किष्किन्धा-काण्ड > भूखे वानरों का एक गुफा में दिव्य वृक्ष सरोवर, भवन देख घुसना




Monkeys enter Riksha cavity, an unsightly and gloomy one, during their search in southern direction. While groping in that dark they loose time set by Sugreeva. Finally, they see luminosity and extraordinarily built mansions, woodlands, trees and lakes. Thereupon they catch sight of an elderly sainted lady and they all approach her asking after the legend of that cavity.

सह तारा अंगदाभ्याम् तु संगम्य हनुमान् कपिः |
विचिनोति च विन्ध्यस्य गुहाः च गहनानि च || ४-५०-१
Associated with Angada, Lt. Tara and others, the monkey Hanuma searched the caves and thick forests of Vindhya Range. [4-50-1]
सिंह शार्दूल जुष्टाः च गुहाः च परितः तथा |
विषमेषु नग इन्द्रस्य महा प्रस्रवणेषु च || ४-५०-२
Hanuma has searched in the caves of that kingly Mt. Vindhya, which are jammed in with lions and tigers, and even at the towering rapids. [4-50-2, 3a]
आसेदुः तस्य शैलस्य कोटिम् दक्षिण पस्चिमाम् |
तेषाम् तत्र एव वसताम् स कालो व्यत्यवर्तत || ४-५-३
They reached the southwest peak of that mountain during their search and the time set by Sugreeva swiftly lapsed while they are overstaying thereat that Mt. Vindhya alone."
स हि देशो दुरन्वेष्यो गुहा गहनवान् महान् |
तत्र वायु सुतः सर्वम् विचिनोति स्म पर्वतम् || ४-५०-४
Though that extensive province is indeed an unsearchable one with its impenetrable caves and forests, yet Hanuma, the son of Air-god, searched everywhere on that mountain. [4-50-3b, 4]
परस्परेण रहिता अन्योन्यस्य अविदूरतः |
गजो गवाक्षो गवयः शरभो गन्धमादनः || ४-५०-५
मैन्दः च द्विविदः चैव हनुमान् जांबवान् अपि |
अंगदो युव राजः च तारः च वनगोचरः || ४-५०-६
गिरि जाल आवृतान् देशान् मार्गित्वा दक्षिणाम् दिशम् |
विचिन्वन्तः ततः तत्र ददृशुः विवृतम् बिलम् || ४-५०-७
दुर्गम् ऋक्ष बिलम् नाम दानवेन अभिरक्षितम् |
Without pressing one another closely, yet not distancing from one another largely, Gaja, Gavaaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha, Gandhamaadana, also thus Mainda, Dvivida, and Hanuma, and even Jaambavanta, crown prince Angada, also the forest-mover Lt. Tara have searched that province in southern direction that is encompassed with interlocked mountains, and during their search there they have observed a wide-opened and impassable cavity known as Riksha cavity which is well guarded by a demon called Maya. [4-50-5, 6, 7, 8a]
क्षुत् पिपासा परीताः तु श्रान्ताः तु सलिल अर्थिनः || ४-५०-८
अवकीर्णम् लता वृक्षैः ददृशुः ते महा बिलम् |
Thirst and hunger invading them they are fatigued and craving for water, and such as they are they beheld that capacious cavity which is enwrapped in climbers and trees. [4-50-8, 9a]
तत्र क्रौन्चाः च हंसाः च सारसाः च अपि निष्क्रमन् || ४-५०-९
जल आर्द्राः चक्रवाकाः च रक्त अंगाः पद्म रेणुभिः |
There they have seen the swans and the waterfowls like Kraunca, Saarasa, and even Cakravaka waterfowls exiting from the cavity with their bodies drenched in water and reddened with the dapples of lotuses' pollen. [4-50-9b, 10a]
ततः तत् बिलम् आसाद्य सुगन्धि दुरतिक्रमम् || ४-५०-१०
विस्मय व्यग्र मनसो बभूवुः वानरर्षभाः |
When those best vanara-s have neared that fragrant and impermeable cavity they are disheartened with amazement. [4-50-10b, 11a]
संजात परिशंकाः ते तत् बिलम् प्लवग उत्तमाः || ४-५०-११
अभ्यपद्यन्त संहृष्टाः तेजोवन्तो महाबलाः |
Though a suspicion in general is evoked in them, as they presumed that cavity to be Naraka, The Hell of Yama, or Paataala, the Netherworld of Emperor Bali, those highly resplendent and great mighty fly-jumpers have neared it, rejoicing for the availability of water in there. [4-50-11b, 12a]
नाना सत्त्व समाकीर्णाम् दैत्य इन्द्र निलय उपमम् || ४-५०-१२
दुर्दर्शम् इव घोरम् च दुर्विगाह्यम् च सर्वशः |
That hideous cavity is dispersed with diverse beings, similar to the residence of the emperor of demons, namely Emperor Bali, in Paataala, the Netherworld, and it is unsightly and impermeable from anywhere. [4-50-12b, 13a]
ततः पर्वत कूट आभो हनुमान् मारुत आत्मजः || ४-५०-१३
अब्रवीत् वानरान् घोरान् कान्तार वन कोविदः |
The son of Air-god Hanuma whose glossiness is like that of a mountaintop and who is a mastermind in scrutinising every inscrutable forest, then spoke to all of the formidable Vanara-s. [4-50-13b, 14a]
गिरि जाल आवृतान् देशान् मार्गित्वा दक्षिणाम् दिशम् || ४-५०-१४
वयम् सर्वे परिश्रांता न च पश्याम मैथिलीम् |
"We all have searched the southern quarter including those places that are enmeshed with meshes of mountains, and we are overly fatigued, but Maithili is unnoticed. [4-50-14b, 15a]
अस्मात् च अपि बिलात् हंसाः क्रौन्चाः च सह सारसैः || ४-५०-१५
जल आर्द्राः चक्रवाकाः च निष्पतन्ति स्म सर्वशः |
नूनम् सलिलवान् अत्र कूपो वा यदि वा ह्रदः || ४-५०-१६
तथा च इमे बिल द्वारे स्निग्धाः तिष्ठन्ति पादपाः |
"Swans along with waterfowls like Saarasa, Kruanca, and water drenched Cakravaka birds are coming out of this cavity from all over, and even the trees available at its doorway are verdant. Certainly there must be a wellspring, or otherwise a pond with water." Thus Hanuma spoke to all monkeys. [4-50-15b, 16, 17a]
इति उक्ताः तत् बिलम् सर्वे विविशुः तिमिर आवृतम् || ४-५०-१७
अचन्द्र सूर्यम् हरयो ददृशू रोम हर्षणम् |
When Hanuma spoke to them thus as a kind of assurance, all those monkeys entered the cavity and found it as a sunless or moonless cavity, enfolded in hair-raising darkness. [4-50-17b, 18a]
निशम्य तस्मात् सिंहाः च तान् तान् च मृग पक्षिणः || ४-५०-१८
प्रविष्टा हरि शार्दूला बिलम् तिमिर आवृतम् |
Those tigerly monkeys have also seen lions and various other animals and birds exiting therefrom, and entered that cavity which is enshrouded in obscurity. [4-50-18b, 19a]
न तेषाम् सज्जते दृष्टिः न तेजः न पराक्रमः || ४-५०-१९
वायोः इव गतिः तेषाम् दृष्टिः तम् अपि वर्तते |
Their eyesight, or their vigour, or their valorousness is rendered ineffectual, and their permeation is just like the directionless air as their eyesight is thwarted in gloominess.

Or

Despite of the gloominess of that cavity, unobstructed is their eyesight, or their vigour or their valorousness, and their permeation is like that of the gust of air as their eyesight is actuated even in darkness. [4-50-19, 20a]
ते प्रविष्टाः तु वेगेन तत् बिलम् कपि कुंजराः || ४-५०-२०
प्रकाशम् च अभिरामम् च ददृशुः देशम् उत्तमम् |
But on their going further into that cavity speedily, those elephantine monkeys beheld a best place that is luminous, as well as lovely. [4-50-20b, 21a]
ततः तस्मिन् बिले भीमे नाना पादप संकुले || ४-५०-२१
अन्योन्यम् संपरिष्वज्य जग्मुर् योजनम् अंतरम् |
In that awful cave that is compacted with various trees, then they advanced further an interstice of yojana distance, hand in hand lest one may miss the other. [4-50-21b, 22a]
ते नष्ट संज्ञाः तृषिताः संभ्रांताः सलिल अर्थिनः || ४-५०-२२
परिपेतुर् बिले तस्मिन् कंचित् कालम् अतन्द्रिताः |
Though they are craving for water, highly perplexed, and lost track of their destination or any waterway, and yet hopeful of their mission they unwearyingly hopped in that cavity for a good while. [4-50-22b, 23a]
ते कृशा दीन वदनाः परिश्रान्ताः प्लवंगमाः || ४-५०-२३
आलोकम् ददृशुः वीरा निराशा जीविते यदा |
Those fly-jumpers are presently enervated and overly tired, and sad faced, and when those brave ones are despaired of their life, just then they perceived a luminescence. [4-50-23b, 24a]
ततः तम् देशम् आगम्य सौम्याः वितिमिरम् वनम् || ४-५०-२४
ददृशुः कान्चनान् वृक्षान् दीप्त वैश्वानर प्रभान् |
सालान् तालान् तमालान् च पुन्नागान् वंजुलान् धवान् || ४-५०-२५
चंपकान् नाग वृक्षान् च कर्णिकारान् च पुष्पितान् |
स्तबकैः कांचनैः चित्रैः रक्तैः किसलयैः तथा || ४-५०-२६
आपीडैः च लताभिः च हेम आभरण भूषितैः |
तरुण आदित्य संकाशान् वैदूर्यमय वेदिकान् || ४-५०-२७
विभ्राजमानान् वपुषा पादपान् च हिरण्मयान् |
नील वैदूर्य वर्णाः च पद्मिनीः पतगैः आवृताः || ४-५०-२८
महद्भिः कांचनैः वृक्षैः वृता बाल अर्क संनिभैः |
Those amenable monkeys on arriving at that province then beheld a shadowless woodland with golden trees which in irradiance is like the irradiated Ritual-fire. They beheld Saala, Taala [Palmyra,] Tamaala trees and some flowered trees like Punnaaga, Vanjula, Dhava, Campaka, Naaga, also Karnikaara trees. The bunches of their flowers are golden and amazing, leaflets are reddish, and like that the climbers enwreathing at their tops are like their towering diadems and since those trees have golden fruits, they look as though decorated with golden jewellery. Those golden-bodied tress are shining forth like tender sun and their pedestals are completely studded with lapis gems. The birds encircling those trees are in the hue of lapis lazuli gems. The lotus lakes are encompassed with golden lotuses with broad petals, which in shine are similar to tender sun. [4-50-24b, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29a]
जातरूपमयैः मत्स्यैः महद्भिः च अथ पन्कजैः || ४-५०-२९
नलिनीः तत्र ददृशुः प्रसन्न सलिल आयुताः |
Then they beheld there the lotus-lakes containing serene waters and stocky lotuses and burly fishes that are golden. [4-50-29b, 30a]
कांचनानि विमानानि राजतानि तथा एव च || ४-५०-३०
तपनीय गवाक्षाणि मुक्ता जाल आवृतानि च |
हैम राजत भौमानि वैदूर्य मणिमन्ति च || ४-५०-३१
ददृशुः तत्र हरयो गृह मुख्यानि सर्वशः |
There the monkeys beheld choicest mansions everywhere made out of gold and silver, some with golden and some with silver domes, while some with golden and some with silver multi-stories, but all are studded with lapis gems with golden windows covered with laceworks of pearls. [4-50-30b-32a]
पुष्पितान् फलिनो वृक्षान् प्रवाल मणि संनिभान् || ४-५०-३२
कांचन भ्रमरान् चैव मधूनि च समन्ततः |
They have also seen everywhere flowered and fruited trees that are similar in shine to red corals and rubies, and golden honeybees, as well as honeys. [4-50-32b, 33a]
मणि कांचन चित्राणि शयनानि आसनानि च || ४-५०-३३
विविधानि विशालानि ददृशुः ते समन्ततः |
हेम रजत कांस्यानाम् भाजनानाम् च राशयः || ४-५०-३४
They beheld everywhere diverse and capacious beds and seats that are amazingly crafted with gemstones and gold, and also stacks of utensils made of gold, silver and bell metal. [4-50-33b, 34]
अगुरूणाम् च दिव्यानाम् चंदनानाम् च संचयम् |
शुचीनि अभ्यवहाराणि मूलानि च फलानि च || ४-५०-३५
They saw the stockpiles of heavenly aloe vera substances and sandalwood sticks and depurated eatables, tubers and fruits. [4-50-35]
महा अर्हाणि च पानानि मधूनि रसवन्ति च |
दिव्यानाम् अम्बराणाम् च महा अर्हाणाम् च संचयान् || ४-५०-३६
कंबलानाम् च चित्राणाम् अजिनानाम् च संचयान् |
They have also seen top-grade soft drinks, luscious honeys, heaps of finest quality clothing, exotic blankets and sheaves of deerskins. [4-50-36, 37a]
तत्र तत्र विन्यस्तान् दीप्तान् वैश्वानर प्रभान् || ४-५०-३७
ददृशुः वानराः शुभ्रान् जातरूपस्य संचयान् |
Vanara-s have also observed mounds of undefiled gold stockpiled here and there glowing with the glow of ritual fire. [4-50-37b, 38a]
तत्र तत्र विचिन्वन्तो बिले तत्र महा प्रभाः || ४-५०-३८
ददृशुः वानराः शूराः स्त्रियम् कांचित् अदूरतः |
When searching here and there in that cavity those valiant vanara-s of high resplendence have perceived some lady rather not far from them. [4-50-38b, 39a]
ताम् च ते ददृशुः तत्र चीर कृष्ण अजिन अम्बराम् || ४-५०-३९
तापसीम् नियत आहाराम् ज्वलंतीम् इव तेजसा |
They saw a sainted lady there who is attired in jute-cloths and who is on a controlled diet and who is like a luminiferous entity by her own luminescence of asceticism. [4-50-38b, 39a]
विस्मिता हरयः तत्र व्यवतिष्टन्त सर्वशः |
प्रपच्छ हनुमान् तत्र का असि त्वम् कस्य वा बिलम् || ४-५०-४०
In wonderment the monkeys stood still all over, and in the matter of her identity Hanuma asked her, "Who are you? Whose cavity is this, either? [4-50-40b, 40c]
ततो हनूमान् गिरि सन्निकाशः
कृत अंजलिः ताम् अभिवाद्य वृद्धाम् |
पप्रच्छ का त्वम् भवनम् बिलम् च
रत्नानि च इमानि वदस्व कस्य || ४-५०-४१
Then Hanuma whose shine is similar to that of a mountain making palm-fold and reverencing that aged lady asked, "Who are you? Whose is this cavity, or the mansion or these jewels? Please speak." [4-50-41]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे पंचाशः सर्गः