जीवता दुष्करं मन्ये प्रविष्टेन निवर्तितुम्। तपसः सुप्रभावेण नियमोपार्जितेन च
I think it is difficult for one who has entered to return alive, except by the great power of asceticism and the discipline acquired through vows.
सर्वानेव बिलादस्मात् तारयिष्यामि वानरान्। निमीलयत चक्षूंषि सर्वे वानरपुङ्गवाः
I will lead all the monkeys out of this cave; all you foremost monkeys, close your eyes.
नहि निष्क्रमितुं शक्यमनिमीलितलोचनैः। ततो निमीलिताः सर्वे सुकुमाराङ्गुलैः करैः
It is not possible to exit with eyes open; then all of them closed their eyes with their delicate-fingered hands.
सहसा पिदधुर्दृष्टिं हृष्टा गमनकांक्षया। वानरास्तु महात्मानो हस्तरुद्धमुखास्तदा
Eager for departure, the delighted monkeys quickly covered their sight; at that time, those great-souled monkeys covered their mouths with their hands.
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण बिलादुत्तारितास्तया। उवाच सर्वांस्तांस्तत्र तापसी धर्मचारिणी
In the span of a blink, she brought them out of the cave; then the ascetic, devoted to righteousness, spoke to them all there.
निःसृतान् विषमात् तस्मात् समाश्वास्येदमब्रवीत्। एष विन्ध्यो गिरिः श्रीमान् नानाद्रुमलतायुतः
Comforting those who had emerged from that peril, she said: 'Here is the glorious Vindhya mountain, adorned with various trees and creepers.'
एष प्रस्रवणः शैलः सागरोऽयं महोदधिः। स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु गमिष्यामि भवनं वानरर्षभाः। इत्युक्त्वा तद् बिलं श्रीमत् प्रविवेश स्वयंप्रभा
'Here is Prasravana mountain, and this is the great ocean, the mighty sea. Farewell to you, bulls among monkeys, I will return to my abode.' Having said this, the illustrious Svayamprabha entered that cave.
thumb|त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे किष्किन्धाकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥४-
Listen to the fifty-third sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa.
ततस्ते ददृशुर्घोरं सागरं वरुणालयम्। अपारमभिगर्जन्तं घोरैरूर्मिभिराकुलम्
Then they saw the dreadful ocean, the abode of Varuṇa, boundless, roaring, and agitated with terrible waves.
मयस्य मायाविहितं गिरिदुर्गं विचिन्वताम्। तेषां मासो व्यतिक्रान्तो यो राज्ञा समयः कृतः
While searching the mountain fortress created by Maya's magic, the month set by the king passed for them.
विन्ध्यस्य तु गिरेः पादे सम्प्रपुष्पितपादपे। उपविश्य महात्मानश्चिन्तामापेदिरे तदा
At the foot of the Vindhya mountain, where the trees were in full bloom, those great souls sat down and fell into anxiety.
ततः पुष्पातिभाराग्राँल्लताशतसमावृतान्। द्रुमान् वासन्तिकान् दृष्ट्वा बभूवुर्भयशङ्किताः
Then, seeing the springtime trees, heavy with blossoms and covered with hundreds of creepers, they became filled with fear.
ते वसन्तमनुप्राप्तं प्रतिवेद्य परस्परम्। नष्टसंदेशकालार्था निपेतुर्धरणीतले
Informing each other that spring had arrived, and having lost the time for their message, they fell to the ground.
ततस्तान् कपिवृद्धांश्च शिष्टांश्चैव वनौकसः। वाचा मधुरयाऽऽभाष्य यथावदनुमान्य च
Then, addressing the elder and distinguished monkeys with gentle words, and having properly obtained their approval,
स तु सिंहवृषस्कन्धः पीनायतभुजः कपिः। युवराजो महाप्राज्ञ अङ्गदो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
That monkey, with the shoulders of a lion and bull, with strong, long arms, the wise prince Aṅgada, spoke these words:
शासनात् कपिराजस्य वयं सर्वे विनिर्गताः। मासः पूर्णो बिलस्थानां हरयः किं न बुध्यत
By the command of the monkey king, we all set out; a month has passed for those monkeys who stayed in the cave—why do they not realize it?
वयमाश्वयुजे मासि कालसंख्याव्यवस्थिताः। प्रस्थिताः सोऽपि चातीतः किमतः कार्यमुत्तरम्
We set out in the month of Āśvayuja, with the time fixed; that too has passed—what, then, should be done now?
भवन्तः प्रत्ययं प्राप्ता नीतिमार्गविशारदाः। हितेष्वभिरता भर्तुर्निसृष्टाः सर्वकर्मसु
You all are trustworthy, skilled in the ways of policy, devoted to the master's welfare, and entrusted with all tasks.
कर्मस्वप्रतिमाः सर्वे दिक्षु विश्रुतपौरुषाः। मां पुरस्कृत्य निर्याताः पिङ्गाक्षप्रतिचोदिताः
All those of unmatched deeds, famed for their valor in every direction, set out with me at the forefront, urged on by the tawny-eyed one.
इदानीमकृतार्थानां मर्तव्यं नात्र संशयः। हरिराजस्य संदेशमकृत्वा कः सुखी भवेत्
Now, for those whose task is unaccomplished, there is no doubt that death is certain; who could be happy without carrying out the command of the king of the monkeys?
अस्मिन्नतीते काले तु सुग्रीवेण कृते स्वयम्। प्रायोपवेशनं युक्तं सर्वेषां च वनौकसाम्
At this point, since Sugrīva himself has acted, it is fitting for all the forest-dwellers to undertake a fast unto death.
तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः स्वामिभावे व्यवस्थितः। न क्षमिष्यति नः सर्वानपराधकृतो गतान्
Sugrīva is harsh by nature and firm in his authority as lord; he will not forgive any of us who return having failed.
अप्रवृत्तौ च सीतायाः पापमेव करिष्यति। तस्मात् क्षममिहाद्यैव गन्तुं प्रायोपवेशनम्
If there is no news of Sītā, he will only commit sin; therefore, it is better for us to go today itself to undertake a fast unto death.
त्यक्त्वा पुत्रांश्च दारांश्च धनानि च गृहाणि च। ध्रुवं नो हिंसते राजा सर्वान् प्रतिगतानितः
Abandoning sons, wives, wealth, and homes, the king will surely harm all of us who return from here.
वधेनाप्रतिरूपेण श्रेयान् मृत्युरिहैव नः। न चाहं यौवराज्येन सुग्रीवेणाभिषेचितः
Death here is better for us than a disgraceful execution; nor have I been installed as crown prince by Sugrīva.
नरेन्द्रेणाभिषिक्तोऽस्मि रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। स पूर्वं बद्धवैरो मां राजा दृष्ट्वा व्यतिक्रमम्
I was consecrated by Rāma, the blameless king among men; the king, who bears old enmity, will see my transgression and—
घातयिष्यति दण्डेन तीक्ष्णेन कृतनिश्चयः। किं मे सुहृद्भिर्व्यसनं पश्यद्भिर्जीवितान्तरे। इहैव प्रायमासिष्ये पुण्ये सागररोधसि
—determined, he will kill me with a sharp punishment; what use is there for me to see my friends in misfortune in another life? Here itself I will undertake a fast unto death on this sacred shore of the sea.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा कुमारेण युवराजेन भाषितम्। सर्वे ते वानरश्रेष्ठाः करुणं वाक्यमब्रुवन्
Hearing these words spoken by the prince, the crown prince, all those foremost monkeys spoke in sorrowful tones.
तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः प्रियारक्तश्च राघवः। समीक्ष्याकृतकार्यांस्तु तस्मिंश्च समये गते
Sugrīva is harsh by nature, and Rāghava is attached to those he loves; seeing the task unaccomplished, and when that time comes—
अदृष्टायां च वैदेह्यां दृष्ट्वा चैव समागतान्। राघवप्रियकामाय घातयिष्यत्यसंशयम्
—if Vaidehī is not found and we return together, desiring to please Rāghava, he will surely kill us.