Kishkindha Kanda · Sarga 39 of 67 · 44 verses
The Monkey Hosts Arrive
As Sugriva speaks so, Rama, best of the upholders of dharma, embraces him with both arms as he stands with joined palms and answers: “It is no wonder that Indra rains, or that the thousand-rayed sun clears the sky of darkness, or that the moon makes the night clear with its light, gentle one; and it is no wonder that one like you brings joy to his friends, scorcher of foes. So too, whatever good comes from you is no wonder, gentle one. I know you, Sugriva, as one who always speaks kindly. With you as my protector, friend, I will conquer all my enemies in battle. You alone are my friend and ally; you should give me help. The lowest of rakshasas carried off Maithili to his own destruction, deceiving us, as Anuhlada carried off Shachi, Puloman’s daughter. Before long I will kill that Ravana with sharp arrows, as Shatakratu, slayer of foes, killed the proud father of Paulomi.” Meanwhile a cloud of dust rises and covers the hot, sharp light of the thousand-rayed sun in the sky. The directions are confused, blotted by that darkness, and the whole earth shakes with its mountains, woods and forests. Then the whole earth is covered by countless very mighty leapers, sharp-fanged, like great mountains. In the blink of an eye come the leaders of monkey troops, each surrounded by hundreds of crores of monkeys: monkeys of the rivers, of the mountains and of the sea, very mighty, with voices like thunder, and other forest-dwellers, coloured like the young sun, white as the moon, coloured like lotus filaments, white monkeys living on golden mountains. Surrounded by ten thousand crores, the glorious hero monkey named Shatabali appears. Then the mighty father of Tara, like a golden mountain, appears with many thousands of crores. With another thousand crores comes Ruma’s father, Sugriva’s lord father-in-law. Like a lotus filament, his face like the young sun, wise, best of monkeys, foremost of all, Hanuman’s glorious father Kesari appears with many thousands of monkeys. Gavaksha, great king of the langurs, of terrible valour, is seen surrounded by a thousand crores of monkeys. Dhumra, destroyer of enemies, comes surrounded by two thousand crores of terribly swift bears. The troop-leader Panasa, very mighty, comes surrounded by three crores of terrible ones like great mountains. The huge-bodied troop-leader named Nila, shaped like a heap of dark collyrium, appears surrounded by ten crores. The troop-leader Gavaya, like a golden mountain, very mighty, comes surrounded by five crores. The mighty troop-leader Darimukha comes surrounded by a thousand crores and stands by Sugriva. Mainda and Dvivida, the very mighty sons of the Ashvins, appear with a thousand crores of crores of monkeys. The mighty hero Gaja, of great splendour, comes to Sugriva surrounded by three crores. The king of the bears, of great splendour, named Jambavan, surrounded by ten crores, stands under Sugriva’s command. The splendid Rumana, mighty, comes quickly, surrounded by valiant monkeys, a hundred crores. Then Gandhamadana comes, followed by a hundred thousand thousand crores of monkeys. Then the heir apparent Angada comes, equal to his father in valour, surrounded by a thousand padmas and a hundred shankus. Then Tara, radiant as a star, is seen from afar with five crores of monkeys of terrible valour. The hero troop-leader Indrajanu, wise, appears, lord of eleven crores and surrounded by them. Then Rambha arrives, like the young sun, surrounded by ten thousand, a thousand and a hundred. Then the heroic troop-leader, the monkey named Durmukha, mighty, appears surrounded by two crores. Hanuman appears surrounded by a thousand crores of monkeys like the peaks of Kailasa, of terrible valour. Very mighty Nala comes too, surrounded by tree-dwellers, a hundred crores, a thousand and a hundred. Then glorious Dadhimukha comes, surrounded by ten crores, roaring before great-souled Sugriva. Sharabha, Kumuda, Vahni, the monkey Ramha, these and many other monkeys who take any form at will, troop-leaders beyond counting, arrive, covering the whole earth, the mountains and the forests. All the monkeys on earth come and settle; leaping, bounding and roaring, the leapers surround Sugriva like hosts of clouds around the sun. Making many sounds, eminent, strong-armed, they announce themselves with bowed heads to Sugriva, king of the monkeys. Other best of monkeys, meeting as is proper, come together with Sugriva and stand with joined palms. Sugriva, knowing dharma, quickly presents all those bulls among monkeys to Rama and, standing with joined palms, says: “Lords of monkeys, having settled your forces properly at your ease by the mountain waterfalls and in all the forests, let one who knows the strength of armies take charge of the army.”
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इति ब्रुवाणं सुग्रीवं रामो धर्मभृतां वरः । बाहुभ्यां सम्परिष्वज्य प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिम् ॥ १ ॥
To Sugriva speaking so, Rama, best of the upholders of dharma, embracing him with both arms, replied to him with joined palms:
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यदिन्द्रो वर्षते वर्षं न तच्चित्रं भविष्यति । आदित्योऽसौ सहस्रांशुः कुर्याद् वितिमिरं नभः ॥ २ ॥
“That Indra rains rain will be no wonder; that thousand-rayed sun may make the sky free of darkness;
चन्द्रमा रजनीं कुर्यात् प्रभया सौम्य निर्मलाम् । त्वद्विधो वापि मित्राणां प्रीतिं कुर्यात् परंतप ॥ ३ ॥
“the moon may make the night clear with its light, gentle one; or one like you may make joy for friends, scorcher of foes.
एवं त्वयि न तच्चित्रं भवेद् यत् सौम्य शोभनम् । जानाम्यहं त्वां सुग्रीव सततं प्रियवादिनम् ॥ ४ ॥
“So in you, that which is good would be no wonder, gentle one. I know you, Sugriva, as always kind-speaking.
त्वत्सनाथः सखे संख्ये जेतास्मि सकलानरीन् । त्वमेव मे सुहृन्मित्रं साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ ५ ॥
“With you as protector, friend, I will be the conqueror of all enemies in battle. You alone are my friend and ally; you should give help.
जहारात्मविनाशाय मैथिलीं राक्षसाधमः । वञ्चयित्वा तु पौलोमीमनुह्लादो यथा शचीम् ॥ ६ ॥
“The lowest of rakshasas carried off Maithili for his own destruction, deceiving, as Anuhlada did Shachi, Puloman’s daughter.
नचिरात् तं वधिष्यामि रावणं निशितैः शरैः । पौलोम्याः पितरं दृप्तं शतक्रतुरिवारिहा ॥ ७ ॥
“Before long I will kill that Ravana with sharp arrows, as Shatakratu, slayer of foes, the proud father of Paulomi.”
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे चैव रजः समभिवर्तत । उष्णतीव्रां सहस्रांशोश्छादयद् गगने प्रभाम् ॥ ८ ॥
And meanwhile dust rose, covering in the sky the hot, sharp radiance of the thousand-rayed one.
दिशः पर्याकुलाश्चासंस्तमसा तेन दूषिताः । चचाल च मही सर्वा सशैलवनकानना ॥ ९ ॥
And the directions were confused, blotted by that darkness, and the whole earth shook with its mountains, woods and forests.
ततो नगेन्द्रसंकाशैस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रैर्महाबलैः । कृत्स्ना संछादिता भूमिरसंख्येयैः प्लवंगमैः ॥ १० ॥
Then the whole earth was covered by countless leapers like great mountains, sharp-fanged, very mighty.
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण ततस्तैर्हरियूथपैः । कोटीशतपरीवारैर्वानरैर्हरियूथपैः ॥ ११ ॥
Then, in the space of a blink, by those troop-leaders, by monkeys with hundreds of crores as retinue, by monkey troop-leaders,
नादेयैः पार्वतेयैश्च सामुद्रैश्च महाबलैः । हरिभिर्मेघनिर्ह्रादैरन्यैश्च वनवासिभिः ॥ १२ ॥
by very mighty monkeys of the rivers, of the mountains and of the sea, with voices like clouds, and by other forest-dwellers,
तरुणादित्यवर्णैश्च शशिगौरैश्च वानरैः । पद्मकेसरवर्णैश्च श्वेतैर्हेमकृतालयैः ॥ १३ ॥
and by monkeys coloured like the young sun and white as the moon, and coloured like lotus filaments, white ones dwelling on golden mountains:
कोटीसहस्रैर्दशभिः श्रीमान् परिवृतस्तदा । वीरः शतबलिर्नाम वानरः प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ १४ ॥
surrounded by ten thousand crores, then the glorious hero monkey named Shatabali appeared.
ततः काञ्चनशैलाभस्ताराया वीर्यवान् पिता । अनेकैर्बहुसाहस्रैः कोटिभिः प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ १५ ॥
Then the mighty father of Tara, like a golden mountain, appeared with many thousands of crores.
तथापरेण कोटीनां सहस्रेण समन्वितः । पिता रुमायाः सम्प्राप्तः सुग्रीवश्वशुरो विभुः ॥ १६ ॥
So too, joined with another thousand of crores, the father of Ruma arrived, Sugriva’s lord father-in-law.
पद्मकेसरसंकाशस्तरुणार्कनिभाननः । बुद्धिमान् वानरश्रेष्ठः सर्ववानरसत्तमः ॥ १७ ॥
Like a lotus filament, his face like the young sun, wise, best of monkeys, foremost of all monkeys,
अनेकैर्बहुसाहस्त्रैर्वानराणां समन्वितः । पिता हनुमतः श्रीमान् केसरी प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ १८ ॥
joined with many thousands of monkeys, the glorious father of Hanuman, Kesari, appeared.
गोलाङ्गूलमहाराजो गवाक्षो भीमविक्रमः । वृतः कोटिसहस्रेण वानराणामदृश्यत ॥ १९ ॥
The great king of the langurs, Gavaksha of terrible valour, was seen surrounded by a thousand crores of monkeys.
ऋक्षाणां भीमवेगानां धूम्रः शत्रुनिबर्हणः । वृतः कोटिसहस्राभ्यां द्वाभ्यां समभिवर्तत ॥ २० ॥
Dhumra, destroyer of enemies, came, surrounded by two thousand crores of bears of terrible speed.
महाचलनिभैर्घोरैः पनसो नाम यूथपः । आजगाम महावीर्यस्तिसृभिः कोटिभिर्वृतः ॥ २१ ॥
With terrible ones like great mountains, the troop-leader named Panasa came, very mighty, surrounded by three crores.
नीलाञ्जनचयाकारो नीलो नामैष यूथपः । अदृश्यत महाकायः कोटिभिर्दशभिर्वृतः ॥ २२ ॥
Shaped like a heap of dark collyrium, this troop-leader named Nila, huge-bodied, appeared surrounded by ten crores.
ततः काञ्चनशैलाभो गवयो नाम यूथपः । आजगाम महावीर्यः कोटिभिः पञ्चभिर्वृतः ॥ २३ ॥
Then, like a golden mountain, the troop-leader named Gavaya came, very mighty, surrounded by five crores.
दरीमुखश्च बलवान् यूथपोऽभ्याययौ तदा । वृतः कोटिसहस्रेण सुग्रीवं समवस्थितः ॥ २४ ॥
And the mighty troop-leader Darimukha came then, surrounded by a thousand crores, and stood by Sugriva.
मैन्दश्च द्विविदश्चोभावश्विपुत्रौ महाबलौ । कोटिकोटिसहस्रेण वानराणामदृश्यताम् ॥ २५ ॥
And Mainda and Dvivida, both very mighty sons of the Ashvins, appeared with a thousand crores of crores of monkeys.
गजश्च बलवान् वीरस्तिसृभिः कोटिभिर्वृतः । आजगाम महातेजाः सुग्रीवस्य समीपतः ॥ २६ ॥
And the mighty hero Gaja, of great splendour, surrounded by three crores, came near Sugriva.
ऋक्षराजो महातेजा जाम्बवान्नाम नामतः । कोटिभिर्दशभिर्व्याप्तः सुग्रीवस्य वशे स्थितः ॥ २७ ॥
The king of the bears, of great splendour, Jambavan by name, covered by ten crores, stood in Sugriva’s command.
रुमणो नाम तेजस्वी विक्रान्तैर्वानरैर्वृतः । आगतो बलवांस्तूर्णं कोटीशतसमावृतः ॥ २८ ॥
Splendid Rumana by name, surrounded by valiant monkeys, came quickly, mighty, surrounded by a hundred crores.
ततः कोटिसहस्राणां सहस्रेण शतेन च । पृष्ठतोऽनुगतः प्राप्तो हरिभिर्गन्धमादनः ॥ २९ ॥
Then Gandhamadana arrived, followed behind by monkeys, a thousand and a hundred of thousands of crores.
ततः पद्मसहस्रेण वृतः शङ्कुशतेन च । युवराजोऽङ्गदः प्राप्तः पितुस्तुल्यपराक्रमः ॥ ३० ॥
Then, surrounded by a thousand padmas and a hundred shankus, the heir apparent Angada arrived, equal to his father in valour.
ततस्ताराद्युतिस्तारो हरिभिर्भीमविक्रमैः । पञ्चभिर्हरिकोटीभिर्दूरतः पर्यदृश्यत ॥ ३१ ॥
Then Tara, with a star’s radiance, was seen from afar with monkeys of terrible valour, five crores of monkeys.
इन्द्रजानुः कविर्वीरो यूथपः प्रत्यदृश्यत । एकादशानां कोटीनामीश्वरस्तैश्च संवृतः ॥ ३२ ॥
The hero troop-leader Indrajanu, wise, appeared, lord of eleven crores and surrounded by them.
ततो रम्भस्त्वनुप्राप्तस्तरुणादित्यसंनिभः । अयुतेन वृतश्चैव सहस्रेण शतेन च ॥ ३३ ॥
Then Rambha arrived, like the young sun, surrounded by ten thousand, a thousand and a hundred.
ततो यूथपतिर्वीरो दुर्मुखो नाम वानरः । प्रत्यदृश्यत कोटीभ्यां द्वाभ्यां परिवृतो बली ॥ ३४ ॥
Then the hero, leader of troops, the monkey named Durmukha, mighty, appeared surrounded by two crores.
कैलासशिखराकारैर्वानरैर्भीमविक्रमैः । वृतः कोटिसहस्रेण हनुमान् प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ ३५ ॥
With monkeys shaped like the peaks of Kailasa, of terrible valour, Hanuman appeared surrounded by a thousand crores.
नलश्चापि महावीर्यः संवृतो द्रुमवासिभिः । कोटीशतेन सम्प्राप्तः सहस्रेण शतेन च ॥ ३६ ॥
And Nala too, very mighty, surrounded by tree-dwellers, arrived with a hundred crores, a thousand and a hundred.
ततो दधिमुखः श्रीमान् कोटिभिर्दशभिर्वृतः । सम्प्राप्तोऽभिनदंस्तस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः ॥ ३७ ॥
Then glorious Dadhimukha, surrounded by ten crores, arrived, roaring, before that great-souled Sugriva.
शरभः कुमुदो वह्निर्वानरो रंह एव च । एते चान्ये च बहवो वानराः कामरूपिणः ॥ ३८ ॥
Sharabha, Kumuda, Vahni, and the monkey Ramha: these and many other monkeys taking forms at will,
आवृत्य पृथिवीं सर्वां पर्वतांश्च वनानि च । यूथपाः समनुप्राप्ता येषां संख्या न विद्यते ॥ ३९ ॥
covering the whole earth, the mountains and forests, troop-leaders arrived, of whom there was no counting.
आगताश्च निविष्टाश्च पृथिव्यां सर्ववानराः । आप्लवन्तः प्लवन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवंगमाः । अभ्यवर्तन्त सुग्रीवं सूर्यमभ्रगणा इव ॥ ४० ॥
And all the monkeys on earth came and settled; leaping, bounding and roaring, the leapers surrounded Sugriva like hosts of clouds the sun.
कुर्वाणा बहुशब्दांश्च प्रकृष्टा बाहुशालिनः । शिरोभिर्वानरेन्द्राय सुग्रीवाय न्यवेदयन् ॥ ४१ ॥
Making many sounds, eminent, strong-armed, they announced themselves with their heads to Sugriva, lord of the monkeys.
अपरे वानरश्रेष्ठाः संगम्य च यथोचितम् । सुग्रीवेण समागम्य स्थिताः प्राञ्जलयस्तदा ॥ ४२ ॥
Other best of monkeys, meeting as was proper, coming together with Sugriva, then stood with joined palms.
सुग्रीवस्त्वरितो रामे सर्वांस्तान् वानरर्षभान् । निवेदयित्वा धर्मज्ञः स्थितः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् ॥ ४३ ॥
But Sugriva, knowing dharma, quickly presenting all those bulls among monkeys to Rama, standing with joined palms, said:
यथासुखं पर्वतनिर्झरेषु वनेषु सर्वेषु च वानरेन्द्राः । निवेशयित्वा विधिवद् बलानि बलं बलज्ञः प्रतिपत्तुमीष्टे ॥ ४४ ॥
“Lords of monkeys, having settled your forces properly at your ease by the mountain waterfalls and in all the forests, let one who knows forces take charge of the force.”