Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 65

Meaning

Hearing the speech of Aṅgada all the aforesaid leaders of monkeys—Gaja, Gavākṣa, Gavaya, Śarabha, Gandhamādana, Mainda and even so Dwivida, Suṣeṇa and Jāmbavān proclaimed in due succession each his own leaping capacity on that spot. (1-2)

Meaning

Of them, Gaja said, “I can leap as far as ten Yojanas (or eighty miles);” while Gavākṣa said, “I shall be able to leap to a distance of twenty Yojanas (or one hundred and sixty miles).” (3)

Meaning

The monkey Śarabha, they say, said to those monkeys on that occassion, “I shall cover in one leap thirty Yojanas (or two hundred and forty miles), O monkeys !” (4)

Meaning

The monkey Ṛṣabha, it is said, spoke to the monkeys on that spot as follows : “I shall cover in one leap forty Yojanas (or three hundred and twenty miles); there is no doubt about it.” (5)

Meaning

Gandhamādana for his part, who was endowed with extraordinary energy, spoke, they say, to the monkeys as follows : “I for my part shall cover in a leap fifty Yojanas (or four hundred miles): there is no doubt about it.” (6)

Meaning

The monkey Mainda for his part, they say, said to the monkeys on that spot, “I can leap at the utmost sixty Yojanas (or four hundred and eighty miles).” (7)

Meaning

Dwivida, who was endowed with extraordinary energy, then said on that occassion, “I shall cover seventy Yojanas (or five hundred and sixty miles): there is no doubt about it.” (8)

Meaning

The foremost of monkeys, Suṣeṇa, for his part, who was endowed with extraordinary energy and full of courage, said, “I solemnly declare that I can leap eighty Yojanas (or six hundred and forty miles).” (9)

Meaning

Showing respect to them all, while they were speaking on that spot, Jāmbavān, the oldest of them all, then submitted as follows : (10)

Meaning

“Formerly we too had some leaping capacity. Now, of course, we have reached the fag-end of our life. (11)

Meaning

“Even in such circumstances, however, the work in hand, which Sugrīva (the king of monkeys) and Śrī Rāma too are determined to carry through, can on no account be neglected. Please hear of the leaping capacity which now exists in me: I shall certainly cover in one leap ninety Yojanas (or seven hundred and twenty miles): there is no doubt about it.” (12-13)

Meaning

Nay, Jāmbavān spoke as follows to all those jewels among the monkeys : “Surely, I did not have only this much leaping capacity in the past. (14)

Meaning

“At the well-known sacrifice performed by King Bali (the son of Virocana) in the former days, the all-pervading and immortal Lord Trivikrama (who measured the whole universe in three strides) was gone round clockwise by me while taking His strides over the universe. (15)

Meaning

“Having grown old I, whose surpassing strength in youth was unequalled, have now become tardy of movement in leaping. (16)

Meaning

“This much only is my capacity in leaping unaided today and at this moment. The success of this undertaking of ours is, however, out of the question with this much capacity.” (17)

Meaning

Showing respect to Jāmbavān at that moment, the wise Aṅgada, the mighty monkey, forthwith made on that occasion the following reply, which bore a noble import : (18)

Meaning

“I shall surely cover these hundred long Yojanas (or eight hundred miles), but it is not certain whether I shall be able to return or not.” (19)

Meaning

To Aṅgada, the foremost of monkeys, Jāmbavān, who was a master of expression, submitted as follows : “Your power of movement is known to us, O jewel among the monkeys and bears ! (20)

Meaning

“Nay, you may easily be able to leap a hundred or (even) a thousand Yojanas and come back. Surely, however, this is not said to be the rule. (21)

Meaning

“A master, O dear Aṅgada, who sends or directs an expedition, can under no circumstance be worthy of being directed or sent on an expedition. On the other hand, we all deserve to be directed or sent on an errand by you, O jewel among the monkeys ! (22)

Meaning

“You deserve to be protected by us even like the mistress of a household, installed as you are in the position of our master. The ruler of an army deserves to be protected (like the mistress of a household): such is the rule, O scourge of your foes ! (23)

Meaning

“Moreover you are the very basis of the work in hand to us viz., the discovery of Sītā, O tamer of your foes ! Hence, O dear child, you deserve to be protected by us like a housewife at all times. (24)

Meaning

“The root of a thing must be carefully preserved: this is the maxim of those knowing their business. Only so long as the root is there all excellences (which are only of secondary importance) bear fruit. (25)

Meaning

“Therefore you are the means of accomplishing this work, O prince of unfailing prowess, and a key to it, richly endowed as you are with wisdom and valour, O scourge of your foes ! (26)

Meaning

“You are our superior and the son of our superior. Banking on you we shall really be able to accomplish our end, O jewel among the monkeys !” (27)

Meaning

To the highly intelligent Jāmbavān, who had spoken as above, the great monkey, Aṅgada, the son of Vālī, now addressed the following reply : (28)

Meaning

“If I do not stir nor does any other leader of the monkeys, fasting till death must surely be undertaken by us again. (29)

Meaning

“Having failed to carry out the instructions of that wise ruler of monkeys, I do not see any hope of preserving our life even after going there. (30)

Meaning

“That monkey, Sugrīva, has certainly the absolute power to show clemency or give vent to his extreme anger towards us. Death is bound to follow if we depart for Kiṣkindhā without carrying out his instructions. (31)

Meaning

“Therefore, you alone, who have perceived the truth of everything, should devise some means to see that this purpose of ours in the shape of discovery of Sītā does not actually get frustrated.” (32)

Meaning

In response to these words of Aṅgada at that juncture, the celebrated and heroic Jāmbavān, a jewel among the monkeys and bears, now addressed the following excellent rejoinder to Aṅgada : (33)

Meaning

“Not an iota of your aforementioned purpose will be balked, O gallant prince ! I now make an appeal to one who will surely accomplish our purpose.” (34)

Meaning

Thereupon Jāmbavān, a prominent hero among the monkeys and bears, made an appeal to none else than the celebrated Hanumān, another prominent hero of the monkey race, the foremost of monkeys, who was sitting at ease apart. (35)