Nala and Nila Build the Bridge; Rama Establishes Shri Rameshwar
With the help of Nala and Nila, the Vanara army builds a bridge across the ocean. Rama also establishes Shri Rameshwar, sanctifying the campaign ahead.
Lanka Kand · Episode 2 / 37
Episode Text
लव निमेष परमानु जुग बरष कलप सर चंड। भजसि न मन तेहि राम को कालु जासु कोदंड॥ ० (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lava nimeṣa paramānu juga baraṣa kalapa sara caṃḍa। bhajasi na mana tehi rāma ko kālu jāsu kodaṃḍa॥ 0 (a) ॥
Meaning:
O mind, why do you not worship that Rama, whose fierce arrows are lavas, blinks, atoms, years, ages, and kalpas, and whose bow is Time?
सिंधु बचन सुनि राम सचिव बोलि प्रभु अस कहेउ। अब बिलंबु केहि काम करहु सेतु उतरै कटकु॥ ० (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
siṃdhu bacana suni rāma saciva boli prabhu asa kaheu। aba bilaṃbu kehi kāma karahu setu utarai kaṭaku॥ 0 (b) ॥
Meaning:
When Rama heard the ocean's words, he called his ministers and said, "Why is there delay now? Build the bridge so the army may cross."
सुनहु भानुकुल केतु जामवंत कर जोरि कह। नाथ नाम तव सेतु नर चढ़ि भव सागर तरहिं॥ ० (ग) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunahu bhānukul ketu jāmaṃvanta kara jori kaha। nātha nāma tava setu nara caṛhi bhava sāgara tarahiṃ॥ 0 (c) ॥
Meaning:
Jambavan, with folded hands, said, "O hero of the solar race, listen. O Lord, your name itself is the bridge; by ascending it, people cross the ocean of worldly existence."
यह लघु जलधि तरत कति बारा। अस सुनि पुनि कह पवनकुमारा॥ प्रभु प्रताप बड़वानल भारी। सोषेउ प्रथम पयोनिधि बारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yaha laghu jaladhi tarata kati bārā। asa suni puni kaha pavanakumārā॥ prabhu pratāpa baṛavānala bhārī। soṣeu prathama payonidhi bārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
How long will it take to cross this small sea? Hearing this, Pavanakumara Hanuman said again, "The Lord's power is like the mighty submarine fire; it first dried up the waters of the ocean."
तव रिपु नारि रुदन जल धारा। भरेउ बहोरि भयउ तेहिं खारा॥ सुनि अति उकुति पवनसुत केरी। हरषे कपि रघुपति तन हेरी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tava ripu nāri rudana jala dhārā। bhareu bahori bhayau tehiṃ khārā॥ suni ati ukuti pavanasuta kerī। haraṣe kapi raghupati tana herī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The streams of tears shed by your enemy's women filled it again, and because of that it became salty. Hearing this boast of Pavanasuta, the monkeys rejoiced, looking toward Raghupati.
जामवंत बोले दोउ भाई। नल नीलहि सब कथा सुनाई॥ राम प्रताप सुमिरि मन माहीं। करहु सेतु प्रयास कछु नाहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāmaṃvanta bole dou bhāī। nala nīlahi saba kathā sunāī॥ rāma pratāpa sumiri mana māhīṃ। karahu setu prayāsa kachu nāhīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Jambavan spoke to the two brothers, Nala and Nila, and told them the whole story. Remembering Rama's power in your heart, make the bridge; there will be no hardship.
बोलि लिए कपि निकर बहोरी। सकल सुनहु बिनती कछु मोरी॥ राम चरन पंकज उर धरहू। कौतुक एक भालु कपि करहू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
boli lie kapi nikara bahorī। sakala sunahu binatī kachu morī॥ rāma carana paṃkaja ura dharahū। kautuka eka bhālu kapi karahū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
He again called the host of monkeys and said, "All of you listen to a request of mine. Keep Rama's lotus feet in your heart, and let the bears and monkeys all do one task."
धावहु मर्कट बिकट बरूथा। आनहु बिटप गिरिन्ह के जूथा॥ सुनि कपि भालु चले करि हूहा। जय रघुबीर प्रताप समूहा॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhāvahu markaṭa bikaṭa barūthā। ānahu biṭapa girinha ke jūthā॥ suni kapi bhālu cale kari hūhā। jaya raghubīra pratāpa samūhā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
O mighty monkeys, run and bring loads of trees and hills. Hearing this, the monkeys and bears departed with a roar, crying, "Victory to the host of Raghubira's glory!"
अति उतंग गिरि पादप लीलहिं लेहिं उठाइ। आनि देहिं नल नीलहि रचहिं ते सेतु बनाइ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ati utaṃga giri pādapa līlahiṃ lehim uṭhāi। āni dehīṃ nala nīlahi racahiṃ te setu banāi॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
They lift very tall mountains and trees as if in play, bring and give them to Nala and Nila, and they construct the bridge.
सैल बिसाल आनि कपि देहीं। कंदुक इव नल नील ते लेहीं॥ देखि सेतु अति सुंदर रचना। बिहसि कृपानिधि बोले बचना॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saila bisāla āni kapi dehīṃ। kaṃduka iva nala nīla te lehīṃ॥ dekhi setu ati sundara racanā। bihasi kṛpānidhi bole bacanā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The monkeys bring huge mountains, and Nala and Nila take them like balls. Seeing the bridge's beautiful construction, the ocean of mercy smiled and spoke.
परम रम्य उत्तम यह धरनी। महिमा अमित जाइ नहिं बरनी॥ करिहउँ इहाँ संभु थापना। मोरे हृदयँ परम कलपना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
parama ramya uttama yaha dharanī। mahimā amita jāi nahiṃ baranī॥ karihauṃ ihāṃ saṃbhu thāpanā। more hṛdayaṃ parama kalpanā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
This land here is exceedingly delightful and excellent. Its immeasurable glory cannot be described. I shall स्थापित Shiva here; this is my supreme resolve.
सुनि कपीस बहु दूत पठाए। मुनिबर सकल बोलि लै आए॥ लिंग थापि बिधिवत करि पूजा। सिव समान प्रिय मोहि न दूजा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni kapīsa bahu dūta paṭhāe। munibara sakala boli lai āe॥ liṃga thāpi bidhivata kari pūjā। siva samāna priya mohi na dūjā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing Rama's words, the king of monkeys sent many messengers, who brought all the best sages. After स्थापितing the liṅga and worshipping it properly, [the Lord said:] "No one is dear to me like Shiva."
सिव द्रोही मम भगत कहावा। सो नर सपनेहुँ मोहि न पावा॥ संकर बिमुख भगति चह मोरी। सो नारकी मूढ़ मति थोरी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
siva drohī mama bhagata kahāvā। so nara sapanehuṃ mohi na pāvā॥ saṃkara bimukha bhagati caha morī। so nārakī mūṛha mati thorī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
One who is hostile to Shiva yet calls himself my devotee can never attain me, even in dreams. One who seeks my devotion while turning away from Shankara is destined for hell, foolish, and of scant understanding.
संकरप्रिय मम द्रोही सिव द्रोही मम दास। ते नर करहिं कलप भरि घोर नरक महुँ बास॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saṃkarapriya mama drohī siva drohī mama dāsa। te nara karahiṃ kalapa bhari ghora naraka mahuṃ bāsa॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Those who are dear to Shankara but are hostile to me, and those who are hostile to Shiva while calling themselves my servants, dwell in terrible hell for a whole kalpa.
जे रामेस्वर दरसनु करिहहिं। ते तनु तजि मम लोक सिधरिहहिं॥ जो गंगाजलु आनि चढ़ाइहि। सो साजुज्य मुक्ति नर पाइहि॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
je rāmeśvara darasanu karihahiṃ। te tanu taji mama loka sidharihahiṃ॥ jo gaṅgājalu āni caṛhāihi। so sājujya mukti nara pāihi॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Those who behold Rameshvara will, after giving up the body, go to my abode. And whoever brings Ganga water and offers it here will attain sāyujya liberation, becoming one with me.
होइ अकाम जो छल तजि सेइहि। भगति मोरि तेहि संकर देइहि॥ मम कृत सेतु जो दरसनु करिही। सो बिनु श्रम भवसागर तरिही॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hoi akāma jo chala taji seihi। bhagati mori tehi saṃkara deihi॥ mama kṛta setu jo darasanu karihī। so binu śrama bhavasāgara tarihī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
One who, free from desire, serves while abandoning deceit will receive my devotion from Shankara. And whoever beholds the bridge made by me will cross the ocean of worldly existence without effort.
राम बचन सब के जिय भाए। मुनिबर निज निज आश्रम आए॥ गिरिजा रघुपति कै यह रीती। संतत करहिं प्रनत पर प्रीती॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma bacana saba ke jiya bhāe। munibara nija nija āśrama āe॥ girijā raghupati kai yaha rītī। sataṃta karahiṃ pranata para prītī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Rama's words pleased everyone's heart, and the great sages returned to their respective hermitages. Girija, this is Raghupati's nature: he always shows love to the surrendered.
बाँधा सेतु नील नल नागर। राम कृपाँ जसु भयउ उजागर॥ बूड़हिं आनहि बोरहिं जेई। भए उपल बोहित सम तेई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bāṃdhā setu nīla nala nāgara। rāma kṛpāṃ jasu bhayau ujāgara॥ būṛahiṃ ānahi borahiṃ jeī। bhae upala bohita sama teī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Nila and Nala, the clever ones, built the bridge. By Rama's grace their fame became manifest. Even stones that sink and sink others became like boats.
श्री रघुबीर प्रताप ते सिंधु तरे पाषान। ते मतिमंद जे राम तजि भजहिं जाइ प्रभु आन॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
śrī raghubīra pratāpa te siṃdhu tare pāṣāna। te matimaṃda je rāma taji bhajahiṃ jāi prabhu āna॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
By the power of Sri Raghubira, even stones floated across the ocean. Those who abandon Rama and go to worship another lord are indeed dull-minded.
बाँधि सेतु अति सुदृढ़ बनावा। देखि कृपानिधि के मन भावा॥ चली सेन कछु बरनि न जाई। गर्जहिं मर्कट भट समुदाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Bāṃdhi setu ati sudṛḍha banāvā। Dekhi kṛpānidhi ke mana bhāvā॥ Calī sena kachu barani na jāī। Garjahiṃ markaṭa bhaṭa samudāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Nala and Nila bound the bridge and made it extremely strong. Seeing it, it greatly pleased the compassionate Lord Rama. The army advanced; it cannot be fully described. The warrior monkeys were roaring in groups.
सेतुबंध ढिग चढ़ि रघुराई। चितव कृपाल सिंधु बहुताई॥ देखन कहुँ प्रभु करुना कंदा। प्रगट भए सब जलचर बृंदा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Setubaṃdha ḍhiga caṛhi raghurāī। Citava kṛpāla sindhu bahutāī॥ Dekhana kahuṃ prabhu karuṇā kandā। Pragaṭa bhae saba jalacara bṛndā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Lord Raghunatha, compassionate and gracious, climbed up near the bridge and looked at the vast ocean. In order to behold the Lord, the embodiment of compassion, all the creatures of the water emerged.
मकर नक्र नाना झष ब्याला। सत जोजन तन परम बिसाला॥ अइसेउ एक तिन्हहि जे खाहीं। एकन्ह कें डर तेपि डेराहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Makara nakra nānā jhaṣa byālā। Sata jojana tana parama bisālā॥ Aiseu eka tinhahi je khāhīṃ। Ekanha keṃ ḍara tepi ḍerāhīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
There were many kinds of crocodiles, makaras, fish, and serpents, each with bodies immensely vast, a hundred yojanas in length. There were even some who could devour them. Yet even they were afraid, for fear of others.
प्रभुहि बिलोकहिं टरहिं न टारे। मन हरषित सब भए सुखारे॥ तिन्ह कीं ओट न देखिअ बारी। मगन भए हरि रूप निहारी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Prabhuhi bilokahiṃ ṭarahiṃ na ṭāre। Mana haraṣita saba bhae sukhāre॥ Tinh kīṃ oṭa na dekhia bārī। Magana bhae Hari rūpa nihārī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
All of them were beholding the Lord and would not move even when told to move away. Everyone’s mind was delighted, and all became happy. The water could not be seen because of their covering. Gazing upon the form of Hari, they became absorbed.
सेतुबंध भइ भीर अति कपि नभ पंथ उड़ाहिं। अपर जलचरन्हि ऊपर चढ़ि चढ़ि पारहि जाहिं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Setubaṃdha bhai bhīra ati kapi nabha pantha uṛāhiṃ। Apara jalacaranhi ūpara caṛhi caṛhi pārahi jāhiṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
At the bridge there was a great crowd, so some monkeys flew through the sky, while others climbed over the aquatic creatures and crossed over.