Rāmāyana |Kiṣkindha Kaṇḍa| Chapter 40

40. Sugrīva sends Monkey Chiefs to East

[When Sugrīva asks Rāma to take command over the monkeys, he tells him that the first job was to search for Janaki and Rāvaṇa. Rāma requests Sugrīva to take a command of this job. Sugrīva orders Vinatā and his people to search on the eastern side. He gives details of places and people that they may encounter up to Udaya Giri, from where the sin rises.]

That king Sugrīva, the king of all monkeys, supported by the massive strength, told Rāma, the tiger among men who could kill very strong enemies. 40.1

"The army, who are as great as elephants and who can take any form, has come and settled down here now." 40.2

"Dreadful monkeys who are looking like Daityas and Rākṣasas, who are very heroic and fast and greatly valorous have come here." 40.3

"Oh Rāma, these crores of monkeys have earned fame by past deeds, strong, ones who cannot be defeated, famous for their valour, best for doing jobs, those who can move earth and water and those who reside on different mountains, have come and they are your servants." 40.4-40.5

"Oh destroyer of foes, they would follow all your instructions and since they respect their elders, they would fulfil your desire." 40.6

"Those warriors who have come here are in thousands of numbers and greatly valorous and are comparable to Daityas and Dānavas." 40.7

"Oh tiger among men, whatever you decide yourself as the proper time, you can give orders to the army and they will obey your orders." 40.8

"The aspects of task that you have in mind is also known to me but it is proper that you do give orders to them." 40.9

When Sugrīva told like this to Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, he hugged him to his shoulders and told the following. 40.10

"Oh very wise one, I want to find out whether Janaki is alive or not and I also want to find out where Rāvaṇa lives." 40.11

"After reaching the place where Vaidehī lives and also Rāvaṇa, I would decide about the proper time in consultation with you." 40.12

"Oh lord of Monkeys, oh king of Monkeys, in this task I do not have the competency nor does Lakṣmaṇa and only you are competent." 40.13

"Oh Lord, it is only you who will order in this task of mine for oh valorous one, without any doubt, you are the only one who knows about this job." 40.14

"Oh hero, oh wise one, oh expert in deciding time, you are my second friend, and so please take up suitable action as you are the greatest among those who know the purpose of this activity." 40.15

When Sugrīva was spoken to like this he summoned a troop leader called Vinatā who was like a mountain and roared like a cloud and he told him in presence of Rāma and the wise Lakṣmaṇa. 40.16

"Oh best of the monkeys who is expert in determining time and place and who can take right decision march ahead with one hundred thousand fast moving monkeys who are like sons of sun and moon to the eastern side with mountains and rivers." 40.17-40.18

"There you search for Sītā and the home of Rāvaṇa on the peaks of mountain, forests and rivers." 40.19

"You may search for Sītā in the beautiful places where rivers Bhāgirathī, Sarayu so also to Kauśikī, Kālindī flow. You may look for her on the great mountains adjacent to river Yamuna. You may proceed towards rivers Saraswatī, Sindhu, Sonam and Maheem which have crystal clear waters. You may go round earth and the Kala Mahi which is adorned by picturesque mountains and forests. You may proceed to Brahmamala, Videha, Mallava, Kasi, Kosala and Magadha country. In the same way to country of Pundram, Vanga a country of silk worms and land of silver mine." 40.20-40.23

"You should carefully search in these places for the dear wife of Rāma who is the daughter-in-law of Daśaratha." 40.24

Those who have taken shelter in the sea, in deep valleys, mountains cities and expansive edge of Mandāra mountain should be thoroughly searched. There are innumerable strong cannibals who cover their ears; there are beings whose ears extend up to the lips, beings with dreadful metallic faces swift moving ones and one footed beings as well. There are Kirata tribes whose tuft hair is set to the sides so that it touches their ears. They have golden complexion and handsome looks. These Kiratas are Island dwellers and they eat uncooked fish. They can move in waters and are dreadful known as tiger like men [Naravyagras].All the resorts of these forest dwellers should be searched well. Those who can be sent by crossing Mountain, those who can leap in air and those who can swim through waters may be used for this purpose." 40.25-40.29

You may go beyond the Java island which is filled with precious gems. It has seven kingdoms. It has gold and silver in abundance and is adorned with gold mines. There is a mountain named Śiśira beyond Java Island. It touches the sky with its lofty cliffs. Gods and demons visit this mountain. You may look for illustrious Rāma's wife in these inaccessible mountains, waterfalls and forests. 40.30- 40.32

"From there you go to the deep swift flowing river Soṇa with red blood like waters. Then you should cross the sea worshipped by Sidhas and Chāraṇas. You have to search for her in those waters as well in n the pretty variegated forests for the residences of Sītā as well as Rāvaṇa." 40.33-40.34

"Then is proper for you to search in the big sea islands as well as the sea itself roaring, stirred up by the wind." 40.35

"There are Huge Asuras there who daily catch beings by their shadow and eat them and they have been permitted to do so by Brahma, because they have not eaten for a long time." 40.36

" You may reach that ocean looks like huge black cloud and is full of great serpents through the river and reach a very frightening sea called Lohitha with red waters and you would see there a very huge silk cotton tree." 40.37-40.38

"Then you would see the house of Garuda which is as huge as the Kailāśa mountain and decorated by different type of gems which was constructed by Viśvakarma." 40.39

"There on the cliff of the mountains huge fearsome Rākṣasas called Mandoha would be seen hanging down." 40.40

"Daily as soon as the sun rises they fall in to the water and they would again and again be burnt by the sun and again hang on the cliff and by the chant of Brahmins, they keep on falling in the water again and again." 40.41

"When you who are unassailable proceed further you would see a milky ocean which is similar to the while cloud and looking like a pearl necklace." 40.42

"In the middle of that ocean you would see a great white mountain called Riṣabha, which is surrounded by trees having silver flowers which emit great fragrance and there is also a lake Sudarśana inhabited by royal swans and filled with silver lotus flowers with golden filaments." 40.43- 40.44

"The deities, Chāraṇas, Yakṣas, Kinnaras, Apsarā groups would keep on coming to the lotus lake with joy for enjoying it." 40.45

"Oh Monkeys after crossing that ocean of milk, you will see a watery ocean which frightens all beings." 40.46

"There born out of its great anger of this ocean, the great being with a horse face is created, which eats away all moving and non-moving beings." 40.47

"There you would hear the pathetic wails of those helpless creatures living in the sea as they are eaten away by this fire faced creature." 40.48

"Thirteen Yojanas north of this fresh water ocean, there is a great golden mountain called Jatharoopasila." 40.49

"There on the top of the mountain you would see a thousand headed godly serpent named Anantha who carries the earth and has the lustre of the moon, is clothed in blue and has eyes like petal of lotus flowers, which is saluted by all the world." 40.50-40.51

"To that great one who lives on the top of the mountain, there is a triple crowned golden flag with Tala tree inlaid in it and it looks splendid." 40.52

"The gods of heaven have made all the arrangements in the east and beyond that is the golden mountain of Sun-rise. Its peak has touches the heaven and it has spread over an area of hundred yojanas and that peak edge is golden and looks divine with an altar in it." 40.53-40.54

"With Sāla tree, palms, Tamāla trees and Karṇikāra trees in full bloom with golden flowers, it shines like the Sun. 40.55

"There surely spread over ten Yojanas and standing tall to ten yojanas is a peak called Somanassa." 40.56

"When Vishnu, the greatest being, took the incarnation of Trivikrama, he kept his first foot there and kept his second foot on mount Meru." 40.57

"The Sun goes round on the northern direction of that mount as well as Jambu Dvīpa [island] and then he would be visible to all the world." 40.58

"There the great sages of the colour of the sun god called Vaikanasas and Vālakhilyas are shining." 40.59

"In front of it an island called Sudarśana would be shining and lustre of the eyes of all beings rests there." 40.60

"You may search for Rāvaṇa and Vaidehī on the top of the peak, its caves as well as its forests." 40.61

"Due to the golden mountain and the great sun god, the early morning there shines with red colour." 40.62

"Earlier this was the entry point of the earth and the world and the sun always rises from this mountain." 40.63

"You may search for Vaidehī and Rāvaṇa on the plateaus of the mountain, in the mountain streams and in its caves," 40.64

"If you cannot go beyond that as it is guarded by the Gods and with moon and sun being absent only darkness prevails there." 40.65

"You please search for Janaki in all those mountains, caves and also forests and not only in places indicated by me but also in other places." 40.66

"Oh Lord of monkeys, monkeys go only up to that place as for the places beyond darkness prevails without Sun and the moon." 40.67

"After reaching the Udaya mountain and searching for the homes of Vaidehī and Rāvaṇa, you should return within a month." 40.68

"If you stay beyond one month, you would be killed by me. You may reach that place, see Sītā and return after accomplishing the task." 40.69

"Go to the east, covered with forest and which is liked by Indra and travelling carefully with other monkeys, find out Sītā, the dear one of Raghu clan and after returning you would be happy." 40.70

This is the end of Fortieth Sarga of Kiṣkindha Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.