ते वयं कपिराजस्य सर्वे वचनकारिणः। कृतां संस्थामतिक्रान्ता भयात् प्रायमुपासिताः
We all, obedient to the monkey king's command, have exceeded the set time and, out of fear, have resorted to fasting.
क्रुद्धे तस्मिंस्तु काकुत्स्थे सुग्रीवे च सलक्ष्मणे। गतानामपि सर्वेषां तत्र नो नास्ति जीवितम्
If Kākutstha is angered, and Sugrīva together with Lakṣmaṇa as well, then for all of us who have come here, there is no hope of life.
thumb|अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे किष्किन्धाकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥४-
Listen to the fifty-eighth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa.
इत्युक्तः करुणं वाक्यं वानरैस्त्यक्तजीवितैः। सबाष्पो वानरान् गृध्रः प्रत्युवाच महास्वनः
Thus addressed with sorrowful words by the monkeys who had given up hope of life, the vulture, his voice resounding, replied to the monkeys with tears in his eyes.
यवीयान् स मम भ्राता जटायुर्नाम वानराः। यमाख्यात हतं युद्धे रावणेन बलीयसा
My younger brother, O monkeys, was named Jaṭāyu, whom you said was slain in battle by the mighty Rāvaṇa.
वृद्धभावादपक्षत्वाच्छृण्वंस्तदपि मर्षये। नहि मे शक्तिरस्त्यद्य भ्रातुर्वैरविमोक्षणे
Because of old age and loss of wings, I endured even hearing of that, for I have no strength today to avenge my brother's enmity.
पुरा वृत्रवधे वृत्ते स चाहं च जयैषिणौ। आदित्यमुपयातौ स्वो ज्वलन्तं रश्मिमालिनम्
Long ago, after the slaying of Vṛtra, both he and I, desiring victory, approached the blazing sun, adorned with rays.
आवृत्याकाशमार्गेण जवेन स्वर्गतौ भृशम्। मध्यं प्राप्ते तु सूर्ये तु जटायुरवसीदति
Covering the path of the sky with great speed, we soared toward heaven; but when we reached the sun's midpoint, Jaṭāyu began to falter.
तमहं भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यरश्मिभिरर्दितम्। पक्षाभ्यां छादयामास स्नेहात् परमविह्वलम्
Seeing my brother scorched by the sun's rays, I, overwhelmed with affection, shielded him with my wings.
निर्दग्धपत्रः पतितो विन्ध्येऽहं वानरर्षभाः। अहमस्मिन् वसन् भ्रातुः प्रवृत्तिं नोपलक्षये
My wings burned, I fell upon the Vindhya mountains, O best of monkeys; living here, I have not learned any news of my brother.
जटायुषस्त्वेवमुक्तो भ्रात्रा सम्पातिना तदा। युवराजो महाप्रज्ञः प्रत्युवाचाङ्गदस्तदा
When Jaṭāyu was thus addressed by his brother Sampāti, then the wise prince Aṅgada replied.
जटायुषो यदि भ्राता श्रुतं ते गदितं मया। आख्याहि यदि जानासि निलयं तस्य रक्षसः
If you have heard what I have told you about Jaṭāyu's brother, then tell us, if you know, the dwelling place of that Rākṣasa.
अदीर्घदर्शिनं तं वै रावणं राक्षसाधमम्। अन्तिके यदि वा दूरे यदि जानासि शंस नः
That short-sighted Rāvaṇa, the worst of Rākṣasas—whether he is near or far, if you know, tell us.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा भ्राता ज्येष्ठो जटायुषः। आत्मानुरूपं वचनं वानरान् सम्प्रहर्षयन्
Then the eldest brother of Jaṭāyu, possessed of great energy, spoke words befitting himself, gladdening the monkeys.
निर्दग्धपक्षो गृध्रोऽहं गतवीर्यः प्लवङ्गमाः। वाङ्मात्रेण तु रामस्य करिष्ये साह्यमुत्तमम्
I am a vulture with wings burned, my strength gone, O monkeys; yet with words alone I will render the highest help to Rāma.
जानामि वारुणाँल्लोकान् विष्णोस्त्रैविक्रमानपि। देवासुरविमर्दांश्च ह्यमृतस्य विमन्थनम्
I know the worlds of Varuṇa, and even the three strides of Viṣṇu; I know the battles of gods and demons, and the churning of the nectar.
रामस्य यदिदं कार्यं कर्तव्यं प्रथमं मया। जरया च हृतं तेजः प्राणाश्च शिथिला मम
Whatever task of Rāma's is to be done, it must first be done by me; but my vigor has been taken by old age, and my life-breaths are weak.
तरुणी रूपसम्पन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता। ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना
A young woman, beautiful in form and adorned with all ornaments, was seen by me being carried away by the wicked Rāvaṇa.
क्रोशन्ती रामरामेति लक्ष्मणेति च भामिनी। भूषणान्यपविध्यन्ती गात्राणि च विधुन्वती
She was crying out, 'Rāma! Rāma!' and 'Lakṣmaṇa!'—that radiant woman, casting off her ornaments and shaking her limbs.
सूर्यप्रभेव शैलाग्रे तस्याः कौशेयमुत्तमम्। असिते राक्षसे भाति यथा वा तडिदम्बुदे
Her fine silk, radiant like sunlight atop a mountain, shines on the dark demon as lightning on a rain cloud.
तां तु सीतामहं मन्ये रामस्य परिकीर्तनात्। श्रूयतां मे कथयतो निलयं तस्य रक्षसः
I believe her to be Sītā, from the mention of Rāma; listen to me as I describe the dwelling of that demon.
पुत्रो विश्रवसः साक्षाद् भ्राता वैश्रवणस्य च। अध्यास्ते नगरीं लङ्कां रावणो नाम राक्षसः
Rāvaṇa, the son of Viśravas and brother of Vaiśravaṇa, dwells in the city of Laṅkā.
इतो द्वीपे समुद्रस्य सम्पूर्णे शतयोजने। तस्मिँल्लङ्का पुरी रम्या निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा
On this island in the ocean, a full hundred yojanas away, stands the splendid city of Laṅkā, built by Viśvakarma.
जाम्बूनदमयैर्द्वारैश्चित्रैः काञ्चनवेदिकैः। प्रासादैर्हेमवर्णैश्च महद्भिः सुसमाकृता
It is adorned with gates of jambū-gold, elaborate golden platforms, and grand palaces of golden hue.
प्राकारेणार्कवर्णेन महता च समन्विता। तस्यां वसति वैदेही दीना कौशेयवासिनी
Surrounded by a great wall shining like the sun, there dwells the sorrowful Vaidehī, clad in silk.
रावणान्तःपुरे रुद्धा राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता। जनकस्यात्मजां राज्ञस्तस्यां द्रक्ष्यथ मैथिलीम्
Imprisoned in Rāvaṇa's inner palace, guarded securely by demonesses, you will see the princess of Janaka, the Maithilī, there.
लङ्कायामथ गुप्तायां सागरेण समन्ततः। सम्प्राप्य सागरस्यान्तं सम्पूर्णं शतयोजनम्
In Laṅkā, protected on all sides by the ocean, after reaching the ocean's end, a full hundred yojanas across,
आसाद्य दक्षिणं तीरं ततो द्रक्ष्यथ रावणम्। तत्रैव त्वरिताः क्षिप्रं विक्रमध्वं प्लवङ्गमाः
Upon arriving at the southern shore, you will see Rāvaṇa; there, swiftly and urgently, advance, O monkeys.
ज्ञानेन खलु पश्यामि दृष्ट्वा प्रत्यागमिष्यथ। आद्यः पन्थाः कुलिङ्गानां ये चान्ये धान्यजीविनः
By knowledge, I see that after you go, you will return; the first path is that of the kuliṅga birds and others who live on grain.
द्वितीयो बलिभोजानां ये च वृक्षफलाशनाः। भासास्तृतीयं गच्छन्ति क्रौञ्चाश्च कुररैः सह
The second is for those who eat strong food and those who subsist on tree fruits; bhāsas take the third path, and krauñcas with kuraras.