Aranya Kanda: Chapter 72

एवमुक्तौ तु तौ वीरौ कवन्धेन नरेश्वरौ। गिरिप्रदरमासाद्य पावकं विससर्जतुः॥
After Kabandha had spoken thus, the two best of men, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa took him to a mountain-cave and placed on fire.

लक्ष्मणस्तु महोल्काभिललिताभिः समन्ततः। चितामादीपयामास सा प्रजज्वाल सर्वतः॥ तच्छरीरं कबन्धस्य घृतपिण्डोपमं महत्। मेदसा पच्यमानस्य मन्दं दहत पावकः॥
Laksmana kindled the funeral pile, which was ablaze on all sides. Thereupon the fire began to burn down slowly the huge and corpulent body of Kabandha like to a lump of clarified butter.

स विधूय चितामाशु विधूमोऽग्निरिवोत्थितः। अरजे वाससी विभ्रन्माल्यं दिव्यं महाबलः॥
Afterwards the highly powerful demon, shaking the funeral pile, rose up quickly like a smokeless flame of fire, wearing a clean cloth and a celestial garland.

ततश्चिताया वेगेन भास्वरो विरजाम्बरः। उत्पपाताशु संहृष्टः सर्वप्रत्यङ्गभूषणः॥ विमाने भास्वरे तिष्ठन् हंसयुक्ते यशस्करे। प्रभया च महातेजा दिशो दश विराजयन्॥ सोऽन्तरिक्षगतो वाक्यं कबन्धो राममब्रवीत्।
And the graceful demon, wearing an unsullied cloth and having all its limbs crested with diverse ornaments, rose from the pile high up in the welkin with a delighted heart. Thereupon mounting on a famed car, brilliant and drawn by swans* and lighting up all the quarters with the effulgence of his person, that highly powerful one, stationing himself in the heaven, addressed Rāma. By virtue of the pious observances performed by him in his previous existence and for his being burnt by Rāma that celestial car appeared there.

शृणु राघव तत्त्वेन यथा सीतामवाप्स्यसि॥ राम षड् युक्तयो लोके याभिः सर्वं विमृश्यते। परिमृष्टो दशान्तेन दशाभागेन सेव्यते॥
Do you hear truly, O Rāghava, of the means by which you shall come by Sīta. There are six expedients. O Rāma, by virtue of which kings acquire all objects. He, in whom misfortune has culminated, should seek the company of one such+. The six expedients are as follow—(1) Sandhi, peace. (2) Vigraha war-fare. (3) Yāna, military expedition against an enemy. (4) Asana-halting. (5) Daidhibhava-sowing dissension. (6) Samaşraya seeking protection. This is a moral law referring to the sixth to or expedient, to be resorted by the kings-namely Samasrarya seeking protection.

दशाभागगतो हीनस्त्वं हि राम सलक्ष्मणः। यत्कृते व्यसनं प्राप्तं त्वया दारप्रधर्षणम्॥
You have, O Rāma along with Laksmana, met with the culmination of misfortune and for which you have been assailed with such a disaster as the ravishment of your spouse.

तदवश्यं त्वया कार्यः स सुहृत् सुहृदां वर। अकृत्वा नहि ते सिद्धिमहं पश्यामि चिन्तयन् ॥
O you best of my friends, it behove you, therefore to make friends with such a person. Or else I do not find any means for your success.

श्रूयतां राम वक्ष्यामि सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः। भ्रात्रा निरस्तः क्रुद्धेन वालिना शक्रसूनुना॥ ऋष्यमूके गिरिवरे पम्पापर्यन्तशोभिते। निवसत्यात्मवान् वीरश्चतुर्भिः सह वानरैः॥
Do you hear, O Rāma, what I relate. There live with four monkeys a heroic, self-controlled monkey by name Sugrīva, on that best of mountains Rşyamūka, situated on the banks of the lake Pampā, being driven by his enraged brother Vāli, the son of Indra.

वानरेन्द्रो महावीर्यस्तेजोवानमितप्रभः। सत्यसंधो विनीतश्च धृतिमान् मतिमान् मान्॥ दक्षः प्रगल्भो द्युतिमान् महाबलपराक्रमः। भ्रात्रा विवासितो वीर राज्यहेतोर्महात्मना।।। स ते सहायो मित्रं च सीतायाः परिमार्गो भविष्यति हि ते राम मा च शोके मनः थाः॥
That mighty, powerful, effulge lord of monkeys, of immeasurable prowess and truthful vows, humble patient, intelligent, great, expert, bold, graceful and puissant, has been banished by his brother, O hero, for kingdom. Surely he shall befriend and assist you in your search for Sītā. Do you not plunge your soul in grief.

भवितव्यं हि तच्चापि न तच्छक्यमिहान्यथा। कर्तुमिक्ष्वाकुशार्दूल कालो हि दुरतिकमः॥
O you best of Ikşvākus, none can withstand destiny on this earth, truly unavoidable is it course.

गच्छ शीघ्रमितो वीर सुग्रीवं तं महाबलम्। वयस्यं तं कुरु क्षिप्रमितो गत्वाद्य राघव॥ अद्रोहाय समागम्य दीप्यमाने विभावसौ। न च ते सोऽवमन्तव्यः सुग्रीवो वानराधिपः॥
Do you proceed soon, O hero, to Sugriva of mighty prowess, and repairing hence even to-day do you contract friendship with him, taking vow in the presence of flaming fire* that you shall not envy each other. This refers to the the oriental custom of performing every sacred rite in the presence of fire as witness. The Hindus regard the fire with sacred reverence and for this in all their social and religious ceremonials fire plays, a very prominent and sacred part.

कृतज्ञः कामरूपी च सहायार्थी च वीर्यवान्। शक्तौ ह्यद्य युवां कर्तुं कार्यं तस्य चिकीर्षितम्॥
Despise not that kingly monkey Sugrīva, because he is grateful, capable of assuming shapes at will, seeking protection and powerful. You too are able to accomplish his wished-for object.

कृतार्थो वाकृतार्थो वा तव कृत्यं करिष्यति। स ऋक्षरजसः पुत्रः पम्पामटति शङ्कितः॥ भास्करस्यौरसः पुत्रो वालिना कृतकिल्विषः। संनिधायायुधं क्षिप्रमृष्यमूकालयं कपिम्॥ कुरु राघव सत्येन वयस्यं वनचारिणम्। स हि स्थानानि कात्स्न्येन सर्वाणि कपिकुञ्जरः॥ नरमांसाशिनां लोके नैपुण्यादधिगच्छति।
Benefited by you or not, he shall engage in your service. He was begotten of the Sun to the wife of Rkşarāja. He has been roaming the bank of Pampā being in constant fear of Väli after creating enmity with him. Do you make friends with that monkey ranging the wood and inhabiting the Rșyamūka mountain after placing your weapon in the very presence of fire as a witness, because that hest of monkeys know minutely all the abodes of Rākṣasas, living on human flesh.

न तस्याविदितं लोके किंचिदस्ति हि राघव॥ यावत् सूर्यः प्रतपति सहस्रांशुः परंतप।
There is no place under the sun of many rays, O Rāghava, O slayer of foes, unknown to him.

स नदीर्विपुलाशैलान् गिरिदुर्गाणि कन्दरान्॥ अन्विष्य वानरैः सार्धं पत्नी तेऽधिगमिष्यति।
Exploring, with all his monkeys, the rivers, huge mountains, strongholds and caves, he shall learn about your spouse.

वानरांश्च महाकायान् प्रेषयिष्यति राघव॥ दिशो विचेतुं तां सीतां त्वद्वियोगेन शोचतीम्। अन्वेष्यति वरारोहां मैथिली रावणालये॥
He shall search that exquisitely fine damsel Maithili in Ravana's abode, bewailing on your separation, and to find her out he shall despatch, O Rāghava, many a monkey of huge proportions to various quarters.

स मेरुशृङ्गाग्रगतामनिन्दितां प्रविश्य पातालतलेऽपि वाश्रिताम्। प्लवङ्गमानामृषभस्तव प्रियां निहत्य रक्षांसि पुनः प्रदास्यति॥
Whether on the summit of the mount Meru or in the region under the earth, that lord of monkeys, shall give you back your blameless spouse, killing all the Raksasas.