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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 68: Kabandha advises friendship with Sugrīva

Summary. Restored by cremation, he urges a pledge before fire and explains how the two can help each other

Sequence

  1. The brothers prepare the fire in a mountain cleft, and Lakṣmaṇa kindles the pyre all around (3.68.1–2)
  2. as Kabandha's great body burns, he rises from it in a radiant form, wearing spotless clothing and a divine garland (3.68.3–5)
  3. standing in a shining swan-drawn aerial vehicle, he addresses Rāma (3.68.6–7)
  4. invoking the need for sound policy when one's strength is reduced, he says that an alliance is essential to success (3.68.8–10)
  5. he names Sugrīva, driven out by his brother Vālin and now living with four companions on Ṛṣyamūka beside Pampā (3.68.11–12)
  6. Rāma should pledge friendship before a fire (3.68.13)
  7. Kabandha describes Sugrīva as grateful, capable, courageous, and himself in need of help, so that each can aid the other (3.68.14–16)
  8. he urges Rāma to lay down his weapon and approach peacefully → Sugrīva knows the world's regions and the haunts of the rākṣasas (3.68.17–19)
  9. Sugrīva can send monkeys searching in every direction, through mountains, rivers, and caves, and help recover Sītā wherever she has been taken. (3.68.20–22)

Verses 3.68.1–22

3.68.1

evam uktau tu tau vīrau kabandhena nareśvarau
giripradaram āsādya pāvakaṃ visasarjatuḥ

Thus addressed by Kabandha, the two heroic lords of men, reaching a mountain-cleft, set a fire ablaze.

Words: evam — thus; uktau — addressed (dual); tu — and; tau — the two; vīrau — heroes (dual); kabandhena — by Kabandha; nareśvarau — lords of men (dual); giripradaram — a mountain-cleft; āsādya — having reached; pāvakaṃ — fire; visasarjatuḥ — the two set loose, kindled

3.68.2

lakṣmaṇas tu maholkābhir jvalitābhiḥ samantataḥ
citām ādīpayām āsa sā prajajvāla sarvataḥ

And Lakṣmaṇa, with great blazing firebrands, kindled the pyre all around; it blazed up on every side.

Words: lakṣmaṇas — Lakṣmaṇa; tu — and; maholkābhir — with great firebrands; jvalitābhiḥ — blazing; samantataḥ — on all sides; citām — the pyre; ādīpayām āsa — kindled, set alight; sā — it (the pyre); prajajvāla — blazed up; sarvataḥ — on every side

3.68.3

tac charīraṃ kabandhasya ghṛtapiṇḍopamaṃ mahat
medasā pacyamānasya mandaṃ dahati pāvaka

That great body of Kabandha, resembling a lump of ghee, being cooked in its fat, the fire burned slowly.

Words: tac — that; charīraṃ — body; kabandhasya — of Kabandha; ghṛtapiṇḍopamaṃ — resembling a lump of ghee; mahat — great; medasā — with fat; pacyamānasya — being cooked (gen.); mandaṃ — slowly; dahati — burns; pāvaka — the fire

3.68.4

sa vidhūya citām āśu vidhūmo 'gnir ivotthitaḥ
araje vāsasī vibhran mālāṃ divyāṃ mahābalaḥ

Shaking off the pyre swiftly, the mighty one rose up like a smokeless flame, wearing a pair of dustless garments and a divine garland.

Words: sa — he; vidhūya — having shaken off; citām — the pyre; āśu — swiftly; vidhūmo — smokeless; 'gnir — fire; ivotthitaḥ — risen up, as if; araje — dustless (dual); vāsasī — the two garments; vibhran — wearing, bearing; mālāṃ — a garland; divyāṃ — divine; mahābalaḥ — the mighty one

3.68.5

tataś citāyā vegena bhāsvaro virajāmbaraḥ
utpapātāśu saṃhṛṣṭaḥ sarvapratyaṅgabhūṣaṇaḥ

Then from the pyre, with speed, radiant, clad in spotless raiment, adorned on every limb, he sprang up swiftly, full of joy.

Words: tataś — then; citāyā — from the pyre; vegena — with speed; bhāsvaro — radiant, shining; virajāmbaraḥ — in spotless garments; utpapātāśu — sprang up swiftly; saṃhṛṣṭaḥ — delighted, joyful; sarvapratyaṅgabhūṣaṇaḥ — adorned on every limb

3.68.6

vimāne bhāsvare tiṣṭhan haṃsayukte yaśaskare
prabhayā ca mahātejā diśo daśa virājayan

Standing in a radiant, glory-conferring aerial car yoked with swans, of great splendor, illuminating the ten directions with his radiance,

Words: vimāne — in the aerial car; bhāsvare — radiant; tiṣṭhan — standing; haṃsayukte — yoked with swans; yaśaskare — glory-conferring; prabhayā — with radiance; ca — and; mahātejā — of great splendor; diśo — the directions; daśa — ten; virājayan — illuminating, making shine

3.68.7

so 'ntarikṣagato rāmaṃ kabandho vākyam abravīt
śṛṇu rāghava tattvena yathā sīmām avāpsyasi

Kabandha, moving through the sky, spoke these words to Rāma: “Listen truly, Rāghava, how you will reach your goal.

Words: so 'ntarikṣagato — he, gone into the sky; rāmaṃ — to Rāma; kabandho — Kabandha; vākyam — words; abravīt — spoke; śṛṇu — listen!; rāghava — O Rāghava; tattvena — truly, in truth; yathā — how, in what way; sīmām — the goal, the bound (of your quest); avāpsyasi — you will attain

3.68.8

rāma ṣaḍ yuktayo loke yābhiḥ sarvaṃ vimṛśyate
parimṛṣṭo daśāntena daśābhāgena sevyate

“Rāma, there are six expedients in the world by which everything is weighed; one worn down to the end of his plight is attended by (even) a tenth part of relief.

Words: rāma — O Rāma; ṣaḍ — six; yuktayo — expedients, stratagems; loke — in the world; yābhiḥ — by which (fem. pl.); sarvaṃ — everything; vimṛśyate — is weighed, deliberated; parimṛṣṭo — worn down, afflicted; daśāntena — by the end of (one's) plight; daśābhāgena — by a tenth part; sevyate — is attended, served

3.68.9

daśābhāgagato hīnas tvaṃ rāma sahalakṣmaṇaḥ
yat kṛte vyasanaṃ prāptaṃ tvayā dārapradharṣaṇam

“Reduced to a tenth part and brought low are you, Rāma, together with Lakṣmaṇa — you on whose account calamity has come, the violation of your wife.

Words: daśābhāgagato — come to a tenth portion; hīnas — diminished, brought low; tvaṃ — you; rāma — O Rāma; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa; yat kṛte — on account of which; vyasanaṃ — calamity, misfortune; prāptaṃ — reached, obtained; tvayā — by you; dārapradharṣaṇam — the violation of your wife

3.68.10

tad avaśyaṃ tvayā kāryaḥ sa suhṛt suhṛdāṃ vara
akṛtvā na hi te siddhim ahaṃ paśyāmi cintayan

“Therefore you must without fail make him your friend, O best of friends; for, reflecting, I do not see success for you without doing this.

Words: tad — therefore; avaśyaṃ — without fail, necessarily; tvayā — by you; kāryaḥ — to be made; sa — he, that one; suhṛt — friend, ally; suhṛdāṃ — of friends; vara — O best; akṛtvā — without doing; na — not; hi — for, indeed; te — for you; siddhim — success, accomplishment; ahaṃ — I; paśyāmi — see; cintayan — reflecting, pondering

3.68.11

śrūyatāṃ rāma vakṣyāmi sugrīvo nāma vānaraḥ
bhrātrā nirastaḥ kruddhena vālinā śakrasūnunā

“Listen, Rāma, I will tell you: there is a monkey named Sugrīva, cast out by his angry brother Vālin, the son of Śakra.

Words: śrūyatāṃ — let it be heard; rāma — O Rāma; vakṣyāmi — I will tell; sugrīvo — Sugrīva; nāma — by name; vānaraḥ — a monkey; bhrātrā — by his brother; nirastaḥ — cast out, expelled; kruddhena — angry; vālinā — by Vālin; śakrasūnunā — the son of Śakra

3.68.12

ṛṣyamūke girivare pampāparyantaśobhite
nivasaty ātmavān vīraś caturbhiḥ saha vānaraiḥ

“On the excellent mountain Ṛṣyamūka, made beautiful by the borders of Pampā, the self-possessed hero dwells with four monkeys.

Words: ṛṣyamūke — on Ṛṣyamūka; girivare — on the best of mountains; pampāparyantaśobhite — made beautiful by the borders of Pampā; nivasaty — dwells; ātmavān — self-possessed, resolute; vīraś — hero; caturbhiḥ — with four; saha — together with; vānaraiḥ — monkeys

3.68.13

vayasyaṃ taṃ kuru kṣipram ito gatvādya rāghava
adrohāya samāgamya dīpyamāne vibhāvasau

“Go there quickly today from here, O Rāghava, and make him your friend, meeting him before the blazing fire as a pledge of good faith.

Words: vayasyaṃ — friend, companion; taṃ — him; kuru — make!; kṣipram — quickly; ito — from here; gatvādya — having gone today; rāghava — O Rāghava; adrohāya — for non-betrayal, good faith; samāgamya — having met, come together; dīpyamāne — blazing (loc.); vibhāvasau — the fire (loc.)

3.68.14

na ca te so 'vamantavyaḥ sugrīvo vānarādhipaḥ
kṛtajñaḥ kāmarūpī ca sahāyārthī ca vīryavān

“And that Sugrīva, lord of monkeys, is not to be despised by you — grateful, able to take any form at will, seeking an ally, and valorous.

Words: na — not; ca — and; te — by you; so — he, that; 'vamantavyaḥ — to be despised; sugrīvo — Sugrīva; vānarādhipaḥ — lord of monkeys; kṛtajñaḥ — grateful; kāmarūpī — taking any form at will; ca — and; sahāyārthī — seeking an ally; ca — and; vīryavān — valorous, mighty

3.68.15

śaktau hy adya yuvāṃ kartuṃ kāryaṃ tasya cikīrṣitam
kṛtārtho vākṛtārtho vā kṛtyaṃ tava kariṣyati

“For you two are able today to accomplish the task he wishes done; whether his own aim be achieved or not, he will do your work.

Words: śaktau — able (dual); hy — for, indeed; adya — today; yuvāṃ — you two; kartuṃ — to do, accomplish; kāryaṃ — the task; tasya — his; cikīrṣitam — desired to be done; kṛtārtho — one whose aim is achieved; vākṛtārtho — or one whose aim is unachieved; vā — or; kṛtyaṃ — work, task; tava — your; kariṣyati — will do

3.68.16

sa ṛkṣarajasaḥ putraḥ pampām aṭati śaṅkitaḥ
bhāskarasyaurasaḥ putro vālinā kṛtakilbiṣaḥ

“He, the son of Ṛkṣarajas, roams about Pampā in fear — the true-born son of the Sun, wronged by Vālin.

Words: sa — he; ṛkṣarajasaḥ — of Ṛkṣarajas; putraḥ — son; pampām — Pampā; aṭati — roams, wanders; śaṅkitaḥ — fearful, apprehensive; bhāskarasyaurasaḥ — the true-born (son) of the Sun; putro — son; vālinā — by Vālin; kṛtakilbiṣaḥ — one against whom wrong was done

3.68.17

saṃnidhāyāyudhaṃ kṣipram ṛṣyamūkālayaṃ kapim
kuru rāghava satyena vayasyaṃ vanacāriṇam

“Laying down your weapon at once, O Rāghava, make the monkey whose home is Ṛṣyamūka, that forest-ranger, your friend in good faith.

Words: saṃnidhāyāyudhaṃ — having laid down the weapon; kṣipram — quickly, at once; ṛṣyamūkālayaṃ — whose abode is Ṛṣyamūka; kapim — the monkey; kuru — make!; rāghava — O Rāghava; satyena — in truth, good faith; vayasyaṃ — friend, companion; vanacāriṇam — the forest-ranger

3.68.18

sa hi sthānāni sarvāṇi kārtsnyena kapikuñjaraḥ
naramāṃsāśināṃ loke naipuṇyād adhigacchati

“For that elephant among monkeys, through his skill, knows thoroughly all the haunts in the world of the eaters of human flesh.

Words: sa — he; hi — for, indeed; sthānāni — the places, haunts; sarvāṇi — all; kārtsnyena — entirely, thoroughly; kapikuñjaraḥ — elephant among monkeys; naramāṃsāśināṃ — of the eaters of human flesh; loke — in the world; naipuṇyād — through skill; adhigacchati — reaches, finds out, knows

3.68.19

na tasyāviditaṃ loke kiṃ cid asti hi rāghava
yāvat sūryaḥ pratapati sahasrāṃśur ariṃdama

“There is nothing at all in the world unknown to him, O Rāghava, as far as the thousand-rayed Sun shines, O tamer of foes.

Words: na — not; tasyāviditaṃ — unknown to him; loke — in the world; kiṃ cid — anything; asti — there is; hi — for, indeed; rāghava — O Rāghava; yāvat — as far as; sūryaḥ — the Sun; pratapati — shines, radiates heat; sahasrāṃśur — thousand-rayed; ariṃdama — O tamer of foes

3.68.20

sa nadīr vipulāñ śailān giridurgāṇi kandarān
anviṣya vānaraiḥ sārdhaṃ patnīṃ te 'dhigamiṣyati

“Searching rivers, vast mountains, mountain-fastnesses, and caverns together with his monkeys, he will find your wife.

Words: sa — he; nadīr — rivers; vipulāñ — vast; śailān — mountains; giridurgāṇi — mountain-fastnesses; kandarān — caverns, grottoes; anviṣya — having searched; vānaraiḥ — with the monkeys; sārdhaṃ — together with; patnīṃ — wife; te — your; 'dhigamiṣyati — will find, discover

3.68.21

vānarāṃś ca mahākāyān preṣayiṣyati rāghava
diśo vicetuṃ tāṃ sītāṃ tvadviyogena śocatīm

“And he will send forth monkeys of huge body, O Rāghava, to search the quarters for that Sītā, who grieves at separation from you.

Words: vānarāṃś — monkeys; ca — and; mahākāyān — of huge body; preṣayiṣyati — will send forth; rāghava — O Rāghava; diśo — the quarters, directions; vicetuṃ — to search; tāṃ — that; sītāṃ — Sītā; tvadviyogena — by separation from you; śocatīm — grieving (fem.)

3.68.22

sa meruśṛṅgāgragatām aninditāṃ praviśya pātālatale 'pi vāśritām
plavaṃgamānāṃ pravaras tava priyāṃ nihatya rakṣāṃsi punaḥ pradāsyati

That foremost of monkeys — even should your blameless beloved have gone to the summit of Mount Meru, or entered and taken refuge in the depths of the underworld — will slay the rākṣasas and restore her to you.

Words: sa — he, that; meruśṛṅgāgragatām — gone to the summit-peak of Meru; aninditāṃ — the blameless (fem.); praviśya — having entered; pātālatale — in the depths of the underworld; 'pi — even; vāśritām — or having taken refuge; plavaṃgamānāṃ — of the monkeys; pravaras — the foremost, best; tava — your; priyāṃ — beloved; nihatya — having slain; rakṣāṃsi — the rākṣasas; punaḥ — again, back; pradāsyati — will restore, give back

← 3.67 Story of Kabandha · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.69 Kabandha’s directions to Pampā →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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