Summary
Angada proposes fast unto death as this troop of monkeys failed to find Seetha, and the timeframe fixed by Sugreeva has also lapsed, and if they return to Kishkindha, it is sure that Sugreeva takes them to task. As they are caught between the devil and the deep sea, Sugreeva and southern Indian Ocean, they resort to lay their lives by fasting unto death.
Chapter [Sarga] 53 in Detail
tatah te dadrishuh ghoram saagaram varuna aalayam |
apaaram abhigarjantam ghoraih uurmibhih aakulam || 4-53-1
Then they saw an inexorable ocean, the realm of Rain-god, tumultuous with out-roaring and implacable waves, and shore-less other where. [4-53-1]
mayasya maayaa vihitam giri durgam vicinvataam |
tesaam maaso vyatikraanto yo raajnaa samayah kritah || 4-53-2
Which month is set as timeframe for the monkeys by king Sugreeva that month passed off while the monkeys are searching mountains, impassable areas and within the cavity concocted by the wizardry of demon Maya. [4-53-2]
vindhyasya tu gireh paade sa.mprapuspita paadape |
upavishya mahaatmaanah cintaam aapedire tadaa || 4-53-3
Sitting on a foothill of Mt. Vindhya which is with fully flowered trees those virtue-souled monkeys are then driven in desperation. [4-53-3]
tatah puspaatibhaaraagraa.nlltaashatasamaavritaan -yadvaa -
tatah puspa atibhaara agraan lataa shata samaavritaan |
drumaan vaasantikaan dristvaa babhuuvuh bhaya shankitaah || 4-53-4
Then on seeing the treetops of spring season, weighty with flowers and enshrouded with hundreds of vines, they became incredulous with the fright of failing Sugreeva's timeframe. [4-53-4]
te vasa.ntam anupraaptam prativedya parasparam |
nasta sa.ndesha kaala arthaa nipetur dharanii tale || 4-53-5
On discussing among themselves they found that spring season has arrived, and they also found the purpose of timely messaging about Seetha to Sugreeva is lost, thus they plumped down onto the surface of earth. [4-53-5]
tatah taan kapi vriddhaan ca shistaan caiva vanaukasah |
vaacaa madhurayaa abhaasya yathaavat anumaanya ca || 4-53-6
sa tu si.mha risabha skandhah piina aayata bhujah kapih |
yuvaraajo mahaapraajna angado vaakyam abraviit || 4-53-7
The crown prince and a great foreseer Angada, the monkey, whose nape of neck is leonine and bullish, arms lengthy and sturdy, then as usual paying respects to elderly monkeys greeted all of the forest dwellers and spoke this sentence in a modest voice. [4-53-6, 7]
shaasanaat kapi raajasya vayam sarve vinirgataah |
maasah puurno bilasthaanaam harayah kim na budhyate || 4-53-8
"Oh, monkeys, we all have started at the command of the king of monkeys, and the month fixed by him is zeroed out while we were in Black Cavity. Are you aware of it?" Thus Angada started to speak his mind. [4-53-8]
vayam aashvayuje maasi kaala sa.nkhyaa vyavasthitaah |
prasthitaah so api ca atiitah kim atah kaaryam uttaram || 4-53-9
"We were sent out scheduling time calculating from the month of Aashviiyuja nearly October. Even that time fixed for us has also lapsed. Thereby, what is to be done next? [4-53-9]
bhavanta pratyayam praaptaa niiti maarga vishaaradaah |
hitesu abhirataa bharttuh nisristaah sarva karmasu || 4-53-10
"You all the pioneers in the pathway of principles, you have notched up the credibility of your king, you are all well-disposed in the well-being of your king, and you are the contrivers of any exploit. [4-53-10]
karmasu apratimaah sarve dikshu vishruta paurusaah |
maam puraskritya niryaataah pin.hgaaksha praticoditaah || 4-53-11
"All of you are unparalleled in all tasks, all your asperity is renowned in all directions, and all of you have come impelled by that ocherish [red or yellow] eyed Sugreeva keeping me as your helmsman. [4-53-11]
idaaniim akrita arthaanaam martavyam na atra sa.nshayah |
hari raajasya sa.ndesham akritvaa kah sukhii bhavet || 4-53-12
"As of now our mission is incomplete hence we are scheduled to die, and there is no doubt about it. Who can be complacent by keeping the directive of monkey's king incomplete? [4-53-12]
aasmin atiite kaale tu sugriivena krite svayam |
praayopaveshanam yuktam sarvesaam ca vana okasaam || 4-53-13
"But in this matter of course, as the time set by Sugreeva is lapsed, it is appropriate for all of us forest dwelling monkeys to voluntarily undertake fasting unto death. [4-53-13]
tiiksnah prakrityaa sugriivah svaami bhaave vyavasthitah |
na ksamisyati nah sarvaan aparaadha krito gataan || 4-53-14
"Instinctively Sugreeva is a tormentor and now he is institutionalized in lordship, thus he will not condone [excuse] any of us as we will be as good as transgressors [sinners] if we were to return. [4-53-14]
apravrittau ca siitaayaah paapam eva karisyati |
tasmaat ksamam iha adya eva ga.ntum praayopavishanam || 4-53-15
tyak.htvaa putran ca daaraan ca dhanaani ca grihaani ca |
"Sugreeva commits sin alone in our respect by killing all of us as we failed in the facts about Seetha, therefore it is pertinent to enter upon fasting unto, leaving off our sons, wives, riches and houses and homes, too. [4-53-15, 16a]
dhruvam nah hi.nsate raajaa sarvaan pratigataan itah || 4-53-16
vadhena apratiruupena shreyaan mrityuh iha eva nah |
"That king Sugreeva definitely and freakishly tortures all of us on our going back futilely, hence suicide at this place is justifiable for all us. [4-53-16b, c]
na ca aham yauvaraajyena sugriivena abhisecitah || 4-53-17
narendrena abhisikto asmi raamena aklista karmanaa |
"I am not anointed to crown-princedom by Sugreeva, but I am anointed by the unbigoted Rama, the king of people. [4-53-17b, 18a]
sa puurvam baddha vairo maam raajaa dristvaa vyatikramam || 4-53-18
ghaatayisyati dandena tiiksnena krita nishcayah |
"That king Sugreeva who is already bound up in animosity with my father, and thus with me too, now on observing me transgressing his directive will decisively wish to liquidate me by a tyrannous victimization. [4-53-18a, 19a]
kim me suhridbhih vyasanam pashyadbhih jiivitaa.ntare |
iha eva praayam aasisye punye saagara rodhasi ||| 4-53-19
"Of what use is the witnessing of my kith and kin at me when I am tortured in the prime of my life, hence here on this sacred seashore alone I will outwait my death fasting unto it." Thus Angada said to all the monkeys. [4-53-19b, c]
etat shrutvaa kumaarena yuva raajena bhaasitam |
sarve te vaanara shresthaah karunam vaakyam abruvan || 4-53-20
On hearing all that uttered by that youngish Angada, the crown prince, all of those prominent Vanara-s sympathetically spoke these words. [4-53-20]
tiiksnah prakrityaa sugriivah priyaa raktah ca raaghavah |
samiikshya akrita kaaryaan tu tasmin ca samaye gate || 4-53-21
adristaayaam ca vaidehyaam dristvaa caiva samaagataan |
raaghava priya kaamaaya ghaatayisyati asa.nshayam || 4-53-22
"Instinctively Sugreeva is a hot-tempered Vanara and Raghava is interested in his beloved wife. The timeframe is lapsed and Vaidehi is unspotted. If we go back to Kishkindha now, on seeing us returning without completing our assignment, and with a thinking to satisfy Rama Sugreeva wishes to liquidate us without any doubt. [4-53-21, 22]
na ksamam ca aparaaddhaanaam gamanam svaami paarshvatah |
pradhaanabuutaah ca vayam sugriivasya samaagataah || 4-53-23
"It will be inexcusable for the culprits to pass at the sideways of lords, then where is the question of their coming into king's audience, and we should be barefaced to return because we are all the chieftains of Sugreeva who are coordinated and sent here. [4-53-23]
iha eva siitaam anviikshya pravrittim upalabhya vaa |
nah cet gacchaama tam viiram gamisyaamo yama kshayam || 4-53-24
"If we do not return to that champion Sugreeva on searching somewhere here for Seetha, or on our educing some information about her, we will rather enter the realm of Yama, the Terminator." Thus the other monkeys discussed among themselves. [4-53-24]
plavangamaanaam tu bhaya arditaanaam
shrutvaa vacah taara idam babhaase |
alam visaadena bilam pravishya
vasaama sarve yadi rocate vah || 4-53-25
On hearing the words of fly-jumpers, who are tormented by fear of Sugreeva, Lt. Tara spoke this to them, "enough is your desperation, if you all are interested let us enter that cave again where we can live. [4-53-25]
idam hi maayaa vihitam sudurgamam
prabhuuta vriksa udaka bhojya peyam |
iha asti nah na eva bhayam pura.ndaraat
na raaghavaat vaanara raajato api vaa || 4-53-26
"That highly impassable cavity is contrived by the demon Maya and it is abundant with trees, water, eatables and potables, and there is no fear even from Indra in that cavity, nor from Raghava, nor from Sugreeva, the king of monkeys." So said Lt. Tara to all. [4-53-26]
shrutvaa a.ngadasya api vaco anukuulam
uucuh ca sarve harayah pratiitaah |
yathaa na hanyema tathaa vidhaanam
asaktam adya eva vidhiiyataam nah || 4-53-27
On hearing Angada's words, as well as the words of Lt. Tara that are trended to Angada's words, all the monkeys compliantly spoke with believability, "in which way we all will not be killed that way may be way marked, and promptly make it happen now only." So said all the monkeys to Angada. [4-53-27]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye kiskindha kaande tri pa.ncaashah sargah
Thus, this is the 53rd chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate