Kishkindha Kanda · Sarga 25 of 67 · 54 verses
Valin’s Funeral
Sharing their grief, Kakutstha, with Lakshmana, comforts Sugriva, Tara and Angada: “The dead gain nothing good from the anguish of grief. You should arrange what must be done next. The custom of the world must be followed; you have shed your tears. No action can be done beyond its proper time. Destiny is the cause in the world; destiny is the means of action; destiny is the cause of all beings in what they are made to do. No one is the doer of anything, nor master in its appointment. The world moves in its own nature, and Time is its final resort. Time does not pass beyond Time, nor does Time diminish; and having reached its own nature, nothing goes beyond it. Time has no kinship, no reason, no valour; relationship of friend or kin is no cause; it is not in one’s own control. But the working out of Time must be seen by one who sees well. Dharma, wealth and desire are all set in the order of Time. Valin has gone from here to his own nature and gained the fruit of his actions; the lord of the leapers was purified by joining conciliation, gifts and wealth. By joining with his own dharma that great soul won heaven and took hold of it, not guarding his life. This is the best destiny, to which the leader of monkey troops has gone. So enough of anguish; let what the time requires be done.” When Rama has finished, Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes, speaks courteously to Sugriva, whose mind has gone: “Sugriva, with Tara and Angada, perform his funeral rites now, for the burning of Valin. Order wood, dry and plentiful, and divine sandalwood for Valin’s rites. Comfort the wretched Angada, sick at heart. Do not be childish in mind; this city depends on you. Let Angada bring garlands, clothes of many kinds, ghee, oil, perfumes and whatever else is needed. Tara, quickly bring a litter, in haste; speed is a virtue and fitting at this time especially. Let monkeys fit to carry the litter make ready; able and strong, they will carry Valin out.” Having said this to Sugriva, Lakshmana, increaser of Sumitra’s joy, slayer of enemy heroes, stands by his brother. Hearing Lakshmana, Tara, agitated, his mind on the litter, quickly enters the cave. Taking the litter, Tara comes back, carried by heroic monkeys fit for carrying: a divine litter, like a chariot, with a fine seat, painted with designs of birds, adorned with carvings of trees, set with figures of foot-soldiers, well built on every side, like the aerial chariot of the siddhas, with latticed windows, well joined, wide, well made by craftsmen, with wooden hills, adorned with lovely work, with fine ornaments and necklaces and many-coloured garlands, covered as if with dense caves, decorated with red sandal, covered with heaps of flowers and lotus garlands, shining with the colour of the young sun. Seeing such a litter, Rama says to Lakshmana: “Let Valin be carried out quickly; let the funeral rites be done.” Then Sugriva, lamenting, lifts Valin with Angada and sets him on the litter. Having placed the lifeless Valin on the litter, adorned with ornaments of many kinds, garlands and clothes, King Sugriva, lord of the leapers, orders: “Let the rites after death be done for my noble brother, fittingly. Let the leapers go in front, scattering many jewels of many kinds, and the litter after them. Let the monkeys honour their master here with such grandeur as is seen on earth for kings.” They quickly perform such rites for Valin. Tara and the others, embracing Angada, all the monkeys who have lost their kinsman, go out crying. Then all the monkey women who were in his power cry out “Hero! Hero!” and call to their beloved again and again; Tara and all the monkey women who have lost their kinsman follow their husband, crying with piteous voices. With the sound of the weeping of the monkey women in the forest, the woods and mountains seem to cry out on every side. On a lonely sandbank of a mountain river, surrounded by water, many forest-roaming monkeys build a pyre. Then the best of the monkeys set the litter down from their shoulders and all stand aside, given over to grief. Then Tara, seeing her husband lying in the litter, puts his head in her lap and laments in deep sorrow: “Ah, great king of the monkeys! Ah, my protector, my loving one! Ah, most worthy, mighty-armed one! Ah, my beloved, look at me! Why do you not see these people, tormented by grief? Your face looks happy here, giver of honour, even lifeless, the colour of the setting sun, as if you were alive. This is Time in Rama’s form dragging you away, monkey, by whom we have all been made widows with a single arrow in battle. These are your monkey women, king of kings, not leapers, who have come all this way on foot; why do you not know it? These are your own wives with moon-like faces; why do you not look at Sugriva now, lord of the leapers? These are your ministers, king, Tara and the others, and these citizens surround you and despair. Dismiss these ministers as before, tamer of foes; then we will all play in the woods, flushed with love.” As Tara laments so, overwhelmed by grief for her husband, the monkey women, worn by grief, raise her up. Then Angada, weeping, his senses flooded with grief, with Sugriva places his father on the pyre. Having given the fire according to rule, his senses confused, he walks around his father, who has set out on the long road, keeping him on his left. Having cremated Valin by rule, the bulls among the leapers go to a river of lovely, auspicious water to offer water. There, together, setting Angada in front, with Sugriva and Tara, they offer water to Valin. Mighty Kakutstha, grieving like Sugriva and sharing his sorrow, has the funeral rites performed. Then, having burned Valin, of supreme manhood, famous, killed by the arrow of the best of the Ikshvakus, splendid as a blazing fire, the monkey king comes to Rama and Lakshmana.
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स सुग्रीवं च तारां च साङ्गदां सहलक्ष्मणः । समानशोकः काकुत्स्थः सान्त्वयन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥
Kakutstha, with Lakshmana, sharing their grief, comforting Sugriva and Tara, with Angada, said this:
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Valin’s Funeral 1 min read.
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न शोकपरितापेन श्रेयसा युज्यते मृतः । यदत्रानन्तरं कार्यं तत् समाधातुमर्हथ ॥ २ ॥
“The dead one is not joined with good by the anguish of grief. You should arrange what is to be done next here.
लोकवृत्तमनुष्ठेयं कृतं वो बाष्पमोक्षणम् । न कालादुत्तरं किंचित् कर्मशक्यमुपासितुम् ॥ ३ ॥
“The custom of the world is to be followed; the shedding of tears has been done by you. No action can be performed beyond its time.
नियतिः कारणं लोके नियतिः कर्मसाधनम् । नियतिः सर्वभूतानां नियोगेष्विह कारणम् ॥ ४ ॥
“Destiny is the cause in the world; destiny is the means of action; destiny is the cause of all beings in their appointments here.
न कर्ता कस्यचित् कश्चिन्नियोगे नापि चेश्वरः । स्वभावे वर्तते लोकस्तस्य कालः परायणम् ॥ ५ ॥
“No one is the doer of anything, nor master in the appointment. The world moves in its own nature; Time is its final resort.
न कालः कालमत्येति न कालः परिहीयते । स्वभावं च समासाद्य न कश्चिदतिवर्तते ॥ ६ ॥
“Time does not pass beyond Time, nor does Time diminish; and having reached its own nature, no one goes beyond it.
न कालस्यास्ति बन्धुत्वं न हेतुर्न पराक्रमः । न मित्रज्ञातिसम्बन्धः कारणं नात्मनो वशः ॥ ७ ॥
“Time has no kinship, no reason, no valour; no relation of friend or kin is a cause; it is not in one’s own control.
किं तु कालपरीणामो द्रष्टव्यः साधु पश्यता । धर्मश्चार्थश्च कामश्च कालक्रमसमाहिताः ॥ ८ ॥
“But the transformation of Time is to be seen by one who sees well. Dharma, wealth and desire are set in the order of Time.
इतः स्वां प्रकृतिं वाली गतः प्राप्तः क्रियाफलम् । सामदानार्थसंयोगैः पवित्रं प्लवगेश्वरः ॥ ९ ॥
“Valin has gone from here to his own nature, has gained the fruit of action; the lord of the leapers was purified by the joining of conciliation, gifts and wealth.
स्वधर्मस्य च संयोगाज्जितस्तेन महात्मना । स्वर्गः परिगृहीतश्च प्राणानपरिरक्षता ॥ १० ॥
“By joining with his own dharma, heaven was won by that great soul and taken hold of, not guarding his life.
एषा वै नियतिः श्रेष्ठा यां गतो हरियूथपः । तदलं परितापेन प्राप्तकालमुपास्यताम् ॥ ११ ॥
“This is the best destiny, to which the leader of monkey troops has gone. So enough of anguish; let what the time requires be attended to.”
वचनान्ते तु रामस्य लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा । अवदत् प्रश्रितं वाक्यं सुग्रीवं गतचेतसम् ॥ १२ ॥
At the end of Rama’s words, Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes, spoke courteous words to Sugriva, whose mind had gone:
कुरु त्वमस्य सुग्रीव प्रेतकार्यमनन्तरम् । ताराङ्गदाभ्यां सहितो वालिनो दहनं प्रति ॥ १३ ॥
“Perform his funeral rites now, Sugriva, with Tara and Angada, for the burning of Valin.
समाज्ञापय काष्ठानि शुष्काणि च बहूनि च । चन्दनानि च दिव्यानि वालिसंस्कारकारणात् ॥ १४ ॥
“Order wood, dry and plentiful, and divine sandalwood, for the purpose of Valin’s rites.
समाश्वासय दीनं त्वमङ्गदं दीनचेतसम् । मा भूर्बालिशबुद्धिस्त्वं त्वदधीनमिदं पुरम् ॥ १५ ॥
“Comfort the wretched Angada, wretched at heart. Do not be childish in mind; this city depends on you.
अङ्गदस्त्वानयेन्माल्यं वस्त्राणि विविधानि च । घृतं तैलमथो गन्धान् यच्चात्र समनन्तरम् ॥ १६ ॥
“Let Angada bring garlands and clothes of many kinds, ghee, oil, then perfumes, and whatever is next needed here.
त्वं तार शिबिकां शीघ्रमादायागच्छ सम्भ्रमात् । त्वरा गुणवती युक्ता ह्यस्मिन् काले विशेषतः ॥ १७ ॥
“You, Tara, bring a litter quickly and come in haste. For speed is a virtue, and fitting, especially at this time.
सज्जीभवन्तु प्लवगाः शिबिकावाहनोचिताः । समर्था बलिनश्चैव निर्हरिष्यन्ति वालिनम् ॥ १८ ॥
“Let leapers fit for carrying the litter make ready; able and strong, they will carry Valin out.”
एवमुक्त्वा तु सुग्रीवं सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः । तस्थौ भ्रातृसमीपस्थो लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा ॥ १९ ॥
Having said this to Sugriva, the increaser of Sumitra’s joy, Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes, stood near his brother.
लक्ष्मणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तारः सम्भ्रान्तमानसः । प्रविवेश गुहां शीघ्रं शिबिकासक्तमानसः ॥ २० ॥
Hearing Lakshmana’s words, Tara, his mind agitated, his mind fixed on the litter, quickly entered the cave.
आदाय शिबिकां तारः स तु पर्यापतत् पुनः । वानरैरुह्यमानां तां शूरैरुद्वहनोचितैः ॥ २१ ॥
And Tara, taking the litter, came back again, it being carried by heroic monkeys fit for carrying:
दिव्यां भद्रासनयुतां शिबिकां स्यन्दनोपमाम् । पक्षिकर्मभिराचित्रां द्रुमकर्मविभूषिताम् ॥ २२ ॥
divine, with a fine seat, like a chariot, painted with designs of birds, adorned with carvings of trees,
आचितां चित्रपत्तीभिः सुनिविष्टां समन्ततः । विमानमिव सिद्धानां जालवातायनायुताम् ॥ २३ ॥
set with many-coloured foot-soldiers, well set on every side, like the aerial chariot of the siddhas, with latticed windows,
सुनियुक्तां विशालां च सुकृतां शिल्पिभिः कृताम् । दारुपर्वतकोपेतां चारुकर्मपरिष्कृताम् ॥ २४ ॥
well joined and wide, well made, made by craftsmen, with wooden hills, adorned with lovely work,
वराभरणहारैश्च चित्रमाल्योपशोभिताम् । गुहागहनसंछन्नां रक्तचन्दनभूषिताम् ॥ २५ ॥
beautiful with fine ornaments and necklaces and many-coloured garlands, covered as if with dense caves, adorned with red sandal,
पुष्पौघैः समभिच्छन्नां पद्ममालाभिरेव च । तरुणादित्यवर्णाभिर्भ्राजमानाभिरावृताम् ॥ २६ ॥
covered with masses of flowers and with lotus garlands, surrounded by shining ones of the colour of the young sun.
ईदृशीं शिबिकां दृष्ट्वा रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् । क्षिप्रं विनीयतां वाली प्रेतकार्यं विधीयताम् ॥ २७ ॥
Seeing such a litter, Rama said to Lakshmana: “Let Valin be carried out quickly; let the funeral rites be performed.”
ततो वालिनमुद्यम्य सुग्रीवः शिबिकां तदा । आरोपयत विक्रोशन्नङ्गदेन सहैव तु ॥ २८ ॥
Then Sugriva, lifting Valin, then set him on the litter, crying out, together with Angada.
आरोप्य शिबिकां चैव वालिनं गतजीवितम् । अलंकारैश्च विविधैर्माल्यैर्वस्त्रैश्च भूषितम् ॥ २९ ॥
Having set on the litter Valin, whose life had gone, adorned with ornaments of many kinds, with garlands and with clothes,
आज्ञापयत् तदा राजा सुग्रीवः प्लवगेश्वरः । और्ध्वदेहिकमार्यस्य क्रियतामनुकूलतः ॥ ३० ॥
then the king, Sugriva, lord of the leapers, ordered: “Let the rites after death of my noble one be done fittingly.
विश्राणयन्तो रत्नानि विविधानि बहूनि च । अग्रतः प्लवगा यान्तु शिबिका तदनन्तरम् ॥ ३१ ॥
“Distributing many jewels of many kinds, let the leapers go in front, and the litter after them.
राज्ञामृद्धिविशेषा हि दृश्यन्ते भुवि यादृशाः । तादृशैरिह कुर्वन्तु वानरा भर्तृसत्क्रियाम् ॥ ३२ ॥
“Such special grandeur of kings as is seen on earth, with such let the monkeys here do honour to their master.”
तादृशं वालिनः क्षिप्रं प्राकुर्वन्नौर्ध्वदेहिकम् । अङ्गदं परिरभ्याशु तारप्रभृतयस्तदा ॥ ३३ ॥
Such rites for Valin they quickly performed. Tara and the others then, quickly embracing Angada,
क्रोशन्तः प्रययुः सर्वे वानरा हतबान्धवाः । ततः प्रणिहिताः सर्वा वानर्योऽस्य वशानुगाः ॥ ३४ ॥
all the monkeys whose kinsman was killed went out crying. Then all the monkey women who were in his power,
चुक्रुशुर्वीरवीरेति भूयः क्रोशन्ति ताः प्रियम् । ताराप्रभृतयः सर्वा वानर्यो हतबान्धवाः ॥ ३५ ॥
cried “Hero, hero!”, and again they call their beloved: Tara and all the monkey women whose kinsman was killed
अनुजग्मुश्च भर्तारं क्रोशन्त्यः करुणस्वनाः । तासां रुदितशब्देन वानरीणां वनान्तरे ॥ ३६ ॥
followed their husband, crying with piteous voices. With the sound of the weeping of those monkey women in the forest,
वनानि गिरयश्चैव विक्रोशन्तीव सर्वतः । पुलिने गिरिनद्यास्तु विविक्ते जलसंवृते ॥ ३७ ॥
the woods and mountains seem to cry out on every side. On a lonely sandbank of a mountain river, surrounded by water,
चितां चक्रुः सुबहवो वानरा वनचारिणः । अवरोप्य ततः स्कन्धाच्छिबिकां वानरोत्तमाः ॥ ३८ ॥
very many forest-roaming monkeys made a pyre. Then the best of monkeys, setting down the litter from their shoulders,
तस्थुरेकान्तमाश्रित्य सर्वे शोकपरायणाः । ततस्तारा पतिं दृष्ट्वा शिबिकातलशायिनम् ॥ ३९ ॥
all stood resorting to a lonely spot, given over to grief. Then Tara, seeing her husband lying in the litter,
आरोप्याङ्के शिरस्तस्य विललाप सुदुःखिता । हा वानरमहाराज हा नाथ मम वत्सल ॥ ४० ॥
placing his head in her lap, lamented in deep sorrow: “Ah, great king of the monkeys! Ah, my protector, my loving one!
हा महार्ह महाबाहो हा मम प्रिय पश्य माम् । जनं न पश्यसीमं त्वं कस्माच्छोकाभिपीडितम् ॥ ४१ ॥
“Ah, most worthy one, mighty-armed! Ah, my beloved, look at me! Why do you not see these people, tormented by grief?
प्रहृष्टमिह ते वक्त्रं गतासोरपि मानद । अस्तार्कसमवर्णं च दृश्यते जीवतो यथा ॥ ४२ ॥
“Your face here is joyful even though you are lifeless, giver of honour, and seen to be of the colour of the setting sun, as of one living.
एष त्वां रामरूपेण कालः कर्षति वानर । येन स्म विधवाः सर्वाः कृता एकेषुणा रणे ॥ ४३ ॥
“This is Time dragging you in Rama’s form, monkey, by whom we have all been made widows with one arrow in battle.
इमास्तास्तव राजेन्द्र वानर्योऽप्लवगास्तव । पादैर्विकृष्टमध्वानमागताः किं न बुध्यसे ॥ ४४ ॥
“These are your monkey women, king of kings, not leapers, who have come the long road dragged on foot; why do you not know it?
तवेष्टा ननु चैवेमा भार्याश्चन्द्रनिभाननाः । इदानीं नेक्षसे कस्मात् सुग्रीवं प्लवगेश्वर ॥ ४५ ॥
“Are not these your beloved wives, with moon-like faces? Why do you not look at Sugriva now, lord of the leapers?
एते हि सचिवा राजंस्तारप्रभृतयस्तव । पुरवासिजनश्चायं परिवार्य विषीदति ॥ ४६ ॥
“These are your ministers, king, Tara and the others, and these city-dwelling people surround you and despair.
विसर्जयैनान् सचिवान् यथापुरमरिंदम । ततः क्रीडामहे सर्वा वनेषु मदनोत्कटाः ॥ ४७ ॥
“Dismiss these ministers as before, tamer of foes; then we will all play in the woods, flushed with love.”
एवं विलपतीं तारां पतिशोकपरीवृताम् । उत्थापयन्ति स्म तदा वानर्यः शोककर्शिताः ॥ ४८ ॥
As Tara lamented so, surrounded by grief for her husband, the monkey women, worn by grief, then raised her up.
सुग्रीवेण ततः सार्धं सोऽङ्गदः पितरं रुदन् । चितामारोपयामास शोकेनाभिप्लुतेन्द्रियः ॥ ४९ ॥
Then Angada, weeping, with Sugriva, his senses flooded with grief, placed his father on the pyre.
ततोऽग्निं विधिवद् दत्त्वा सोऽपसव्यं चकार ह । पितरं दीर्घमध्वानं प्रस्थितं व्याकुलेन्द्रियः ॥ ५० ॥
Then, having given the fire according to rule, he walked around keeping him on the left, his father, who had set out on the long road, his senses confused.
संस्कृत्य वालिनं तं तु विधिवत् प्लवगर्षभाः । आजग्मुरुदकं कर्तुं नदीं शुभजलां शिवाम् ॥ ५१ ॥
Having cremated that Valin according to rule, the bulls among the leapers came to the auspicious river of lovely water to offer water.
ततस्ते सहितास्तत्र ह्यङ्गदं स्थाप्य चाग्रतः । सुग्रीवतारासहिताः सिषिचुर्वालिने जलम् ॥ ५२ ॥
Then, together there, placing Angada in front, with Sugriva and Tara, they poured water for Valin.
सुग्रीवेणैव दीनेन दीनो भूत्वा महाबलः । समानशोकः काकुत्स्थः प्रेतकार्याण्यकारयत् ॥ ५३ ॥
Mighty Kakutstha, made grieving with the grieving Sugriva, sharing his grief, had the funeral rites performed.
ततोऽथ तं वालिनमग्र्यपौरुषं प्रकाशमिक्ष्वाकुवरेषुणा हतम् । प्रदीप्य दीप्ताग्निसमौजसं तदा सलक्ष्मणं राममुपेयिवान् हरिः ॥ ५४ ॥
Then, having set ablaze that Valin of foremost manhood, famous, killed by the arrow of the best of the Ikshvakus, of a vigour equal to blazing fire, the monkey then came to Rama with Lakshmana.