Introduction
Angada proposes fast unto death as this troop of monkeys failed to find Seetha, and the timeframe fixed by Sugreeva has also lapsed, and if they return to Kishkindha, it is sure that Sugreeva takes them to task. As they are caught between the devil and the deep sea, Sugreeva and southern Indian Ocean, they resort to lay their lives by fasting unto death.
Verse 1
ततः ते ददृशुः घोरम् सागरम् वरुण आलयम् |
अपारम् अभिगर्जन्तम् घोरैः ऊर्मिभिः आकुलम् || ४-५३-१
Then they saw an inexorable ocean, the realm of Rain-god, tumultuous with out-roaring and implacable waves, and shoreless otherwhere. [4-53-1]
1. tataH te = then, they; ghoram = inexorable; varuNa aalayam = Rain-god’s, realm; a paaram = without, [visible other] shore; abhi garjantam = out, roaring; ghoraiH uurmibhiH aakulam = implacable, with waves, tumultuous; saagaram = ocean; dadR^ishuH = saw.
Verse 2
मयस्य माया विहितम् गिरि दुर्गम् विचिन्वताम् |
तेषाम् मासो व्यतिक्रान्तो यो राज्ञा समयः कृतः || ४-५३-२
Which month is set as timeframe for the monkeys by king Sugreeva that month passed off while the monkeys are searching mountains, impassable areas and within the cavity concocted by the wizardry of demon Maya. [4-53-2]
2. teSaam = for them; mayasya maayaa vihitam = demon Maya’s, by wizardry, arranged [concocted cavity]; giri durgam = mountains, impassable areas; vicinvataam = while searching out; yaH raaj~naa samayaH kR^itaH = which [month,] by king, time, made [timeframe,] set; [saH = that]; maasaH vyatikraantaH = month, passed off.
Verse 3
विन्ध्यस्य तु गिरेः पादे संप्रपुष्पित पादपे |
उपविश्य महात्मानः चिन्ताम् आपेदिरे तदा || ४-५३-३
Sitting on a foothill of Mt. Vindhya which is with fully flowered trees those virtue-souled monkeys are then driven in desperation. [4-53-3]
3. tadaa = then; mahaatmaanaH = virtue-souled ones; sam pra puSpita paadape = very, well, flowered, with trees; vindhyasya gireH paade = of Mt. Vindhya, mountain’s, at foot – foothill; upavishya = seated; cintaam aapedire = desperation, they obtained.
Verse 4
ततः पुष्पातिभाराग्राँल्ल्ताशतसमावृतान् -यद्वा –
ततः पुष्प अतिभार अग्रान् लता शत समावृतान् |
द्रुमान् वासन्तिकान् दृष्ट्वा बभूवुः भय शन्किताः || ४-५३-४
Then on seeing the treetops of spring season, weighty with flowers and enshrouded with hundreds of vines, they became incredulous with the fright of failing Sugreeva’s timeframe. [4-53-4]
4. tataH = then; puSpa ati bhaara agraan = with flowers, much, weighty, tops; lataa shata sam aavR^itaan = vines, hundreds of, well, enshrouded; vaasantikaan drumaan = of spring-season, trees; dR^iSTvaa = on seeing; bhaya shankitaaH babhuuvuH = by fright, incredulous, they became.
Verse 5
ते वसंतम् अनुप्राप्तम् प्रतिवेद्य परस्परम् |
नष्ट संदेश काल अर्था निपेतुर् धरणी तले || ४-५३-५
On discussing among themselves they found that spring season has arrived, and they also found the purpose of timely messaging about Seetha to Sugreeva is lost, thus they plumped down onto the surface of earth. [4-53-5]
5. te = they; vasantam anu praaptam = spring season, towards, bechanced; paraH param = each, to the other; prati vedya = in turn, on knowing [on discussing]; naSTa sandesha kaala arthaa = lost, message, timely, purpose of; nipetuH dharaNii tale = plumped down, on earth’s, surface.
Verse 6 & 7
ततः तान् कपि वृद्धान् च शिष्टान् चैव वनौकसः |
वाचा मधुरया अभाष्य यथावत् अनुमान्य च || ४-५३-६
स तु सिंह ऋषभ स्कंधः पीन आयत भुजः कपिः |
युवराजो महाप्राज्ञ अंगदो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् || ४-५३-७
The crown prince and a great foreseer Angada, the monkey, whose nape of neck is leonine and bullish, arms lengthy and sturdy, then as usual paying respects to elderly monkeys greeted all of the forest dwellers and spoke this sentence in a modest voice. [4-53-6, 7]
6, 7. tataH = then; simha R^iSabha skandhaH = leonine [lion-like,] bull-like, one having such a nape of the neck; piina aayata bhujaH kapiH = sturdy, lengthy, one having such arms; yuvaraajaH mahaa praaj~naH = crown prince, great, foreseer; saH kapiH angadaH = he that, monkey, Angada; taan kapi vR^iddhaan ca = to those, monkey, elder ones; shiSTaan vana okasaH caiva = to other, forest, dwellers, also thus; madhurayaa vaacaa = melodiously [modestly,] with words; abhaaSya = on greeting; yathaavat anumaanya ca = as usual, respecting, also; vaakyam abraviit = sentence, spoke.
Verse 8
शासनात् कपि राजस्य वयम् सर्वे विनिर्गताः |
मासः पूर्णो बिलस्थानाम् हरयः किम् न बुध्यते || ४-५३-८
“Oh, monkeys, we all have started at the command of the king of monkeys, and the month fixed by him is zeroed out while we were in Black Cavity. Are you aware of it?” Thus Angada started to speak his mind. [4-53-8]
8. harayaH = oh, monkeys; vayam sarve = we, all; kapi raajasya shaasanaat = monkey, king’s, by command of; vi nir gataaH = verily, out, came [came out, started]; bila sthaanaam = in black-hole, while we were; maasaH puurNaH = month, zeroed out; kim na budhyate = why, not, be sensible of it – are you aware of it?
Verse 9
वयम् आश्वयुजे मासि काल संख्या व्यवस्थिताः |
प्रस्थिताः सो अपि च अतीतः किम् अतः कार्यम् उत्तरम् || ४-५३-९
“We were sent out scheduling time calculating from the month of aashviiyuja nearly October. Even that time fixed for us has also lapsed. Thereby, what is to be done next? [4-53-9]
9. vayam = we; kaala sankhyaa vyavasthitaaH = time, calculation, scheduled to; aashvayuje maasi = in aashviiyuja, month; prasthitaaH = sent out; saH api atiitaH ca = that, even, lapsed, also; ataH = thereby; uttaram kaaryam kim = next, to be done, what.
Verse 10
भवन्त प्रत्ययम् प्राप्ता नीति मार्ग विशारदाः |
हितेषु अभिरता भर्त्तुः निसृष्टाः सर्व कर्मसु || ४-५३-१०
“You all the pioneers in the pathway of principles, you have notched up the credibility of your king, you are all well-disposed in the well-being of your king, and you are the contrivers of any exploit. [4-53-10]
10. bhavanta pratyayam praaptaa = you all, credibility, notched up; niiti maarga vishaaradaaH = principles, pathways, pioneers; bharttuH hiteSu abhi rataa = in lord’s [Sugreeva’s,] in well-being, well, disposed; sarva karmasu = in all [any,] exploits; niH sR^iSTaaH = out, drawn – unsheathed, contrivers of.
Verse 11
कर्मसु अप्रतिमाः सर्वे दिक्षु विश्रुत पौरुषाः |
माम् पुरस्कृत्य निर्याताः पिन्गाक्ष प्रतिचोदिताः || ४-५३-११
“All of you are unparalleled in all tasks, all your asperity is renowned in all directions, and all of you have come impelled by that ochreish eyed Sugreeva keeping me as your helmsman. [4-53-11]
11. sarve = all of you [‘all’ is now ellipted to all attributes]; karmasu a pratimaaH = in tasks, not, paralleled ones; dikshu vishruta pauruSaaH = in directions, renowned, asperity; pinga aksha praticoditaaH = ochreish, eyed [Sugreeva,] impelled by; maam puraskR^itya niryaataaH = me, keeping afore – as helmsman, started out.
Verse 12
इदानीम् अकृत अर्थानाम् मर्तव्यम् न अत्र संशयः |
हरि राजस्य संदेशम् अकृत्वा कः सुखी भवेत् || ४-५३-१२
“As of now our mission is incomplete hence we are scheduled to die, and there is no doubt about it. Who can be complacent by keeping the directive of monkey’s king incomplete? [4-53-12]
12. idaaniim = as of now; a kR^ita arthaanaam = not, done [completed,] purpose – our mission is incomplete; hence; martavyam = we have to die [at the hand of Sugreeva]; atra sanshayaH na = in this matter, doubt, is not there; hari raajasya sandesham = monkeys, king’s, directive; a kR^itvaa = by not, doing – keeping it incomplete; kaH sukhii bhavet = who, complacent, can be.
Verse 13
आस्मिन् अतीते काले तु सुग्रीवेण कृते स्वयम् |
प्रायोपवेशनम् युक्तम् सर्वेषाम् च वन ओकसाम् || ४-५३-१३
“But in this matter of course, as the time set by Sugreeva is lapsed, it is appropriate for all of us forest dwelling monkeys to voluntarily undertake fasting unto death. [4-53-13]
13. sugriiveNa kR^ite = by Sugreeva, made [set]; aasmin kaale = this, time [timeframe]; atiite = when lapsed; sarveSaam vana okasaam = for all of [us,] forest, dwellers; svayam praayopaveshanam yuktam = personally – voluntarily, fast unto deaths, is appropriate.
Verse 14
तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः स्वामि भावे व्यवस्थितः |
न क्षमिष्यति नः सर्वान् अपराध कृतो गतान् || ४-५३-१४
“Instinctively Sugreeva is a tormentor and now he is institutionalised in lordship, thus he will not condone any of us as we will be as good as transgressors if we were to return. [4-53-14]
14. sugriivaH prakR^ityaa tiikSNaH = Sugreeva, instinctively, is a tormentor; svaami bhaave vyavasthitaH = in lord’s, poise [in lordship, he is now] institutionalised; gataan = those who return; aparaadha kR^itaH transgression, done; naH = us; sarvaan na kSamiSyati = all [any of us,] not, condones.
Verse 15 & 16a
अप्रवृत्तौ च सीतायाः पापम् एव करिष्यति |
तस्मात् क्षमम् इह अद्य एव गंतुम् प्रायोपविशनम् || ४-५३-१५
त्यक्त्वा पुत्रन् च दारान् च धनानि च गृहाणि च |
“Sugreeva commits sin alone in our respect by killing all of us as we failed in the facts about Seetha, therefore it is pertinent to enter upon fasting unto, leaving off our sons, wives, riches and houses and homes, too. [4-53-15, 16a]
15, 16a. siitaayaaH = about Seetha; a pravR^ittau = without, tidings – not knowing tidings; paapam eva kariSyati = sinning [of killing us,] alone, he does [Sugreeva commits]; tasmaat = therefore; putran ca daaraan ca dhanaani ca gR^ihaaNi ca = sons, also, wives, also, riches, also, house and homes, too; tyaktvaa = on leaving off; iha adya eva = here, now, only; praayopa vishanam = fasting unto death – by sprawling; gantum kSamam = to enter upon, it is pertinent.
Verse 16b & c
ध्रुवम् नः हिंसते राजा सर्वान् प्रतिगतान् इतः || ४-५३-१६
वधेन अप्रतिरूपेण श्रेयान् मृत्युः इह एव नः |
“That king Sugreeva definitely and freakishly tortures all of us on our going back futilely, hence suicide at this place is justifiable for all us. [4-53-16b, c]
16b, c. raajaa = king; itaH prati gataan = from here, back, on going; naH sarvaan = us, all; a prati ruupeNa = un, mirrored, in shape [in a freakish manner]; vadhena = by slaying; dhruvam hinsate = definitely, will torture; naH iha eva = for us, here, only; mR^ityuH shreyaan = death [suicide,] worthwhile [justifiable.]
Verse 17 & 18a
न च अहम् यौवराज्येन सुग्रीवेण अभिषेचितः || ४-५३-१७
नरेन्द्रेण अभिषिक्तो अस्मि रामेण अक्लिष्ट कर्मणा |
“I am not anointed to crown-princedom by Sugreeva, but I am anointed by the unbigoted Rama, the king of people. [4-53-17b, 18a]
17, 18a. aham = I am; sugriiveNa yauvaraajyena = by Sugreeva, to crown-princedom; na abhiSecitaH = not, anointed; a kliSTa karmaNaa = not, with difficulty, does tasks [indefatigable Rama, or, one whose deeds are unbigoted]; narendreNa raameNa = by people’s king, by Rama; abhiSiktaH asmi = anointed, I am.
Verse 18b & 19a
स पूर्वम् बद्ध वैरो माम् राजा दृष्ट्वा व्यतिक्रमम् || ४-५३-१८
घातयिष्यति दण्डेन तीक्ष्णेन कृत निश्चयः |
“That king Sugreeva who is already bound up in animosity with my father, and thus with me too, now on observing me transgressing his directive will decisively wish to liquidate me by a tyrannous victimisation. [4-53-18a, 19a]
18b, 19a. puurvam baddha vairaH = earlier [already,] bound up in, animosity; saH raajaa = he [Sugreeva,] king; vytikramama [vi ati kramam] = transgressing [his directive]; dR^iSTvaa = on observing; kR^ita nishcayaH = on making, decision [decisively]; maam = me; tiikSNena daNDena = with tyrannous, victimisation; ghaata yiSyati = wish to liquidate.
Verse 19b & c
किम् मे सुहृद्भिः व्यसनम् पश्यद्भिः जीवितांतरे |
इह एव प्रायम् आसिष्ये पुण्ये सागर रोधसि ||| ४-५३-१९
“Of what use is the witnessing of my kith and kin at me when I am tortured in the prime of my life, hence here on this sacred seashore alone I will outwait my death fasting unto it.” Thus Angada said to all the monkeys. [4-53-19b, c]
19b, c. jiivita antare = life, in midst of; me vyasanam pashyadbhiH = me, torturing, on witnessing; su hR^idbhiH = by good, hearted [kith and kin of mine]; kim = what [use]; iha eva = here, alone; puNye saagara rodhasi = sacred, ocean’s, at blockade [of ocean, seashore]; praayam aasiSye, fast unto death, sit out [outwait.]
Verse 20
एतत् श्रुत्वा कुमारेण युव राजेन भाषितम् |
सर्वे ते वानर श्रेष्ठाः करुणम् वाक्यम् अब्रुवन् || ४-५३-२०
On hearing all that uttered by that youngish Angada, the crown prince, all of those prominent Vanara-s sympathetically spoke these words. [4-53-20]
20. yuva raajena kumaareNa = by crown, prince, by youngish [Angada]; bhaaSitam etat shrutvaa = uttered, all that, on hearing; sarve te vaanara shreSThaaH = all, those, Vanara, prominent ones; karuNam vaakyam abruvan = sympathetically, words, spoke.
Verse 21 & 22
तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः प्रिया रक्तः च राघवः |
समीक्ष्य अकृत कार्यान् तु तस्मिन् च समये गते || ४-५३-२१
अदृष्टायाम् च वैदेह्याम् दृष्ट्वा चैव समागतान् |
राघव प्रिय कामाय घातयिष्यति असंशयम् || ४-५३-२२
“Instinctively Sugreeva is a hot-tempered vanara and Raghava is interested in his beloved wife. The timeframe is lapsed and Vaidehi is unspotted. If we go back to Kishkindha now, on seeing us returning without completing our assignment, and with a thinking to satisfy Rama Sugreeva wishes to liquidate us without any doubt. [4-53-21, 22]
21, 22. sugriivaH prakR^ityaa tiikSNaH = Sugreeva, instinctively, hot-tempered one; raaghavaH ca priyaa raktaH = Raghava, is also, in beloved [wife,] interested; vaidehyaam a dR^iSTaayaam = Vaidehi, not, seen when she is not spotted; tasmin samaye gate = that, time, lapsed; sam aagataan = returnees; a kR^ita kaaryaan = not, performed, deed – those who have not completed assignment; samiikshya = on seeing – us; dR^iSTvaa = on seeing – on thinking; raaghava priya kaamaaya = to Raghava, likeable, [doing] desirous of – to satisfy Raghava; a sanshayam = without, doubt; ghaatayiSyati = he wishes to liquidate.
Verse 23
न क्षमम् च अपराद्धानाम् गमनम् स्वामि पार्श्वतः |
प्रधानबूताः च वयम् सुग्रीवस्य समागताः || ४-५३-२३
“It will be inexcusable for the culprits to pass at the sideways of lords, then where is the question of their coming into king’s audience, and we should be barefaced to return because we are all the chieftains of Sugreeva who are coordinated and sent here. [4-53-23]
23. aparaaddhaanaam = for culprits – like us; svaami paarshvataH gamanam = lord, at the side of, going; na kSamam = not, tolerable – inexcusable; sugriivasya = of Sugreeva; pradhaanabuutaaH ca = being chieftains, also; vayam samaagataaH = we, are co-ordinated [and sent here.]
Verse 24
इह एव सीताम् अन्वीक्ष्य प्रवृत्तिम् उपलभ्य वा |
नः चेत् गच्छाम तम् वीरम् गमिष्यामो यम क्षयम् || ४-५३-२४
“If we do not return to that champion Sugreeva on searching somewhere here for Seetha, or on our educing some information about her, we will rather enter the realm of Yama, the Terminator.” Thus the other monkeys discussed among themselves. [4-53-24]
24. iha eva siitaam anviikshya = here, only, Seetha, we search out; pravR^ittim upalabhya vaa = tidings, we educe, or; tam viiram = to him, champion Sugreeva; naH gacChaama cet = we, approach, not – if we do not go with information; yama kshayam gamiSyaamaH = Yama, the Terminator’s, realm, we will to go.
Verse 25
प्लवंगमानाम् तु भय अर्दितानाम्
श्रुत्वा वचः तार इदम् बभाषे |
अलम् विषादेन बिलम् प्रविश्य
वसाम सर्वे यदि रोचते वः || ४-५३-२५
On hearing the words of fly-jumpers, who are tormented by fear of Sugreeva, Lt. Tara spoke this to them, “enough is your desperation, if you all are interested let us enter that cave again where we can live. [4-53-25]
25. taaraH = Lt. Tara; bhaya arditaanaam plavangamaanaam = by fear, tormented by, of fly-jumpers; vacaH shrutvaa = words, on hearing; idam babhaaSe = this, spoke; viSaadena alam = desperation, enough; vaH rocate yadi = you, interested, if; sarve bilam pravishya vasaama = we all, cavity, on entering, we live [therein.]
Verse 26
इदम् हि माया विहितम् सुदुर्गमम्
प्रभूत वृक्ष उदक भोज्य पेयम् |
इह अस्ति नः न एव भयम् पुरंदरात्
न राघवात् वानर राजतो अपि वा || ४-५३-२६
“That highly impassable cavity is contrived by the demon Maya and it is abundant with trees, water, eatables and potables, and there is no fear even from Indra in that cavity, nor from Raghava, nor from Sugreeva, the king of monkeys.” So said Lt. Tara to all. [4-53-26]
26. maayaa vihitam = by demon Maya, contrived; prabhuuta vR^ikSa udaka bhojya peyam = abundant with, trees, water, eatables, potables; idam = this – cavity; su durgamam hi = highly, impassable [cavity,] isn’t it; iha naH = here, to us; purandaraat bhayam na eva asti = from Indra, fear, not, even, is there; raaghavaat na = from Raghava, no [fear]; vaanara raajataH api vaa = from monkeys, king, either.
Verse 27
श्रुत्वा अंगदस्य अपि वचो अनुकूलम्
ऊचुः च सर्वे हरयः प्रतीताः |
यथा न हन्येम तथा विधानम्
असक्तम् अद्य एव विधीयताम् नः || ४-५३-२७
On hearing Angada’s words, as well as the words of Lt. Tara that are trended to Angada’s words, all the monkeys compliantly spoke with believability, “in which way we all will not be killed that way may be waymarked, and promptly make it happen now only.” So said all the monkeys to Angada. [4-53-27]
27. angadasya vacaH shrutvaa = Angada’s, words, on hearing; sarve harayaH pratiitaaH = all, monkeys, having believability – in his and Tara’s words; anukuulam uucuH = compliantly, said; yathaa na hanyema = in which way, we are not, killed; tathaa = in that way; naH = for us; adya eva = now, only; vidhaanam = a method; asaktam vidhiiyataam = promptly, make happen.
