Sarga 64

Verse 1

आख्याता गृध्रराजेन समुत्प्लुत्य प्लवङ्गमाः।सङ्गताः प्रीतिसंयुक्ता विनेदुर्भीमविक्रमाः।।।।

Directed by the king of vultures, the mighty monkeys gathered together; leaping up in delight, those of fearsome prowess cried out with joy.

Verse 2

सम्पातेर्वचनं श्रुत्वा हरयो रावणक्षयम्।हृष्टास्सागरमाजग्मुस्सीतादर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः।।।।

Hearing Sampāti’s words, the vānaras rejoiced and, longing to behold Sītā, came to the ocean—the passage leading toward Rāvaṇa’s abode.

Verse 3

अभिक्रम्य तु तं देशं ददृशुर्भीमविक्रमाः।कृत्स्नं लोकस्य महतः प्रतिबिम्बमिव स्थितम्।।।।

Having reached that region, the monkeys of fearsome prowess beheld the ocean—vast, as though it stood there like a reflection of the great world itself.

Verse 4

दक्षिणस्य समुद्रस्य समासाद्योत्तरां दिशम्।सन्निवेशं ततश्चक्रुर्हरिवीरा महाबलाः।।।।

Reaching the northern shore of the southern ocean, those mighty monkey-heroes then made their encampment there.

Verse 5

सत्त्वैर्महद्भिर्विकृतैः क्रीडद्भिर्विविधैर्जले।व्यात्तास्यैस्सुमहाकायैरूर्मिभिश्च समाकुलम्।।।।प्रसुप्तमिव चान्यत्र क्रीडन्तमिव चान्यतः।क्वचित्पर्वतमात्रैश्च जलराशिभिरावृतम्।।।।सङ्कुलं दानवेन्द्रैश्च पातालतलवासिभिः।रोमहर्षकरं दृष्ट्वा विषेदु: कपिकुञ्जराः।।।।

They saw the ocean churning with towering waves and thronged with many kinds of huge, terrifying creatures, mouths agape, sporting in its waters. In one place it looked as though asleep, in another as though at play; and somewhere it rose in mountain-like masses of water. Crowded with mighty demons dwelling in the nether regions, it struck terror—so that the foremost of monkeys grew anxious at the sight.

Verse 6

सत्त्वैर्महद्भिर्विकृतैः क्रीडद्भिर्विविधैर्जले।व्यात्तास्यैस्सुमहाकायैरूर्मिभिश्च समाकुलम्।।4.64.5।।प्रसुप्तमिव चान्यत्र क्रीडन्तमिव चान्यतः।क्वचित्पर्वतमात्रैश्च जलराशिभिरावृतम्।।4.64.6।।सङ्कुलं दानवेन्द्रैश्च पातालतलवासिभिः।रोमहर्षकरं दृष्ट्वा विषेदु: कपिकुञ्जराः।।4.64.7।।

Then Angada, best among the monkeys, addressed those vānaras again: “All of you are foremost among the strong, firm in valor—born in renowned lineages, and repeatedly honoured for your deeds.”

Verse 7

सत्त्वैर्महद्भिर्विकृतैः क्रीडद्भिर्विविधैर्जले।व्यात्तास्यैस्सुमहाकायैरूर्मिभिश्च समाकुलम्।।4.64.5।।प्रसुप्तमिव चान्यत्र क्रीडन्तमिव चान्यतः।क्वचित्पर्वतमात्रैश्च जलराशिभिरावृतम्।।4.64.6।।सङ्कुलं दानवेन्द्रैश्च पातालतलवासिभिः।रोमहर्षकरं दृष्ट्वा विषेदु: कपिकुञ्जराः।।4.64.7।।

“For none of you has there ever been any hindrance in going forth to act. So speak out, O bulls among monkeys: who has what power in leaping—and how far?”

Verse 8

आकाशमिव दुष्पारं सागरं प्रेक्षय वानराः।विषेदु स्सहसासर्वे कथं कार्यमिति ब्रुवन्।।।।

Seeing the ocean, hard to cross like the sky itself, all the monkeys at once fell into dejection, asking, “How can this task be accomplished?”

Verse 9

विषण्णां वाहिनीं दृष्ट्वा सागरस्य निरीक्षणात्।आश्वासयामास हरीन्भयार्तान् हरिसत्तमः।।।।

Seeing the army downcast from gazing at the ocean, Angada—the foremost of monkeys—encouraged the frightened troops.

Verse 10

तान्विषादेन महता विषण्णान्वानरर्षभान्।उवाच मतिमान्काले वालिसूनुर्महाबलः।।।।

Then the wise and mighty Aṅgada, Vāli’s son, spoke at the proper moment to those bull-like leaders of monkeys who were weighed down by great despondency.

Verse 11

न विषादे मनः कार्यं विषादो दोषवत्तमः।विषादो हन्ति पुरुषं बालं क्रुद्ध इवोरगः।।।।

Do not let the mind fall into despair; despair is the gravest fault. Despair destroys a man, as an angry serpent kills a child.

Verse 12

यो विषादं प्रसहते विक्रमे पर्युपस्थिते।तेजसा तस्य हीनस्य पुरुषार्थो न सिध्यति।।।।

Whoever gives in to despair when the moment for valor has arrived loses his inner radiance; deprived of that strength, he cannot accomplish his rightful aims.

Verse 13

तस्यां रात्र्यां व्यतीतायामङ्गदो वानरैस्सह।हरिवृद्धैस्समागम्य पुनर्मन्त्रममन्त्रयत्।।।।

When that night had passed, Aṅgada, together with the vānaras, gathered again with the elders among them and once more sought counsel.

Verse 14

सा वानराणां ध्वजिनी परिवार्याङ्गदं बभौ।वासवं परिवार्येव मरुतां वाहिनी स्थिता।।।।

The monkey host stood encircling Aṅgada, shining forth like the troop of Maruts gathered around Vāsava (Indra).

Verse 15

कोऽन्यस्तां वानरीं सेनां शक्त:स्तम्भयितुं भवेत्।अन्यत्र वालितनयादन्यत्र च हनूमतः।।।।

Who else could restrain and steady this monkey host—save Vāli’s son and Hanūmān?

Verse 16

ततस्तान्हरिवृद्धांश्च तच्च सैन्यमरिन्दमः।अनुमान्याङ्गदश्श्रीमान्वाक्यमर्थवदब्रवीत्।।।।

Then the illustrious Aṅgada—subduer of foes—having won the confidence of both the elder vānaras and the host, spoke words full of purpose.

Verse 17

क इदानीं महातेजा लङ्घयिष्यति सागरम्।कः करिष्यति सुग्रीवं सत्यसन्धमरिन्दमम्।।।।

“Who now, possessed of great splendor and strength, will cross the ocean? Who will make Sugrīva—the foe-subduer, true to his pledge—stand vindicated?”

Verse 18

को वीरो योजनशतं लङ्घयेत प्लवङ्गमाः।इमांश्च यूथपान् सर्वान्मोक्षयेत्को महाभयात्।।।।

“O plavaṅgamas, who is the hero that can leap a hundred yojanas? Who will free all these troop-leaders from the great fear (of failure and its consequence)?”

Verse 19

कस्य प्रभावाद्धारांश्च पुत्रांश्चैव गृहाणि च।इतो निवृत्ताः पश्येम सिद्धार्थास्सुखिनो वयम्।।।।

“By whose power and effectiveness shall we succeed and return from here—so that we may happily see again our wives, our sons, and our homes?”

Verse 20

कस्य प्रसादाद्रामं च लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम्।अभिगच्छेम संहृष्टास्सुग्रीवं च वनौकसम्।।।।

“By whose favor shall we approach Rāma and mighty Lakṣmaṇa—and also Sugrīva, the forest-dweller—joyfully, with our task accomplished?”

Verse 21

यदि कश्चित्समर्थो वस्सागरप्लवने हरिः।स ददा त्विह न शशीघ्रं पुण्यामभयदक्षिणाम्।।।।

“If any vānara among you is capable of leaping across the ocean, let him here and now quickly grant us the sacred gift of fearlessness—assurance of safety through success.”

Verse 22

अङ्गदस्य वच श्शृत्वा न कश्चित् किञ्चिदब्रवीत्।स्तिमिते वा भवत्सर्वा सा तत्र हरिवाहिनी।।।।

Hearing Angada’s words, no one replied even a little; there, the entire monkey-host fell silent, as if stilled into motionlessness.

Verse 23

पुनरेवाङ्गदः प्राह तान्हरीन्हरिसत्तमः।सर्वे बलवतां श्रेष्ठा भवन्तो दृढविक्रमाः।।।।व्यपदेश्य कुले जाताः पूजिताश्चाप्यभीक्ष्णशः।

Then Angada, best among the monkeys, addressed those vānaras again: “All of you are foremost among the strong, firm in valor—born in renowned lineages, and repeatedly honoured for your deeds.”

Verse 24

न हि वो गमने सङ्गः कदाचित्कस्यचित्क्वचित्।ब्रुवध्वं यस्य या शक्तिः प्लवने प्लवगर्षभाः।।।।

“For none of you has there ever been any hindrance in going forth to act. So speak out, O bulls among monkeys: who has what power in leaping—and how far?”