Sundarakanda Sarga 61: Entering the Madhuvana (Full Text & Meaning)
Sundarakanda Sarga 61: Entering the Madhuvana (Full Text & Meaning)
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Read Sundarakanda Sarga 61 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. Following Jāmbavān's advice, the Vānara host leaps from Mount Mahendra toward Kishkindha. En route, they encounter the magnificent Madhuvana, Sugrīva's personal and highly protected honey-forest. Exultant with their success, the Vānaras obtain Prince Aṅgada's permission to feast. The sarga vividly describes their joyful intoxication, which leads to a violent confrontation with Dadhimukha, the guardian of the grove, as the Vānaras disregard all rules in their celebratory frenzy. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 25 | Primary Characters: Aṅgada, Hanumān, & Dadhimukha | Key Events: Madhuvana-Pravēśaḥ (Entering Madhuvana), Madhu-Pānam (Drinking honey), Dadhimukha-Pradharṣaṇam (Assaulting Dadhimukha) | Location: Madhuvana (near Kishkindha) |
athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe ēkōṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ
Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramanaya - 61st Sarga
madhuvanapravēśaḥ Entering the Madhuvana
tatō jāmbavatō vākyamagṛhṇanta vanaukasaḥ | aṅgadapramukhā vīrā hanumāṅśca mahākapiḥ || 1
Then the Vānaras, the heroes led by Aṅgada, and the great Vānara Hanumān, all accepted the words of Jāmbavān. (1)
prītimantastataḥ sarvē vāyuputraparasparāḥ | mahēndrādriṅ parityajya pupluvuḥ plavagarṣabhāḥ || 2
Filled with joy, all those Vānaras, with Hanumān in the forefront, then abandoned Mount Mahendra and leaped forward to begin their return journey. (2)
mērumandarasaṅkāśā mattā iva mahāgajāḥ | chādayanta ivākāśaṅ mahākāyā mahābalāḥ || 3
Resembling Mount Meru and Mount Mandara, and like mighty elephants in Musth, they (the Vānaras) covered the sky as they went, being enormous in body and exceedingly powerful. (3)
sabhājyamānaṅ bhūtaistamātmavantaṅ mahābalam | hanūmantaṅ mahāvēgaṅ vahanta iva dṛṣṭibhiḥ || 4
He (Hanumān), the self-controlled, mighty, and greatly swift one, was receiving an unwavering gaze from celestials and others; it was as though those glances were carrying him along. (4)
rāghavē cārthanirvavṛttiṅ kartuṅ ca paramaṅ yaśaḥ | samādhāya samṛddhārthāḥ sarvēsiddhibhirunnatā || 5 priyākhyānōnmukhāḥ sarvē sarvē yuddhābhinandinaḥ | sarvē rāmapratīkārē niścitārthā manassvinaḥ || 6
The thoughtful ones (Vanaras), having concentrated on achieving the desired purpose for Rāghava (Rāma) and earning supreme fame, were exalted by the accomplishment of their successful mission. They were all eager to convey the good news, all delighted by the prospect of battle, and all fully determined in the cause of Rāma's retribution. (5 - 6)
plavamānāḥ khamāplutya tatastē kānanaukasaḥ | nandanōpamayāsēduḥ vanaṅ drumalatāyutam || 7
Then those Vanaras, having soared up into the sky, reached a beautiful grove that resembled Nandana (Indra's celestial garden), filled with trees and creepers. (7)
yattanmadhuvanaṅ nāma sugrīvasyābhirakṣitam | adhṛṣyaṅ sarvabhūtānāṅ sarvabhūtamanōharam || 8
That is the grove called Madhuvana (the Forest of Honey), which is carefully protected by King Sugrīva. It is unassailable by all beings and charms the hearts of all creatures. (8)
yadrakṣati mahāvīrya ssadā dadhimukhaḥ kapiḥ | mātulaḥ kapimukhyasya sugrīvasya mahātmana || 9
Which is constantly guarded by the mighty hero, the Vanara Dadhimukha, who is the maternal uncle of the great-souled chief of the Vanaras, Sugrīva. (9)
tē tadvanamupāgamya babhūvuḥ paramōtkaṭāḥ | vānarā vānarēndrasya manaḥ kāntatamaṅ mahat || 10
Having reached that forest, which was the greatest and most beloved to the heart of the King of the Vanaras (Sugrīva), those Vanaras became overwhelmingly exultant. (10)
tatastē vānarā hṛṣṭā dṛṣṭavā madhuvanaṅ mahat | kumāra mabhyayācanta madhūni madhupiṅgalāḥ || 11
Seeing the magnificent Madhuvana, the joyful, honey-colored Vanaras approached the Prince (Angada) and requested to consume the honey. (11)
tataḥ kumārastān vṛddhān jāmbavatpramukhān kapīn | anumānya dadau tēṣāṅ visargaṅ madhubhikṣaṇē || 12
Then the Prince (Angada), having respectfully granted permission to those elder Vanaras led by Jāmbavat, gave them leave to partake of the honey. (12)
tē nisr̥ṣṭāḥ kumārēṇa dhīmatā vālisūnunā | hayassamapadyaṁta drumān madhukarākulān || 13
Having received permission from the wise Prince, the son of Vāli (Angada), they instantly rushed to the trees that were teeming with honeycombs. (13)
bhakṣayaṁtassugaṁdhīni mūlāni ca phalānica | jagmuḥ praharṣaṁ tē sarvē babhūvuśca madōtkaṭāḥ || 14
Consuming the fragrant roots and fruits, they all became greatly joyful and extremely intoxicated. (14)
tataścānumatā ssarvē samprahṛṣṭā vanaukasaḥ | muditāḥ prēritāścāpi pranṛtyantō.bhavaṅstadā || 15
Then, being thus permitted, all those Vanaras were exceedingly joyful. Delighted and invigorated by the permission, they began to dance. (15)
gāyanti kēcitpraṇamanti kēcit nṛtyanti kēcitprahasanti kēcit | patanti kēcidvicaranti kēcit lpavanti kēcitpralapanti kēcit || 16
Some are singing, and some are doing namaskram; Some are dancing, and some are laughing loudly. Some are falling down, and some are wandering about; Some are leaping, and some are babbling. (16)
parasparaṅ kēcidupāśrayantē parasparaṅ kēcidupākramantē | parasparaṅ kēcidupabruvantē parasparaṅ kēcidupāramantē || 17
Some were taking support from one another, and some were pouncing upon one another. Some were speaking to one another, and some were entertaining and playing with each other. (17)
drumāddrumaṅ kēcidabhidravantē kṣitau nagāgrānnipatanti kēcit | mahītalātkēcidudīrṇavēgā mahādrumāgrāṇyabhisampatanti || 18
Some rush from tree to tree, and some fall to the ground from the tops of the tall trees. Some, rising from the earth with great speed, rush towards the tops of the huge trees. (18)
gāyantamanyaḥ prahasannupaiti hasantamanyaḥ prarudannupaiti | rudantamanyaḥ praṇudannupaiti nudantamanyaḥ praṇadannupaiti || 19
One approaches a person singing, laughing; Another approaches a person laughing, crying; One approaches a person crying, shoving him; And another approaches a person shoving, shouting loudly. (19)
samākulaṅ tatkapisainyamāsīt madhuprasānōtkaṭasattvacēṣṭam | na cātra kaścinna babhūva mattō na cātra kaścinna babhūva tṛptaḥ || 20
That entire army of Vanaras was completely overwhelmed (with excitement), acting with fierce vigor spurred by the stream intoxication of the honey. There was no one among them who was not intoxicated, and no one among them who was not fully satisfied. (20)
tatō vanaṅ tatparibhakṣyamāṇaṅ drumāṅśca vidhvaṅsitapatrapuṣpān | samīkṣya kōpāddhadhivakranāmā nivārayāmāsa kapiḥ kapīṅstān || 21
Then, seeing that forest being utterly consumed, and the trees with their leaves and flowers completely destroyed, the Vanara named Dadhimukha, filled with anger, began to restrain those other Vanaras. (21)
sa taiḥ pravṛddhaiḥ paribhartsyamānō vanasya gōptā harivīravṛddhaḥ | cakāra bhūyō matimugratējā vanasya rakṣāṅ prati vānarēbhyaḥ || 22
Though being repeatedly threatened by those arrogant (or highly excited) Vanaras, the fierce and greatly energetic old Vanara, Dadhimukha, the guardian of the forest, firmly resolved once again to protect the forest from the other Vanaras. (22)
uvāca kāṅścitparuṣāṇi dhṛṣṭam asaktamanyāṅśca talairjaghāna | samētya kaiścitkalahaṅ cakāra tathaiva sāmnōpajagāma kāṅścit || 23
He boldly spoke harsh words to some, and struck others fiercely with his palms. He engaged in a quarrel with some, and likewise, approached others with gentle, conciliatory words. (23)
sa tairmadātsaṅparivārya vākyaiḥ bhalāccha tēna prativāryamāṇaiḥ | pradharṣitastyaktabhayai ssamētya prakṛṣyatē cāpyanavēkṣya dōṣam || 24
Though he was the one forcefully restraining them, he was surrounded by the Vanaras' intoxicated words. Banding together and abandoning all fear, they assailed him and dragged him away, completely disregarding their transgression. (24)
nakhaistudantō daśanairdaśantaḥ stalaiśca pādaiśca samāpayantaḥ | madātkapiṅ taṅ kapaya ssamagrā mahāvanaṅ nirviṣayaṅ ca cakruḥ || 25
Poking him with their nails and biting him with their teeth, and striking him with their palms and feet, all the Vanaras, in their intoxication, thus assailed that Dadhimukha and utterly destroyed the great forest. (25)
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde ēkōṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ
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