Summary
After Sugreeva's enthronement, Rama and Lakshmana arrive at a mountain called Prasavana for their stay during rainy season. This mountain contains rich flora and fauna as extolled by Rama. On seeing the beauty of nature Rama's thoughts wander over Seetha and he sinks down in his anguish. But Lakshmana comes to rescue imbuing hopeful thoughts in retrieving her with the help of Sugreeva.
Chapter [Sarga] 27 in Detail
abhisikte tu sugriive praviste vaanare guhaam |
aajagaama saha bhraatraa raamah prasravanam girim || 4-27-1
Rama along with his brother Lakshmana reached Mt. Prasavana while the enthroned Sugreeva entered the cave-city Kishkindha. [4-27-1]
shaarduula mriga sa.mghustam si.mhaih bhiima ravaih vritam |
naanaa gulma lataa guudham bahu paadapa sa.mkulam || 4-27-2
riksa vaanara gopucchaih maarjaaraih ca nisevitam |
megha raashi nibham shailam nityam shucikaram shivam || 4-27-3
Mt. Prasavana is pervaded with noisily growling tigers and beasts, mightily roaring lions, compacted with diverse shrubs and creeper-plants, overspread with many a kind of tree, thus it is adored by bears, monkeys, baboons, and even by wildcats, and that mountain which is always sanctifying and tranquil is like a heap of clouds in its shine. [4-27-2, 3]
tasya shailasya shikhare mahatiim aayataam guhaam |
pratyagrihniita vaasaartham raamah saumitrinaa saha || 4-27-4
Rama along with Lakshmana has taken up an ample spaced cave as residence on the cliff of that mountain. [4-27-4]
kritvaa ca samayam raamah sugriivena saha anagha |
kaala yuktam mahad vaakyam uvaaca raghunandana || 4-27-5
viniitam bhraataram bhraataa lakshmanam lakshmi vardhanam |
Rama, the faultless one and the elder brother of Lakshmana, who is the delight of Raghu's dynasty, and who made an accord with Sugreeva regarding cessation of activity during rainy season, spoke these significant and timely words to his humble brother Lakshmana who is the enhancer of prosperity. [4-27-5, 6a]
iyam giri guhaa ramyaa vishaalaa yukta maarutaa || 4-27-6
asyaam vastyaama saumitre varsa raatram ari.ndama |
"This delightful mountain cave is spacious and breezy, hence, oh, enemy destroyer Soumitri, let us stay in this during rainy nights. [4-27-6]
giri shri.ngam idam ramyam uttamam paarthivaatmaja || 4-27-7
shvetaabhih krisna taamraabhih shilaabhih upashobhitam |
naanaa dhaatu samaakiirnam nadii dardura sa.myutam || 4-27-8
vividhaih vriksha sandaih ca caaru citra lataa yutam |
naanaa vihaga sa.mghustam mayuura vara naaditam || 4-27-9
maalatii ku.nda gulmaih ca si.nduvaaraih shiriisakaih |
kada.mba arjuna sarjaih ca puspitaih upashobhitam || 4-27-10
"This admirable peak of mountain is embellished with white, black and coppery rock faces, oh, prince, thus this is fully overspread with diverse ores. Bristling with rivers and frogs, and brimmed with clumps of various trees along with beautiful and amazing creeper-plants it is elaborated. It is highly reverberated with diverse birds and filled with the screeches of best peacocks. And bloomed Maalati and Jasmine bushes, also trees like Sindhuvara, Shirrishika, further the trees like Kadamba, Arjuna, and Sarja in bloom, are brightening it and it is delightful. [4-27-7b, 8, 9, 10]
iyam ca nalini ramyaa phulla pa.nkaja manditaih |
na ati duure guhaayaa nau bhavisyati nripaatmaja || 4-27-11
"This pleasant lake of lotuses enwreathed with its blossomy lotuses, oh, prince, is available not far away from our cave. [4-27-11]
praag udak pravane deshe guhaa saadhu bhavisyati |
pashcaat ca eva unnataa saumya nivaate ayam bhavisyati || 4-27-12
"This cave with its north-easterly slope will be homely for us since the inrush of rainwater will be less, oh, gentle one, also thus with its upraised westerly portion this cave will be less of gusts that come from east. [4-27-12]
guhaa dvaare ca saumitre shilaa sama talaa shivaa |
krisnaa ca eva aayataa caiva bhinna a.njana caya upamamaa || 4-27-13
"The black stone available at the doorway of the cave that looks like a spattered mound of mascara is broad, even-surfaced, and will be pleasant for repose. [4-27-13]
giri shri.ngam idam taata pashya ca uttaratah subham |
bhinna a.njana caya aakaaram a.mbhodharam iva uditam || 4-27-14
"See this mountain peak that looks like a scattered mound of mascara, dear boy, which rose up like a black-cloud on the sky, and it is an auspicious one for it is in northern side. [4-27-14]
dakshinasyaam api disha sthitam shvetam iva a.mbaram |
kailaasa shikhara prakhyam naanaa dhaatu viraajitam || 4-27-15
"Even see this mountain available in the southerly direction as if a white cloth is spread on sky, which is vying with Mt. Kailash and abounding with many an ore. [4-27-15]
praaciina vaahiniim caiva nadiim bhrisham akardamam |
guhaayaah paratah pashya trikuute jahnaviim iva || 4-27-16
candanaih tilakaih saalaih tamaalaih atimuktakaih |
padmakaih saralaih caiva ashokaih caiva shobhitam || 4-27-17
"Also see this river unusually sludge-less, flowing from the wide of the cave and streaming eastward, spruced up with trees like Sandalwood, Tilaka, Saala, Tamala, Atimukta, Padmaka, Sarala, and even with Ashoka trees, and it looks as if River Ganga is flowing in Trikuta. [4-27-16, 17]
vaaniiraih timidaih caiva vakulaih ketakaih api |
hintaalaih tinishaih niipaih vetasaih kritamaalakaih || 4-27-18
tiirajaih shobhitaa bhaati naanaa ruupaih tatah tatah |
vasana aabharana upeta pramada eva abhyala.nkritaa || 4-27-19
"With the trees born on the riverbank and available here and there in various shapes, like Vaaniira, Timida, Vakula, Ketaka, and with Hintaala, Tinisha, Niipa, Vetasa, Kritamaala trees, that river is brightened up, and thus that river appears as a dame finely bedecked with raiment and ornaments. [4-27-18, 19]
shatashah pakshi sanghaih ca naanaa naada vinaaditaa |
ekaikam anuraktaih ca cakravaakaih ala.nkritaa || 4-27-20
pulinaih ati ramyaih ca ha.msa saarasa sevitaa |
prahasantii iva bhaati esaa naarii ratna vibhuusitaa || 4-27-21
"This river is fairly resonated with the calls of diverse birds in hundreds of flights, beautified with ruddy gees that are doting one upon the other, and admired by the swans and cranes upon her highly appealing sand-isles, thus she appears to be a damsel decorated with jewels with a toothy grin. [4-27-20, 21]
kvacit niilotpalaih cchanna bhaati raktotpalaih kvacit |
kvacit bhaati shuklaih ca divyaih kumuda kudmalaih || 4-27-22
"Somewhere overspread with blue water-lilies, elsewhere with red water-lilies she is shining forth, and she is also shimmering with the beautiful buds of white water-lilies, somewhere else. [4-27-22]
paariplava shataih justaa barhi krauncha vinaaditaa |
ramaniyaa nadii saumya muni sa.ngha nisevitaa || 4-27-23
"With hundreds of waterfowls cherishing it, screeches of peacocks and cackles of curlews reverberating around, assemblages of sages bustling about, this gracious river is heart-pleasing. [4-27-23]
pashya ca.ndana vrikshaanaam panktii suruciraa iva |
kakubhaanam ca drishyante manasaa iva uditaah samam || 4-27-24
"As if seeded by the wish of some divine creativity the rows of sandalwood trees that are virtually captivating have sprang forth uniformly, so also, the rows of Arjuna trees too appear in a similar pattern. [4-27-24]
aho suramaniiyo ayam deshah shatru nisuudana |
dridham ra.msyaava saumitre saadhu atra nivasaavahe || 4-27-25
"Aha! Soumitri, very exhilarating is this locale and we can happily reside here, oh, enemy-eliminator, we can certainly take delight in this environ. [4-27-25]
itah ca na ati duure saa kiski.ndhaa citra kaananaa |
sugriivasya purii ramyaa bhavisyati nripaatmaja || 4-27-26
"Further, oh, prince, hedged in charming groves that exquisite Kishkindha, the city of Sugreeva, will not be very far off from here. [4-27-26]
giita vaaditra nirghosah shruuyate jayataam vara |
nadataam vaanaraanaam ca mrida.nga aada.mbaraih saha || 4-27-27
"The melodies of singing and the tunes of musical instruments played and sung in Kishkindha are heard from here, oh, the best-triumphant Lakshmana, and even the blares of Vanara-s together with their snobbish drumming is heard, hence it is not far away. [4-27-27]
labdhvaa bhaaryaam kapivarah praapya raajyam suhrit vritah |
dhruvam na.ndati sugriivah sa.mpraapya mahatiim shriyam || 4-27-28
"It is definite that the best monkey Sugreeva must be surrounded by his friends, thus he must be exuberant, as he won an utmost prosperity in winning back his wife and winning the kingdom." Rama thus spoke to Lakshmana. [4-27-28]
iti uktvaa nyavasat tatra raaghavah saha laksmanah |
bahu drishya darii ku.nje tasmin prasravane girau || 4-27-29
Raghava having said thus resided on that Mt. Prasavana along with Lakshmana, whereat many slightly caves and arbors are there. [4-27-29]
susukhe hi bahu dravye tasmin hi dharanii dhare |
vasatah tasya raamasya ratih alpaa api na abhavat || 4-27-30
Though that mountain is indeed very comfortable, though it possess many objects of nature like flowers, fruits and waters, indeed, there is no slightest bliss to Rama while he resided there. [4-27-30]
hritaam hi bhaaryaam smaratah praanebhyo api gariiyasiim |
udaya abhyuditam dristvaa shashaa.nkam ca vishesatah || 4-27-31
He felt despondent in reminiscing about his wife who is loftier that his lives, but who is kidnapped, especially on seeing the moon just risen on the eastern mountain. [4-27-31]
aavivesha na tam nidraa nishaasu shayanam gatam |
tat samutthena shokena baaspa upahata cetasam || 4-27-32
That anguish which is surging high in him has rendered him with a bosom marred with tears, thereby sleep has no effect on him even if he has gone to bed in nights. [4-27-32]
tam shocamaanam kaakutstham nityam shoka paraayanam |
tulya duhkho abraviid bhraataa laksmano anunayam vacah || 4-27-33
While pacifying Rama who is pensive and who is always subjected to grief, his brother Lakshmana who is similarly sad for his brother's sadness spoke these words. [4-27-33]
alam viira vyathaam gatvaa na tvam shocitum arhasi |
shocato hi avasiidanti sarva arthaa viditam hi te || 4-27-34
"Oh, brave one, enough is this anguishing of yours, and it will be inapt of you to dishearten. All objectives will backslide for them who will be ceaselessly anguishing. That you know clearly. [4-27-34]
bhavaan kriyaa paro loke bhavaan deva paraayanah |
aastiko dharma shiilah ca vyavasaayii ca raaghava || 4-27-35
"You are the only master in all the worlds to undertake certain tasks, and for achieving results of those humanly actions of yours you worship god, leaving the fruits of your action in god... you will do your duty as ordained... you are a theist, for you alone are tat 'that' 'Supreme Person...' thus you cannot self-contradict yourself to behave only in a humanly attitude... and then you are bound to be a moralist for you have all the preceding attributes... you alone are the mobilizer, for none other can accomplish certain tasks for which you are mobilized by all the divinities and you have also come this far... [4-27-35]
na hi avyavasitah shatrum raaksasam tam vishesatah |
samarthah tvam rane hantum vikramaih jihma kaarinam || 4-27-36
"If you are much too lackadaisical, indeed, you will not be capable to eliminate the enemy in war, specially a demon, especially a trickster, let alone all of your daring enterprises. [4-27-36]
samunmuulaya shokam tvam vyavasaayam sthirii kuru |
tatah saparivaaram tam raaksasam hantum arhasi || 4-27-37
"On completely rooting out that agony then you stabilize your endeavor, and then you will be able to eliminate that demon Ravana along with his followers. [4-27-37]
prithiviim api kaakutstha sasaagara vana acalaam |
parivar.htayitum shaktah kim punah tam hi raavanam || 4-27-38
"Oh, Kakutstha, you are capable to inverse the order of earth along with all of its oceans, forests, and mountains, then what to speak of that Ravana, all the more. [4-27-38]
sharat kaalam pratiikshasva praavrit kaalo ayam aagatah |
tatah sa raastram sa ganaam raavanam tam vadhisyasi || 4-27-39
"Look forward to the autumnal season, as this season that has come is of heavy rains, and thereafter, you will eradicate that Ravana along with his city-state and his followers. [4-27-39]
aham tu khalu te viiryam prasuptam pratibodhaye |
diiptaih aahutibhih kaale bhasma channam iva analam || 4-27-40
"I am just awakening the fast sleeping vitality of yours, no more than rekindling fire concealed under embers with the timely offerings of flammable fire-oblations." Thus said Lakshmana to Rama. [4-27-40]
laksmanasya hi tad vaakyam pratipuujya hitam shubham |
raaghavah suhridam snigdham idam vacanam abraviit || 4-27-41
Honoring that expedient and propitious advise of Lakshmana, Raghava spoke this sentence to that good-hearted and good-natured Lakshmana. [4-27-41]
vaacyam yad anuraktena snig.hdhena ca hitena ca |
satya vikrama yuktena tad uktam laksmana tvayaa || 4-27-42
"What is to be said by an affectionate, amiable and cordial person, also whose courage is truth itself, that you have said it, Lakshmana. [4-27-42]
esa shokah parityaktah sarva kaarya avasaadakah |
vikramesu apratihatam tejah protsaahayaami aham || 4-27-43
"Yes! Distress is retrogressive to all the functions. I am casting-off this distress completely. As an undefeatable one in my triumphs I am invigorating my ebullience. [4-27-43]
sharat kaalam pratiikshisye sthito asmi vacane tava |
sugriivasya nadiinaam ca prasaadam anupaalayan || 4-27-44
"Awaiting for the kind-heartedness of Sugreeva, and for the kindness of the rivers in their abatement, I look forward for the autumn remaining true to your words. [4-27-44]
upakaarena virah tu pratikaarena yujyate |
akritajno apratikrito hanti satvavataam manah || 4-27-45
"A valiant one who is succored [relieved] will be indebted with some requital on his part, but besides being unfaithful, if one who does not make requital for all the favors done in his interest, he will be wounding the hearts of soft-hearted people." Rama said so to Lakshmana, keeping Sugreeva in view. [4-27-45]
tat eva yuktam pranidhaaya lakshmanah
krita a.njali tat pratipuujaya bhaasitam |
uvaaca raamam svabhiraama darshanam
pradarshayan darshanam aatmanah shubham || 4-27-46
Visualizing what Rama said about their waiting for pre-winter season to be candid, and praise-fully making palm-fold at that determination of Rama, and even to clarify his own opportune viewpoint, Lakshmana spoke to Rama who by his own aspect is a delightful one for a ken. [4-27-46]
yathoktam etat tava sarvam iipsitam
narendra kartaa na ciraat tu vaanara |
sharat pratiikshah kshamataam imam bhavaan
jala prapaatam ripu nigrahe dhritah || 4-27-47
"Oh, lord of people, Sugreeva will be effectuating everything you have desired and said, not later but soon, hence awaiting autumn you may please bear up these heavy rainfalls, besides bearing with the idea of disciplining the enemy. [4-27-47]
niyamya kopam pratipaalyataam sharat
ksamasva maasaam caturo mayaa saha |
vasa acale asmin mriga raaja sevite
sa.mvartayan shatru vadhe samarthah || 4-27-48
"Let autumn be awaited while containing your anger, and along with me you may stay on this mountain which is adored by lions, and spend these four rainy months here like a monsoon lion, although you are capable to eliminate the enemy at any moment like a lion. [4-27-48]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye kiskindha kaande sapta vi.mshah sargah
Thus, this is the 27th chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate