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title: "Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 3"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/kishkindha-kanda/sarga-3"
lang: "en"
---

# Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 3

> वचो विज्ञाय हनुमान् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः।  
> पर्वतादृष्यमूकात् तु पुप्लुवे यत्र राघवौ॥ १॥

Receiving respectfully the bidding of the high-souled Sugrīva, Hanumān for his part jumped from (the top of) the Ṛṣyamūka hill to the spot where stood Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the two scions of Raghu. (1)

> कपिरूपं परित्यज्य हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः।  
> भिक्षुरूपं ततो भेजे शठबुद्धितया कपिः॥ २॥

Concealing the form of a monkey, because of his having a suspicious mind, a monkey as he was, Hanumān, son of the wind-god, thereupon assumed the form of a mendicant (recluse). (2)

> ततश्च हनुमान् वाचा श्लक्ष्णया सुमनोज्ञया।  
> विनीतवदुपागम्य राघवौ प्रणिपत्य च॥ ३॥  
> आबभाषे च तौ वीरौ यथावत् प्रशशंस च।  
> सम्पूज्य विधिवद् वीरौ हनुमान् वानरोत्तमः॥ ४॥  
> उवाच कामतो वाक्यं मृदु सत्यपराक्रमौ।  
> राजर्षिदेवप्रतिमौ तापसौ संशितव्रतौ॥ ५॥  
> देशं कथमिमं प्राप्तौ भवन्तौ वरवर्णिनौ।  
> त्रासयन्तौ मृगगणानन्यांश्च वनचारिणः॥ ६॥  
> पम्पातीररुहान् वृक्षान् वीक्षमाणौ समन्ततः।  
> इमां नदीं शुभजलां शोभयन्तौ तरस्विनौ॥ ७॥

Approaching the two scions of Raghu like a humble man and falling prostrate before them, Hanumān then accosted the aforesaid two heroes in a soft and most pleasing language and duly extolled them. Offering due homage to the two heroes according to the scriptural ordinance, Hanumān, the foremost of monkeys, addressed the following gentle words to them according to the desire of Sugrīva: “How have you two ascetics of remarkable vigour, unfailing prowess, most austere vows and excellent appearance and resembling a couple of royal sages or gods, come to this region, causing fright to the herds of deer and other denizens of the forest, nay, surveying the trees growing on all sides on the brink of Pampā and lending charm as you do to this lake of sparkling water? (3—7)

> धैर्यवन्तौ सुवर्णाभौ कौ युवां चीरवाससौ।  
> निःश्वसन्तौ वरभुजौ पीडयन्ताविमाः प्रजाः॥ ८॥

“Who are you of charming arms and remarkable fortitude, clad in the bark of trees and possessing a charming complexion and lustre, sighing and causing discomfort to these creatures by your very august presence? (8)

> सिंहविप्रेक्षितौ वीरौ महाबलपराक्रमौ।  
> शक्रचापनिभे चापे गृहीत्वा शत्रुनाशनौ॥ ९॥  
> श्रीमन्तौ रूपसम्पन्नौ वृषभश्रेष्ठविक्रमौ।  
> हस्तिहस्तोपमभुजौ द्युतिमन्तौ नरर्षभौ॥ १०॥  
> प्रभया पर्वतेन्द्रोऽसौ युवयोरवभासितः।  
> राज्यार्हावमरप्रख्यौ कथं देशमिहागतौ॥ ११॥

“Wielding a pair of bows shining brightly like rainbows, how have you, two heroic jewels among men, visited this region—you, who are endowed with the gaze of a lion and are possessed of extraordinary might and prowess, are capable of destroying the foes, are full of glory and splendour and rich in comeliness, who are distinguished by the noble gait of a bull and arms resembling the proboscis of an elephant, who are worthy of sovereignty and shine brightly like gods? The yonder Ṛṣyamūka (a king of mountains) stands illumined by your effulgence. (9—11)

> पद्मपत्रेक्षणौ वीरौ जटामण्डलधारिणौ।  
> अन्योन्यसदृशौ वीरौ देवलोकादिहागतौ॥ १२॥

“Having eyes resembling the petals of a lotus and wearing a rounded mass of matted locks, you two gallant men match each other and are heroes come down to this earth from the celestial world. (12)

> यदृच्छयेव सम्प्राप्तौ चन्द्रसूर्यौ वसुंधराम्।  
> विशालवक्षसौ वीरौ मानुषौ देवरूपिणौ॥ १३॥

“Endowed with a broad chest, you two heroic men possess the exterior of gods. It appears as if the moon-god and the sun-god have duly reached the earth by the will of Providence. (13)

> सिंहस्कन्धौ महोत्साहौ समदाविव गोवृषौ।  
> आयताश्च सुवृत्ताश्च बाहवः परिघोपमाः॥ १४॥  
> सर्वभूषणभूषार्हाः किमर्थं न विभूषिताः।  
> उभौ योग्यावहं मन्ये रक्षितुं पृथिवीमिमाम्॥ १५॥  
> ससागरवनां कृत्स्नां विन्ध्यमेरुविभूषिताम्।  
> इमे च धनुषी चित्रे श्लक्ष्णे चित्रानुलेपने॥ १६॥  
> प्रकाशेते यथेन्द्रस्य वज्रे हेमविभूषिते।  
> सम्पूर्णाश्च शितैर्बाणैस्तूणाश्च शुभदर्शनाः॥ १७॥  
> जीवितान्तकरैर्घोरैर्ज्वलद्भिरिव पन्नगैः।  
> महाप्रमाणौ विपुलौ तप्तहाटकभूषणौ॥ १८॥  
> खड्गावेतौ विराजेते निर्मुक्तभुजगाविव।  
> एवं मां परिभाषन्तं कस्माद् वै नाभिभाषतः॥ १९॥

“Having shoulders resembling those of a lion and, possessed of extraordinary vigour, you look like a pair of bulls in heat. Wherefore have these arms of yours, long and perfectly round and resembling a pair of clubs, have not been artistically adorned, even though they deserve to be embellished with all kinds of jewels? I consider you both as fit to protect this entire earth with its oceans and forests and richly adorned with the Vindhya and Meru mountains. Nay, these wonderful, charming and strangely gilded bows of yours shine like Indra’s thunderbolts decorated with gold. Besides, filled to capacity with blazing sharp-pointed shafts, capable of ending one’s life and dreadful like serpents, these quivers of yours look so charming. These swords of considerable length and enormous size and decorated with refined gold, shine brightly like a pair of serpents that have shed their slough. But wherefore do you not answer me even though I am uttering your praises, as I have done? (14—19)

> सुग्रीवो नाम धर्मात्मा कश्चिद् वानरपुङ्गवः।  
> वीरो विनिकृतो भ्रात्रा जगद्भ्रमति दुःखितः॥ २०॥

“A gallant jewel among monkeys, Sugrīva by name, whose mind is set on virtue, roams the earth, afflicted as he is, having been banished by his elder brother. (20)

> प्राप्तोऽहं प्रेषितस्तेन सुग्रीवेण महात्मना।  
> राज्ञा वानरमुख्यानां हनुमान् नाम वानरः॥ २१॥

“Sent by that high-minded Sugrīva, king of the leaders of monkeys, I, a monkey, Hanumān by name, have sought you. (21)

> युवाभ्यां स हि धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवः सख्यमिच्छति।  
> तस्य मां सचिवं वित्तं वानरं पवनात्मजम्॥ २२॥  
> भिक्षुरूपप्रतिच्छन्नं सुग्रीवप्रियकारणात्।  
> ऋष्यमूकादिह प्राप्तं कामगं कामचारिणम्॥ २३॥

“The said pious-minded Sugrīva actually seeks your friendship. Know me to be his minister, a monkey sprung from the loins of the wind-god and arrived here from Ṛṣyamūka in order to serve the cause of Sugrīva and disguised in the form of a recluse, capable as I am of going wherever I please and assuming any form as I please.”(22-23)

> एवमुक्त्वा तु हनुमांस्तौ वीरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।  
> वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकुशलः पुनर्नोवाच किंचन॥ २४॥

Having spoken thus to the aforesaid heroes, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, Hanumān, for his part, who understood the true meaning of words and was an adept in expression, said nothing further. (24)

> एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।  
> प्रहृष्टवदनः श्रीमान् भ्रातरं पार्श्वतः स्थितम्॥ २५॥

Hearing the foregoing speech of Hanumān, the glorious Rāma, who wore a most cheerful countenance, spoke as follows to his brother, Lakṣmaṇa, standing by his side : (25)

> सचिवोऽयं कपीन्द्रस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः।  
> तमेव कांक्षमाणस्य ममान्तिकमिहागतः॥ २६॥

“He who has arrived here in my presence is a minister of Sugrīva, the high-minded chief of monkeys, whom alone I was seeking. (26)

> तमभ्यभाष सौमित्रे सुग्रीवसचिवं कपिम्।  
> वाक्यज्ञं मधुरैर्वाक्यैः स्नेहयुक्तमरिंदमम्॥ २७॥

“Answer in sweet words with affection the aforesaid monkey, who is a minister of Sugrīva, knows how to speak and is a tamer of foes, O Lakṣmaṇa ! (27)

> नानृग्वेदविनीतस्य नायजुर्वेदधारिणः।  
> नासामवेदविदुषः शक्यमेवं विभाषितुम्॥ २८॥

“To speak in the way he has done is not possible for one who has not studied Ṛgveda with an eye to its meaning, not memorized Yajurveda and has no knowledge of Sāmaveda either. (28)

> नूनं व्याकरणं कृत्स्नमनेन बहुधा श्रुतम्।  
> बहु व्याहरतानेन न किंचिदपशब्दितम्॥ २९॥

“Surely the entire range of Sanskrit grammar has been studied by him in many ways, as is clear from the fact that nothing has been wrongly worded by him even though speaking a good deal. (29)

> न मुखे नेत्रयोश्चापि ललाटे च भ्रुवोस्तथा।  
> अन्येष्वपि च सर्वेषु दोषः संविदितः क्वचित्॥ ३०॥

“No fault of expression was noticed anywhere in his face nor even in his eyes, nor again in his forehead nor in his eyebrows nor in anyone of his other limbs. (30)

> अविस्तरमसंदिग्धमविलम्बितमव्यथम्।  
> उरःस्थं कण्ठगं वाक्यं वर्तते मध्यमस्वरम्॥ ३१॥

“The speech emanating from his bosom and articulated by his throat is marked by absence of prolixity, is unambiguous and unfaltering and does not make a grating impression on one’s ears, uttered as it is in a modulated tone. (31)

> संस्कारक्रमसम्पन्नामद्भुतामविलम्बिताम्।  
> उच्चारयति कल्याणीं वाचं हृदयहर्षिणीम्॥ ३२॥

“He utters a wholesome, distinct and remarkable speech, which is grammatically correct, fluent and delightful to the mind. (32)

> अनया चित्रया वाचा त्रिस्थानव्यञ्जनस्थया।  
> कस्य नाराध्यते चित्तमुद्यतासेररेरपि॥ ३३॥

“Whose mind will not be rendered favourable by this wonderful speech, which has its seat in three articulating organs, viz., the bosom, throat and head. To say nothing of others, the mind even of an enemy with his sword uplifted will be made friendly thereby. (33)

> एवंविधो यस्य दूतो न भवेत् पार्थिवस्य तु।  
> सिद्ध्यन्ति हि कथं तस्य कार्याणां गतयोऽनघ॥ ३४॥

“How can the progress of undertakings of a king in whose service no such envoy exists actually meet with success, O sinless brother? (34)

> एवंगुणगणैर्युक्ता यस्य स्युः कार्यसाधकाः।  
> तस्य सिद्ध्यन्ति सर्वेऽर्था दूतवाक्यप्रचोदिताः॥ ३५॥

“By the very pleading of an envoy, all the objects of a sovereign in whose service there happen to be agents adorned with hosts of such virtues are surely accomplished.” (35)

> एवमुक्तस्तु सौमित्रिः सुग्रीवसचिवं कपिम्।  
> अभ्यभाषत वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यज्ञं पवनात्मजम्॥ ३६॥

Spoken to in these words by Śrī Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā) for his part, who knew how to speak, replied as follows to the monkey, Hanumān (son of the wind-god), a minister of Sugrīva, who also knew how to speak : (36)

> विदिता नौ गुणा विद्वन् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः।  
> तमेव चावां मार्गावः सुग्रीवं प्लवगेश्वरम्॥ ३७॥

“The virtues of the high-minded Surgrīva are known to us, O learned monkey ! We too are looking for the self same Sugrīva, a ruler of monkeys. (37)

> यथा ब्रवीषि हनुमन् सुग्रीववचनादिह।  
> तत् तथा हि करिष्यावो वचनात् तव सत्तम॥ ३८॥

“O excellent Hanumān, as desired by Sugrīva, we are prepared for an alliance with him.” (38)

> तत् तस्य वाक्यं निपुणं निशम्य  
> प्रहृष्टरूपः पवनात्मजः कपिः।  
> मनः समाधाय जयोपपत्तौ  
> सख्यं तदा कर्तुमियेष ताभ्याम्॥ ३९॥

Having carefully heard the aforesaid reply of Lakṣmaṇa, and setting his heart on the consummation of Sugrīva’s truimph, Hanumān (the monkey sprung from the loins of the wind-god), who wore a most cheerful countenance, sought then and there to negotiate an alliance with the two princes.(39)

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