Sloka & Translation

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[ At the instance of Brahma, devas procreate different forms of monkey chiefs and bears.]

putratvaṅ tu gatē viṣṇau rājñastasya sumahātmana:.

uvāca dēvatāssarvāssvayambhūrbhagavānidam৷৷1.17.1৷৷


viṣṇau when Vishnu, sumahātmana: of the high minded, rājña: king's, putratvam filialrelationship, gatē(sati) having become, bhagavān svayambhū: self-born lord, Brahma, sarvā: addressing all, dēvatā: devatas, idam these words, uvāca spoke.

When Visnu had decided to be born as the son of that great king (Dasaratha), the self-born Lord (Brahma), addressed all devatas :
satyasandhasya vīrasya sarvēṣānnō hitaiṣiṇa:.

viṣṇōssahāyānbalinassṛjadhvaṅ kāmarūpiṇa:৷৷1.17.2৷৷


satyasandhasya truthful to promise, vīrasya of the heroic, sarvēṣām naḥ for all of us, hitaiṣiṇa: wishing the welfare, viṣṇō: of Vishnu, sahāyān helpers(as companions), balina: strong, powerful and valiant, kāmarūpiṇa: capable of changing forms at their free will, sṛjadhvam create.

Create strong and powerful beings capable of assuming forms at free will to extend support to Visnu who is true to his word, heroic and benevolent.
māyāvidaśca śūrāṅśca vāyuvēgasamāñjavē.

nayajñānbuddhisampannānviṣṇutulyaparākramān৷৷1.17.3৷৷

asaṅhāryānupāyajñān divyasaṅhananānvitān.

sarvāstraguṇasampannānamṛtaprāśanāniva৷৷1.17.4৷৷

apsarassu ca mukhyāsu gandharvāṇāṅ tanūṣu ca .

sṛjadhvaṅ harirūpēṇa putrāṅstulyaparākramān৷৷1.17.5৷৷


māyāvida: knowers of all kinds of illusions and deceitful tricks, śūrān ca brave, javē in speed, vāyuvēgasamān equal to the speed of wind, nayajñān knowers of statecraft, buddhisampannān endowed with intellect, viṣṇutulyaparākramān equal to Visnu in prowess, asaṅhāryān cannot be withdrawn from their endeavour, upāyajñān knowledgeable in various means and ways of achieving victory namely Sama, Dana, Bheda and Danda, divyasaṅhananānvitān having supernatural bodies, sarvāstraguṇasampannān possessed of capabilities in employing and
resisting weapons, amṛtaprāśanāniva resembling those who subsist on Amrita(immortals), (viṣṇu)tulyaparākramān in prowess equal to Visnu, putrān sons, mukhyāsu among the chief, apsarassu ca apsarasas, gandharvīṇām gandharva women, tanūṣu ca from their bodies, harirūpēṇa in the form of monkeys, sṛjadhvam you may create.

Incarnate as monkeys in the womb of chiefs of apsarasas and gandharvas. Create sons who have the knowledge of deceitful tricks, who are brave, who match wind in speed, who are endowed with intellect and state-craft, who are determined, who are knowledgeable in various means of achieving victory, who are supernatural bodies, who possess capability of employing and resisting weapons, who resemble those who subsist on amrita (immortals) and are equal (to Visnu) in prowess.
pūrvamēva mayā sṛṣṭō jāmbavānṛkṣapuṅgava:.

jṛmbhamāṇasya sahasā mama vaktrādajāyata৷৷1.17.6৷৷


jāmbavān by name Jambavan, ṛkṣapuṅgava: foremost of bears, pūrvamēva previously, mayā by me, sṛṣṭa: was created, jṛmbhamāṇasya mama when I was yawning, vaktrāt from my face, sahasā suddenly, ajāyata was created.

Earlier Jambavan, the foremost among bears was suddenly emerged out of my face while I was yawning.
tē tathōktā bhagavatā tatpratiśrutya śāsanam.

janayāmāsurēvaṅ tē putrānvānararūpiṇa:৷৷1.17.7৷৷


bhagavatā by that Brahma, tathā in that manner, uktā: having been instructed, tē all of them, tat pratiśrutya having agreed, ēvam in this manner, vānararūpiṇa: those assuming the form of monkeys, putrān sons, janayāmāsu: gave birth.

Instructed by Brahma in that manner, all of them gave birth to sons in the form of monkeys.
ṛṣayaśca mahātmānassiddhavidyādharōragā:.

cāraṇāśca sutānvīrānsasṛjurvanacāriṇa:৷৷1.17.8৷৷


mahātmāna: the distinguished, ṛṣayaśca rishis, siddhavidyādharōragā siddhas, vidhyadharas and uragas, cāraṇā: charanas, vīrān heroic, vanacāriṇa: dwellers in the woods, sutān sons, sasṛju: procreated.

Distinguished rishis, siddhas, vidhyadharas, uragas, charanas procreated (in the form of monkeys) heroic sons who became forest-dwellers.
vānarēndraṅ mahēndrābhamindrō vālinamūrjitam.

sugrīvaṅ janayāmāsa tapanastapatāṅ vara:৷৷1.17.9৷৷


indra: Indra, mahēndrābham resembling Mahendra mountain, ūrjitam having body of mighty strength, vālinam by name Vali, vānarēndram chief of monkeys, janayāmāsa gave birth to, tapatām among those causing heat, vara: great, tapana: Sun, sugrīvam Sugriva (begot).

Indra gave birth to Vali, chief of monkeys resembling Mahendra mountain and having a mighty body. Sun, great among those producing heat, begot Sugriva.
bṛhaspatistvajanayattāraṅ nāma mahāharim.

sarvavānaramukhyānāṅ buddhimantamanuttamam৷৷1.17.10৷৷


bṛhaspatistu Brihaspati, sarvavānaramukhyānām among all monkey chiefs, anuttamam with none to surpass, buddhimantam highly intelligent, tāram nāma by name Tara, mahāharim great monkey, ajanayat gave birth.

Brihaspati begot the intelligent monkey Tara who had none to surpass him among the monkey chiefs.
dhanadasya sutaśśrīmān vānarō gandhamādana:.

viśvakarmātvajanayannalaṅ nāma mahāharim৷৷1.17.11৷৷


śrīmān glorious, gandhamādana: by name Gandhamadana, vānara: monkey, dhanadasya Kubera's, suta: son, viśvakarmā Viswakarma, nalaṅ nāma by name Nala, mahāharim great monkey, ajanayat begot.

Kubera begot glorious Gandhamadana and Viswakarma begot a great monkey Nala.
pāvakasya sutaśśrīmān nīlō.gnisadṛśaprabha:.

tējasā yaśasā vīryādatyaricyata vānarān৷৷1.17.12৷৷


pāvakasya Agni's (the fire god), suta: son, śrīmān prosperous , agnisadṛśaprabha: equal to Agni in brightness, nīla: Neela, tējasā by energy, yaśasā by fame, vīryāt due to prowess, vānarān other monkeys, atyaricyata surpassed.

Neela, the prosperous son of Agni the fire-god who equalled him in glow surpassed other monkeys in energy, renown and prowess.
rūpadraviṇasampannāvaśvinau rūpasammatau.

maindaṅ ca dvividaṅ caiva janayāmāsatussvayam৷৷1.17.13৷৷


rūpadraviṇasampannau endowed with wealth of beauty, aśvinau Aswini devatas, svayaṅ rūpasammatau esteemed because of their beauty, maindaṅ ca Mainda, dvividaṅ caiva Dvivida, janayāmāsatu: pro-created.

Aswini devatas, endowed with wealth and beauty, procreated Mainda and Dwivida who were highly esteemed for their beauty.
varuṇō janayāmāsa suṣēṇaṅ vānararṣabham.

śarabhaṅ janayāmāsa parjanyastu mahābalam৷৷1.17.14৷৷


varuṇa: Varuna, suṣēṇaṅ by name Sushena, vānararṣabham monkey warrior, janayāmāsa created, parjanyastu Parjanya, mahābalam possessed of great strength, śarabham Sarabha, janayāmāsa begot.

Varuna begot the monkey warrior Sushena and Parjanya, Sarabha of great strength.
mārutasyātmajaśśrīmānhanumānnāma vīryavān .

vajrasaṅhananōpētō vainatēyasamō javē৷৷1.17.15৷৷


śrīmān dignified and graceful, vīryavān endowed with prowess(wisdom andcourage), vajrasaṅhananōpēta: with his body as hard as diamond, javē in speed, vainatēyasama: equalling Garuda, hanumān nāma named Hanuman, mārutasya ātmaja: son of Vayu, Wind-god, Vayu.

Vayu, the wind-god, begot a son named Hanuman, mighty and graceful, having a body as hard as a diamond and speed equal to Garuda's.
tē sṛṣṭā bahusāhasrā daśagrīvavadhē ratā:.

apramēyabalā vīrā vikrāntā: kāmarūpiṇa:৷৷1.17.16৷৷


daśagrīvavadhē in the matter of slaying Ravana, ratā: desirous, apramēyabalā: men of immeasurable strength, vikrāntā: courageous, kāmarūpiṇa: capable of assuming different forms at will, bahusāhasrā: in many thousands, tē vīrā: those warriors, sṛṣṭā: were created.

Thousands of warriors possessing immeasurable strength and courage and capable of assuming any form at will were created to kill Ravana.
mērumandarasaṅkāśā vapuṣmantō mahābalā:.

ṛkṣavānaragōpucchā: kṣipramēvābhijajñirē৷৷1.17.17৷৷


mērumandarasaṅkāśā: similar to Meru and Mandara mountains, vapuṣmanta: endowed with bodies, mahābalā: great warriors, ṛkṣavānaragōpucchā: bears,monkeys, monkeys with cow-tails, kṣipramēva quickly, abhijajñirē came into being.

Endowed with bodies similar to the Meru and Mandara mountains and having great strength, bears, monkeys, monkeys with cow-tails quickly came into being.
yasya dēvasya yadrūpaṅ vēṣō yaśca parākrama:.

ajāyata samastēna tasya tasya suta: pṛthak৷৷1.17.18৷৷


yasya dēvasya for whichever god, yat rūpam whatever form, vēṣa: form of dress, parākrama:ca prowess also, ya: tasya tasya for that respective God, suta: sons, pṛthak separately, tēnasamaḥ similar to his procreator, ajāyata was born.

The sons of devatas retained characteristics like beauty, form and prowess of their procreator (gods).
gōlāṅgūlīṣu cōtpannā: kēcitsammatavikramā:.

ṛkṣīṣu ca tathā jātā vānarā: kinnarīṣu ca৷৷1.17.19৷৷


sammatavikramā: men of highly-honoured valour, kēcit vānarā: some Monkeys, gōlāṅgūlīṣu ca from female monkeys with tails, utpannā: were born, tathā similarly, ṛkṣīṣu from female bears, kinnarīṣu ca female kinnaras, jātā: were created.

Some monkeys with acknowledged, valour were born to female monkeys with tails Similarly some other monkeys were born to female bears and female kinnaras.
dēvā maharṣigandharvāstārkṣyā yakṣā yaśasvina:.

nāgā: kimpuruṣāścaiva siddhavidyādharōragā:৷৷1.17.20৷৷

bahavō janayāmāsurhṛṣṭāstatra sahasraśa:.

vānarānsumahākāyānsarvānvai vanacāriṇa:৷৷1.17.21৷৷

apsarassu ca mukhyāsu tathā vidyādharīṣu ca.

nāgakanyāsu ca tathā gandharvīṇāṅ tanūṣu ca ৷৷1.17.22৷৷


dēvā: devatas, maharṣigandharvā: great rishis, gandharvas, tārkṣyā: garudas,yakṣā: yakshas, yaśasvina:
renowned, nāgā: serpants, kimpurūṣāścaiva kimpurushas,siddhavidyādharōragā: siddhas, vidyadharas, uragas, bahava: many, hṛṣṭā: pleased, tatra there, mukhyāsu among the principal, apsarassu apsarasas, tathā and, vidyādharīṣu ca among female vidhyadaris, nāgakanyāsu in daughters of nagas, tathā and, gandharvīṇām of female gandhrvas, tanūṣu ca in bodies sumahākāyān of gigantic physique, vanacāriṇa: forest wanderers, sarvān all, vānarān monkeys, sahasraśa: in thousands, janayāmāsu: gave birth.

The devatas, rishis, gandharvas, garudas, yakshas, kimpurushas, siddhas, vidyadharas, uragas and many others were immensely pleased. Thousands of gigantic monkeys wandering in forests were procreated from principal apsarasas - vidhyadaris, nagas, and gandharvas.
kāmarūpabalōpētā yathākāmaṅ vicāriṇa:.

siṅhaśārdūlasadṛśā darpēṇa ca balēna ca৷৷1.17.23৷৷


kāmarūpabalōpētā: (all these monkeys were endowed )with the powers to assume any form at free will and possessed strength, yathākāmam freely, vicāriṇa: wanderers, darpēṇa ca in arrogance, balēna ca by prowess, siṅhaśārdūlasadṛśā: like unto lions and tigers.

They were endowed with the powers to assume any form at will. They possessed enormous strength and power to freely wander in forests. They were like lions and tigers in pride and prowess.
śilāpraharaṇāssarvē sarvē pādapayōdhina:৷৷1.17.24৷৷

nakhadaṅṣṭrāyudhāssarvē sarvē sarvāstrakōvidā:.


sarvē all, śilāpraharaṇā: could strike with rocks as weapons, sarvē all, pādapayōdhina: they could fight with trees, sarvē all, nakhadaṅṣṭrāyudhā: used nails and teeth as weapon, sarvē all, sarvāstrakōvidā: skilled in the use of all weapons.

They all could strike with rocks, use nails and teeth and trees as weapons. They were skilled in the use of all kinds of weapons.
vicālayēyuśśailēndrānbhēdayēyussthirāndrumān.

kṣōbhayēyuśca vēgēna samudraṅ saritāṅ patim৷৷1.17.25৷৷


śailēndrān mountains, vicālayēyu: could move, sthirān drumān deep-rooted trees, bhēdayēyu: could break, vēgēna with speed, saritāṅ patim the lord of the rivers, samudram Samudra, kṣōbhayēyu: could cause disturbance.

They could shake mountains and uproot deep-rooted trees. With their speed they could cause disturbance to Samudra, the lord of the rivers.
dārayēyu: kṣitiṅ padbhyāmāplavēyurmahārṇavam.

nabha:sthalam viśēyuśca gṛhṇīyurapi tōyadān৷৷1.17.26৷৷


padbhyām with their feet, kṣitim this earth, dārayēyu: forcibly cause cleavage, mahārṇavam mighty ocean, āplavēyuḥ jump with one leap and cross, nabha:sthalam the sky, viśēyuśca could enter, tōyadān api clouds also, gṛhṇīyu: could seize.

They could cause cleavage to this earth with their feet, cross the mighty ocean with one leap and enter the sky and even seize the clouds.
gṛhṇīyurapi mātaṅgānmattānpravrajatō vanē.

nardamānāśca nādēna pātayēyurvihaṅgamān৷৷1.17.27৷৷


vanē in the forest, pravrajata: sojourning, mattān arrogant,mātaṅgān api elephants also, gṛhṇīyu: could capture, nardamānā: while roaring, nādēna with their sounds, vihaṅgamān birds in flight, pātayēyuḥ could be made to fall down.

They could capture wild elephants sojourning in the forest and make the flying birds drop down screaming.
īdṛśānāṅ prasūtāni harīṇāṅ kāmarūpiṇām.

śataṅ śatasahasrāṇi yūthapānāṅ mahātmanām৷৷1.17.28৷৷


kāmarūpiṇām of those who were capable of assuming any form at will, yūthapānām commanders of monkey forces, mahātmanām eminent, īdṛśānām of such, harīṇām monkeys, śatam hundred, śatasahasrāṇi hundred thousands, prasūtāni were born.

A crore of monkeys capable of assuming any form at will, great monkeys and commanders of monkey forces were created.
tē pradhānēṣu yūthēṣu harīṇāṅ hariyūthapā:.

babhūvuryūthapaśrēṣṭhā vīrāṅścājanayan harīn৷৷1.17.29৷৷


tē hariyūthapā: those commanders of monkey forces, harīṇām monkeys, pradhānēṣu among important ones, yūthēṣu monkey forces, yūthapaśrēṣṭhā: babhūvu: important monkeys were born, vīrān herioc, harīn monkeys, ajanayan created.

Those monkey commanders created heroic monkeys among the chief monkey -clans who later proved the best among clan-leaders.
anyē ṛkṣavata: prasthānavatasthu ssahasraśa:.

anyē nānāvidhānśailānbhējirē kānanāni ca৷৷1.17.30৷৷


anyē some monkeys, sahasraśa: in thousands, ṛkṣavata: abounding in bears, prasthān plateaus on the top of mountains, avatasthu: dwelt, anyē some others, nānāvidhān various, śailān mountains, kānanāni ca forests also, bhējirē inhabited.

Thousands of monkeys dwelt on the plateaus on the top of mountains abounding in bears. Some others inhabited various hills and forests.
sūryaputraṅ ca sugrīvaṅ śakraputraṅ ca vālinam.

bhrātarāvupatasthustē sarva ēva harīśvarā:৷৷1.17.31৷৷

nalaṅ nīlaṅ hanūmantamanyāṅśca hariyūthapān. 3


tē harīśvarā: these leaders of monkey forces, sarvē all, bhrātarau two brothers, sūryaputram son of Sun-god, sugrīvam Sugriva, śakraputram Indra's son, vālinaṅ ca Vali also, nalam Nala,nīlam Neela, hanūmantam Hanuman, anyān other, hariyūthapān leaders of monkey forces, upatasthu: dwelt near them.

All those leaders, Nala, Neela, Hanuman and others dwelt near those two brothers Sugriva, the offspring of Surya and Vali, the son of Indra.
tē tārkṣyabalasampannāssarvē yuddhaviśāradā:.

vicarantō.rdayandarpātsiṅhavyāghramahōragān৷৷1.17.32৷৷


tārkṣyabalasampannā: those endowed with the might of Garuda, yuddhaviśāradā: well-versed in the art of warfare, tē sarvē all of them, vicaranta: moving around, darpāt due to arrogance, siṅhavyāghramahōragān lions, tigers, mighty serpents, ardayan tormented.

Endowed with the might of Garuda and well-versed in warfare, all of them moving around tormented ferouious lions, tigers and mighty serpents .
tāṅśca sarvānmahābāhurvālī vipulavikrama:.

jugōpa bhujavīryēṇa ṛkṣagōpucchavānarān৷৷1.17.33৷৷


mahābāhu: mighty armed, vipulavikrama: one with immense prowess, vālī Vali, tān sarvān all of those, ṛkṣagōpucchavānarān bears, Gopuchhas, monkeys, bhujavīryēṇa with the strength of his
arms, jugōpa protected.

Mighty armed leader Vali endowed with immense prowess protected, with his strong arms all those bears, gopuchhas(cow-tailed) and monkeys.
tairiyaṅ pṛthivī śūraissaparvatavanārṇavā.

kīrṇā vividhasaṅsthānairnānāvyañjanalakṣaṇai:৷৷1.17.34৷৷


śūrai: by the valiant, vividhasaṅsthānai: having many forms, nānāvyañjanalakṣaṇai: with various characteristic signs relating to the body and tribes, tai: by them, saparvatavanārṇavā with its mountains, forests, seas, iyaṅ pṛthivī this earth, kīrṇā was pervaded.

Born in many forms wih various characteristics (relating to the body and tribe), they pervaded this earth with its mountains, forests and seas.
tairmēghabṛndācalakūṭakalpai:

mahābalairvānarayūthapālai:.

babhūva bhūrbhīmaśarīrarūpai

ssamāvṛtā rāmasahāyahētō:৷৷1.17.35৷৷


mēghabṛndācalakūṭakalpai: resembling masses of clouds and mountain peaks,mahābalai: by those endowed with immense strength, bhīmaśarīrarūpai: by those having fearful forms and countenances, tai: vānarayūthapālai: by commanders of the monkey forces, bhū: earth, rāmasahāyahētō: in order to assist Rama, samāvṛtā babhūva became covered.

In order to assist Rama, this earth was filled with commanders of those who led the monkey forces resembling masses of clouds and mountains. They loan endowed with immense strength and fearful forms and countenances.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē saptadaśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the seventeenth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.