Kishkindha Kanda · Sarga 11 of 67 · 93 verses
Valin’s Might: Dundubhi and Matanga’s Curse
Hearing Rama’s words, which increase joy and manhood, Sugriva honours and praises Raghava: “No doubt, in anger you could burn the worlds with your blazing, sharp arrows that pierce the vitals, like the sun at the end of an age. But hear with full attention Valin’s manhood, valour and steadiness, and then do what follows. Before the sun rises, Valin goes without tiring from the western ocean to the eastern, and from the southern to the northern. Climbing the tops of mountains, he hurls even great peaks up into the air and catches them again. Many strong trees of many kinds in the forests have been broken by Valin with force, showing off his strength.
“There was a buffalo named Dundubhi, with the radiance of a peak of Kailasa, who bore the strength of a thousand elephants. Wicked through pride in his strength, deluded by a boon, the huge-bodied one went to the ocean, lord of rivers, and, going past the waves, said to the great ocean, store of jewels: ‘Give me battle.’ The righteous, very mighty ocean rose and said to the asura driven by Time: ‘I am not able to give you battle, master of battle. Hear, I will tell you who will give you battle: Himavan, king of mountains, Shankara’s father-in-law, the supreme refuge of ascetics in the great forest, with great waterfalls and many caves and streams; he can give you incomparable satisfaction.’ Taking the ocean to be afraid, the best of asuras went to the forest of Himavan, like an arrow shot from a bow, flung the mountain’s white rocks, like great elephants, to the ground again and again, and roared. Then Himavan, gentle, shaped like a white cloud, pleasing in form, standing on his own peak, said: ‘You should not trouble me, Dundubhi, lover of dharma. I am unskilled in fighting; I am a refuge for ascetics.’ Dundubhi, his eyes red with anger, said: ‘If you are unable to fight, or have no will to from fear of me, tell me who will give battle to me, who want to fight.’ Hearing this, righteous Himavan, master of speech, said in anger what he had never said before: ‘A monkey named Valin, very wise, Shakra’s son, powerful, glorious, lives in Kishkindha of incomparable splendour. He, very wise, master of battle, can give you single combat, as Vasava did to Namuci. Go to him quickly if you want battle; he is always impatient and brave in deeds of war.’ Hearing Himavan’s words, Dundubhi, filled with anger, went to Valin’s city, Kishkindha, in the form of a buffalo, sharp-horned, terrifying, like a great rain-cloud in the sky. Coming to the gate of Kishkindha, the very mighty one roared, shaking the earth like a kettledrum, breaking the trees nearby, tearing the ground with his hooves, gouging the gate with his horn in pride, like an elephant. Valin, in his inner apartments, hearing the noise, came out, impatient, with his women, like the moon with the stars. Lord of the monkeys and of all forest-dwellers, he spoke to Dundubhi in measured words with clear syllables: ‘Why do you roar, blocking this city gate? I know you, Dundubhi. Save your life, mighty one.’ Dundubhi, his eyes red with anger, answered: ‘You should not speak so in the presence of women, hero. Give me battle today, then I will know your strength. Or I will hold my anger this night: take your pleasure as you like until sunrise, monkey; make your gifts, embrace the monkeys; you are king of all the monkeys, so take leave of your friends; look well at Kishkindha; appoint someone like yourself in the city; and play with your women. I am the one who will punish your pride. Whoever kills one who is drunk, or careless, or broken, or alone, or weak, is like a killer of an embryo in the world, and so is one who kills someone like you, deluded by intoxication.’ Smiling gently in anger, Valin dismissed all his women, Tara and the others, and said to the lord of the asuras: ‘Do not think “he is drunk”, if you are not afraid in battle. Take this intoxication as a hero’s drink before the fight.’ Saying this, enraged, he put on the golden garland given him by his father, great Indra, and stood ready for battle. Seizing mountain-like Dundubhi by the horns, Valin, elephant among monkeys, whirled him around, roaring, and dashed him down with force, and roared loudly; blood flowed from the buffalo’s ears as he was thrown. A terrible fight arose between them, each wanting to win in fury. Valin, of valour equal to Shakra’s, fought with fists, knees, feet, rocks and trees. As they struck each other, the asura weakened and Shakra’s son grew. Lifting Dundubhi, he threw him to the ground; in that life-taking battle Dundubhi was crushed. Much blood flowed from his body’s openings as he was thrown, and the mighty one fell on the ground and died. Lifting the lifeless, senseless body in both arms, swift Valin threw it a yojana with a single heave.
“Drops of blood from the mouth of the hurled carcass, carried by the wind, fell toward Matanga’s hermitage. Seeing those drops of blood fallen there, the sage, angry, thought: ‘Who is this, by whom I have been suddenly touched with blood? Who is this wicked, foolish, undisciplined, childish one?’ Coming out, the best of sages saw a mountain-like buffalo lying dead on the ground. Knowing by his austerity that a monkey had done it, he laid a great curse on the monkey who had thrown it: ‘He must not enter here; if he enters, he will die, he by whom my forest refuge has been defiled with streams of blood and these trees broken by throwing the asura’s body. If that fool comes within a full yojana around my hermitage, he will surely not live. And any of his followers who have taken refuge in my forest must not live here; hearing this, let them go as they please. If they stay, I will surely curse them too, for in this forest of mine, always protected like a son, they destroy leaves and shoots and leave no fruit or roots. Today is the limit; any monkey I see tomorrow will become a rock for many thousands of years.’ Hearing the sage’s words, the monkeys left that forest. Seeing them, Valin said: ‘Why have all you dwellers in Matanga’s forest come to me? Are the forest-dwellers well?’ Then all the monkeys told Valin, with his golden garland, the whole cause and the curse. Hearing this, Valin went to the great seer and begged him with joined palms; but the great seer ignored him and went into his hermitage. Afraid of bearing the curse, Valin was distraught. Since then, afraid of the curse, the monkey does not wish to enter, or even to look at, the great mountain Rishyamuka, lord of men. Knowing he cannot enter it, I wander this great forest with my ministers, free of despair, Rama. Here, shining like a mountain peak, is the great heap of Dundubhi’s bones, thrown out by Valin in his pride of strength. And here are seven great sala trees with hanging branches, any one of which Valin can strip of its leaves by his force. I have shown you his unequalled valour, Rama. How will you be able to kill Valin in battle, king?”
As Sugriva speaks so, Lakshmana says, smiling: “On the doing of what deed would you believe Valin can be killed?” Sugriva answers: “Valin used to pierce these seven salas, one by one, many times. If Rama could split even one of these trees with a single arrow, then, seeing Rama’s valour, I would consider Valin killed. And let him lift the bones of the slain buffalo with one foot and throw them two hundred bow-lengths, Lakshmana.” Having said this to Rama, whose eyes have reddened at the corners, Sugriva thinks for a moment and speaks again to Kakutstha: “Valin is brave, proud of his bravery, famed for strength and manhood, a mighty monkey never defeated in battle. His deeds are seen, hard even for the gods; thinking of them, I have taken refuge in fear on Rishyamuka. Thinking of that invincible, unassailable, impatient lord of the monkeys, I do not leave this Rishyamuka. Troubled and fearful, I wander the great forest with my devoted ministers, the best of them led by Hanuman. I have found in you a praiseworthy, true friend, lover of friends, tiger among men, and I rely on you as on the Himalaya. But I know the strength of my mighty, wicked brother, and your valour in battle I have not seen with my own eyes, Raghava. I am not weighing you, nor slighting you, nor trying to frighten you; it is his terrible deeds that have made me timid. Certainly, Raghava, your words, your steadiness and your form are proof; they point to a supreme splendour, like fire covered in ash.” Hearing great-souled Sugriva’s words, Rama, smiling first, replies to the monkey: “If you have no faith in our valour, monkey, I will produce in you a faith praiseworthy in battle.” Saying this, comforting Sugriva, Lakshmana’s elder brother, mighty-armed Raghava, lifts Dundubhi’s body playfully with his big toe and flings the asura’s dry carcass ten yojanas. Seeing the body thrown, Sugriva speaks again, before Lakshmana and the monkeys, to the hero Rama, who blazes like the sun, these meaningful words: “That body, friend, was wet, fleshy and fresh when it was thrown long ago by my brother Valin, tired and intoxicated. Now it is light, fleshless, like a blade of grass, Raghava, and you threw it with delight. From this it is not possible to know whether your strength or his is greater; wet or dry makes a very great difference. The doubt remains, dear one, about your strength and his. If you split one sala, strength and weakness will be clear. Stringing this bow, stretched like an elephant’s trunk, draw it to the ear and let fly a great arrow. The arrow you shoot will split this sala; there is no doubt of it. Enough of deliberation; surely do what I wish, king; I adjure you. As the sun is the best of lights, and Himavan of great mountains, and the lion of four-footed beasts, so you are the best of men in valour.”
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रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा हर्षपौरुषवर्धनम् । सुग्रीवः पूजयांचक्रे राघवं प्रशशंस च ॥ १ ॥
Hearing Rama’s words, increasing joy and manhood, Sugriva honoured Raghava and praised him:
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Valin’s Might: Dundubhi and Matanga’s Curse 1 min read.
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असंशयं प्रज्वलितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्मर्मातिगैः शरैः । त्वं दहेः कुपितो लोकान् युगान्त इव भास्करः ॥ २ ॥
“Without doubt, with blazing, sharp arrows that pierce beyond the vitals, you in anger could burn the worlds, like the sun at the end of an age.
वालिनः पौरुषं यत्तद् यच्च वीर्यं धृतिश्च या । तन्ममैकमनाः श्रुत्वा विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम् ॥ ३ ॥
“But Valin’s manhood, and his valour, and his steadiness: hearing that from me with single mind, do what follows.
समुद्रात् पश्चिमात् पूर्वं दक्षिणादपि चोत्तरम् । क्रामत्यनुदिते सूर्ये वाली व्यपगतक्लमः ॥ ४ ॥
“From the western ocean to the eastern, and from the southern to the northern, Valin goes before the sun has risen, free of fatigue.
अग्राण्यारुह्य शैलानां शिखराणि महान्त्यपि । ऊर्ध्वमुत्पात्य तरसा प्रतिगृह्णाति वीर्यवान् ॥ ५ ॥
“Climbing to the tops of mountains, the mighty one hurls up even great peaks with force and catches them.
बहवः सारवन्तश्च वनेषु विविधा द्रुमाः । वालिना तरसा भग्ना बलं प्रथयताऽऽत्मनः ॥ ६ ॥
“Many strong trees of many kinds in the forests have been broken with force by Valin, displaying his own strength.
महिषो दुन्दुभिर्नाम कैलासशिखरप्रभः । बलं नागसहस्रस्य धारयामास वीर्यवान् ॥ ७ ॥
“A buffalo named Dundubhi, with the radiance of Kailasa’s peak, the mighty one, bore the strength of a thousand elephants.
स वीर्योत्सेकदुष्टात्मा वरदानेन मोहितः । जगाम स महाकायः समुद्रं सरितां पतिम् ॥ ८ ॥
“Wicked through the pride of strength, deluded by the giving of a boon, that huge-bodied one went to the ocean, lord of rivers.
ऊर्मिमन्तमतिक्रम्य सागरं रत्नसंचयम् । मम युद्धं प्रयच्छेति तमुवाच महार्णवम् ॥ ९ ॥
“Going past the wave-filled ocean, store of jewels, he said to that great ocean: ‘Give me battle.’
ततः समुद्रो धर्मात्मा समुत्थाय महाबलः । अब्रवीद् वचनं राजन्नसुरं कालचोदितम् ॥ १० ॥
“Then the righteous ocean, very mighty, rising up, spoke words, king, to the asura driven by Time:
समर्थो नास्मि ते दातुं युद्धं युद्धविशारद । श्रूयतां त्वभिधास्यामि यस्ते युद्धं प्रदास्यति ॥ ११ ॥
“’I am not able to give you battle, master of battle. But hear; I will tell you who will give you battle.
शैलराजो महारण्ये तपस्विशरणं परम् । शंकरश्वशुरो नाम्ना हिमवानिति विश्रुतः ॥ १२ ॥
“’The king of mountains in the great forest, the supreme refuge of ascetics, Shankara’s father-in-law, famed by the name Himavan,
महाप्रस्रवणोपेतो बहुकन्दरनिर्झरः । स समर्थस्तव प्रीतिमतुलां कर्तुमर्हति ॥ १३ ॥
“’endowed with great cascades, with many caves and streams: he is able to give you incomparable satisfaction.’
तं भीतमिति विज्ञाय समुद्रमसुरोत्तमः । हिमवद्वनमागम्य शरश्चापादिव च्युतः ॥ १४ ॥
“Understanding the ocean to be afraid, the best of asuras went to the forest of Himavan, like an arrow fallen from a bow.
ततस्तस्य गिरेः श्वेता गजेन्द्रप्रतिमाः शिलाः । चिक्षेप बहुधा भूमौ दुन्दुभिर्विननाद च ॥ १५ ॥
“Then Dundubhi hurled that mountain’s white rocks, like lordly elephants, to the ground many times, and roared.
ततः श्वेताम्बुदाकारः सौम्यः प्रीतिकराकृतिः । हिमवानब्रवीद् वाक्यं स्व एव शिखरे स्थितः ॥ १६ ॥
“Then Himavan, shaped like a white cloud, gentle, of pleasing form, standing on his own peak, spoke these words:
क्लेष्टुमर्हसि मां न त्वं दुन्दुभे धर्मवत्सल । रणकर्मस्वकुशलस्तपस्विशरणो ह्यहम् ॥ १७ ॥
“’You should not trouble me, Dundubhi, lover of dharma. For I am unskilled in deeds of battle; I am a refuge for ascetics.’
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा गिरिराजस्य धीमतः । उवाच दुन्दुभिर्वाक्यं क्रोधात् संरक्तलोचनः ॥ १८ ॥
“Hearing those words of the wise king of mountains, Dundubhi, his eyes red with anger, spoke these words:
यदि युद्धेऽसमर्थस्त्वं मद्भयाद् वा निरुद्यमः । तमाचक्ष्व प्रदद्यान्मे यो हि युद्धं युयुत्सतः ॥ १९ ॥
“’If you are unable in battle, or without effort from fear of me, tell me of him who would give battle to me, wanting to fight.’
हिमवानब्रवीद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा वाक्यविशारदः । अनुक्तपूर्वं धर्मात्मा क्रोधात् तमसुरोत्तमम् ॥ २० ॥
“Hearing this, righteous Himavan, master of speech, in anger spoke to that best of asuras words not spoken before:
वाली नाम महाप्राज्ञ शक्रपुत्रः प्रतापवान् । अध्यास्ते वानरः श्रीमान् किष्किन्धामतुलप्रभाम् ॥ २१ ॥
“’There is a monkey named Valin, very wise, Shakra’s son, powerful; the glorious monkey lives in Kishkindha of incomparable splendour.
स समर्थो महाप्राज्ञस्तव युद्धविशारदः । द्वन्द्वयुद्धं स दातुं ते नमुचेरिव वासवः ॥ २२ ॥
“’He, very wise, master of battle, is able to give you single combat, as Vasava to Namuci.
तं शीघ्रमभिगच्छ त्वं यदि युद्धमिहेच्छसि । स हि दुर्मर्षणो नित्यं शूरः समरकर्मणि ॥ २३ ॥
“’Go to him quickly if you desire battle here; for he is always impatient, brave in the deeds of war.’
श्रुत्वा हिमवतो वाक्यं कोपाविष्टः स दुन्दुभिः । जगाम तां पुरीं तस्य किष्किन्धां वालिनस्तदा ॥ २४ ॥
“Hearing Himavan’s words, that Dundubhi, filled with anger, went then to that city of Valin, Kishkindha,
धारयन् माहिषं रूपं तीक्ष्णशृङ्गो भयावहः । प्रावृषीव महामेघस्तोयपूर्णो नभस्तले ॥ २५ ॥
“bearing a buffalo’s form, sharp-horned, terrifying, like a great cloud full of water in the sky in the rains.
ततस्तु द्वारमागम्य किष्किन्धाया महाबलः । ननर्द कम्पयन् भूमिं दुन्दुभिर्दुन्दुभिर्यथा ॥ २६ ॥
“Then, coming to the gate of Kishkindha, the very mighty Dundubhi roared like a kettledrum, shaking the earth,
समीपजान् द्रुमान् भञ्जन् वसुधां दारयन् खुरैः । विषाणेनोल्लिखन् दर्पात् तद्द्वारं द्विरदो यथा ॥ २७ ॥
“breaking the nearby trees, tearing the earth with his hooves, gouging that gate with his horn in pride, like an elephant.
अन्तःपुरगतो वाली श्रुत्वा शब्दममर्षणः । निष्पपात सह स्त्रीभिस्ताराभिरिव चन्द्रमा ॥ २८ ॥
“Valin, in the inner apartments, hearing the sound, impatient, rushed out with his women, like the moon with the stars.
मितं व्यक्ताक्षरपदं तमुवाच स दुन्दुभिम् । हरीणामीश्वरो वाली सर्वेषां वनचारिणाम् ॥ २९ ॥
“In measured words with clear syllables, Valin, lord of the monkeys and of all forest-dwellers, said to that Dundubhi:
किमर्थं नगरद्वारमिदं रुद्ध्वा विनर्दसे । दुन्दुभे विदितो मेऽसि रक्ष प्राणान् महाबल ॥ ३० ॥
“’For what reason do you roar, blocking this city gate? You are known to me, Dundubhi; save your life, very mighty one.’
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा वानरेन्द्रस्य धीमतः । उवाच दुन्दुभिर्वाक्यं क्रोधात् संरक्तलोचनः ॥ ३१ ॥
“Hearing those words of the wise lord of monkeys, Dundubhi, his eyes red with anger, spoke these words:
न त्वं स्त्रीसंनिधौ वीर वचनं वक्तुमर्हसि । मम युद्धं प्रयच्छाद्य ततो ज्ञास्यामि ते बलम् ॥ ३२ ॥
“’You should not speak words in the presence of women, hero. Give me battle today; then I will know your strength.
अथवा धारयिष्यामि क्रोधमद्य निशामिमाम् । गृह्यतामुदयः स्वैरं कामभोगेषु वानर ॥ ३३ ॥
“’Or else I will hold back my anger today, this night. Take your pleasures freely, monkey, until sunrise.
दीयतां सम्प्रदानं च परिष्वज्य च वानरान् । सर्वशाखामृगेन्द्रस्त्वं संसादय सुहृज्जनम् ॥ ३४ ॥
“’Let gifts be given, and, embracing the monkeys, you, king of all monkeys, take leave of your friends.
सुदृष्टां कुरु किष्किन्धां कुरुष्वात्मसमं पुरे । क्रीडस्व च समं स्त्रीभिरहं ते दर्पशासनः ॥ ३५ ॥
“’Look well at Kishkindha; make one like yourself in the city; and play with your women. I am the chastiser of your pride.
यो हि मत्तं प्रमत्तं वा भग्नं वा रहितं कृशम् । हन्यात् स भ्रूणहा लोके त्वद्विधं मदमोहितम् ॥ ३६ ॥
“’For he who would kill one drunk, or careless, or broken, or alone, or weak, is an embryo-killer in the world, and so for one like you, deluded by intoxication.’
स प्रहस्याब्रवीन्मन्दं क्रोधात् तमसुरेश्वरम् । विसृज्य ताः स्त्रियः सर्वास्ताराप्रभृतिकास्तदा ॥ ३७ ॥
“He, smiling gently in anger, dismissing then all those women, Tara and the others, said to that lord of asuras:
मत्तोऽयमिति मा मंस्था यद्यभीतोऽसि संयुगे । मदोऽयं सम्प्रहारेऽस्मिन् वीरपानं समर्थ्यताम् ॥ ३८ ॥
“’Do not think “he is drunk”, if you are unafraid in battle. Let this intoxication be counted in this fight as a hero’s drink.’
तमेवमुक्त्वा संक्रुद्धो मालामुत्क्षिप्य काञ्चनीम् । पित्रा दत्तां महेन्द्रेण युद्धाय व्यवतिष्ठत ॥ ३९ ॥
“Saying this to him, enraged, putting on the golden garland given by his father, great Indra, he stood ready for battle.
विषाणयोर्गृहीत्वा तं दुन्दुभिं गिरिसंनिभम् । आविध्यत तथा वाली विनदन् कपिकुञ्जरः ॥ ४० ॥
“Seizing that mountain-like Dundubhi by the horns, Valin, elephant among monkeys, whirled him so, roaring.
बलाद् व्यापादयांचक्रे ननर्द च महास्वनम् । श्रोत्राभ्यामथ रक्तं तु तस्य सुस्राव पात्यतः ॥ ४१ ॥
“He struck him down by force and roared with a great noise, and then blood flowed from his ears as he was thrown down.
तयोस्तु क्रोधसंरम्भात् परस्परजयैषिणोः । युद्धं समभवद् घोरं दुन्दुभेर्वालिनस्तथा ॥ ४२ ॥
“Between those two, wishing to conquer each other from the fury of anger, a terrible battle arose, of Dundubhi and Valin.
अयुध्यत तदा वाली शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमः । मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिः पद्भिः शिलाभिः पादपैस्तथा ॥ ४३ ॥
“Then Valin, of valour equal to Shakra’s, fought with fists, knees, feet, rocks and trees.
परस्परं घ्नतोस्तत्र वानरासुरयोस्तदा । आसीद्धीनोऽसुरो युद्धे शक्रसूनुर्व्यवर्धत ॥ ४४ ॥
“As the monkey and the asura struck each other there, the asura became weaker in battle, and Shakra’s son grew.
तं तु दुन्दुभिमुद्यम्य धरण्यामभ्यपातयत् । युद्धे प्राणहरे तस्मिन्निष्पिष्टो दुन्दुभिस्तदा ॥ ४५ ॥
“Lifting that Dundubhi, he threw him down on the ground; in that life-taking battle Dundubhi was then crushed.
स्रोतोभ्यो बहु रक्तं तु तस्य सुस्राव पात्यतः । पपात च महाबाहुः क्षितौ पञ्चत्वमागतः ॥ ४६ ॥
“Much blood flowed from the openings of his body as he was thrown down, and the mighty-armed one fell on the earth, come to death.
तं तोलयित्वा बाहुभ्यां गतसत्त्वमचेतनम् । चिक्षेप वेगवान् वाली वेगेनैकेन योजनम् ॥ ४७ ॥
“Weighing him in his arms, lifeless, senseless, swift Valin threw him a yojana with a single heave.
तस्य वेगप्रविद्धस्य वक्त्रात् क्षतजबिन्दवः । प्रपेतुर्मारुतोत्क्षिप्ता मतङ्गस्याश्रमं प्रति ॥ ४८ ॥
“From the mouth of the one flung with force, drops of blood, tossed up by the wind, fell toward Matanga’s hermitage.
तान् दृष्ट्वा पतितांस्तत्र मुनिः शोणितविप्रुषः । क्रुद्धस्तस्य महाभाग चिन्तयामास को न्वयम् ॥ ४९ ॥
“Seeing those drops of blood fallen there, the sage, angry, fortunate one, thought: ‘Who is this,
येनाहं सहसा स्पृष्टः शोणितेन दुरात्मना । कोऽयं दुरात्मा दुर्बुद्धिरकृतात्मा च बालिशः ॥ ५० ॥
“’by whom I have been suddenly touched with blood, the wicked one? Who is this wicked, foolish, undisciplined, childish one?’
इत्युक्त्वा स विनिष्क्रम्य ददृशे मुनिसत्तमः । महिषं पर्वताकारं गतासुं पतितं भुवि ॥ ५१ ॥
“Saying this, going out, the best of sages saw a buffalo the shape of a mountain, lifeless, fallen on the ground.
स तु विज्ञाय तपसा वानरेण कृतं हि तत् । उत्ससर्ज महाशापं क्षेप्तारं वानरं प्रति ॥ ५२ ॥
“Knowing by austerity that this had been done by a monkey, he let loose a great curse at the monkey who threw it:
इह तेनाप्रवेष्टव्यं प्रविष्टस्य वधो भवेत् । वनं मत्संश्रयं येन दूषितं रुधिरस्रवैः ॥ ५३ ॥
“’He must not enter here; there would be death for him if he entered, by whom the forest that is my refuge has been defiled with streams of blood,
क्षिपता पादपाश्चेमे सम्भग्नाश्चासुरीं तनुम् । समन्तादाश्रमं पूर्णं योजनं मामकं यदि ॥ ५४ ॥
“’and these trees broken, throwing the asura’s body. If within a full yojana on every side of my hermitage
आगमिष्यति दुर्बुद्धिर्व्यक्तं स न भविष्यति । ये चास्य सचिवाः केचित् संश्रिता मामकं वनम् ॥ ५५ ॥
“’that fool comes, he will clearly not survive. And whatever followers of his have taken refuge in my forest,
न च तैरिह वस्तव्यं श्रुत्वा यान्तु यथासुखम् । तेऽपि वा यदि तिष्ठन्ति शपिष्ये तानपि ध्रुवम् ॥ ५६ ॥
“’they must not live here; hearing this, let them go as they please. Or if they too stay, I will surely curse them too,
वनेऽस्मिन् मामके नित्यं पुत्रवत् परिरक्षिते । पत्राङ्कुरविनाशाय फलमूलाभवाय च ॥ ५७ ॥
“’in this forest of mine, always protected like a son, for the destruction of leaves and shoots and the absence of fruit and roots.
दिवसश्चाद्य मर्यादा यं द्रष्टा श्वोऽस्मि वानरम् । बहुवर्षसहस्राणि स वै शैलो भविष्यति ॥ ५८ ॥
“’Today is the limit; whatever monkey I see tomorrow will become a rock for many thousands of years.’
ततस्ते वानराः श्रुत्वा गिरं मुनिसमीरिताम् । निश्चक्रमुर्वनात् तस्मात् तान् दृष्ट्वा वालिरब्रवीत् ॥ ५९ ॥
“Then those monkeys, hearing the speech uttered by the sage, went out of that forest. Seeing them, Valin said:
किं भवन्तः समस्ताश्च मतङ्गवनवासिनः । मत्समीपमनुप्राप्ता अपि स्वस्ति वनौकसाम् ॥ ६० ॥
“’Why have you all, dwellers in Matanga’s forest, come near me? Are the forest-dwellers well?’
ततस्ते कारणं सर्वं तथा शापं च वालिनः । शशंसुर्वानराः सर्वे वालिने हेममालिने ॥ ६१ ॥
“Then all those monkeys told Valin, with his golden garland, the whole cause and the curse on Valin.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तदा वाली वचनं वानरेरितम् । स महर्षिं समासाद्य याचते स्म कृताञ्जलिः ॥ ६२ ॥
“Hearing these words spoken by the monkeys, Valin then, approaching the great seer, begged with joined palms.
महर्षिस्तमनादृत्य प्रविवेशाश्रमं प्रति । शापधारणभीतस्तु वाली विह्वलतां गतः ॥ ६३ ॥
“The great seer, disregarding him, entered his hermitage. But Valin, afraid of bearing the curse, became distraught.
ततः शापभयाद् भीतो ऋष्यमूकं महागिरिम् । प्रवेष्टुं नेच्छति हरिर्द्रष्टुं वापि नरेश्वर ॥ ६४ ॥
“Then, afraid from fear of the curse, the monkey does not wish to enter the great mountain Rishyamuka, or even to look at it, lord of men.
तस्याप्रवेशं ज्ञात्वाहमिदं राम महावनम् । विचरामि सहामात्यो विषादेन विवर्जितः ॥ ६५ ॥
“Knowing he cannot enter, I wander this great forest, Rama, with my ministers, free from despair.
एषोऽस्थिनिचयस्तस्य दुन्दुभेः सम्प्रकाशते । वीर्योत्सेकान्निरस्तस्य गिरिकूटनिभो महान् ॥ ६६ ॥
“This is the heap of bones of that Dundubhi, shining, great, like a mountain peak, cast out through pride in strength.
इमे च विपुलाः सालाः सप्त शाखावलम्बिनः । यत्रैकं घटते वाली निष्पत्रयितुमोजसा ॥ ६७ ॥
“And these are seven great salas, with hanging branches, of which Valin can strip one of leaves by his force.
एतदस्यासमं वीर्यं मया राम प्रकाशितम् । कथं तं वालिनं हन्तुं समरे शक्ष्यसे नृप ॥ ६८ ॥
“This unequalled valour of his has been shown by me, Rama. How will you be able to kill that Valin in battle, king?”
तथा ब्रुवाणं सुग्रीवं प्रहसँल्लक्ष्मणोऽब्रवीत् । कस्मिन् कर्मणि निर्वृत्ते श्रद्दध्या वालिनो वधम् ॥ ६९ ॥
To Sugriva speaking so, Lakshmana, smiling, said: “On the doing of what deed would you believe in Valin’s killing?”
तमुवाचाथ सुग्रीवः सप्त सालानिमान् पुरा । एवमेकैकशो वाली विव्याधाथ स चासकृत् ॥ ७० ॥
Then Sugriva said to him: “These seven salas, long ago, Valin pierced so, one by one, and he did it many times.
रामो निर्दारयेदेषां बाणेनैकेन च द्रुमम् । वालिनं निहतं मन्ये दृष्ट्वा रामस्य विक्रमम् ॥ ७१ ॥
“If Rama could split even one tree of these with one arrow, seeing Rama’s valour I would think Valin killed.
हतस्य महिषस्यास्थि पादेनैकेन लक्ष्मण । उद्यम्य प्रक्षिपेच्चापि तरसा द्वे धनुःशते ॥ ७२ ॥
“And let him, lifting the bones of the slain buffalo with one foot, throw them with force two hundred bow-lengths, Lakshmana.”
एवमुक्त्वा तु सुग्रीवो रामं रक्तान्तलोचनम् । ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं काकुत्स्थं पुनरेव वचोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ७३ ॥
Having said this to Rama, the corners of whose eyes were red, Sugriva, thinking a moment, spoke words again to Kakutstha:
शूरश्च शूरमानी च प्रख्यातबलपौरुषः । बलवान् वानरो वाली संयुगेष्वपराजितः ॥ ७४ ॥
“Brave, and proud of his bravery, famed for strength and manhood, the mighty monkey Valin is unconquered in battles.
दृश्यन्ते चास्य कर्माणि दुष्कराणि सुरैरपि । यानि संचिन्त्य भीतोऽहमृष्यमूकमुपाश्रितः ॥ ७५ ॥
“And his deeds are seen, hard even for the gods; thinking of them, I, afraid, have taken refuge on Rishyamuka.
तमजय्यमधृष्यं च वानरेन्द्रममर्षणम् । विचिन्तयन्न मुञ्चापि ऋष्यमूकममुं त्वहम् ॥ ७६ ॥
“Thinking of that invincible, unassailable, impatient lord of monkeys, I do not leave this Rishyamuka.
उद्विग्नः शङ्कितश्चाहं विचरामि महावने । अनुरक्तैः सहामात्यैर्हनुमत्प्रमुखैर्वरैः ॥ ७७ ॥
“Troubled and fearful, I wander the great forest with my devoted ministers, the best of them, led by Hanuman.
उपलब्धं च मे श्लाघ्यं सन्मित्रं मित्रवत्सल । त्वामहं पुरुषव्याघ्र हिमवन्तमिवाश्रितः ॥ ७८ ॥
“And I have obtained a praiseworthy, true friend, lover of friends: you, tiger among men, on whom I rely as on the Himalaya.
किं तु तस्य बलज्ञोऽहं दुर्भ्रातुर्बलशालिनः । अप्रत्यक्षं तु मे वीर्यं समरे तव राघव ॥ ७९ ॥
“But I know the strength of that wicked brother, rich in strength; your valour in battle has not been seen by me with my own eyes, Raghava.
न खल्वहं त्वां तुलये नावमन्ये न भीषये । कर्मभिस्तस्य भीमैश्च कातर्यं जनितं मम ॥ ८० ॥
“I do not weigh you, nor slight you, nor frighten you; but by his terrible deeds timidity has been produced in me.
कामं राघव ते वाणी प्रमाणं धैर्यमाकृतिः । सूचयन्ति परं तेजो भस्मच्छन्नमिवानलम् ॥ ८१ ॥
“Certainly, Raghava, your speech is proof, and your steadiness and form; they indicate supreme splendour, like fire covered in ash.”
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । स्मितपूर्वमथो रामः प्रत्युवाच हरिं प्रति ॥ ८२ ॥
Hearing those words of great-souled Sugriva, Rama, with a smile first, then replied to the monkey:
यदि न प्रत्ययोऽस्मासु विक्रमे तव वानर । प्रत्ययं समरे श्लाघ्यमहमुत्पादयामि ते ॥ ८३ ॥
“If you have no faith in our valour, monkey, I will produce in you a faith praiseworthy in battle.”
एवमुक्त्वा तु सुग्रीवं सान्त्वयँल्लक्ष्मणाग्रजः । राघवो दुन्दुभेः कायं पादाङ्गुष्ठेन लीलया ॥ ८४ ॥
Having said this to Sugriva, comforting him, Lakshmana’s elder brother, Raghava, playfully, with his big toe, Dundubhi’s body,
तोलयित्वा महाबाहुश्चिक्षेप दशयोजनम् । असुरस्य तनुं शुष्कां पादाङ्गुष्ठेन वीर्यवान् ॥ ८५ ॥
lifting it, the mighty-armed one threw ten yojanas: the mighty one, the asura’s dry body, with his big toe.
क्षिप्तं दृष्ट्वा ततः कायं सुग्रीवः पुनरब्रवीत् । लक्ष्मणस्याग्रतो रामं तपन्तमिव भास्करम् । हरीणामग्रतो वीरमिदं वचनमर्थवत् ॥ ८६ ॥
Seeing the body thrown, Sugriva then spoke again, in front of Lakshmana, to Rama, burning like the sun, the hero, in front of the monkeys, these meaningful words:
आर्द्रः समांसः प्रत्यग्रः क्षिप्तः कायः पुरा सखे । परिश्रान्तेन मत्तेन भ्रात्रा मे वालिना तदा ॥ ८७ ॥
“Wet, with flesh, fresh, the body was thrown long ago, friend, by my brother Valin, tired and intoxicated, then.
लघुः सम्प्रति निर्मांसस्तृणभूतश्च राघव । क्षिप्त एवं प्रहर्षेण भवता रघुनन्दन ॥ ८८ ॥
“Now it is light, fleshless, become like grass, Raghava, thrown so with delight by you, delight of the Raghus.
नात्र शक्यं बलं ज्ञातुं तव वा तस्य वाधिकम् । आर्द्रं शुष्कमिति ह्येतत् सुमहद् राघवान्तरम् ॥ ८९ ॥
“Here it is not possible to know whether your strength or his is greater. For ‘wet’ and ‘dry’: this is a very great difference, Raghava.
स एव संशयस्तात तव तस्य च यद्बलम् । सालमेकं विनिर्भिद्य भवेद् व्यक्तिर्बलाबले ॥ ९० ॥
“That same doubt remains, dear one, about what is your strength and his. By splitting one sala, strength and weakness would become clear.
कृत्वैतत् कार्मुकं सज्यं हस्तिहस्तमिवाततम् । आकर्णपूर्णमायम्य विसृजस्व महाशरम् ॥ ९१ ॥
“Making this bow strung, stretched like an elephant’s trunk, drawing it full to the ear, let fly a great arrow.
इमं हि सालं प्रहितस्त्वया शरो न संशयोऽत्रास्ति विदारयिष्यति । अलं विमर्शेन मम प्रियं ध्रुवं कुरुष्व राजन् प्रतिशापितो मया ॥ ९२ ॥
“For the arrow sent by you will split this sala; there is no doubt here. Enough of deliberation; surely do what is dear to me, king; I adjure you.
यथा हि तेजःसु वरः सदारवि- र्यथा हि शैलो हिमवान् महाद्रिषु । यथा चतुष्पात्सु च केसरी वर- स्तथा नराणामसि विक्रमे वरः ॥ ९३ ॥
“As the sun is always the best among lights, and as Himavan among great mountains, and as the lion is best among four-footed beasts, so you are best of men in valour.”