Sugreeva's Knowledge of the Physical World

गतेषु वानरेन्द्रेषु रामः सुग्रीवम् अब्रवीत् | कथम् भवान् विजानीते सर्वम् वै मण्डलम् भुवः || ४-४६-१

gateShu vaanarendreShu raamaH sugriivam abraviit |katham bhavaan vijaaniite sarvam vai maNDalam bhuvaH || 4-46-1

When the chiefs of monkey-troops are on their way Rama spoke to Sugreeva, "Indeed, how do you know very-well about the globe of earth in its entirety?" [4-46-1]

सुग्रीवः च ततो रामम् उवाच प्रणत आत्मवान् | श्रूयताम् सर्वम् आख्यास्ये विस्तरेण वचो मम || ४-४६-२

sugriivaH ca tato raamam uvaaca praNata aatmavaan |shruuyataam sarvam aakhyaasye vistareNa vaco mama || 4-46-2

Then Sugreeva bowing down before Rama said, "I will narrate all vividly, and let my words be heard." [4-46-2]

यदा तु दुंदुभिम् नाम दानवम् महिष आकृतिम् | परिकालयते वाली मलयम् प्रति पर्वतम् || ४-४६-३ तदा विवेश महिषो मलयस्य गुहाम् प्रति | विवेश वाली तत्र अपि मलयम् तत् जिघांसया || ४-४६-४

yadaa tu du.ndubhim naama daanavam mahiSha aakR^itim |parikaalayate vaalii malayam prati parvatam || 4-46-3 tadaa vivesha mahiSho malayasya guhaam prati |vivesha vaalii tatra api malayam tat jighaaMsayaa || 4-46-4

"When Vali repulsed the buffalo-shaped demon Dundubhi towards Malaya mountain, then that buffalo entered the cave of Mt. Malaya, and even Vali entered therein wishing to kill that buffalo. [4-46-3, 4]

ततो अहम् तत्र निक्षिप्तो गुहा द्वारि विनीतवत् | न च निष्क्रमते वाली तदा संवत्सरे गते || ४-४६-५

tataH kShataja vegena aapupuure tadaa bilam |tat aham vismito dR^iShTvaa bhraatuH shoka viSha arditaH || 4-46-6

"Vali then kept me at the mouth of the cave as I was an amenable brother, but Vali did not exit from cave even after one full year. [4-46-5]

ततः क्षतज वेगेन आपुपूरे तदा बिलम् | तत् अहम् विस्मितो दृष्ट्वा भ्रातुः शोक विष अर्दितः || ४-४६-६

atha aham gata buddhiH tu suvyaktam nihato guruH |shilaa parvata sa.nkaashaa bila dvaari mayaa kR^itaa || 4-46-7ashaknuvan niSh.hkramitum mahiSho vinashiShyati |

"I was dumbfounded to see that cave is then fully filled with blood, and then a venom like anguish called the loss of my brother agonised me. [4-46-6]

अथ अहम् गत बुद्धिः तु सुव्यक्तम् निहतो गुरुः | शिला पर्वत संकाशा बिल द्वारि मया कृता || ४-४६-७ अशक्नुवन् निष्क्रमितुम् महिषो विनशिष्यति |

tato aham aagaam kiShki.ndhaam niraashaH tasya jiivite || 4-46-8raajyam ca sumahat praapya taaraam ca rumayaa saha |mitraiH ca sahitaH tatra vasaami vigata jvaraH || 4-46-9

"Then I concluded that 'my brother is unmistakably killed,' and then I fixed a mountain similar boulder in the mouth of that cavity with a thinking that it will be impossible for that buffalo to exit and it will get destroyed within that cave itself. [4-46-7, 8a]

ततो अहम् आगाम् किष्किंधाम् निराशः तस्य जीविते || ४-४६-८ राज्यम् च सुमहत् प्राप्य ताराम् च रुमया सह | मित्रैः च सहितः तत्र वसामि विगत ज्वरः || ४-४६-९

aajagaama tato vaalii hatvaa tam daanavarShabhaH |tato aham adadaam raajyam gauravaat bhaya ya.ntritaH || 4-46-10

"Unhopeful of Vali's aliveness then I arrived in Kishkindha, and on getting the very magnificent kingdom of Kishkindha, and also Ruma along with Tara, I was peaceably staying there with friends. [4-46-8, 9]

आजगाम ततो वाली हत्वा तम् दानवर्षभः | ततो अहम् अददाम् राज्यम् गौरवात् भय यंत्रितः || ४-४६-१०

tato aham vaalinaa tena saanubandhaH pradhaavitaH |nadiiH ca vividhaaH pashyan vanaani nagaraaNi ca || 4-46-12

"Vali then came back to Kishkindha on killing that great demon, and then I was spellbound in fear of Vali's killing me, and I gave back the kingdom to Vali owing to my deference to him. [4-46-10]

स माम् जिघांसुः दुष्टात्मा वाली प्रव्यथित इन्द्रियः | परिकालयते क्रोधात् धावंतम् सचिवैः सह || ४-४६-११

aadarsha tala sa.nkaashaa tato vai pR^ithivii mayaa |alaata cakra pratimaa dR^iShTaa goShpadavat tadaa - kR^itaa || 4-46-13

"That evil-minded Vali becoming highly perturbed at his senses furiously repulsed me further and further away, even though I was running away from him with my ministers, as he wished to kill me. [4-46-11]

ततो अहम् वालिना तेन सानुबन्धः प्रधावितः | नदीः च विविधाः पश्यन् वनानि नगराणि च || ४-४६-१२

puurvam dishaam tato gatvaa pashyaami vividhaan drumaan |parvataan sa dariin ramyaan saraaMsi vividhaani ca || 4-46-14

"Such as I was, who is repulsed by Vali, I was made to run away rapidly, and during that fleeing I went on seeing diverse rivers, forests and cities. [4-46-12]

आदर्श तल संकाशा ततो वै पृथिवी मया | अलात चक्र प्रतिमा दृष्टा गोष्पदवत् तदा - कृता || ४-४६-१३

udayam tatra pashyaami parvatam dhaatu maNDitam |kshiirodam saagaram caiva nityam apsara aalayam || 4-46-15

"I have then really seen the earth as in the reflection on the surface of a mirror, where the mirror shows all the objects in exactness, and the earth is like the circle of a fireball, where it is encircled with fire-like reddish, brownish, ochreish minerals and ores, and it appeared to me in my high flight like a cow-hoof-print in the mirror, called my perception. [4-46-13]

पूर्वम् दिशाम् ततो गत्वा पश्यामि विविधान् द्रुमान् | पर्वतान् स दरीन् रम्यान् सरांसि विविधानि च || ४-४६-१४

parikaalyamaanaH tadaa vaalinaa abhidrutaH hi aham |punaH aavR^itya sahasaa prasthito aham tadaa vibho || 4-46-16

"Then on going to eastern direction I saw various trees, enchanting mountains with caves, and also numerous lakes. [4-46-14]

उदयम् तत्र पश्यामि पर्वतम् धातु मण्डितम् | क्षीरोदम् सागरम् चैव नित्यम् अप्सर आलयम् || ४-४६-१५

dishaH tasyaaH tato bhuuyaH prasthito dakshiNam disham |vindhya paadapa saMkiirNaam candana druma shobhitaam || 4-46-17

"There I saw the mountain wreathed in with ores, namely Mt. Udaya, the Sun-Rise, and I have also seen the Milk Water Oceans which is forever an abode for apsara-s. [4-46-15]

परिकाल्यमानः तदा वालिना अभिद्रुतः हि अहम् | पुनः आवृत्य सहसा प्रस्थितो अहम् तदा विभो || ४-४६-१६

druma shaila antare pashyan bhuuyo dakshiNato aparaaam |aparaam ca disham praapto vaalinaa samabhidrutaH || 4-46-18

"I fled speedily when Vali repulsed me, but oh, lord Rama, when I returned he again made me to flee forthwith. [4-46-16]

दिशः तस्याः ततो भूयः प्रस्थितो दक्षिणम् दिशम् | विन्ध्य पादप संकीर्णाम् चन्दन द्रुम शोभिताम् || ४-४६-१७

sa pashyan vividhaan deshaan astam ca giri sattamam |praapya ca astam giri shreShTham uttaram saMpradhaavitaH || 4-46-19

"Then from that eastern direction I fled to southern direction, which is thick with Vindhya Range mountains and diverse trees, especially with sandalwood trees. [4-46-17]

द्रुम शैल अन्तरे पश्यन् भूयो दक्षिणतो अपराअम् | अपराम् च दिशम् प्राप्तो वालिना समभिद्रुतः || ४-४६-१८

himava.ntam ca merum ca samudram ca tathaa uttaram |yadaa na vinde sharaNam vaalinaa samabhidrutaH || 4-46-20 tato maam buddhi saMpanno hanumaan vaakyam abraviit |

"While I was seeing the interiors of forest and mountains again I was made to run by Vali, who was setting upon me from within the interiors of those forests and mountains, and then I reached the western direction. [4-46-18]

स पश्यन् विविधान् देशान् अस्तम् च गिरि सत्तमम् | प्राप्य च अस्तम् गिरि श्रेष्ठम् उत्तरम् संप्रधावितः || ४-४६-१९

idaaniim me smR^itam raajan yathaa vaalii hariishvaraH || 4-46-21mata.ngena tadaa shapto hi asmin aashrama maNDale |pravishet yadi vai vaalii muurdhaa asya shatadhaa bhavet || 4-46-22tatra vaasaH sukho asmaakam nir.hudvigno bhaviShyati |

"Such as I was, on seeing diverse cities and the best mountain Astagiri, Mt. Dusk, I reached that excellent Mt. Dusk also, and since Vali is at my heel, I took to my heels, by a long way to north. [4-46-19]

हिमवंतम् च मेरुम् च समुद्रम् च तथा उत्तरम् | यदा न विन्दे शरणम् वालिना समभिद्रुतः || ४-४६-२० ततो माम् बुद्धि संपन्नो हनुमान् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् |

tataH parvatam aasaadya R^ishyamuukam nR^ipaatmaja || 4-46-23na vivesha tadaa vaalii mata.ngasya bhayaat tadaa |evam mayaa tadaa raajan pratyakSham upalakShitam |pR^ithivii maNDalam sarvam guhaam asmi aagataH tataH || 4-46-24

"Even at Himalayas, Mt. Meru, like that at the Northern Ocean, Vali drove me back, and when the clemency from Vali, or a shelter, or even a foothold on earth was indeterminable, then Hanuma, whose prosperity is his wisdom, said a word to me. [4-46-20, 21a]

इदानीम् मे स्मृतम् राजन् यथा वाली हरीश्वरः || ४-४६-२१ मतंगेन तदा शप्तो हि अस्मिन् आश्रम मण्डले | प्रविशेत् यदि वै वाली मूर्धा अस्य शतधा भवेत् || ४-४६-२२ तत्र वासः सुखो अस्माकम् निर्उद्विग्नो भविष्यति |

" 'Oh, king Sugreeva, now I remember how Sage Matanga cursed the king of monkeys Vali at that time. If Vali really enters the fringes of the hermitage of Sage Matanga, Vali's head gets splintered in hundred ways. Hence dwelling in sage Matanga's hermitage will be peaceful and imperturbable for us.' Thus Hanuma spoke to me. [4-46-21b, 22, 23a]

ततः पर्वतम् आसाद्य ऋश्यमूकम् नृपात्मज || ४-४६-२३ न विवेश तदा वाली मतंगस्य भयात् तदा | एवम् मया तदा राजन् प्रत्यक्षम् उपलक्षितम् | पृथिवी मण्डलम् सर्वम् गुहाम् अस्मि आगतः ततः || ४-४६-२४

"Oh, prince Rama, then Vali though reached Mt. Rishyamuka, he did not enter into its precincts at that time fearing Sage Matanga and his curse, oh, king Rama, thus this globe of earth is apparently and closely sighted by me in its entirety, and then I came into the cave of Rishyamuka and did not stir out." So said Sugreeva to Rama. [4-46-23b, 24]