Sundara Kanda · Sarga 64 of 68 · 45 verses
“The Queen Has Been Seen”
Dadhimukha, delighted, bows to Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva and flies back to Madhuvana. He finds the monkey chiefs sobered, passing honey-water. With joined palms he apologises to Angada: the guards stopped them out of ignorance and anger; let him, the crown prince and lord of the grove, eat his own honey; Sugriva is not angry but delighted, and asks them all to come quickly.
Angada tells the others that Rama must have heard the news, and it is not right to linger now that the task is done. But though he is crown prince, he will not command them; he will do what they all decide, for it is wrong to force those who have achieved the task. The monkeys are moved: who else, being a lord, would speak so? Power makes others think themselves everything; his humility promises a fine future. They will go wherever he leads. They leap into the sky, filling it like stones from catapults, roaring like wind-driven clouds.
Meanwhile Sugriva comforts Rama: the queen has been found, beyond doubt. Angada would never come before him if he had failed; he would come with a sad face and a troubled mind. No one would raid his ancestral grove without having found Janaki. Then they hear the monkeys’ chattering in the sky, as if announcing success. Sugriva raises his tail in joy. The monkeys land before Sugriva and Rama, and Hanuman, bowing his head, tells Raghava that the queen is alive, unharmed and faithful. Hearing “the queen has been seen” from Hanuman’s lips, words like nectar, Rama and Lakshmana rejoice. Lakshmana looks at Sugriva with deep regard, and Rama looks at Hanuman with the greatest love and honour.
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सुग्रीवेणैवमुक्तस्तु हृष्टो दधिमुखः कपिः । राघवं लक्ष्मणं चैव सुग्रीवं चाभ्यवादयत् ॥ १ ॥
Spoken to so by Sugriva, the monkey Dadhimukha, delighted, saluted Raghava, Lakshmana and Sugriva.
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स प्रणम्य च सुग्रीवं राघवौ च महाबलौ । वानरैः सहितः शूरैर्दिवमेवोत्पपात ह ॥ २ ॥
Bowing to Sugriva and the two mighty Raghavas, the hero, with the monkeys, flew up into the sky.
स यथैवागतः पूर्वं तथैव त्वरितं गतः । निपत्य गगनाद् भूमौ तद् वनं प्रविवेश ह ॥ ३ ॥
As he had come before, so he went back swiftly; coming down from the sky to the ground, he entered that grove.
स प्रविष्टो मधुवनं ददर्श हरियूथपान् । विमदानुद्धतान् सर्वान् मेहमानान् मधूदकम् ॥ ४ ॥
Entering Madhuvana, he saw the leaders of the monkey troops, all sobered, at ease, passing honey-water.
स तानुपागमद् वीरो बद्ध्वा करपुटाञ्जलिम् । उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णमिदं हृष्टवदङ्गदम् ॥ ५ ॥
The hero went up to them, joining his palms, and spoke these gentle words to Angada, as if delighted:
सौम्य रोषो न कर्तव्यो यदेभिः परिवारणम् । अज्ञानाद् रक्षिभिः क्रोधाद् भवन्तः प्रतिषेधिताः ॥ ६ ॥
“Gentle one, do not be angry that you were held back by these guards; you were stopped out of ignorance and anger.
श्रान्तो दूरादनुप्राप्तो भक्षयस्व स्वकं मधु । युवराजस्त्वमीशश्च वनस्यास्य महाबल ॥ ७ ॥
“Tired, come from far away, eat your own honey; you are the crown prince and lord of this grove, mighty one.
मौर्ख्यात् पूर्वं कृतो रोषस्तद् भवान् क्षन्तुमर्हति । यथैव हि पिता तेऽभूत् पूर्वं हरिगणेश्वरः ॥ ८ ॥
“The anger shown before out of foolishness, you should forgive. As your father was before, the lord of the monkey hosts,
तथा त्वमपि सुग्रीवो नान्यस्तु हरिसत्तम । आख्यातं हि मया गत्वा पितृव्यस्य तवानघ ॥ ९ ॥
“so are you, and Sugriva, best of monkeys, and no other. I went and told your paternal uncle, sinless one,
इहोपयानं सर्वेषामेतेषां वनचारिणाम् । भवदागमनं श्रुत्वा सहैभिर्वनचारिभिः ॥ १० ॥
“of the arrival here of all these forest-dwellers. Hearing of your coming with these forest-dwellers,
प्रहृष्टो न तु रुष्टोऽसौ वनं श्रुत्वा प्रधर्षितम् । प्रहृष्टो मां पितृव्यस्ते सुग्रीवो वानरेश्वरः ॥ ११ ॥
“he was delighted, not angry, hearing that the grove had been assaulted. Delighted, your uncle Sugriva, lord of the monkeys,
शीघ्रं प्रेषय सर्वांस्तानिति होवाच पार्थिवः । श्रुत्वा दधिमुखस्यैतद् वचनं श्लक्ष्णमङ्गदः ॥ १२ ॥
“the king, said to me: ‘Send them all quickly.’” Hearing these gentle words of Dadhimukha, Angada,
अब्रवीत् तान् हरिश्रेष्ठो वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः । शङ्के श्रुतोऽयं वृत्तान्तो रामेण हरियूथपाः ॥ १३ ॥
the best of monkeys, skilled in speech, said to them: “I suspect this news has been heard by Rama, leaders of monkey troops.
अयं च हर्षादाख्याति तेन जानामि हेतुना । तत् क्षमं नेह नः स्थातुं कृते कार्ये परंतपाः ॥ १४ ॥
“And he says it with joy; from that I know it. So it is not right for us to stay here now that the task is done, scorchers of foes.
पीत्वा मधु यथाकामं विक्रान्ता वनचारिणः । किं शेषं गमनं तत्र सुग्रीवो यत्र वानरः ॥ १५ ॥
“Having drunk honey as you pleased, valiant forest-dwellers, what is left but to go where the monkey Sugriva is?
सर्वे यथा मां वक्ष्यन्ति समेत्य हरिपुङ्गवाः । तथास्मि कर्ता कर्तव्ये भवद्भिः परवानहम् ॥ १६ ॥
“As all of you bulls among monkeys together tell me, so I will act; in what is to be done I am dependent on you.
नाज्ञापयितुमीशोऽहं युवराजोऽस्मि यद्यपि । अयुक्तं कृतकर्माणो यूयं धर्षयितुं बलात् ॥ १७ ॥
“Though I am crown prince, I am not the master to command you; it is not right to force by power you who have done the task.”
ब्रुवतश्चाङ्गदस्यैवं श्रुत्वा वचनमुत्तमम् । प्रहृष्टमनसो वाक्यमिदमूचुर्वनौकसः ॥ १८ ॥
Hearing those excellent words of Angada as he spoke so, the forest-dwellers, glad at heart, said:
एवं वक्ष्यति को राजन् प्रभुः सन् वानरर्षभ । ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तो हि सर्वोऽहमिति मन्यते ॥ १९ ॥
“Who, being a lord, would speak like this, king, bull among monkeys? Everyone drunk with the intoxication of power thinks, ‘I am everything.’
तव चेदं सुसदृशं वाक्यं नान्यस्य कस्यचित् । सन्नतिर्हि तवाख्याति भविष्यच्छुभयोग्यताम् ॥ २० ॥
“These words are fitting for you and for no one else. Your humility shows your fitness for future good fortune.
सर्वे वयमपि प्राप्तास्तत्र गन्तुं कृतक्षणाः । स यत्र हरिवीराणां सुग्रीवः पतिरव्ययः ॥ २१ ॥
“All of us too are ready to go there where Sugriva, the imperishable lord of the monkey heroes, is.
त्वया ह्यनुक्तैर्हरिभिर्नैव शक्यं पदात् पदम् । क्वचिद् गन्तुं हरिश्रेष्ठ ब्रूमः सत्यमिदं तु ते ॥ २२ ॥
“Without your word the monkeys could not go anywhere, step by step, best of monkeys; we tell you this truly.”
एवं तु वदतां तेषामङ्गदः प्रत्यभाषत । साधु गच्छाम इत्युक्त्वा खमुत्पेतुर्महाबलाः ॥ २३ ॥
As they spoke so, Angada answered, “Very well, let us go”; and having said it, the mighty ones flew up into the sky.
उत्पतन्तमनूत्पेतुः सर्वे ते हरियूथपाः । कृत्वाऽऽकाशं निराकाशं यन्त्रोत्क्षिप्ता इवोपलाः ॥ २४ ॥
As he flew up, all those leaders of monkey troops flew up after him, making the sky without space, like stones hurled by machines.
अङ्गदं पुरतः कृत्वा हनूमन्तं च वानरम् । तेऽम्बरं सहसोत्पत्य वेगवन्तः प्लवङ्गमाः ॥ २५ ॥
Putting Angada in front, and the monkey Hanuman, those swift monkeys suddenly flew up into the sky,
विनदन्तो महानादं घना वातेरिता यथा । अङ्गदे समनुप्राप्ते सुग्रीवो वानरेश्वरः ॥ २६ ॥
roaring a great roar like clouds driven by the wind. As Angada approached, Sugriva, lord of monkeys,
उवाच शोकसंतप्तं रामं कमललोचनम् । समाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते दृष्टा देवी न संशयः ॥ २७ ॥
said to lotus-eyed Rama, burning with grief: “Take comfort, bless you; the queen has been seen, no doubt of it.
नागन्तुमिह शक्यं तैरतीतसमयैरिह । अङ्गदस्य प्रहर्षाच्च जानामि शुभदर्शन ॥ २८ ॥
“They could not come here, having overstayed their time, otherwise. And from Angada’s joy I know it, lovely one.
न मत्सकाशमागच्छेत् कृत्ये हि विनिपातिते । युवराजो महाबाहुः प्लवतामङ्गदो वरः ॥ २९ ॥
“The crown prince, mighty-armed Angada, best of leapers, would not come into my presence if the task had failed.
यद्यप्यकृतकृत्यानामीदृशः स्यादुपक्रमः । भवेत् तु दीनवदनो भ्रान्तविप्लुतमानसः ॥ ३० ॥
“Even if those who had failed began like this, he would have a sad face and a confused, troubled mind.
पितृपैतामहं चैतत् पूर्वकैरभिरक्षितम् । न मे मधुवनं हन्याददृष्ट्वा जनकात्मजाम् ॥ ३१ ॥
“And this grove, inherited from father and grandfather, guarded by our forebears, he would not destroy, my Madhuvana, without having seen Janaka’s daughter.
कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम समाश्वसिहि सुव्रत । दृष्टा देवी न संदेहो न चान्येन हनूमता ॥ ३२ ॥
“Kausalya is blessed in her son: Rama, take comfort, you of good vows. The queen has been seen, no doubt of it, and by none other than Hanuman.
नह्यन्यः कर्मणो हेतुः साधनेऽस्य हनूमतः । हनूमतीह सिद्धिश्च मतिश्च मतिसत्तम ॥ ३३ ॥
“For no one else but Hanuman is the means of accomplishing this task. In Hanuman are success and intelligence, best of the wise,
व्यवसायश्च शौर्यं च श्रुतं चापि प्रतिष्ठितम् । जाम्बवान् यत्र नेता स्यादङ्गदश्च हरीश्वरः ॥ ३४ ॥
“resolve and courage and learning, firmly established. Where Jambavan would be the leader, and Angada, lord of monkeys,
हनूमांश्चाप्यधिष्ठाता न तत्र गतिरन्यथा । मा भूश्चिन्तासमायुक्तः सम्प्रत्यमितविक्रम ॥ ३५ ॥
“and Hanuman the one in charge, there could be no other outcome. Do not be filled with worry now, you of boundless valour.
यदा हि दर्पितोदग्राः संगताः काननौकसः । नैषामकृतकार्याणामीदृशः स्यादुपक्रमः ॥ ३६ ॥
“When the forest-dwellers come together proud and elated: such a beginning would not come from those who had not done their task.
वनभङ्गेन जानामि मधूनां भक्षणेन च । ततः किलकिलाशब्दं शुश्रावासन्नमम्बरे ॥ ३७ ॥
“I know it from the breaking of the grove and the eating of the honey.” Then he heard the chattering sound close by in the sky
हनूमत्कर्मदृप्तानां नदतां काननौकसाम् । किष्किन्धामुपयातानां सिद्धिं कथयतामिव ॥ ३८ ॥
of the forest-dwellers, proud of Hanuman’s deeds, roaring as they came to Kishkindha, as if announcing success.
ततः श्रुत्वा निनादं तं कपीनां कपिसत्तमः । आयताञ्चितलाङ्गूलः सोऽभवद्हृष्टमानसः ॥ ३९ ॥
Then, hearing that noise of the monkeys, the best of monkeys raised his long, curving tail, glad at heart.
आजग्मुस्तेऽपि हरयो रामदर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः । अङ्गदं पुरतः कृत्वा हनूमन्तं च वानरम् ॥ ४० ॥
And those monkeys came, eager to see Rama, putting Angada in front, and the monkey Hanuman.
तेऽङ्गदप्रमुखा वीराः प्रहृष्टाश्च मुदान्विताः । निपेतुर्हरिराजस्य समीपे राघवस्य च ॥ ४१ ॥
Those heroes led by Angada, delighted and full of joy, came down near the king of the monkeys and Raghava.
हनूमांश्च महाबाहुः प्रणम्य शिरसा ततः । नियतामक्षतां देवीं राघवाय न्यवेदयत् ॥ ४२ ॥
And mighty-armed Hanuman, bowing his head, told Raghava that the queen was faithful and unharmed.
दृष्टा देवीति हनुमद्वदनादमृतोपमम् । आकर्ण्य वचनं रामो हर्षमाप सलक्ष्मणः ॥ ४३ ॥
Hearing from Hanuman’s mouth the words like nectar, “The queen has been seen,” Rama, with Lakshmana, was filled with joy.
निश्चितार्थं ततस्तस्मिन् सुग्रीवं पवनात्मजे । लक्ष्मणः प्रीतिमान् प्रीतं बहुमानादवैक्षत ॥ ४४ ॥
Then Lakshmana, pleased, looked with great respect at Sugriva, pleased, whose confidence in the son of the Wind had been so certain.
प्रीत्या च परयोपेतो राघवः परवीरहा । बहुमानेन महता हनूमन्तमवैक्षत ॥ ४५ ॥
And Raghava, slayer of enemy heroes, filled with the greatest love, looked at Hanuman with great honour.