---
title: "Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 60"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/kishkindha-kanda/sarga-60"
lang: "en"
---

# Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 60

> ततः कृतोदकं स्नातं तं गृध्रं हरियूथपाः।  
> उपविष्टा गिरौ रम्ये परिवार्य समन्ततः॥ १॥

The monkey chiefs now sat on the lovely mountain encompassing on all sides the vulture, Sampāti, who had offered water to the spirit of his deceased brother and taken his bath. (1)

> तमङ्गदमुपासीनं तैः सर्वैर्हरिभिर्वृतम्।  
> जनितप्रत्ययो हर्षात् सम्पातिः पुनरब्रवीत्॥ २॥

Having inspired confidence in the monkeys, Sampāti joyously spoke once more to the celebrated Aṅgada, who was sitting close by, surrounded by all those monkeys : (2)

> कृत्वा निःशब्दमेकाग्राः शृण्वन्तु हरयो मम।  
> तथ्यं संकीर्तयिष्यामि यथा जानामि मैथिलीम्॥ ३॥

“Let all the monkeys listen to me attentively, observing complete silence. I will narrate in detail the truth as to how I came to know of Sītā, the princess of Mithilā. (3)

> अस्य विन्ध्यस्य शिखरे पतितोऽस्मि पुरानघ।  
> सूर्यतापपरीताङ्गो निर्दग्धः सूर्यरश्मिभिः॥ ४॥

“Scorched by the rays of the sun, all my limbs overpowered by the sun’s heat, I fell in the former days on a summit of this Vindhyan range, O sinless ones ! (4)

> लब्धसंज्ञस्तु षड्रात्राद् विवशो विह्वलन्निव।  
> वीक्षमाणो दिशः सर्वा नाभिजानामि किंचन॥ ५॥

“Having regained consciousness after six nights, I for my part stood looking all-round, powerless and fainting as it were, but could not distinguish anything. (5)

> ततस्तु सागराञ्शैलान् नदीः सर्वाः सरांसि च।  
> वनानि च प्रदेशांश्च निरीक्ष्य मतिरागता॥ ६॥

“Then on scanning the seas and rocks, all the rivers and lakes, woods and the parts of the country, however, memory returned to me. (6)

> हृष्टपक्षिगणाकीर्णः कन्दरोदरकूटवान्।  
> दक्षिणस्योदधेस्तीरे विन्ध्योऽयमिति निश्चितः॥ ७॥

“It was eventually concluded to be no other than the Vindhya mountain on the shore of the southern sea—a mountain which is crowded with flocks of joyous birds and contains caves in its flanks and a number of peaks. (7)•

> आसीच्चात्राश्रमं पुण्यं सुरैरपि सुपूजितम्।  
> ऋषिर्निशाकरो नाम यस्मिन्नुग्रतपाऽभवत्॥ ८॥

“Again, here there was a holy hermitage, highly adored even by gods, in which dwelt a Ṛṣi (a seer of Vedic Mantras) named Niśākara, noted for his rigorous austerities. (8)

> अष्टौ वर्षसहस्राणि तेनास्मिन्नृषिणा गिरौ।  
> वसतो मम धर्मज्ञे स्वर्गते तु निशाकरे॥ ९॥

“Even after Sage Niśākara, who knew what is right, had ascended to heaven, eight thousand years slipped past me as I lived on this mountain without this Ṛṣi. (9)

> अवतीर्य च विन्ध्याग्रात् कृच्छ्रेण विषमाच्छनैः।  
> तीक्ष्णदर्भां वसुमतीं दुःखेन पुनरागतः॥ १०॥

“Descending slowly and painfully from the rugged peak of the Vindhya mountain (on regaining consciousness after my fall from the sky) I then reached with difficulty a plain bristling with sharp-pointed blades of the sacred Kuśa grass. (10)

> तमृषिं द्रष्टुकामोऽस्मि दुःखेनाभ्यागतो भृशम्।  
> जटायुषा मया चैव बहुशोऽधिगतो हि सः॥ ११॥

“Eager to see the aforesaid Ṛṣi I arrived there with great hardship; for he had been visited by Jaṭāyu and myself on many an occasion in the past. (11)

> तस्याश्रमपदाभ्याशे ववुर्वाताः सुगन्धिनः।  
> वृक्षो नापुष्पितः कश्चिदफलो वा न दृश्यते॥ १२॥

“In the neighbourhood of the site of that hermitage fragrant breezes blew. No tree without blossom or fruit could be seen there. (12)

> उपेत्य चाश्रमं पुण्यं वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितः।  
> द्रष्टुकामः प्रतीक्षे च भगवन्तं निशाकरम्॥ १३॥

“Nay, approaching the holy hermitage I took shelter at the foot of a tree and waited there, keen as I was to see the venerable Sage, Niśākara. (13)

> अथ पश्यामि दूरस्थमृषिं ज्वलिततेजसम्।  
> कृताभिषेकं दुर्धर्षमुपावृत्तमुदङ् मुखम्॥ १४॥

“Presently I beheld at a distance the sage of dazzling brilliance, who could not easily be disregarded, returning with his face turned towards the north having taken his bath in the sea. (14)

> तमृक्षाः सृमरा व्याघ्राः सिंहा नानासरीसृपाः।  
> परिवार्योपगच्छन्ति दातारं प्राणिनो यथा॥ १५॥

“Bears, Sṛmaras (a species of deer), tigers, lions and serpents of various kinds followed, surrounding him on all sides as supplicants would follow a donor. (15)

> ततः प्राप्तमृषिं ज्ञात्वा तानि सत्त्वानि वै ययुः।  
> प्रविष्टे राजनि यथा सर्वं सामात्यकं बलम्॥ १६॥

“Then finding the sage having reached the hermitage, the aforesaid animals left immediately for their dens, even as on a king retiring into his palace the whole army escorting him, alongwith the ministers, disperses. (16)

> ऋषिस्तु दृष्ट्वा मां तुष्टः प्रविष्टश्चाश्रमं पुनः।  
> मुहूर्तमात्रान्निर्गम्य ततः कार्यमपृच्छत॥ १७॥

“The Ṛṣi was pleased to behold me and retired into his hermitage. Coming out, however, once more after an hour or so, he then inquired of me the purpose of my visit. (17)

> सौम्य वैकल्यतां दृष्ट्वा रोम्णां ते नावगम्यते।  
> अग्निदग्धाविमौ पक्षौ प्राणाश्चापि शरीरके॥ १८॥

“He said: ‘Seeing the disappearance of your feathers I could not recognize you, O gentle one ! These wings of yours have also been burnt with fire and even so the vitality as well as the strength and prowess too in your frail frame stand well-nigh consumed. (18)

> गृध्रौ द्वौ दृष्टपूर्वौ मे मातरिश्वसमौ जवे।  
> गृध्राणां चैव राजानौ भ्रातरौ कामरूपिणौ॥ १९॥

“Two vultures, related as brothers to each other, the rulers of vultures, who vied with the wind in speed and were capable of changing form at will, were seen by me before. (19)

> ज्येष्ठोऽवितस्त्वं सम्पाते जटायुरनुजस्तव।  
> मानुषं रूपमास्थाय गृह्णीतां चरणौ मम॥ २०॥

“Assuming human forms, you, who stand recognized by me as the elder of the two, O Sampāti, and Jaṭāyu, your younger brother, used to clasp my feet as a token of respect. (20)

> किं ते व्याधिसमुत्थानं पक्षयोः पतनं कथम्।  
> दण्डो वायं धृतः केन सर्वमाख्याहि पृच्छतः॥ २१॥

“Is this a symptom of some disease appearing in your body? How is the falling off of your wings to be accounted for? Or by whom has this punishment been inflicted on you? Relate everything to me, who makes this inquiry of you.” (21)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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