Kishkindha Kanda · Sarga 31 of 67 · 51 verses
Lakshmana Storms Kishkindha
Rama’s younger brother, son of a king, speaks to his elder brother, the lovesick, wretched, yet undaunted son of the god among men, overcome by grief, his anger risen: “The monkey will not keep to good conduct; he does not consider the consequences of actions; he will not enjoy the glory of the monkey kingdom, for his mind does not go that far. Through loss of judgment he is attached to vulgar pleasures, and he thinks of repaying your favour. Let him be killed and see his elder brother, the hero Valin; the kingdom should not be given to one so worthless. I cannot hold back my risen anger; I will kill the false Sugriva today. Let Valin’s son, with the foremost monkeys, carry out the search for the king’s daughter.” As he springs up, bow in hand, having announced his purpose, fierce with battle-anger, Rama, slayer of enemy heroes, speaks to him persuasively, having thought it through: “One like you in the world should not commit such a wrong. He who kills anger with nobility is a hero, the best of men. You, of good conduct, Lakshmana, should not take this course here. Follow that affection and the friendship made before. Avoiding harsh words, with speech tempered with conciliation, you should tell Sugriva that the time has passed.” Instructed properly by his elder brother, the hero Lakshmana, bull among men, slayer of enemy heroes, enters the city.
Then wise Lakshmana, of good intent, devoted to his brother’s welfare, enraged, goes to the monkey’s dwelling, holding his bow, like Shakra’s bow, like Time the destroyer, like a mountain peak, like Mandara with its ridges. Doing as he was told, thinking out reply and counter-reply, equal to Brihaspati in understanding, Rama’s younger brother, wrapped in the fire of his brother’s anger born of love and wrath, sets out displeased like the storm wind. Swiftly felling sala, tala and ashvakarna trees by force, hurling down mountain peaks and other trees, splitting rocks to pieces with his feet like a swift elephant, taking long strides, he goes quickly, driven by his task. The tiger of the Ikshvakus sees the great city of the king of the monkeys, Kishkindha, crowded with troops, hard to enter, in a mountain pass. His lip trembling with anger at Sugriva, Lakshmana sees fearsome monkeys moving outside Kishkindha. Seeing Lakshmana, bull among men, the monkeys, like elephants, seize hundreds of mountain peaks and great trees among the mountains. Seeing them all with weapons in hand, Lakshmana becomes twice as angry, like a fire with plenty of fuel. Seeing him enraged, like Time, Death and the end of an age, the leapers, their limbs filled with fear, flee by hundreds in every direction. The bulls among the monkeys enter Sugriva’s palace and report Lakshmana’s anger and his coming. But the lustful bull among monkeys, attached to Tara, does not hear the words of those lions among monkeys. Then, ordered by the ministers, hair-raising monkeys like mountains, elephants and clouds come out of the city, all heroes armed with nails and fangs, of monstrous look, all with tigers’ fangs and gaping faces, some with the strength of ten elephants, some ten times more, some with the vigour of a thousand elephants. Angry Lakshmana sees Kishkindha, hard to approach, filled with those very mighty monkeys, trees in their hands. Then all the monkeys, of lofty spirit, come out from between the rampart and the moat and stand in plain view. Seeing Sugriva’s negligence and thinking of his elder brother’s purpose, the self-possessed hero, overcome by anger, goes on again. Breathing long, hot, great breaths, his eyes red with anger, the tiger among men is like a fire with smoke, like a five-headed serpent, his tongue the flickering arrowheads, his coils his bow and arrows, born of the poison of his own splendour. Approaching him, blazing like the fire of Time, like an enraged king of serpents, Angada falls into deep despair from fear. Famous Lakshmana, his eyes copper with anger, orders Angada: “Let Sugriva be told of my coming, child: ‘This younger brother of Rama has come to you, tamer of foes; Lakshmana, burning with his brother’s misfortune, stands at the gate. If you please, monkey, do as he says.’ Having said this, come back quickly, child, tamer of foes.” Hearing Lakshmana, Angada, filled with grief, goes to his father’s side and says, “Saumitri has come.” Then Angada, agitated by those very harsh words, his face downcast, swift, goes out first to the king and salutes Ruma’s feet. The fiercely splendid one clasps his father’s feet, then his mother’s feet again, and pressing Ruma’s feet, tells them the matter. But the monkey, wrapped in sleepy exhaustion, does not wake; he is drunk with liquor and bewildered by love. Then the monkeys, seeing Lakshmana, raise a chattering, trying to appease the angry one, their minds confused by fear. Seeing him like a great flood, with a voice like the crash of the thunderbolt, they raise a lion’s roar together near Lakshmana. At that great sound the monkey wakes, his eyes copper and unsteady with drink, confused, adorned with garlands. Hearing Angada’s words, the two ministers of the lord of the monkeys come with him, respected and noble in appearance, Plaksha and Prabhava, ministers for interest and dharma, and tell him of Lakshmana, who has come to speak words high and low. Having won Sugriva over with words certain of their purpose, sitting beside him as he sits, as the Maruts beside Shakra, they say: “The two brothers Rama and Lakshmana, true to their promises, very fortunate, who have taken on human form, worthy of kingdoms and givers of kingdoms: one of them, Lakshmana, bow in hand, stands at the gate, and the monkeys, trembling with fear of him, are crying out. This is Raghava’s brother Lakshmana, whose charioteer is speech and whose chariot is resolve, come at Rama’s command. And this is Tara’s dear son Angada, king, sent to you in haste by Lakshmana, sinless one. The mighty one stands at the gate, his eyes filled with rage, as if burning up the monkeys with his look, lord of monkeys. Go quickly, great king, with your son and your kin, and bow to him with your head; let his anger be calmed today. Do with full attention what righteous Rama wants. King, keep to your agreement; be true to your promise.”
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स कामिनं दीनमदीनसत्त्वं शोकाभिपन्नं समुदीर्णकोपम् । नरेन्द्रसूनुर्नरदेवपुत्रं रामानुजः पूर्वजमित्युवाच ॥ १ ॥
To his lovesick, wretched, yet undaunted elder brother, overcome by grief, his anger risen, son of a god among men, the son of a king, Rama’s younger brother, said this:
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Lakshmana Storms Kishkindha 1 min read.
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न वानरः स्थास्यति साधुवृत्ते न मन्यते कर्मफलानुषङ्गान् । न भोक्ष्यते वानरराज्यलक्ष्मीं तथा हि नातिक्रमतेऽस्य बुद्धिः ॥ २ ॥
“The monkey will not keep to good conduct; he does not consider the consequences of the fruit of actions; he will not enjoy the glory of the monkey kingdom; for so his mind does not go beyond.
मतिक्षयाद् ग्राम्यसुखेषु सक्त- स्तव प्रसादात् प्रतिकारबुद्धिः । हतोऽग्रजं पश्यतु वीरवालिनं न राज्यमेवं विगुणस्य देयम् ॥ ३ ॥
“From loss of judgment he is attached to vulgar pleasures, and thinks of repayment for your favour. Killed, let him see his elder brother, the hero Valin; the kingdom should not be given to one so worthless.
न धारये कोपमुदीर्णवेगं निहन्मि सुग्रीवमसत्यमद्य । हरिप्रवीरैः सह वालिपुत्रो नरेन्द्रपुत्र्या विचयं करोतु ॥ ४ ॥
“I will not hold back anger of risen force; I will kill the untruthful Sugriva today. Let Valin’s son with the foremost monkeys make the search for the king’s daughter.”
तमात्तबाणासनमुत्पतन्तं निवेदितार्थं रणचण्डकोपम् । उवाच रामः परवीरहन्ता स्ववीक्षितं सानुनयं च वाक्यम् ॥ ५ ॥
To him, springing up, with bow taken, his purpose announced, fierce with battle-anger, Rama, slayer of enemy heroes, spoke well-considered, persuasive words:
नहि वै त्वद्विधो लोके पापमेवं समाचरेत् । कोपमार्येण यो हन्ति स वीरः पुरुषोत्तमः ॥ ६ ॥
“One like you in the world would not commit such a wrong. He who kills anger with nobility is a hero, best of men.
नेदमत्र त्वया ग्राह्यं साधुवृत्तेन लक्ष्मण । तां प्रीतिमनुवर्तस्व पूर्ववृत्तं च संगतम् ॥ ७ ॥
“This is not to be taken up here by you, of good conduct, Lakshmana. Follow that affection and the friendship formed before.
सामोपहितया वाचा रूक्षाणि परिवर्जयन् । वक्तुमर्हसि सुग्रीवं व्यतीतं कालपर्यये ॥ ८ ॥
“With speech joined with conciliation, avoiding harsh words, you should tell Sugriva of the time passed in the course of time.”
सोऽग्रजेनानुशिष्टार्थो यथावत् पुरुषर्षभः । प्रविवेश पुरीं वीरो लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा ॥ ९ ॥
He, instructed in the matter properly by his elder brother, the bull among men, the hero Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes, entered the city.
ततः शुभमतिः प्राज्ञो भ्रातुः प्रियहिते रतः । लक्ष्मणः प्रतिसंरब्धो जगाम भवनं कपेः ॥ १० ॥
Then, of good intent, wise, devoted to his brother’s dear good, Lakshmana, enraged, went to the monkey’s dwelling,
शक्रबाणासनप्रख्यं धनुः कालान्तकोपमम् । प्रगृह्य गिरिशृङ्गाभं मन्दरः सानुमानिव ॥ ११ ॥
holding his bow, like Shakra’s bow, like Time the ender, like a mountain peak, like Mandara with its ridges.
यथोक्तकारी वचनमुत्तरं चैव सोत्तरम् । बृहस्पतिसमो बुद्ध्या मत्वा रामानुजस्तदा ॥ १२ ॥
Doing as told, Rama’s younger brother, equal to Brihaspati in understanding, having thought out the reply and the further reply then,
कामक्रोधसमुत्थेन भ्रातुः क्रोधाग्निना वृतः । प्रभञ्जन इवाप्रीतः प्रययौ लक्ष्मणस्ततः ॥ १३ ॥
wrapped in his brother’s fire of anger, risen from love and wrath, Lakshmana set out then, displeased, like the storm wind.
सालतालाश्वकर्णांश्च तरसा पातयन् बलात् । पर्यस्यन् गिरिकूटानि द्रुमानन्यांश्च वेगितः ॥ १४ ॥
Felling sala, tala and ashvakarna trees swiftly by force, hurling down mountain peaks and other trees, with speed,
शिलाश्च शकलीकुर्वन् पद्भ्यां गज इवाशुगः । दूरमेकपदं त्यक्त्वा ययौ कार्यवशाद् द्रुतम् ॥ १५ ॥
and making rocks into pieces with his feet, like a swift elephant, leaving long strides, he went quickly, driven by the task.
तामपश्यद् बलाकीर्णां हरिराजमहापुरीम् । दुर्गामिक्ष्वाकुशार्दूलः किष्किन्धां गिरिसंकटे ॥ १६ ॥
The tiger of the Ikshvakus saw that great city of the king of the monkeys, crowded with troops, hard to enter, Kishkindha in a mountain pass.
रोषात् प्रस्फुरमाणोष्ठः सुग्रीवं प्रति लक्ष्मणः । ददर्श वानरान् भीमान् किष्किन्धायां बहिश्चरान् ॥ १७ ॥
His lip trembling with anger toward Sugriva, Lakshmana saw terrible monkeys moving outside in Kishkindha.
तं दृष्ट्वा वानराः सर्वे लक्ष्मणं पुरुषर्षभम् । शैलशृङ्गाणि शतशः प्रवृद्धांश्च महीरुहान् । जगृहुः कुञ्जरप्रख्या वानराः पर्वतान्तरे ॥ १८ ॥
Seeing him, Lakshmana, bull among men, all the monkeys, like elephants, seized hundreds of mountain peaks and grown trees among the mountains.
तान् गृहीतप्रहरणान् सर्वान् दृष्ट्वा तु लक्ष्मणः । बभूव द्विगुणं क्रुद्धो बह्विन्धन इवानलः ॥ १९ ॥
But seeing them all with weapons taken, Lakshmana became twice as angry, like a fire with plenty of fuel.
तं ते भयपरीताङ्गा क्षुब्धं दृष्ट्वा प्लवंगमाः । कालमृत्युयुगान्ताभं शतशो विद्रुता दिशः ॥ २० ॥
Seeing him enraged, like Time, Death and the end of an age, the leapers, their limbs filled with fear, fled by hundreds to the directions.
ततः सुग्रीवभवनं प्रविश्य हरिपुंगवाः । क्रोधमागमनं चैव लक्ष्मणस्य न्यवेदयन् ॥ २१ ॥
Then the bulls among the monkeys, entering Sugriva’s palace, reported Lakshmana’s anger and his coming.
तारया सहितः कामी सक्तः कपिवृषस्तदा । न तेषां कपिसिंहानां शुश्राव वचनं तदा ॥ २२ ॥
But the lustful bull among monkeys, attached, with Tara, did not then hear the words of those lions among monkeys.
ततः सचिवसंदिष्टा हरयो रोमहर्षणाः । गिरिकुञ्जरमेघाभा नगरान्निर्ययुस्तदा ॥ २३ ॥
Then, ordered by the ministers, the hair-raising monkeys, like mountains, elephants and clouds, went out from the city,
नखदंष्ट्रायुधाः सर्वे वीरा विकृतदर्शनाः । सर्वे शार्दूलदंष्ट्राश्च सर्वे विवृतदर्शनाः ॥ २४ ॥
all heroes armed with nails and fangs, of monstrous appearance, all with tigers’ fangs and all with gaping faces.
दशनागबलाः केचित् केचिद् दशगुणोत्तराः । केचिन्नागसहस्रस्य बभूवुस्तुल्यवर्चसः ॥ २५ ॥
Some had the strength of ten elephants, some ten times more; some were of vigour equal to a thousand elephants.
ततस्तैः कपिभिर्व्याप्तां द्रुमहस्तैर्महाबलैः । अपश्यल्लक्ष्मणः क्रुद्धः किष्किन्धां तां दुरासदाम् ॥ २६ ॥
Then angry Lakshmana saw that Kishkindha, hard to approach, filled with those very mighty monkeys with trees in their hands.
ततस्ते हरयः सर्वे प्राकारपरिखान्तरात् । निष्क्रम्योदग्रसत्त्वास्तु तस्थुराविष्कृतं तदा ॥ २७ ॥
Then all those monkeys, of lofty spirit, coming out from between the rampart and the moat, stood then in plain view.
सुग्रीवस्य प्रमादं च पूर्वजस्यार्थमात्मवान् । दृष्ट्वा क्रोधवशं वीरः पुनरेव जगाम सः ॥ २८ ॥
Seeing Sugriva’s negligence and his elder brother’s purpose, the self-possessed hero, under the power of anger, went on again.
स दीर्घोष्णमहोच्छ्वासः कोपसंरक्तलोचनः । बभूव नरशार्दूलः सधूम इव पावकः ॥ २९ ॥
Breathing long, hot, great breaths, his eyes red with anger, the tiger among men was like a fire with smoke,
बाणशल्यस्फुरज्जिह्वः सायकासनभोगवान् । स्वतेजोविषसम्भूतः पञ्चास्य इव पन्नगः ॥ ३० ॥
like a five-headed serpent, with arrowheads for a flickering tongue, with bow and arrows for coils, born of the poison of his own splendour.
तं दीप्तमिव कालाग्निं नागेन्द्रमिव कोपितम् । समासाद्याङ्गदस्त्रासाद् विषादमगमत् परम् ॥ ३१ ॥
Approaching him, blazing like the fire of Time, like an enraged lord of serpents, Angada from fear fell into the deepest despair.
सोऽङ्गदं रोषताम्राक्षः संदिदेश महायशाः । सुग्रीवः कथ्यतां वत्स ममागमनमित्युत ॥ ३२ ॥
That very famous one, his eyes copper with anger, ordered Angada: “Let Sugriva be told of my coming, child:
एष रामानुजः प्राप्तस्त्वत्सकाशमरिंदम । भ्रातुर्व्यसनसंतप्तो द्वारि तिष्ठति लक्ष्मणः ॥ ३३ ॥
“’This younger brother of Rama has come to your presence, tamer of foes; burning with his brother’s misfortune, Lakshmana stands at the gate.
तस्य वाक्यं यदि रुचिः क्रियतां साधु वानर । इत्युक्त्वा शीघ्रमागच्छ वत्स वाक्यमरिंदम ॥ ३४ ॥
“’If you please, let his word be done well, monkey.’ Having said this, come back quickly, child, tamer of foes, with the word.”
लक्ष्मणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा शोकाविष्टोऽङ्गदोऽब्रवीत् । पितुः समीपमागम्य सौमित्रिरयमागतः ॥ ३५ ॥
Hearing Lakshmana’s words, Angada, filled with grief, coming to his father’s side, said: “This Saumitri has come.”
अथाङ्गदस्तस्य सुतीव्रवाचा सम्भ्रान्तभावः परिदीनवक्त्रः । निर्गत्य पूर्वं नृपतेस्तरस्वी ततो रुमायाश्चरणौ ववन्दे ॥ ३६ ॥
Then Angada, agitated by his very sharp speech, his face downcast, swift, going out first to the king, then saluted Ruma’s feet.
संगृह्य पादौ पितुरुग्रतेजा जग्राह मातुः पुनरेव पादौ । पादौ रुमायाश्च निपीडयित्वा निवेदयामास ततस्तदर्थम् ॥ ३७ ॥
Clasping his father’s feet, the fiercely splendid one took his mother’s feet again, and pressing Ruma’s feet, then reported that matter.
स निद्राक्लान्तसंवीतो वानरो न विबुद्धवान् । बभूव मदमत्तश्च मदनेन च मोहितः ॥ ३८ ॥
But the monkey, wrapped in sleepy exhaustion, did not wake; he was drunk with liquor and bewildered by love.
ततः किलकिलां चक्रुर्लक्ष्मणं प्रेक्ष्य वानराः । प्रसादयन्तस्तं क्रुद्धं भयमोहितचेतसः ॥ ३९ ॥
Then the monkeys, seeing Lakshmana, made a chattering, trying to appease the angry one, their minds confused by fear.
ते महौघनिभं दृष्ट्वा वज्राशनिसमस्वनम् । सिंहनादं समं चक्रुर्लक्ष्मणस्य समीपतः ॥ ४० ॥
Seeing him like a great flood, with a sound like the crash of the vajra, they made a lion’s roar together near Lakshmana.
तेन शब्देन महता प्रत्यबुध्यत वानरः । मदविह्वलताम्राक्षो व्याकुलः स्रग्विभूषणः ॥ ४१ ॥
At that great sound the monkey woke, his eyes copper and unsteady with drink, confused, adorned with garlands.
अथाङ्गदवचः श्रुत्वा तेनैव च समागतौ । मन्त्रिणौ वानरेन्द्रस्य सम्मतोदारदर्शनौ ॥ ४२ ॥
Then, hearing Angada’s words, the two ministers of the lord of the monkeys, who came with him, respected, of noble appearance,
प्लक्षश्चैव प्रभावश्च मन्त्रिणावर्थधर्मयोः । वक्तुमुच्चावचं प्राप्तं लक्ष्मणं तौ शशंसतुः ॥ ४३ ॥
Plaksha and Prabhava, ministers for interest and dharma, told of Lakshmana, come to speak words high and low.
प्रसादयित्वा सुग्रीवं वचनैः सार्थनिश्चितैः । आसीनं पर्युपासीनौ यथा शक्रं मरुत्पतिम् ॥ ४४ ॥
Having won over Sugriva with words certain in purpose, sitting beside him as he sat, as the Maruts beside Shakra:
सत्यसंधौ महाभागौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । मनुष्यभावं सम्प्राप्तौ राज्यार्हौ राज्यदायिनौ ॥ ४५ ॥
“The two brothers Rama and Lakshmana, true to their promises, very fortunate, who have taken on human state, worthy of kingdoms, givers of kingdoms:
तयोरेको धनुष्पाणिर्द्वारि तिष्ठति लक्ष्मणः । यस्य भीताः प्रवेपन्तो नादान् मुञ्चन्ति वानराः ॥ ४६ ॥
“of them one, Lakshmana, bow in hand, stands at the gate, afraid of whom the monkeys, trembling, let out cries.
स एष राघवभ्राता लक्ष्मणो वाक्यसारथिः । व्यवसायरथः प्राप्तस्तस्य रामस्य शासनात् ॥ ४७ ॥
“This is Raghava’s brother Lakshmana, with speech as charioteer and resolve as chariot, come by command of that Rama.
अयं च तनयो राजंस्ताराया दयितोऽङ्गदः । लक्ष्मणेन सकाशं ते प्रेषितस्त्वरयानघ ॥ ४८ ॥
“And this is Tara’s dear son Angada, king, sent to your presence in haste by Lakshmana, sinless one.
सोऽयं रोषपरीताक्षो द्वारि तिष्ठति वीर्यवान् । वानरान् वानरपते चक्षुषा निर्दहन्निव ॥ ४९ ॥
“He, the mighty one, his eyes filled with rage, stands at the gate, as if burning up the monkeys with his eye, lord of monkeys.
तस्य मूर्ध्ना प्रणामं त्वं सपुत्रः सहबान्धवः । गच्छ शीघ्रं महाराज रोषो ह्यद्योपशाम्यताम् ॥ ५० ॥
“Go quickly, great king, with your son and with your kin, and bow to him with your head; let his anger be calmed today.
यथा हि रामो धर्मात्मा तत्कुरुष्व समाहितः । राजंस्तिष्ठ स्वसमये भव सत्यप्रतिश्रवः ॥ ५१ ॥
“Do with attention what righteous Rama wishes. King, stand by your own agreement; be true to your promise.”