Kishkindha Kanda · Sarga 50 of 67 · 41 verses
The Rikshabila Cave
Joined with Tara and Angada, the monkey Hanuman searches the caves and thickets of the Vindhya, the caves all round haunted by lions and tigers, and the rough places and great waterfalls of the king of mountains. They reach the south-western end of that mountain, and while they stay there the time runs out. That region, vast, full of caves and thickets, is hard to search; there the son of the wind searches the whole mountain. Not far from one another, though apart, Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha, Gandhamadana, Mainda and Dvivida, Hanuman and Jambavan, Prince Angada and Tara the forest-roamer, searching the regions of the south covered with networks of mountains, see an open cave there, hard to enter, named Rikshabila, guarded by a danava. Overcome by hunger and thirst, weary, wanting water, they see that great cave strewn with creepers and trees. From it come curlews, swans and cranes, and chakravakas wet with water, their bodies reddened with lotus pollen. Reaching that fragrant cave, hard to pass, the bulls among monkeys are filled with wonder and agitation. Their suspicions roused, yet delighted, splendid and very mighty, the best of leapers approach that cave, full of many creatures, like the dwelling of a lord of the daityas, hard to look into, terrible, hard to penetrate on every side. Then Hanuman, son of the wind, like a mountain peak, skilled in wilderness and forest, says to the fierce monkeys: “Having searched the regions of the south covered with networks of mountains, we are all weary and do not see Maithili. And from this cave swans, curlews, cranes and chakravakas wet with water fly out on every side. Surely there is a well or a lake with water here; and these trees at the mouth of the cave stand glossy.” Told this, they all enter the cave, covered in darkness, without moon or sun, hair-raising. Seeing the lions, beasts and birds that come from it, the tigers among monkeys enter the cave wrapped in darkness. Their sight, splendour and valour are not checked; their movement is like the wind’s, and their sight works in the darkness. Entering that cave with speed, the elephants among monkeys see a bright, lovely, excellent place. Then, in that terrible cave crowded with many kinds of trees, they go a yojana inside, holding on to one another. Losing their senses, thirsty, bewildered, wanting water, they wander tirelessly in that cave for some time. When, thin and downcast, exhausted, the heroes are hopeless of life, they see light. Then, reaching that region, the gentle ones see a forest free of darkness: golden trees with the radiance of blazing fire, sala, tala, tamala, punnaga, vanjula, dhava, campaka, nagavriksha and flowering karnikara, with wonderful golden clusters and red shoots, adorned with crests and creepers and golden ornaments, like the young sun, with altars of beryl, golden trees shining in body; lotus pools coloured like blue beryl, surrounded by birds, by great golden trees like the young sun, with large golden fish and lotuses, full of clear water. There the monkeys see on every side the chief houses, golden mansions and silver ones, with windows of refined gold covered with nets of pearls, with floors of gold and silver set with beryl and gems; flowering, fruit-bearing trees like coral and gems, golden bees and honey on every side; beds and seats of many kinds, wide, wonderful with gems and gold; heaps of vessels of gold, silver and bronze; stores of divine aloe and sandal; pure foods, roots and fruits; costly carriages and flavourful honey drinks; stores of divine, costly garments, of many-coloured blankets and deerskins; and here and there, set out, bright heaps of gold shining like fire. Searching here and there in that cave, the brave, radiant monkeys see a woman not far off. They see her there wearing rags and black deerskin, an ascetic woman of restricted diet, as if blazing with splendour. Amazed, the monkeys all stand still. Then Hanuman, like a mountain, with joined palms, saluting the aged woman, asks: “Who are you? Whose is this dwelling, this cave, and these jewels? Tell me.”
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सह ताराङ्गदाभ्यां तु संगम्य हनुमान् कपिः । विचिनोति च विन्ध्यस्य गुहाश्च गहनानि च ॥ १ ॥
Joined with Tara and Angada, the monkey Hanuman searches the caves and thickets of the Vindhya,
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The Rikshabila Cave 1 min read.
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सिंहशार्दूलजुष्टाश्च गुहाश्च परितस्तदा । विषमेषु नगेन्द्रस्य महाप्रस्रवणेषु च ॥ २ ॥
and the caves all round haunted by lions and tigers then, and the rough places of the king of mountains, and the great waterfalls.
आसेदुस्तस्य शैलस्य कोटिं दक्षिणपश्चिमाम् । तेषां तत्रैव वसतां स कालो व्यत्यवर्तत ॥ ३ ॥
They reached the south-western end of that mountain; and as they stayed right there, that time passed.
स हि देशो दुरन्वेष्यो गुहागहनवान् महान् । तत्र वायुसुतः सर्वं विचिनोति स्म पर्वतम् ॥ ४ ॥
For that region was hard to search, vast, with caves and thickets. There the son of the wind searched the whole mountain.
परस्परेण रहिता अन्योन्यस्याविदूरतः । गजो गवाक्षो गवयः शरभो गन्धमादनः ॥ ५ ॥
Apart from one another, not far from one another, Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha, Gandhamadana,
मैन्दश्च द्विविदश्चैव हनूमान् जाम्बवानपि । अङ्गदो युवराजश्च तारश्च वनगोचरः ॥ ६ ॥
and Mainda and Dvivida, Hanuman and Jambavan too, and Prince Angada and Tara, the forest-roamer,
गिरिजालावृतान् देशान् मार्गित्वा दक्षिणां दिशम् । विचिन्वन्तस्ततस्तत्र ददृशुर्विवृतं बिलम् ॥ ७ ॥
having searched the regions of the south covered with networks of mountains, searching then, saw there an open cave,
दुर्गमृक्षबिलं नाम दानवेनाभिरक्षितम् । क्षुत्पिपासापरीतास्तु श्रान्तास्तु सलिलार्थिनः ॥ ८ ॥
hard to enter, named Rikshabila, guarded by a danava. Overcome by hunger and thirst, weary, wanting water,
अवकीर्णं लतावृक्षैर्ददृशुस्ते महाबिलम् । तत्र क्रौञ्चाश्च हंसाश्च सारसाश्चापि निष्क्रमन् ॥ ९ ॥
they saw that great cave, strewn with creepers and trees. There curlews and swans and cranes came out,
जलार्द्राश्चक्रवाकाश्च रक्ताङ्गाः पद्मरेणुभिः । ततस्तद् बिलमासाद्य सुगन्धि दुरतिक्रमम् ॥ १० ॥
and chakravakas wet with water, their bodies red with lotus pollen. Then, reaching that cave, fragrant, hard to pass,
विस्मयव्यग्रमनसो बभूवुर्वानरर्षभाः । संजातपरिशङ्कास्ते तद् बिलं प्लवगोत्तमाः ॥ ११ ॥
the bulls among monkeys became agitated in mind with wonder. Their suspicions arisen, the best of leapers, that cave,
अभ्यपद्यन्त संहृष्टास्तेजोवन्तो महाबलाः । नानासत्त्वसमाकीर्णं दैत्येन्द्रनिलयोपमम् ॥ १२ ॥
delighted, splendid, very mighty, approached: crowded with many creatures, like the dwelling of a lord of daityas,
दुर्दर्शमिव घोरं च दुर्विगाह्यं च सर्वशः । ततः पर्वतकूटाभो हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥ १३ ॥
hard to look at, terrible, and hard to penetrate on every side. Then Hanuman, son of the wind, like a mountain peak,
अब्रवीद् वानरान् घोरान् कान्तारवनकोविदः । गिरिजालावृतान् देशान् मार्गित्वा दक्षिणां दिशम् ॥ १४ ॥
skilled in wilderness and forest, said to the fierce monkeys: “Having searched the regions of the south covered with networks of mountains,
वयं सर्वे परिश्रान्ता न च पश्याम मैथिलीम् । अस्माच्चापि बिलाद्धंसाः क्रौञ्चाश्च सह सारसैः ॥ १५ ॥
“we are all weary and do not see Maithili. And from this cave swans and curlews with cranes,
जलार्द्राश्चक्रवाकाश्च निष्पतन्ति स्म सर्वशः । नूनं सलिलवानत्र कूपो वा यदि वा ह्रदः ॥ १६ ॥
“and chakravakas wet with water, fly out on every side. Surely there is a well with water here, or else a lake.
तथा चेमे बिलद्वारे स्निग्धास्तिष्ठन्ति पादपाः । इत्युक्तास्तद् बिलं सर्वे विविशुस्तिमिरावृतम् ॥ १७ ॥
“And so these trees stand glossy at the mouth of the cave.” Told so, all entered that cave covered in darkness.
अचन्द्रसूर्यं हरयो ददृशू रोमहर्षणम् । निशाम्य तस्मात् सिंहांश्च तांस्तांश्च मृगपक्षिणः ॥ १८ ॥
Without moon or sun, the monkeys saw it, hair-raising. Seeing from it lions and those various beasts and birds,
प्रविष्टा हरिशार्दूला बिलं तिमिरसंवृतम् । न तेषां सज्जते दृष्टिर्न तेजो न पराक्रमः ॥ १९ ॥
the tigers among monkeys entered the cave covered in darkness. Their sight was not checked, nor splendour, nor valour.
वायोरिव गतिस्तेषां दृष्टिस्तमसि वर्तते । ते प्रविष्टास्तु वेगेन तद् बिलं कपिकुञ्जराः ॥ २० ॥
Their motion was like the wind’s; their sight worked in the darkness. Those elephants among monkeys, having entered that cave with speed,
प्रकाशं चाभिरामं च ददृशुर्देशमुत्तमम् । ततस्तस्मिन् बिले भीमे नानापादपसंकुले ॥ २१ ॥
saw a bright and lovely, excellent place. Then in that terrible cave crowded with many kinds of trees,
अन्योन्यं सम्परिष्वज्य जग्मुर्योजनमन्तरम् । ते नष्टसंज्ञास्तृषिताः सम्भ्रान्ताः सलिलार्थिनः ॥ २२ ॥
embracing one another, they went a yojana within. Their senses lost, thirsty, bewildered, wanting water,
परिपेतुर्बिले तस्मिन् कंचित् कालमतन्द्रिताः । ते कृशा दीनवदनाः परिश्रान्ताः प्लवङ्गमाः ॥ २३ ॥
they wandered in that cave for some time, tireless. Those leapers, thin, downcast in face, exhausted,
आलोकं ददृशुर्वीरा निराशा जीविते यदा । ततस्तं देशमागम्य सौम्या वितिमिरं वनम् ॥ २४ ॥
the heroes saw light when they were hopeless of life. Then, reaching that region, the gentle ones saw a forest free of darkness;
ददृशुः काञ्चनान् वृक्षान् दीप्तवैश्वानरप्रभान् । सालांस्तालांस्तमालांश्च पुंनागान् वञ्जुलान् धवान् ॥ २५ ॥
they saw golden trees with the radiance of blazing fire, salas, talas and tamalas, punnagas, vanjulas and dhavas,
चम्पकान् नागवृक्षांश्च कर्णिकारांश्च पुष्पितान् । स्तबकैः काञ्चनैश्चित्रै रक्तैः किसलयैस्तथा ॥ २६ ॥
campakas and nagavrikshas and flowering karnikaras, with wonderful golden clusters and red shoots,
आपीडैश्च लताभिश्च हेमाभरणभूषितान् । तरुणादित्यसंकाशान् वैदूर्यमयवेदिकान् ॥ २७ ॥
with crests and creepers, adorned with golden ornaments, like the young sun, with altars of beryl,
बिभ्राजमानान् वपुषा पादपांश्च हिरण्मयान् । नीलवैदूर्यवर्णाश्च पद्मिनीः पतगैर्वृताः ॥ २८ ॥
shining in body, golden trees; and lotus pools coloured like blue beryl, surrounded by birds,
महद्भिः काञ्चनैर्वृक्षैर्वृता बालार्कसंनिभैः । जातरूपमयैर्मत्स्यैर्महद्भिश्चाथ पङ्कजैः ॥ २९ ॥
surrounded by great golden trees like the young sun, with golden fish and great lotuses:
नलिनीस्तत्र ददृशुः प्रसन्नसलिलायुताः । काञ्चनानि विमानानि राजतानि तथैव च ॥ ३० ॥
they saw lotus pools there, joined with clear water. Golden mansions and silver ones likewise,
तपनीयगवाक्षाणि मुक्ताजालावृतानि च । हैमराजतभौमानि वैदूर्यमणिमन्ति च ॥ ३१ ॥
with windows of refined gold, covered with nets of pearls, with floors of gold and silver, set with beryl and gems:
ददृशुस्तत्र हरयो गृहमुख्यानि सर्वशः । पुष्पितान् फलिनो वृक्षान् प्रवालमणिसंनिभान् ॥ ३२ ॥
the monkeys saw there the chief houses everywhere; trees flowering and fruiting, like coral and gems,
काञ्चनभ्रमरांश्चैव मधूनि च समन्ततः । मणिकाञ्चनचित्राणि शयनान्यासनानि च ॥ ३३ ॥
and golden bees and honey on every side; beds and seats wonderful with gems and gold,
विविधानि विशालानि ददृशुस्ते समन्ततः । हैमराजतकांस्यानां भाजनानां च राशयः ॥ ३४ ॥
of many kinds, wide, they saw on every side; and heaps of vessels of gold, silver and bronze,
अगुरूणां च दिव्यानां चन्दनानां च संचयान् । शुचीन्यभ्यवहाराणि मूलानि च फलानि च ॥ ३५ ॥
and stores of divine aloe and sandal, pure foods, roots and fruits,
महार्हाणि च यानानि मधूनि रसवन्ति च । दिव्यानामम्बराणां च महार्हाणां च संचयान् ॥ ३६ ॥
and costly carriages and flavourful honey drinks, and stores of divine, costly garments,
कम्बलानां च चित्राणामजिनानां च संचयान् । तत्र तत्र च विन्यस्तान् दीप्तान् वैश्वानरप्रभान् ॥ ३७ ॥
and stores of many-coloured blankets and deerskins; and set out here and there, bright, with the radiance of fire,
ददृशुर्वानराः शुभ्राञ्जातरूपस्य संचयान् । तत्र तत्र विचिन्वन्तो बिले तत्र महाप्रभाः ॥ ३८ ॥
the monkeys saw shining heaps of gold. Searching here and there in that cave, the very radiant
ददृशुर्वानराः शूराः स्त्रियं कांचिददूरतः । तां च ते ददृशुस्तत्र चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बराम् ॥ ३९ ॥
heroic monkeys saw a certain woman not far off. And they saw her there, wearing rags and black deerskin,
तापसीं नियताहारां ज्वलन्तीमिव तेजसा । विस्मिता हरयस्तत्र व्यवतिष्ठन्त सर्वशः । पप्रच्छ हनुमांस्तत्र कासि त्वं कस्य वा बिलम् ॥ ४० ॥
an ascetic of restricted diet, as if blazing with splendour. Amazed, the monkeys there all stood still. Hanuman there asked: “Who are you, or whose is this cave?”
ततो हनूमान् गिरिसंनिकाशः कृताञ्जलिस्तामभिवाद्य वृद्धाम् । पप्रच्छ का त्वं भवनं बिलं च रत्नानि चेमानि वदस्व कस्य ॥ ४१ ॥
Then Hanuman, like a mountain, with joined palms, saluting the aged woman, asked: “Who are you? And tell whose is this dwelling, this cave, and these jewels.”