Sarga 60: Aṅgada’s Proposal and Jāmbavān’s Counsel (Full Text & Meaning)
Sarga 60: Aṅgada’s Proposal and Jāmbavān’s Counsel (Full Text & Meaning)
Home > Sundarakanda > Sarga 60
Read Sundarakanda Sarga 60 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. Following Hanumān's triumphant report, the youthful Prince Aṅgada proposes that the Vānara host should immediately conquer Lanka and rescue Sītā themselves rather than returning empty-handed. However, the elder Jāmbavān offers a profound lesson in diplomacy and duty. He explains that while their strength is sufficient, they must respect Śrī Rāma’s personal vow to rescue his wife. Jāmbavān emphasizes that overstepping their specific command (to search) would undermine Rāma's honor and the strategic goals of the alliance. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 14 | Primary Characters: Aṅgada & Jāmbavān | Key Events: Aṅgada-Saṅkalpaḥ (Angada's proposal), Jāmbavad-Nītiḥ (Jambavan's diplomatic counsel), Rāma-Pratijñā-Gauravam (Respecting Rama's vow) | Location: Mount Mahendra |
athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe ṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ
Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramanaya - 60th Sarga
aṁgada jāṁbavatsaṁvādaḥ Dialogue between Aṅgada and Jāmbavān
tasya tadvacanaṅ śrutvā vālisūnurabhāṣata | ayuktaṅ tu vinā dēvīṅ dṛṣṭavadbhiśca vānarāḥ | samīpaṅ gantumasmābhī rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ || 1
Having heard those words of Hanuman, the son of Vāli (Aṅgada) spoke: 'It is indeed improper for us Vānaras, who have seen the Sītā Devi, to return to the side of the great Rāghava (Rāma) without her.' (1)
vāyusūnōrbalēnaiva dagdā laṁkēti naḥ śrutam | dṛṣṭā dēvī na cānītā iti tatra nivēdanam || na yuktamiva paśyāmi bhavadbhiḥ khyātavikramaiḥ || 2
'We have heard that Laṅkā was indeed burnt by the might of the Son of the Wind-god (Hanumān). However, to report that the Goddess (Sītā) was seen but not brought back is not a fitting response from us, who are famed for our great prowess.' (2)
na hi naḥ plavanē kaścinnāpi kaścitparākramē | tulya ssāmaradaityēṣu lōkēṣu harisattamāḥ || 3 jitvā laṁkāṁ sarakṣaughāṁ hatvā taṁ rāvaṇaṁ raṇē | sītāmādāya gacchāmaḥ siddhārthā hr̥ṣṭamānasāḥ || 4
'O Best of Vānaras, there is truly no one equal to us in leaping power, nor is there anyone equal in valor, in all the worlds, including the Devas and Daityas. Having conquered Laṅkā with its hordes of Rākṣasas and slain that Rāvaṇa in battle, let us return with Sītā, our purpose fulfilled and our hearts rejoicing.' (3 - 4)
tēṣvēvaṅ hatavīrēṣu rākṣasēṣu hanūmatā | kimanyadatra kartavyaṅ gṛhītvā yāma jānakīm || 5
'When those Rākṣasa heroes have been slain by Hanumān in this manner, what else remains to be done here? Let us take Jānakī Devi and go.' (5)
rāmalakṣmaṇayōrmadhyē nyasyāma janakātmajām | kiṁ vyalīkaistu tān sarvān vānarān vārarṣabhān || 6
vayamēva hi gatvā tān hatvā rākṣasapuṁgavān | rāghavaṁ draṣtumarhāmaḥ sugrīvaṁ sahalakṣmaṇam || 7
'Let us bring Janaki Devī to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. What is the point of displeasing all those foremost Vānaras? Indeed, let us go ourselves and slay those leaders of the Rākṣasas. Only then will we be worthy to see Rāghava and Sugrīva, along with Lakṣmaṇa.' (6 - 7)
tamēvaṅ kṛtasaṅkalpaṅ jāmbavān harisattamaḥ | uvāca paramaprītō vākyamarthavadarthavit || 8
Jāmbavān, the wisest and foremost of the Vānaras, was extremely pleased and spoke meaningful words to him (Aṅgada), who had thus made a firm resolve. (8)
naiṣā buddirmahābuddē yadbravīṣi mahākapē | vicētuṁ vayamāṅñaptā dakṣiṇāṁ diśamuttamām || 9
nānētuṁ kapirājēna naiva rāmēṇa dhīmatā | kathaṁcinnirjitāṁ sītāṁ asmābhirnābhirōcayēt || 10
'O highly intelligent and mighty Aṅgada, the idea which you speak does not seem proper. We were commanded only to search the southern direction. We were not commanded to bring her back by the King of the Vānaras (Sugrīva), nor by the wise Rāma. Sītā, having been somehow rescued by us, may not be approved by Śrī Rāma.' (9 - 10)
rāghavō nr̥paśārdūlaḥ kulaṁ vyapadiśan svakam | pratiṅñāya svayaṁ rājā sītāvijayamagrataḥ || 11
sarvēṣāṁ kapimukhyānāṁ kathaṁ mithyā kariṣyati | viphalaṁ karma ca kr̥taṁ bhavēt tuṣṭirna tasya ca | vr̥thā ca darśitaṁ vīryaṁ bhavēdvānapuṁgavāḥ || 12
'Rāghava, the best among kings, having declared his own noble lineage, has personally pledged before all the chiefs of the Vānaras to secure Sītā’s victory. How can he make that pledge false? If we return with Sītā Devī, he would not be pleased. In that case, the work accomplished and the valor displayed by you, O foremost Vānaras, would be for nothing and utterly futile.' (11 - 12)
tasmādgacchāma vai sarvē yatra rāmaḥ salakṣmaṇaḥ | sugrīvaśca mahātējāḥ kāryasyāsya nivēdanē || 13
'Therefore, let all of us go to where Rāma, along with Lakṣmaṇa, and the mighty Sugrīva are, to report the success of this mission.' (13)
na tāvadēṣā matirakṣamā nō yathā bhavān paśyati rājaputra || yathā tu rāmasya matirniviṣṭā tathā bhavān paśyatu kāryasiddhim || 14
'O Prince Aṅgada, your suggestion is a sound one; however, we must proceed with the task only as far as Rāma's instructions dictate. We were assigned to find the whereabouts of Sītā, but King Rāma did not command us to bring her back.' (14)
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde ṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ
↑ Back to Top