Chapter 8 - Manifestation of Viṣṇu as Rāma (part 4)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Nārada said:

1. Having gone to the lake of Pampā, Rāma stayed there (that) night thinking (of what to do). Then he was (met and) taken to Sugrīva by Hanūmat. Rāma made friendship (with Sugrīva).

2. After having pierced the seven Tāla trees with a single arrow and (even as others) were seeing, threw away the body of Dundubhi^[1] by his foot to a distance of ten yojanas.

3-4. Having killed Vālin,^[2] his (Sugrīva’s) enemy, who had been the cause of enmity, he bestowed on him the monkey-kingdom of Kiṣkindhā (as well as) Rumā and Tārā on the Ṛṣyamūka (mountains). That ruler of Kiṣkindhā (Sugrīva) told (Rāma), “I will do in such a way, O Rāma! by which you will be getting back Sītā”.

5-7. Having heard that, he (Rāma) spent the four months on the Mālyavat (mountain). As Sugrīva had not come to Kiṣkindhā to see (Rāma), Lakṣmaṇa (met him and) spoke to him the words of Rāma, “(You) go to Rāghava. The way in which Vālin was killed is not yet closed. O Sugrīva! You stand by at this juncture. Do not take to the course of Vālin.” Sugrīva said, “I did not realize the elapse of time on account of my preoccupation.”

8-9. Saying so, he (Lakṣmaṇa) went away. The lord of the monkeys (Sugrīva) (approached) Rāma, bowed and said, "All the monkeys have been brought in order to search for Sītā. As desired by you, I shall send them. Let them search for Jānakī in the (direction of) east etc. Let them return in a month. (If they come) after a month I will kill them.”

10. So saying (he sent monkeys in all directions). The monkeys sent towards the eastern, western and northern routes came (back) to Rāma and Sugrīva not finding Jānakī.

11. Having taken the signet ring of Rāma, Hanūmat together with other monkeys searched in the south in the caves of Suprabhā (mountain).

12- 16. And being engaged for more than a month and not being able to find Jānakī, they said, “We will die in vain. Jaṭāyu is fortunate. For the sake of Sītā, he gave his life being wounded by Rāvaṇa in the battle.” Having heard this, (the eagle) Sam-pāti, abandoning (his intention of) eating the monkeys (said), “This brother of mine, Jaṭāyu, was protected by me from the heat of the Sun as he was flying in the solar region. Hence, I had my wings burnt as I was flying in the clouds. On account of hearing the story of Rāma, the wings have grown again. I see Jānakī gone to Aśoka grove in Laṅkā in the Trikūṭaka (mountain) in (the middle of) the salt ocean of an extent of hundred yojanas. Knowing this let the monkeys tell Rāma and Sugrīva.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Dundubhi was a powerful demon slain by Vālin, the brother of Sugrīva. When Sugrīva showed to Rama the skeleton of this demon to show how powerful Vālin was, Rama gently kicked it and threw it many miles away. See Rām. IV. xi. 24ff

[2]:

When Māyāvin, the eldest son of Dundubhi, a demon, challenged. Vālin, Vālin chased him. Māyāvin entered a cave and Vālin also followed suit. Sugrīva, who had gone with his brother and was asked by his brother to guard at the entrance to the cave, took his brother to have been slain when he had not returned even after a long time. Sugrīva closed the entrance to the cave with stones, returned to Kiṣkindhā and assumed charge. As Vālin returned, the entreaties of Sugrīva were of no avail. Sugrīva retreated to Ṛṣyamūka mountains to escape the wrath of Vālin as Vālin dreaded to enter that region on account of a curse. Tārā, the wife of Sugrīva, was also taken away by Vālin, but was restored to her husband after Vālin was slain by Rāma. See Rām. IV. ix.x