Hari Om.
Let us begin the thirteenth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Extremely delighted and feeling blessed at having secured the friendship of rAma, sugrIva wasted no time in going and challenging vAlI for a combat. He was very assured of rAma’s valour after the latter split through seven sAl trees with one arrow which did infinitely more than what sugrIva wanted for assurance! He was literally floored at this and fell on rAma’s feet. They all go to kishkindhA, the city of vAlI where sugrIva roared inviting vAlI for a combat. The elder brother wasted no time to descend on the arena and soundly thrash the younger. As sugrIva was not getting any closer to winning over vAlI and with rAma not intervening, a spent sugrIva took to heels and fled from the battlefield and entered RshymUka which was a no-go zone for vAlI and thus saved himself. Soon, rAma, lakshmaNa and hanumAn met him there. sugrIva expressed his unhappiness at this apparent breach of trust by rAma! But rAma patiently explained his predicament in identifying who was who during the duel that was going on. The similarities between vAlI and sugrIva were such that, rAma didn’t want to take chance and shoot his arrow since that could mean unatonable tragedy if sugrIva is hurt. So, rAma suggests sugrIva should wear distinguishing mark in form of a gajapushpI creeper in full bloom and go and challenge vAlI again. sugrIva understood the situation and donned the garland brought by lakshmaNa. Onwards…
Ready to go to kishkindhA, protected by the might of vAlI again, rAma picked up his bow and golden arrows. The strong-necked sugrIva led the way and was followed by the great rAma and mighty lakshmaNa behind whom followed the effulgent vAnaras – hanumAn, nala, nIla and tAra.
As they walked towards kishkindhA, they beheld many a tree bent by the burden of the blooms, pleasant waters of the sea-bound rivers running down, lusty peaks of the mountains, valleys, caves and caverns. Then there were lovely lakes of crystal clear waters filled with lotus buds shining like gems. There were swans, geese, ducks, vanjula, chakravAka and other birds chirping melodiously. There were wild beasts roaming fearlessly and not too-far, deer feeding on tender grass. Then there were mighty tuskers, with their bodies black as the rain-bearing clouds, some wandering alone, some knocking the mountain slopes, covering themselves with dust and with their tusks breaking the banks of the ponds!
तटाकवैरिणश्चापि शुक्लदन्तविभूषितान्।
घोरानेकचरान्वन्यान्द्विरदान्कूलघातिनः4.13.10।।
As they went behind sugrIva they beheld a variety of wild beasts and birds in the forest. As they walked briskly thus, seeing a dense forest, rAma asked sugrIva –
“Hey mate, sugrIva, the dense forest that I see here surrounded by plantains raises my curiosity. What is it? I would like this curiosity be doused by you”.
Upon listening to this question, rAma, sugrIva, even as he walked in the forest, began to narrate –
“O rAma, this is the sprawling hermitage of the seven ascetics – saptajanA! Being full of fruit bearing trees and sweet water sources, this region relieves the stress of the travelers. Here lived seven ascetics who performed terribly intense penance with strict vows, immersed upside down in waters. Once in seven nights, they took air and subsisted on that. Having performed such penance, they ascended to the heavens bodily. The dense and impenetrable forest has grown on account of their penance. This is unreachable for even the gods led by indra and the demons. Whichever bird or beast strays into this forest by ignorance never returns. Pleasing aroma emerges out of this forest and you can hear the jingling of the ornaments, songs and the sounds of other wind instruments.
विभूषणरवास्तत्र श्रूयन्ते सकलाक्षराः।
तूर्यगीतस्वनाश्चात्र गन्धो दिव्यश्च राघव4.13.22।।
एते वृक्षाः प्रकाशन्ते धूमसंसक्तमस्तकाः।
मेघजालप्रतिच्छन्ना वैढूर्यगिरयो यथा4.13.24।।
Smoke billows out of the dAkshiNagni, AhavanIyAgni and gArhaspatyAgnI, the three types of agnIs and covers the tree tops making them look like gem-like mountain peaks covered by clouds.
O dharmAtma, rAma, do pay your respects to the saptajana sages along with lakshmaNa. Whoever pay their respects to the sages of sapta jana, never face anything untoward”.
प्रणमन्ति हि ये तेषां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्।
न तेषामशुभं किञ्चिच्छरीरे राम दृश्यते4.13.26।।
Acknowledging sugrIva’s narration and instruction, rAma along with lakshmaNa paid their respect to the sages with folded hands and moved on. Traveling far from the hermitage of the saptajanA, they beheld the difficult to conquer city of kishkindhA administered by vAlI. The duo rAma and lakshmaNa wielding their sharp weaponry, along with the vAnaras reached the city ruled by the son of indra for the sake of vanquishing the enemy.
Here we conclude the thirteenth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 4.14. rAma reassures sugrIva
Previous: 4.12. sugrIva bruised in the battle of lookalikes
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
