Hari Om.
Let us begin the twenty seventh sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The all-round grief on the fall of vAlI demonstrated the stature he commanded among the vAnaras and the benevolence of his rule save for some aberrations. Both rAma and lakshmaNa exhorted the vAnaras to move on, perform the last rites of vAlI and subsequently perform the coronation of sugrIva as the king and angada as the prince. The vAnaras did as suggested and with the return of sugrIva to kishkindhA, the good days were back again. sugrIva got back his wife rumA. Additionally he begot the astute tArA as his other wife. angada was anointed the crown prince. The vAnaras in kishkindhA rejoiced once more. The crowning of angada ensured that his sympathizers were happy as well. It was the rainy season and was no time to launch missions. Therefore, sugrIva cooled heels in kishkindhA while rAma and lakshmaNa, not the ones to enter human habitat for fourteen years stayed on in the cave. Onwards…
As sugrIva was coronated and entered the cave city of kishkindhA, rAma along with lakshmaNa came to the mount praSravaNa which was endowed with a wide variety of flora and teeming with lions, tigers, bears, vAnaras and wild cats. The black mountains looked like dark clouds. On one such peak, in a well ventilated and large cave, rAma along with lakshmaNa chose to stay during the rainy season. Faultless rAma, having made the agreement with sugrIva, spoke great and appropriate words to the obedient lakshmaNa who was an enhancer of the glory –
“O saumitri, this cave in the mountain is delightful, spacious and well ventilated. We shall stay here during the rainy season. O prince, this lofty mountain peak is studded with stones of various hues – white, copper, black and others. The streams flow over a variety of minerals. Variety of trees in full bloom – kadamba, arjuna, sarja, and a variety of creepers and climbers like the mAlati, kunda, sindhu make the surroundings sylvan. The chirping of the birds and the screams of the peacocks can be heard. This lotus pond is not too far away from the cave. This cave with an opening on to the northeastern side and raised on the western side is appropriate as it prevents the western winds from entering inside.
प्रागुदक्प्रवणे देशे गुहा साधु भविष्यति।
पश्चाच्चैवोन्नता सौम्य निवातेयं भविष्यति4.27.12।।
O dear, look at the lofty peak on the north. It is dark hued like the eye liner and is auspicious. There on the southern side we have a white peak studded with minerals of various hues resembling the mount kailAs. Here towards the east flows this river replete with plenty of water. Its flow near the peak where we are resembles the flow of river gangA near the trikUTa mountains. The bank of the river is laden with trees – champaka, tilaka, tAla, tamAla, atimuktaka, padmaka, sarala, aSOka, vAnIra, tiniSa, bakula, kEtaka, dhava, hintAla, tiriTa, nIpa, vEtraka, kRtamAlaka – and looks like a delightfully dressed and ornate woman. Hundreds of varieties of birds chirping around, the chakravAkas and the swans moving in pairs, O lakshmaNa, indeed the river appears as if a beautiful and well decked woman is smiling. The river has white lotuses somewhere, red elsewhere and blue at other places. The sages flock to this delightful river. The aquatic birds, kraunchas and peacocks are all over the river. Look at the beautiful plantation of the sandalwood trees. It is well thought of and appears like a lattice.
पश्य चन्दनवृक्षाणां पङ्क्तीस्सुरचिता इव।
ककुभानां च दृश्यन्ते मनसेवोदितास्समम्4.27.24।।
Oh, wow, indeed, this is a bewitching place and we shall delight here lakshmaNa!
अहो सुरमणीयोऽयं देशश्शत्रुनिषूदन।
दृढं रंस्याव सौमित्रे साध्वत्र निवसावहै4.27.25।।
Not too far from here is the beautiful garden city kishkindhA where sugrIva having secured the kingdom, great prosperity and his wife must be living happily surrounded by his well wishers. We can hear the sound of the songs, drums and shrieks of the vAnaras from here”.
Reflecting thus on his surroundings, rAma continued to live there along with lakshmaNa. However, notwithstanding the comfort and the availability of everything around that mountain, rAma found little joy!
सुसुखेऽपि बहुद्रव्ये तस्मिन्हि धरणीधरे।
वसतस्तस्य रामस्य रतिरल्पापिना भवेत्4.27.30।।
He would always remember his abducted wife who is dearer to him than his own life and brood over. Especially when he saw the rising moon, his grief would enhance and he would hardly sleep during the nights. Tears would flow ceaselessly and he would choke in grief. Addressing a lamenting rAma, his brother lakshmaNa who experience as much grief spoke to console him –
“O rAma, enough of this brooding. You are very well aware that one who broods thus cannot attain his objective.
भवान्क्रियापरो लोके भवान् देवपरायणः।
आस्तिको धर्मशीलश्च व्यवसायी च राघव4.27.35।।
न ह्यव्यवसितश्शत्रुं राक्षसं तं विशेषतः।
समर्थस्त्वं रणे हन्तुं विक्रमैर्जिह्मकारिणम्4.27.36।।
You are enterprising, godly, a believer, righteous, industrious and persevering. Without being industrious you will not be able to vanquish the crooked demons in battle. Uproot this grief from your mind and firm up your resolve. Then wipe away that demon along with his coterie. O kakutstha, you have the ability to change the face of this earth along with its oceans and forests, then what to say of rAvaNa. Bide by this rainy season and await the autumn (Sarat Rtu). You shall vanquish rAvaNa along with his well wishers.
शरत्कालं प्रतीक्षस्व प्रावृट्कालोऽयमागतः।
ततस्सराष्ट्रं सगणं रावणं त्वं वधिष्यसि4.27.39।।
अहं तु खलु ते वीर्यं प्रसुप्तं प्रतिबोधये।
दीप्सैराहुतिभिः काले भस्मच्छन्नमिवानलम्4.27.40।।
Of course, I am just trying to awaken the valor in you which is in stupor just like one does to the fire covered with ashes by pouring offering into it”.
Listen and accepting the well meaning and well spoken words of lakshmaNa, rAma spoke with warmth and affection –
“Indeed lakshmaNa, what should be spoken by an affectionate well wisher who is valorous and truthful, that has been spoken by you. This grief is a big obstruction to our goals. I shall now assume unbeatable radiance and enthusiasm.
वाच्यं यदनुरक्तेन स्निग्धेन च हितेन च।
सत्यविक्रमयुक्तेन तदुक्तं लक्ष्मण त्वया4.27.42।।
एष शोकः परित्यक्तस्सर्वकार्यावसादकः।
विक्रमेष्वप्रतिहतं तेजः प्रोत्साहयाम्यहम्।।4.27.43।।
Honoring your words, I shall await autumn for the grace of sugrIva and the rivers. A warrior who receives a favor returns it. Not doing so amounts to ingratitude and hurts the good people”.
These words spoken by the handsome rAma of pleasing countenance were heard and contemplated upon by his brother lakshmaNa who then spoke –
“O rAma, all that you have desired shall be carried out not in the not too distant future by the lord of vAnaras. For the next couple of months, until the torrential downpour subsides and the advent of autumn, please stop being restless and dwell here in this cave on the mountain full of wild life along with me sharpening your focus and determination to vanquish the enemy”.
Here we conclude the twenty seventh 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: 4.28. rAma’s hearty take on the rains
Previous: 4.26. sugrIva appointed and anointed
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 