Hari Om.
Let us begin the forty third sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
sugrIva started the quest from the eastern direction. He summoned a strong team and charged them with the responsibility of finding where sItA is within a month. He gives them quite a detailed description of the landmarks that they would see on the way, the regions, the hills, rivers and the sea all the way until the hill where the Sun rises first on a given day. He then turns clockwise and finds a Star studded team for the southern quest. The team was led by his deputy, angada and comprised of the who’s who of the vAnara army. It clearly showed his intelligent resourcing in the direction where the success is likely to be higher. Then he turns west and identifies his father-in-law sushENa to lead the charge and details the landmarks all the way until where the sun sets on a given day. While he strictly gives a deadline of one month for the quest, he incentivizes the quest for the southern troop. Then he turns north. Onwards…
Having dispatched his own father-in-law (sushENa) to the western direction, sugrIva, the knower of dharma, turned to one of the best warriors Satabali and spoke in his own interest and that of rAma and said – “O Satabli, along with the son of vaisvata and a hundred thousand warriors akin to you, begin your quest in the expansive northern direction that is home to the snow capped himavAn mountains and search for the blemishless consort of rAma. rAghava has bestowed a huge favor on us and therefore it would be a huge accomplishment for our life if we can successfully do this expedition that is dear to rAghava and we shall be redeemed of the debt that we carry.
कृतं हि प्रियमस्माकं राघवेण महात्मना।
तस्य चेत्प्रतिकारोऽस्ति सफलं जीवितं भवेत्।।4.43.6।।
In fact, our life is blessed when one who is seeking a favor should be satisfied even if he has not done you any favor. Then what is there to speak about repaying someone whose obligation you carry. With this spirit, all my wellwishers that you are, please go in quest of jAnakI.
अयं हि सर्वभूतानां मान्यस्तु नरसत्तमः।
अस्मासु चागत: प्रीती रामः परपुरञ्जयः।।4.43.9।।
In fact, this rAma, the best among men and the conqueror of all is acceptable to all beings and we love him dearly as well. So employing the wealth of your intellect and your valor, go and search for sItA in the forests, hills, caves and the rivers.
There you will see the countries of mlEchha, pulindA, SurasEna, prasthala, bharata, kuru, madraka, kAmbOja, yavana, Saka, Arattaka, bAhlika, Rshika, pourava, tankaNa, cheen (China!), greater cheen, nIhara, darada and the himavAn mountains. Conduct your search in the lOdhra, padmaka and dEvadAru forests. From there go to the place called sOmASrama where the gods and demi gods dwell and from there go to a huge mountain called kAla and thoroughly search in those large caves and caverns. Crossing the mount hEmagarbha you will see mount sudarSana and from there to mount dEvasakha that is home a diverse flora and a variety of birds.
तमतिक्रम्य चाकाशं सर्वतश्शतयोजनम्।
अपर्वतनदीवृक्षं सर्वसत्त्वविवर्जितम्।।4.43.20।।
Beyond that mountain, for a hundred yOjanas is a completely desolate place bereft of any geographical landmark like mountains, trees and rivers. After you cross this place, you will reach mount kailAs where a large edifice, imposing like a white cloud has been built for kubEra by viSwakarma. You will find a large lotus pond here. That is where vaiSravana, kubEra, felicitated by all beings roams freely.
From there enter the mount krauncha. This place is really treacherous and inaccessible. You ought to enter here very carefully. There great and enlightened sages brilliant like the sun dwell and they are worshipped by even the gods. Thoroughly search through the peaks of the mount krauncha. After crossing the krauncha mountain, you will see the mount mainAka where the demon maya has built a mansion for himself and you will find women with faces of horse around here.
Crossing this mountain you will reach abode of the sidhhas, vaikhAnasas, vAlakhilyas and other hermits who are engaged in penance. They are all worship-worthy and purified by intense penance. You should inquire about the whereabouts of vaidEhI from there with all humility.
वन्दितव्यास्ततः सिद्धाः तपसा वीतकल्मषाः ।
प्रष्टव्या चापि सीतायाः प्रवृत्तिर्विनयान्वितैः ॥
The lake there is filled with golden hued lotuses. Golden hued swans swim around there. The mighty elephant kubEra by name sArvabhauma roams this region along with the she-elephants. Although the sun and the moon do not light up this region, it shines forth brilliantly due to the presence of hallowed and brilliant sages there. Upon crossing that region, you will encounter a mountain stream that flows down by name SailOdA. There are bamboo forests on the banks of the stream which help the sages to cross the stream. Going further you will find uttarakuru regions. This region is replete with rivers and lakes that have golden lotuses. The water bodies glow with the brilliance of rising sun and this region is filled with pearls and gems and also blue lotuses. The banks of these golden hued rivers are home to foliage that bloom and bear fruit in all seasons and to a variety of birds. Some of these trees offer gems, jewels and ornaments for both men and women! The trees there spread out colorful bedspreads which are delightful. Some of these trees (kalpavrukshas, may be!) bring forth delicious drinks and also young, beautiful and virtuous women. The demigods and kinnaras along with their brilliant women roam this region. All of them are accomplished and keen to sport and dwell there with their companions. You can hear very pleasing music along with singing and percussion there always.
तत्र नामुदितः कश्चिन्नास्ति कश्चिदसत्प्रियः।
अहन्यहनि वर्धन्ते गुणास्तत्र मनोरमाः।।4.43.54।।
There is no one unhappy or interested in falsehood. The good qualities keep increasing here all the time. Once you cross this region, you will encounter the northern ocean, in the middle of which is the golden mountain called sOmagiri. Only those who have ascended to the worlds of indra and brahma can behold this mountain. Even if this region is bereft of the sun, it is illuminated.
भगवानपि विश्वात्मा शम्भुरेकादशात्मकः।
ब्रह्मा वसति देवेशो ब्रह्मर्षिपरिवारितः।।4.43.58।।
The gods vishNU, Sambhu (Siva) and brahma along with the enlightened sages (brahmaRshis) reside there.
However, no way you should cross the northern region of the uttara kuru. This is beyond the bounds for living beings. the mountain sOmagiri is inaccessible even to the gods. Once you see it, you ought to return from there.
एतावद्वानरैश्शक्यं गन्तुं वानरपुङ्गवाः।
अभास्करममर्यादं न जानीमस्ततः परम्।।4.43.61।।
O vAnara warriors, we can only go thus far, for beyond that there is no illumination of sun and is beyond the bounds and we really do not know what is there. Please go through these regions that I have mentioned and even the regions that I have not mentioned (but you think of), there also conduct your search.
O vAnaras you are equivalent in prowess to the fire and the wind. So, this expedition will delight rAma and delight me even more. You will be felicitated by me royally upon accomplishing this task in a grand manner. You can roam the earth freely along with your kith and kin.
Here we conclude the forty third 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: 4.44. The master knows who will accomplish
Previous: 4.42. Quest until where the sun sets
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
