Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 37

Meaning

Spoken to as aforesaid by the high-souled Lakṣmaṇa, Sugrīva for his part spoke as follows to Hanumān standing by his side : (1)

Meaning

“Summon quickly by recourse to expedients such as persuasion, gifts etc., through monkeys possessed of superior agility the different hordes of monkeys on earth which are stationed on the heights of the following five mountain ranges, viz., the Mahendra, Himālaya, Vindhya, Kailāsa and Mandara mountains, the last-named of which is distinguished by yellowish white peaks; those which dwell on the ever resplendent mountains presenting the hue of the rising sun and standing on the other side of the ocean in the western quarter, those which live on the eastern and western mountains (the so-called abode of the sun-god), bright as the evening clouds; the terrible-looking leaders of monkeys which have taken up their abode in the forest on the Padma mountain, as also the monkeys possessing the hue of collyrium and sombre clouds and endowed with the superior strength of lordly elephants which live on the Añjana mountain, the monkeys possessing the splendour of gold and having their abode in the caves of the Mahāśaila mountain and those living on the slopes of Mount Meru, those who have taken up their abode on the Dhūmra mountain, the monkeys of terrible agility possessing the hue of the rising sun, which live on the Mahāruṇa mountain drinking the intoxicating beverage known by the name of Maireya, as also those living on all sides in exceedingly lovely, fragrant and vast forests and their neighbourhood charming with the hermitages of ascetics. (2—9)

Meaning

“The monkeys of extraordinary agility already sent are known to me; yet, in order to goad them duly, send you leaders of monkeys once more. (10)

Meaning

“Nay, bring here to my presence with expedition all those leaders of monkeys without exception, who are deeply attached to the pleasures of sense and are given to procrastination. (11)

Meaning

“Again, those evil-minded monkeys who violate the royal command and do not return in ten days should be done to death in obedience to my behest. (12)

Meaning

“Let hundreds, nay, thousands and even crores of such lions among monkeys as abide by my order sally forth under my command. (13)

Meaning

“Let select monkeys of terrible aspect resembling mountains of mist proceed from this place under my command shrouding the heavens, as it were. (14)

Meaning

“Let all those monkeys, knowing the homes of the monkeys, bring with all speed at my command all the monkeys on earth, taking long strides.” (15)

Meaning

Hearing the command of the celebrated Sugrīva, the king of monkeys, Hanumān, son of the wind-god, dispatched valiant monkeys to all the quarters. (16)

Meaning

Sent by the king, the aforesaid monkeys for their part soared in a moment to the very skies (the region covered in a single stride by Lord Viṣṇu in His descent as the Divine Dwarf), coursing along the route of birds as well as of the heavenly bodies. (17)

Meaning

The said monkeys caused all the monkeys living on the seashore, on mountains, in forests as well as on the margin of lakes to move towards Kiṣkindhā for the cause of Śrī Rāma. (18)

Meaning

Hearing the command of Sugrīva, the ruler of rulers of monkeys, who was like Death himself to them, the monkeys turned up with all speed, unnerved as they were with fear of Sugrīva. (19)

Meaning

Then three crores of monkeys—monkeys who were like collyrium in colour and possessed of extraordinary might, rushed forth from the Añjana mountain to where Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) was. (20)

Meaning

Ten crores of other monkeys, possessing the hue of molten gold and sporting on the foremost of mountains where the sun sets, moved from the said mountain. (21)

Meaning

Again, thousands of crores of monkeys shining like the manes of a lion came in a body from the heights of the Kailāsa mountain. (22)

Meaning

Another million crores of monkeys, who had taken up their abode on the Himalayan range and lived on fruits and roots, turned up. (23)

Meaning

Thousands of crores of fearful monkeys, appearing red like the Mars and of terrible deeds, descended in haste from the Vindhyan range. (24)

Meaning

The number of those which had their abode on the shores of the Milk Ocean and those who dwelt in the forest known by the name of Tamālavana, living on coconuts, and those, possessed of extraordinary might, who came from other forests and caves and river banks could not be ascertained. The said monkey force came as though gorging the sun. (25-26)

Meaning

Those gallant monkeys, for their part, which went forth to spur all the rest (which had preceded them) beheld on the Himālaya mountain the well-known giant tree (located in the sacrificial grounds of Lord Śiva). (27)

Meaning

On that sacred jewel among mountains a sacrifice intended to propitiate the great Lord Śiva, which gratified the mind of all the gods and was very charming, was performed in the past. (28)

Meaning

The monkeys saw there roots and fruits, too, almost as delicious as ambrosia, which had sprung up from the streams of milk, boiled with rice, sugar and ghee (which had been poured into the sacred fire and overflowed the sacrificial pits). (29)

Meaning

Whoever partakes even once of the ethereal fruits and roots sprung up from that offering of milk boiled with rice etc., remains sated for a whole month. (30)

Meaning

These jewels among the monkeys, living as they did on fruits alone, gathered those ethereal roots and fruits as well as the celestial herbs while on their way to Kiṣkindhā. (31)

Meaning

Nay, making for the sacrificial ground, the monkeys also brought from it fragrant flowers to win the pleasure of Sugrīva. (32)

Meaning

Pressing all the monkeys on earth to seek the presence of Sugrīva, all those jewels among the monkeys for their part returned with all speed before those hordes. (33)

Meaning

The former swift-going monkeys for their part arrived in Kiṣkindhā with haste during that very hour and reached the place where Sugrīva, the monkey king, was. (34)

Meaning

Taking all the herbs as also the fruits and roots they had brought with them, they importuned Sugrīva to accept them and submitted as follows : (35)

Meaning

“All the mountains, river-banks and forests too have been scoured by us; all those monkeys on earth are approaching at your call.” (36)

Meaning

Sugrīva, the suzerain lord of monkeys, felt rejoiced to hear this and forthwith accepted all their presents with love. (37)