपरिपीतरसासवाम्॥१७॥

Jeweled squares and golden pavements spread through it, where rows of resting monkeys drank flavorful wine.

Passage 18

गृहेष्वापानगोष्ठीषु सोत्फालकपिपुङ्गवाम्। दिग्जैत्रेन्द्रसुतानीतसर्वदिग्विभवोन्नताम्॥१८॥

Foremost monkeys leapt amid drinking gatherings in its houses; the victorious son of Indra had brought it the riches of every direction.

Passage 19

भीमैः किलकिलाशब्दैर्बाह्वोः स्फोटनकूर्दनैः। तलताडनशब्दैश्च पर्युच्छलनवेगजैः॥१९॥

Terrible cries, the slapping of arms, leaps, palm-strikes, and the rush of bounding bodies resounded there.

Passage 20

शब्दैश्च वानरेन्द्राणां वीरचर्यरसाकुलाम्। नित्यं संग्रामवार्ताभिरुत्कटापितवानराम्॥२०॥

The sounds of monkey lords filled it with heroic fervor, and constant talk of battle excited its warriors.

Passage 21

स्वर्णवर्णैरक्तवक्त्रैश्छलत्पुच्छगुच्छकैः। आरक्तलोचनैः कीशैरहनिशमुदित्वराम्॥२१॥

Day and night it rejoiced with golden-hued monkeys, red-faced and red-eyed, their clustered tails in motion.

Passage 22

कीशान्तःपुरनारीणां वानरीणां स्वभावतः। दिव्यरूपसुसम्पन्नशरीराणां महात्विषाम्॥२२॥

The women of the monkey inner apartments possessed naturally divine forms, excellent bodies, and great radiance.

Passage 23

जातरूपप्रकाशाङ्गलतानां जितविद्युताम्। कमनीयपटीभूषाशृङ्गारोपेतवर्ष्मणाम्॥२३॥

Their vine-like limbs shone like gold and surpassed lightning; lovely cloth, ornaments, and adornment graced their bodies.

Passage 24

रक्तोष्ठीनां सुकण्ठीनां सुकेशीनां समन्ततः। सुदतीनां सुनेत्राणां केलिलीलाविशारदाम्॥२४॥

Everywhere were red-lipped, sweet-voiced, lovely-haired women with fine teeth and eyes, skilled in playful arts.

Passage 25

धर्मिष्ठैर्ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नैः साधुविक्रमैः। सत्यशीलैः क्षमोपेतैर्दयावद्भिर्विचक्षणैः॥२५॥

Its people were devoted to dharma, endowed with knowledge and realization, nobly valiant, truthful, patient, compassionate, and discerning.

Passage 26

त्यागवद्भिर्दिव्ययागैः संवदद्भिः सुरैः सह। दिव्यदृष्टिभिरुत्सिक्तैः सुधीभिर्वेशसुन्दरैः॥२६॥

Generous and devoted to divine sacrifice, they conversed with gods, possessed divine sight, keen intelligence, and beautiful dress.

Passage 27

नाम्नैव पशुभिः किन्तु पुरुषैर्वीर्यवत्तरैः। देवावतारैः कपिभिः श्रीरामालोकनोत्सवैः॥२७॥

They were animals only in name: powerful persons, monkeys who were incarnate gods and whose festival would be the sight of Śrī Rāma.

Passage 28

कपिराजैर्वालिबलमुख्यवीरैर्बलोर्जितैः। दिग्जैत्रैः स्वामिहितकृच्छीलैः सततमावृताम्॥२८॥

The city was always surrounded by mighty monkey kings, Vālin's chief heroes, conquerors of the directions devoted to their lord's welfare.

Passage 29

नित्यं निधिकुलावासां रक्षोभिर्दुर्गमां च ताम्। बालिदिग्जैत्रयात्रायां पराजितदशाननाम्॥२९॥

Treasure-houses always occupied it, and rākṣasas could not approach it; ten-headed Rāvaṇa had been defeated during Vālin's conquest of the directions.

Passage 30

अजेयस्वामिकां लोके रक्षोभिः किन्नरैर्नरैः। रमणीयतमां लोकैरीक्षणीयतमश्रियाम्॥३०॥

Its lord was unconquerable by rākṣasas, kinnaras, or men; it was exceedingly delightful and possessed prosperity worthy of every world's gaze.

Passage 31

नानाचातुर्यगीराज्यसमेधिततमां च ताम्। चिरात्संजातविजयां राजधानीं कपीशितुः॥३१॥

Long victorious, the monkey lord's capital flourished through many arts and forms of statecraft.

Passage 32

सेवनीयतमां वर्णैश्चतुर्भिर्वस्तुकल्पिताम्। नीतिनाथशुभाचारवालिराज्यासनोज्जिताम्॥३२॥

All four social orders found it worthy of service; well ordered in substance, it shone beneath policy-master Vālin's righteous rule.

Passage 33

यत्रानुसवनं वाद्यैर्जयदुन्दुभिघोषिताम्। प्रासादभवनं तस्य वालिनोऽग्र्यं कपीशितुः॥३३॥

In it victory drums and instruments sounded at every rite, and there stood the splendid palace of Vālin, lord of monkeys. Vālin's Power

Passage 34

यद्राजा बलवान् वाली दिग्जैत्रो विभवोर्जितः। नानाचातुर्यगीर्जातदीर्घायुर्मृत्युदुर्गमः॥३४॥

Its king was mighty Vālin, conqueror of the directions, rich in power, long-lived through manifold skill, and difficult for death to approach.

Passage 35

कृतं येन तपो भूरि शक्रश्चाराधितो मुहुः। ततो लब्धवरीयांश्च पृथिवीजयशक्तिमान्॥३५॥

He had practiced great austerity and repeatedly worshiped Indra, gaining boons and power to conquer the earth.

Passage 36

नरकन्या नागकन्या रक्षःकिन्नरकन्यकाः। भुङ्क्ते यः सुरते स्वैरं बलवांल्लोकनिर्जयी॥३६॥

Victorious over the worlds, he freely enjoyed human, nāga, rākṣasa, and kinnara maidens.

Passage 37

यश्च दुष्यन्तमाबध्य रावणं बलिनां वरः। एकस्यामेव कक्षायां धृत्वा स्वपुरमानयत्॥३७॥

Foremost of the mighty, he bound the hostile Rāvaṇa, held him beneath one arm, and carried him to his own city.

Passage 38

यत्समानबलो लोके नान्यो नृमृगपक्षिषु। रक्षःकिन्नरयक्षेषु नागेषु नगवास्तुषु॥३८॥

Among men, beasts, birds, rākṣasas, kinnaras, yakṣas, nāgas, or mountain dwellers, no other equaled his strength.

Passage 39

यो जित्वा हरितः प्रमथ्य हरितां भूमीपतीनां बलान्यानेषीन्नगरीं निजां ननु निधींस्तान् यक्षराजस्य ये। यस्तारां समपाहरन्निजबलान्मत्तश्च सुग्रीवगां येनाबध्यत संगरे दशमुखोऽसावेककक्षान्तरे॥३९॥

He conquered the directions, crushed the armies of their kings, and brought the yakṣa king's treasures to his city. Drunk on his own strength, he seized Tārā from Sugrīva; in battle he bound ten-headed Rāvaṇa beneath a single arm.