Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 27

Meaning

The monkey chief, Sugrīva, having been installed on the throne of Kiṣkindhā and having withdrawn to the cave comprising the town, Śrī Rāma for his part alongwith his younger brother, Lakṣmaṇa, retired to Mount Prasravaṇa, which was rendered noisy by tigers and deer, and infested with lions giving out a terrible roar, was covered with various shrubs and climbers and was thick with numerous trees, which was frequented by bears, monkeys, baboons and wild cats, nay, which looked like a mass of clouds, consisting as it mainly did of rocks, and was ever sanctifying and conducive to blessedness. (1—3)

Meaning

Śrī Rāma with Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā) chose for his residence a large and long cave on the summit of that hill. (4)

Meaning

Nay, having arrived at an understanding with Sugrīva that expeditions will be sent by the latter in all directions to carry out a search for Sītā after the rains, the sinless brother, Śrī Rāma, the delight of the Raghus, made the following opportune and momentous observation to his modest younger brother, Lakṣmaṇa, the promoter of fortune : “This mountain-cave is lovely, commodious and airy too. (5-6)

Meaning

“Let us dwell, O son of Sumitrā, in this during the rainy nights, O tamer of foes! “This delightful and excellent mountain-peak, O prince, is adorned with white, black and red crags, is rich in various minerals, and abounds in frogs having their abode in rivers. (7-8)

Meaning

“It is charming with clusters of trees of every description, and embellished with wonderful climbers, is rendered noisy by birds of different species and made resonant with the cries of excellent peacocks. (9)

Meaning

“Nay, it is graced with Mālatī and jasmine shrubs and Sinduvāra, Śirīṣa, Kadamba, Arjuna and Sarja trees in blossom. (10)

Meaning

“Again, this lovely pond embellished with full-blown lotuses will remain not very far from our cave when the pond gets flooded with rain water, O prince ! (11)

Meaning

“Located as it is in a place inclined towards the north-east, the cave will prove comfortable for us in that it opens to the south-west and, being elevated in the west alone, it will be protected from the easterly winds and showers too, O gentle one ! (12)

Meaning

“Again, at the entrance of the cave, O son of Sumitrā, there is a level and smooth rock, black as a heap of powdered antimony and extensive too. (13)

Meaning

“Behold in the north, O dear brother, the yonder beautiful mountain-peak, resembling a heap of powdered antimony and looking like a cloud risen above the horizon. (14)

Meaning

“Behold in the southern quarter too another mountain-peak resembling a peak of Kailāsa and looking like a white cloth, rich in varied minerals. (15)

Meaning

“Also behold on the other side of the cave a river resembling the Mandākinī at Trikūṭa (the place of our last sojourn), utterly free from mud, flowing in an easterly direction and fringed with sandalwood, Tilaka, sal, Tamāla, Atimukta, Padmaka and Sarala as well as by Aśoka trees. (16-17)

Meaning

“Adorned with Vānīra, Timida, Bakula, Ketaka, Hintāla, Tiniśa, Nīpa and Vetasa as well as with Kṛtamāla trees of various shapes growing here and there on its banks, it looks like a young woman provided with wearing apparel and ornaments and decorated all over her body. (18-19)

Meaning

“It is made noisy with various notes by hundreds of flocks of birds and is adorned with Chakravāka birds (a species of red geese) fond of one another, and hemmed in with its most lovely sandy banks. Frequented by swan and cranes and enriched with precious stones of various kinds, the river looks as though it were heartily laughing. (20-21)

Meaning

“Here it looks carpeted with blue lilies and there with the red and at a third place with the buds of white water-lilies useful for sport. (22)

Meaning

“Visited by hundreds of ducks and made noisy by peacocks and cranes and frequented by multitudes of ascetics, this placid river appears delightful, O gentle one. (23)

Meaning

“Behold also the most charming rows of sandalwood trees. Rows of Kakubha (Arjuna) trees, which have appeared, as it were, with my thought, are also seen here. (24)

Meaning

“Ah, this region is most delightful, O destroyer of foes ! Let us live comfortably here, O son of Sumitrā ! We shall surely enjoy life at this place. (25)

Meaning

“Kiṣkindhā, that lovely capital of Sugrīva, consisting of wonderful woodlands, will not be very far from here, O prince ! (26)

Meaning

“The sound of vocal music and the crash of musical instruments coming from monkeys howling to the beat of clay tomtoms is being heard, O jewel among the victorious ! (27)

Meaning

“Having regained his wife and got back his kingdom and having fully recovered a great fortune, Sugrīva, the foremost of monkeys, is surely rejoicing in the midst of his near and dear ones.” (28)

Meaning

Saying so, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) alongwith Lakṣmaṇa took up his abode on that Prasravaṇa hill comprising caves and bowers and full of numerous objects worth seeing in that region. (29)

Meaning

Not the least joy was found by Śrī Rāma while he was actually living on that mountain, which was full of great comforts and contained abundant wealth in the shape of flowers and fruits etc., remembering as he did his abducted consort, who was more valuable to him than life. Sleep did not come upon him during the nights even though he lay on his bed, particularly on seeing the moon risen on the eastern mountain with a full orb, seized as he was with grief caused by the thought of his lost wife, his consciousness being obscured through his constantly shedding tears. (30—32)

Meaning

His younger brother, Lakṣmaṇa, who shared his grief, addressed the following words, full of supplication, to the aforesaid Śrī Rāma (a scion of Kakutstha), who was constantly mourning and was given over to grief: (33)

Meaning

“Cease giving way to agony, O heroic prince ! you ought not to grieve. It is undoubtedly known to you how all the purposes of a grieving man get actually frustrated. (34)

Meaning

“You are devoted to your duties in this world. You are a votary of gods, believe in the existence of God and the other world and are pious by nature and energetic too, O scion of Raghu ! (35)

Meaning

“Remaining inactive, you will not at all be able to kill in an encounter your enemy, particularly that ogre, Rāvaṇa, who practises wiles where prowess is needed. (36)

Meaning

“Root you out grief once for all and make your determination firm. Then only you ought to be able to kill that ogre with his family. (37)

Meaning

“You are capable, O scion of Kākutstha, of turning upside down even the earth with its oceans, forests and mountains, much more surely you can overthrow the notorious Rāvaṇa. (38)

Meaning

“Await the autumnal season, the rainy season has just commenced. Then you will destroy that Rāvaṇa with his kingdom and army. (39)

Meaning

“I for my part simply rouse by means of stimulating words your dormant manliness as one would rekindle a fire covered with ashes by pouring oblations into it at the proper time.” (40)

Meaning

Acclaiming the aforesaid advice of Lakṣmaṇa, which was undoubtedly friendly and salutary too, Śrī Rāma addressed to his affectionate brother the following loving words : (41)

Meaning

“Only such advice has been tendered by you, O Lakṣmaṇa, as ought to be tendered by one who is devoted, loving and benevolent as well as by one who is endowed with unfailing prowess. (42)

Meaning

“Grief, which mars all one’s business, has now been completely shaken off by me. I shall stimulate my energy, which is unimpeded on occasions of valour. (43)

Meaning

“I shall await the autumnal season and abide by your counsel, looking forward to the goodwill of Sugrīva and the pellucidity of the rivers. (44)

Meaning

“A heroic soul who has been placed under an obligation by a friend is invariably seized with an inclination to repay his debt. An ungrateful man, who does not repay his debt, hurts the feelings of those endowed with goodness.” (45)

Meaning

Acclaiming the aforesaid observation of Śrī Rāma and concluding that alone to be just, Lakṣmaṇa with joined palms replied as follows to Śrī Rāma of extremely pleasing aspect, thereby demonstrating his blessed judgment : (46)

Meaning

“The monkey-King, Sugrīva, will before long surely accomplish all this desired object of yours according to your instructions, O ruler of men ! Awaiting the autumn, put you up with the obstruction caused by the rains, remaining intent on the destruction of the enemy. (47)

Meaning

“Restraining your anger, let the autumn be awaited and bear the delay of four months in my company. Pray, dwell on this mountain abounding with lions (lit., the kings of beasts), passing the interval here, even though you are capable of destroying the enemy.” (48)