“Om Sri Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki – Kishkinda Kanda – Chapter 41

Sugriva Sends , & to the South

Summary

Sugreeva sends -s to southward which troop includes Hanuma, Jambavanta, Niila and others and Angada is its leader. Sugreeva gives a vivid picture of the southern side of Jambu Dwiipa up to the south-most part of passable regions, next to which the abode of , the Terminator is there. This troop is also given one month's time to find the whereabouts of Seetha.

Chapter [Sarga] 41 in Detail

tatah prasthaapya sugriivah tan mahat vaanaram balam |

daksinaam presayaamaasa vaanaraan abhilaksitaan || 4-41-1

On sending that great Vanara force to east, Sugreeva started to send tried and true Vanara-s to south. [4-41-1]

niilam sutam caiva hanuumantam ca vaanaram |

pitaamaha sutam caiva jaa.mbava.ntam mahojasam || 4-41-2

suhotram ca sharaarim ca sharagulmam tathaa eva ca |

gajam gavaaksam gavayam susenam vrisabham tathaa || 4-41-3

maindam ca dvividam caiva susenam gandhamaadanam |

ulkaamukham ana.ngam ca hutashana sutau ubhau || 4-41-4

a.ngada pramukhaan viiraan viirah kapi gana iishvarah |

vega vikrama sa.mpannaan sa.ndidesha vishesavit || 4-41-5

Sugreeva, the well-informed and brave lord of monkey troops, then beckoned Angada and the other prominent Vanara-s who are valorous ones with full-fledged dash and dare, like the son of Fire-god Neela, and the exceptional Vanara Hanuma, the highly vigorous son of Grandparent , namely Jambavanta, also others like Suhotra, Sharaari, Sharagulma ,

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Valmiki Ramayana – Kishkinda Kanda – Chapter 41 Gavaaksha, Gavaya, Sushena, Vrishabha, Mainda, , Sushena, Gandhamaadana, and the two sons of Ritual-fire called Ulkaamukha, Ananga. [4-41-2, 3, 4, 5]

tesaam agresaram caiva brihad balam atha a.ngadam |

vidhaaya hari viiraanaam aadishad daksinaam disham || 4-41-6

Sugreeva made the formidably mighty Angada as the chief of those valiant monkeys forming search party and ordered southern direction for them. [4-41-6]

ye kecana samuddeshaah tasyaam dishi sudurgamaah |

kapiiishah kapi mukhyaanaam sa tesaam samudaaharat || 4-41-7

The king of monkeys Sugreeva gave a picture about some of the highly impassable countries available in southern quarter that need an Introduction to those prominent monkeys bound south. [4-41-7]

sahasra shirasam vindhyam naanaa druma lataa aayutam |

narmadaam ca nadiim ramyaam mahoraga nisevitaam || 4-41-8

tato godaavariim ramyaam krisnaaveniim mahaanadiim |

varadaam ca mahaabhaagaam mahoraga nisevitaam |

mekhalaan utkalaam caiva dashaarna nagaraani api || 4-41-9

abrava.ntiim ava.ntiim ca sarvam eva anupashyata |

vidarbhaan ristikaan caiva ramyaan maahisakaan api || 4-41-10

"Search the thousand crested Vindhya mountains abounding with numerous tress and climbers, then the delightful Narmada river coursing a little southerly to that range, which is adored by great snakes, along with wonderful River Godavari, as well as River Krishnaveni and Maha Nadi, and then the greatly auspicious River Varada which is an adoration to great snakes. And the territories of Mekhala, Utkala, the cities of Dashaarna, kingdoms of Abravanti, Avanti, and Vidarbha, also thus the charming kingdom of Maheehaka, are to be searched thoroughly. [4- 41-10]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Kishkinda Kanda – Chapter 41 tathaa vangaan kalingaam ca kaushikaan ca sama.ntatah |

anviiksya dandaka aranyam sa parvata nadii guham || 4-41-11

nadiim godaavariim caiva sarvam eva anupashyata |

tathaiva aandhraan ca pundraan ca colaan paandyaan keralaan || 4-41-12

"Like that Vanga, Kalinga territories shall be searched along with Kaushika territories available on their fringes, then cast about the Dandaka forest all over its mountains, rivers, and its caves, then River Godavari that courses through Dandaka forest, and then the provinces of Andhra, Pundra, Chola, Paandya, Kerala are to be searched thoroughly. [4-41-11, 12]

ayomukhah ca ga.ntavyah parvato dhaatu manditah |

vicitra shikharah shriimaan citra puspita kaananah || 4-41-13

suca.ndana vanoddesho maargitavyo mahaagirih |

"You shall go to the prosperous Mt. Malaya which is crowded with iron-ore mines as its vast mouths, and with amazing crests and motley flowered forests. Search shall be carried out on that great mountain in the places that are with the copses of sandalwood trees. [4-41-13, 14a]

tatah taam aapagaam divyaam prasanna salilaashayaan || 4-41-14

tatra draksyatha kaaveriim vihritaam apsaro ganaih |

"From there you shall go and see the divine River Kaaveri there, a receptacle of limpid waters, to where throngs of -s will be making pleasure-trips. [4-41-14b, 15a]

tasya aasiinam nagasya agre malayasya mahojasam || 4-41-15

draksyatha aaditya sa.nkaasham agastyam risi sattamam |

"You shall see the eminent sage , whose resplendence is akin to that of the Sun, and who will be sitting on the top of that highly resplendent Mt. Malaya. [4-41-15b, 16a]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Kishkinda Kanda – Chapter 41 tatah tena abhyanujnaataah prasannena mahaatmanaa || 4-41-16

taamraparniim graaha justaam tarisyatha mahaanadiim |

"And when that great-souled Agastya complaisantly permits you, then you shall leave that mountain and cross over the great River Taamraparni, a highly cherished river of crocodiles. [4- 41-16b, 17a]

saa candana vanaih citraih pracchannaa dviipa vaarinii || 4-41-17

kaantaa iva yuvatii kaantam samudram avagaahate |

"She whose water is overlapped with amazing copses of sandalwood trees and islands that River Taamraparni will be drifting for a rendezvous with her much yearned lover, namely the ocean, as with a young woman who will be coursing to have a rendezvous with her yearned lover. [4-41-17b, 18a]

tato hemamayam divyam muktaa mani vibhuusitam || 4-41-18

yuktam kavaatam paandyaanaam gataa draksyatha vaanaraah |

"From there, on going to the Paandya Kingdome you shall see a fully golden castle-door bracing the compound-wall of the fortress, which is decorated with pearls and jewels, and conduct your search even in that kingdom. [4-41-18b, 19a]

tatah samudram aasaadya sa.mpradhaarya artha nishcayam || 4-41-19

agastyena antare tatra saagare viniveshitah |

citra saanu nagah shriimaan mahendrah parvatottamah || 4-41-20

jaata ruupamayah shriimaan avagaadho mahaarnavam |

"Then on reaching the southern ocean, and on taking a resolve with regard to the purpose of your task, viz., importance of the mission undertaken vis-à-vis your individual capacities to leap the ocean, you reach the glorious Mt. Mahendra. Sage Agastya once penned its one end in the ocean, and the other end is now visible. That august and best one among all mountains will be completely golden with marvelous terraces and trees, and it will be steeping into ocean on the other side of land, and this mountain becomes the jumping-off point for you Vanara-s. [4-41-19b, 20, 21a]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Kishkinda Kanda – Chapter 41 naanaa vidhaih nagaih phullaih lataabhih ca upashobhitam || 4-41-21

risi yaksa pravaraih apsarobhih ca sevitam |

siddha caarana sa.nghaih ca prakiirnam sumanoharam || 4-41-22

tam upaiti sahasraaksah sadaa parvasu parvasu |

"Mt. Mahendra is glorified with numerous kinds of flowered trees and climbers. Important gods, sages, -s and even Apsara-s will adore it, and it is overspread with the groups of Siddha-s and Caarana-s, and thus it will be heart-stealing for a look. And the Thousand-eyed will always be visiting that Mt. Mahendra on every auspicious day. [4-41-21b, 22, 23a]

dviipah tasya apare paare shata yojana visritah || 4-41-23

agamyo maanusaih diiptah tam maargadhvam sama.ntatah |

"There is a dazzling island on the other side of the shore of Mt. Mahendra, which is breadth wise a hundred yojana-s, and which is an impassable one for humans, and you have to search that island up to its fringes. [4-41-25b, 24a]

tatra sarva aatmanaa siitaa maargitavyaa vishesatah || 4-41-24

sa hi deshah tu vadhyasya raavanasya duraatmanah |

raaksasa adhipateh vaasah sahasraaksa samadyuteh || 4-41-25

"Anywise Seetha is searchable especially there on that island because it is the dwelling place of the king of demons , who is the coequal of Indra in his resplendence and which vile-minded demon is to be rooted out. [4-41-24b, 25]

daksinasya samudrasya madhye tasya tu raaksasii |

a.ngaaraka iti vikhyaataa chaayaam aaksipya bhojinii || 4-41-26

"But a well-known demoness named Angaaraka is there in the midst of southern ocean who eats prey by grabbing its shadow when flying overhead. [4-41-26]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Kishkinda Kanda – Chapter 41 evam nihsa.mshayaan kritvaa sa.mshayaan nasta sa.mshayaah |

mrigayadhvam narendrasya patniim amita ojasah || 4-41-27

"In this way, you should clear your doubts about the presence of Seetha at any doubtable place by thorough searching, and you have to go on searching somewhere else for Seetha, the wife of the king of people with infinite vitality, namely , only after getting rid of your doubts about her possible presence at any given place. [4-41-27]

tam atikramya laksmiivaan samudre shata yojane |

girih puspitako naama siddha caarana sevitah || 4-41-28

"On crossing over that isle and after a hundred yojana-s a mountain named Pushpitaka is there in that august ocean, which is adored by the celestials like Siddha-s, Caarana-s. [4-41-28]

candra suurya amshu sa.nkaashah saagara a.mbu samaashrayah |

bhraajate vipulaih shringaih ambaram vilikhan iva || 4-41-29

"Well-settled in oceanic waters that Mt. Pushpitaka will be shining forth with a resplendence similar to sunrays on one side and with that of moonshine on the other, and its lofty crests will look as if they are scribbling on the sky. [4-41-29]

tasya ekam kaa.ncanam shri.ngam sevate yam divaakarah |

shvetam raajatam ekam ca sevate yam nishaakarah |

na tam kritaghnaah pashyanti na nrisha.msaa na naastikaah || 4-41-30

"One of its summit will be golden which the Sun adores, and the other will be silvery whitish which the Moon adores, and that mountain is unperceivable to the unfaithful ones, or to the unkindly ones or to unbelievers. [4-41-30]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Kishkinda Kanda – Chapter 41 pranamya shirasaa shailam tam vimaargatha vaanaraah |

tam atikramya durdharsam suuryavaan naama parvatah || 4-41-31

adhvanaa dur.hvigaahena yojanaani caturdasha |

"Oh, Vanara-s, venerate that Mt. Pushpitaka by bowing your heads and search it thoroughly. Then on going across that inviolable mountain and taking a highly impassable route there is a mountain named Suuryavaan after fourteen yojana-s from Mt. Pushpitaka. [4-41-31, 32a]

tatah tam api atikramya vaidyuto naama parvatah || 4-41-32

sarva kaama phalaih vriksaih sarva kaala manoharaih |

"On crossing over even that Mt. Suuryavaan after searching, there is a mountain named Vaidyuta whose trees will be all-time heart-pleasing and they yield fruits satiating every taste. [4- 41-32b, 33a]

tatra bhuktvaa vara ar.hhaani muulaani ca phalaani ca || 4-41-33

madhuuni piitvaa justaani param gacchata vaanaraah |

"Oh, Vanara-s, you proceed farther after devouring choicest fruits and tubers growing on Mt. Vaidyuta, and even on consuming precious honey at that place. [4-41-33b, 34a]

tatra netra manah kaa.ntah ku.njaro naama parvatah || 4-41-34

agastya bhavanam yatra nirmitam vishvakarmanaa |

"At that place a mountain named Kunjara is there which will be pleasing both to eye and heart, on which built the mansion of Agastya. [4-41-34b, 35a]

tatra yojana vistaaram ucchritam dasha yojanam || 4-41-35

sharanam kaa.ncanam divyam naanaa ratna vibhuusitam |

"There the golden abode of Agastya will be beautiful decorated with numerous gemstones, and it measures a yojana breadth wise and ten yojana-s in height. [4-41-35b, 36a]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Kishkinda Kanda – Chapter 41 tatra bhogavatii naama sarpaanaam aalayah purii || 4-41-36

vishaala rathyaa dur.hdharsaa sarvatah pariraksitaa |

raksitaa pannagaih ghoraih tiiskna damstraih mahaa visaih || 4-41-37

sarpa raajo mahaaghoro yasyaam vasati vaasukih |

"There is a city named which is an abode of the snakes. It has broad roads and safeguarded from everywhere, and thus it becomes a un-vanquish-able city. Deadly serpents with harrowing fangs and fatal venom will be protecting it, in which the highly hazardous king of serpents, namely , will be dwelling. [4-41-36b, 37. 38a]

niryaaya maargitavyaa ca saa ca bhogavatii purii || 4-41-38

tatra ca a.ntaroddeshaa ye kecana samaavritaah |

"That Bhogavati city is to be searched for Seetha and on coming out of that city, you have to search even in the fringes surrounding that city including the intermediate zones from city to its fringes. [4-41-38b, 39a]

tam ca desham atikramya mahaan risabha sa.msthitih || 4-41-39

sarva ratnamayah shriimaan risabho naama parvatah |

"On crossing over that province there will be a glorious mountain named Rishabha, as that great mountain looks like a Holy Bull, and it is replete with every kind of gemstone. [4-41- 39b, 40a]

goshiirsakam padmakam ca harishyaamam ca candanam || 4-41-40

divyam utpadyate yatra tat caiva agni sama prabham |

"Whereon the sandalwood trees of ochry-yellowy, lotus-leaf-greenly, sky-blue colors, and even the most attractive sandalwood trees which will be in the glow of Fire are produced, that mountain is this Rishabha. [4-41-40b, 41a]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Kishkinda Kanda – Chapter 41 na tu tat candanam dristvaa sprastavyam ca kadaacana || 4-41-41

rohitaa naama ga.ndharvaa ghoram raksanti tad vanam |

"But never touch those sandalwood trees when you see them, as a genre of - s called Rohita will be protecting that dangerous woodland of sandalwood trees. [4-41-41b, 42a]

tatra gandharva patayah pa.nca suurya sama prabhaah || 4-41-42

shailuuso graamaniih shiksah shuko babhruh tathaiva ca |

ravi soma agni vapusaa nivaasah punya karmanaam || 4-41-43

"Five Gandharva kings, namely Shailuusha, Gramani, Shiksha, Shuka, and Bhabru, whose resplendence is similar to that of Sun will be residing there. It is also the dwelling place of those who achieved ethereality by their pious activities, of whom some resemble the Sun, some Moon, and some Fire by their physique. [4-41-42b, 43]

ante prithivyaa durdharsaah tatah jitah sthitaah |

tatah param na vah sevyah pitri lokah sudaarunah || 4-41-44

"From Mt. Rishabha to the terminus of the earth the invulnerable beings who won heavens will be staying. After that, farther from earth there is the most dreadful world of manes, namely the abode of Yama, the Terminator, and you need not consider going there. [4-41-44]

raajadhaanii yamasya esaa kastena tamasaa aavritaa |

etaavat eva yusmaabhih viiraa vaanara pu.ngavaah |

shakyam vicetum gantum vaa na ato gatimataam gatih || 4-41-45

"You can go or search only up to this point, oh, the best braving Vanara-s, as that world of manes will be encompassed with an alarming darkness, and it is the capital city of Yama, the Terminator. After that there is no entry into the abode of Yama for the mortals. [4-41-45]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Kishkinda Kanda – Chapter 41 sarvam etat samaalokya yat ca anyat api drishyate |

gatim viditvaa vaidehyaah sa.mnivartitam arhatha || 4-41-46

"It will be apt of you to return quickly on knowing the course of Vaidehi after thoroughly searching all these places in their entirety, and even in those other places you happen to see, whether I have mentioned them or not. [4-41-46]

yah ca maasaan nivritto agre dristaa siita iti vaksyati |

mat tulya vibhavo bhogaih sukham sa viharisyati || 4-41-47

"He who returns before a month and informs that 'Seetha is seen,' he enjoys a comfortable living on a par with me in high-living and luxuries. [4-41-47]

tatah priyataro na asti mama praanaat vishesatah |

krita aparaadho bahusho mama bandhuh bhavisyati || 4-41-48

"He who says so will be more dearer to me than anyone, rather than my own life in particular, and even if he has committed many misdeeds he becomes my confidant. [4-41-48]

amita bala paraakramaa bhavanto

vipula gunesu kulesu ca prasuutaah |

manuja pati sutaam yathaa labhadhvam

tat adhigunam purusaartham aarabhadhvam || 4-41-49

"You are with infinite might and bravery, and you are born in those hierarchies that have wide-ranging attributes viz., gust of the Air-god, gush of Rain-god, glare of Fire-god etc. Conjoining your own attributes to them that are already inherited you start off on your expedient effort, and you search appropriately with a thinking as to how to regain Seetha. [4-41-49]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Kishkinda Kanda – Chapter 41 iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye kiskindha kaande eka catvaarimshah sargah

Thus, this is the 41st chapter in Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate

References

Desiraju Hanumanta Rao. (2000). Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys.

Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.

Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.

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