Sarga 46

Verse 1

गतेषु वानरेन्द्रेषु रामस्सुग्रीवमब्रवीत्।कथं भवान्विजानीते सर्वं वै मण्डलं भुवः।।।।

When the monkey-lords had departed, Rāma said to Sugrīva: “How do you know the entire circuit of the earth—this whole terrestrial sphere?”

Verse 2

सुग्रीवस्तु ततो राममुवाच प्रणतात्मवान्।श्रूयतां सर्वमाख्यास्ये विस्तरेण नरर्षभ।।।।

Then Sugrīva, with a reverent and humble mind, spoke to Rāma: “Let everything be heard; I shall recount it in full detail, O best among men.”

Verse 3

यदा तु दुन्दुभिं नाम दानवं महिषाकृतिम्।परिकालयते वाली मलयं प्रति पर्वतम्।।।।तदा विवेश महिषो मलयस्य गुहां प्रति।विवेश वाली तत्रापि मलयं तज्जिघांसया।।।।

When Vālī pursued the asura named Dundubhi—who had taken the form of a buffalo—toward Mount Malaya, intent on slaying him,

Verse 4

यदा तु दुन्दुभिं नाम दानवं महिषाकृतिम्।परिकालयते वाली मलयं प्रति पर्वतम्।।4.46.3।।तदा विवेश महिषो मलयस्य गुहां प्रति।विवेश वाली तत्रापि मलयं तज्जिघांसया।।4.46.4।।

then the buffalo entered the cave of Mount Malaya, and Vālī too entered there, driven by the resolve to kill him.

Verse 5

ततोऽहं तत्र निक्षिप्तो गुहाद्वारि विनीतवत्।न च निष्क्रामते वाली तदा संवत्सरे गते।।

Then I was stationed there at the cave’s entrance, obediently; but even when a year had passed, Vālī did not come out.

Verse 6

ततः क्षतजवेगेन आपुपूरे तदा बिलम्।तदहं विस्मितो दृष्ट्वा भ्रातृशोकविषार्दितः।।।।

Then the cave filled up with a rush of blood; seeing that, I was stunned and tormented by grief for my brother.

Verse 7

अथाऽहं कृतबुद्धिस्तु सुव्यक्तं निहतो गुरुः।शिला पर्वतसङ्काशा बिलद्वारि मया कृता।।।।अशक्नुव न्निष्क्रमितुं महिषो विनशेदिति।

Then, concluding that my elder brother had surely been slain, I set a rock like a mountain at the cave-mouth, thinking: ‘Let the buffalo be destroyed, unable to come out.’

Verse 8

ततोऽहमागां किष्किन्धां निराशस्तस्य जीविते।।।।राज्यं च सुमहत्प्राप्य तारया रुमया सह।मित्रैश्च सहितस्तत्र वसामि विगतज्वरः।।।।

Then, despairing of his survival, I returned to Kiṣkindhā; and having obtained the great kingdom—together with Tārā and Rumā—and supported by friends, I lived there free from fear and turmoil.

Verse 9

ततोऽहमागां किष्किन्धां निराशस्तस्य जीविते।।4.46.8।।राज्यं च सुमहत्प्राप्य तारया रुमया सह।मित्रैश्च सहितस्तत्र वसामि विगतज्वरः।।4.46.9।।

Then, losing hope that he was alive, I came back to Kiṣkindhā; and after gaining the great kingdom—along with Tārā and Rumā—supported by friends, I lived there untroubled.

Verse 10

आजगाम ततो वाली हत्वा तं दानवर्षभम्।ततोऽहमददां राज्यं गौरवाद्भययन्त्रितः।।4.46.10।।

Then Vālī returned after slaying that bull among the demons; and I yielded the kingdom back to him—compelled by fear and restrained by reverence for him.

Verse 11

स मां जिघांसुर्दुष्टात्मा वाली प्रव्यथितेन्द्रियः।परिकालयते क्रोधाद्धावन्तं सचिवैस्सह।।।।

That Vālī—evil-intentioned and unsteady in his senses—sought to kill me; in wrath he pursued me as I fled, together with his ministers.

Verse 12

ततोऽहं वालिना तेन साऽनुबद्धः प्रधावितः।नदीश्च विविधाः पश्यन्वनानि नगराणि च।।4.46.12।।

Then I ran on, pursued by that Vālī, seeing many rivers, forests, and towns along the way.

Verse 13

आदर्शतलसङ्काशा ततो वै पृथिवी मया।अलातचक्रप्रतिमा दृष्टा गोष्पदवत्तदा।।4.46.13।।

Then the earth appeared to me like the surface of a mirror—like a whirling firebrand—and at that time it seemed as small as a cow’s hoofprint.

Verse 14

पूर्वां दिशं ततो गत्वा पश्यामि विविधान् द्रुमान्।पर्वतन्श्च नदी रम्यास्सरांसि विविधानि च।।।।

Then, going toward the eastern quarter, I saw many kinds of trees—mountains too—pleasant rivers, and varied lakes.

Verse 15

उदयं तत्र पश्यामि पर्वतं धातुमण्डितम्।क्षीरोदं सागरं चैव नित्यमप्सरसालयम्।।।।

There I saw Mount Udaya, adorned with many minerals, and also the Milk-Ocean—ever a dwelling-place frequented by the apsarases.

Verse 16

परिकालयमानस्तु वालिनाऽभिद्रुत स्तदा।पुनरावृत्य सहसा प्रस्थितोऽहं तदा विभो।।।।

But when Vālī drove me off and pursued me, O king, I would suddenly turn back again and then rush off once more.

Verse 17

पुनरावर्तमानस्तु वालिनाऽभिद्रुतोद्रुतम्।दिशस्तस्यास्ततो भूयः प्रस्थितो दक्षिणां दिशम्।विन्ध्यपादपसङ्कीर्णां चन्दनद्रुमशोभिताम्।।।।

Once more changing my course, as Vālī pursued me with swift strides, I turned from that direction and ran toward the southern quarter, crowded with the Vindhya ranges and adorned with sandalwood trees.

Verse 18

द्रुमशैलांस्ततः पश्यन्भूयो दक्षिणतोऽपराम्।पश्चिमां च दिशं प्राप्ता वालिना समभिद्रुतः।।।।

Gazing upon forests and mountains, I again left the southern side and reached the western quarter, still pursued by Vālī.

Verse 19

सम्पश्यन्विविधान्देशानस्तं च गिरिसत्तमम्।प्राप्य चास्तं गिरिश्रेष्ठमुत्तरां सम्प्रधावितः।।।।

Seeing many lands, I reached the excellent mountain called Asta, the mountain of sunset; and upon reaching that foremost peak, I ran on toward the northern quarter.

Verse 20

हिमवन्तं च मेरुं च समुद्रं च तथोत्तरम्।यदा न विन्दं शरणं वालिना समभिद्रुतः।।।।तदा मां बुद्धिसम्पन्नो हनूमान्वाक्यमब्रवीत्।

I saw Himavān, Meru, and even the northern sea; yet, as Vālī kept pursuing me, I found no refuge. Then the wise Hanumān spoke these words to me.

Verse 21

इदानीं मे स्मृतं राजन्यथा वाली हरीश्वरः।।।।मतङ्गेन तदा शप्तो ह्यस्मिन्नाश्रममण्डले।प्रविशेद्यदि वै वाली मूर्धाऽस्य शतधा भवेत्।।।।तत्र वासस्सुखोऽस्माकं निरुद्विग्नो भविष्यति।

“Now I remember, O king, how Vālī—the lord of the monkeys—was once cursed by Matanga within this hermitage-ground: ‘If Vālī enters here, his head shall shatter into a hundred pieces.’ There our dwelling will be pleasant, free from anxiety and fear.”

Verse 22

इदानीं मे स्मृतं राजन्यथा वाली हरीश्वरः।।4.46.21।।मतङ्गेन तदा शप्तो ह्यस्मिन्नाश्रममण्डले।प्रविशेद्यदि वै वाली मूर्धाऽस्य शतधा भवेत्।।4.46.22।।तत्र वासस्सुखोऽस्माकं निरुद्विग्नो भविष्यति।

Now I remember, O king: Vālī, lord of the monkeys, was once cursed by the sage Matanga within this hermitage’s bounds—if Vālī were to enter here, his head would split into a hundred pieces. Therefore our dwelling there will be easy and untroubled.

Verse 23

ततः पर्वतमासाद्य ऋष्यमूकं नृपात्मज।।।।न विवेश तदा वाली मतङ्गस्य भयात्तदा।

Then, O prince, when I reached Mount Ṛṣyamūka, Vālī did not enter it at that time, for fear of Matanga and his curse.

Verse 24

एवं मया तदा राजन्प्रत्यक्षमुपलक्षितम्।।।।पृथिवीमण्डलं कृत्स्नं गुहामस्यागतस्ततः।

Thus, O king, I directly surveyed the entire expanse of the earth; then I returned here, to this very cave.