Kishkinda Kanda: Chapter 8

परितुष्टस्तु सुग्रीवस्तेन वाक्येन हर्षितः। लक्ष्मणस्याग्रजं शूरमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Sugrīva, rejoiced at the words of Rāma, said to that hero, the elder brother of Laksmana; who was well pleased.

सर्वथाहमनुग्राह्यो देवतानां न संशयः। उपपन्नो गुणोपेतः सखा यस्य भवान् मम॥
I am, without doubt, worthy of being favoured by the gods, since you accomplished and furnished with virtues are my friend.

शक्यं खलु भवेद् राम सहायेन त्वयानघ। सुरराज्यमपि प्राप्तुं स्वराज्यं किमुत प्रभो॥
By your help, O Rama, one can, O sinless one, obtain the kingdom of the celestials,-what is to be said of one's kingdom, O lord?

सोऽहं सभाज्यो बन्धूनां सुहृदां चैव राघव। यस्याग्निसाक्षिकं मित्रं लब्धं राघववंशजम्॥
I, who have, in the presence of Fire, gained for my friend (you) sprung from the Rāghava race, am, O Rāghava worthy of being honoured by my friends and relations.

अहमप्यनुरूपस्ते वयस्यो ज्ञास्यसे शनैः। न तु वक्तुं समर्थोऽहं त्वयि आत्मगतान् गुणान्॥
You also shall by and by learn that I am a fit friend for you; but I can not speak to you of the qualities that abide in me.

महात्मनां तु भूयिष्ठं त्वद्विधानां कृतात्मनाम्। निश्चला भवति प्रीतिधैर्यमात्मवतां वर॥
O free one, the felicity of high-souled and self-governed friends like you abounds and is enduring.

रजतं वा सुवर्णं वा शुभान्याभरणानि च। अविभक्तानि साधूनामवगच्छन्ति साधव :।७।।
Pious friends look upon the silver, and gold, and the elegant ornaments of pious friends as common property.

आढ्यो वापि दरिद्रो वा दुःखितः सुखितोऽपि वा। निर्दोषश्च सदोषश्च वयस्यः परमा गतिः॥
Whether rich or poor, happy or miserable, good or bad, a friend is the greatest refuge (of his friend).

धनत्यागः सुखत्यागो देशत्यागोऽपि वाऽनघ। वयस्यार्थे प्रवर्तन्ते स्नेहं दृष्ट्वा तथाविधम्॥
Witnessing such affection, people can, O sinless one, forsake wealth, comfort, and even their native land for the sake of their friends.

तत् तथेत्यब्रवीद् रामः सुग्रीवं प्रियवादिनम्। लक्ष्मणस्याग्रतो लक्ष्म्या वासवस्येव धीमतः॥
There at the graceful Rāma, in front of the intelligent Lakşmaņa resembling Väsava, said to Sugriva of a pleasing presence,-It is even so.

ततो रामं स्थितं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम्। सुग्रीवः सर्वतश्चक्षुर्वने लोलमपातयत्॥
The next day seeing Rāma as well as the mighty Lakşmaņa seated on the ground, Sugrīva briskly cast his eyes about the forest.

स ददर्श ततः सालमविदूरे हरीश्वरः। सुपुष्पमीषत्पत्राढ्यं भ्रमरैरुपशोभितम्॥
And hard by that lord of monkeys discovered a Sāla tree, bearing a few beautiful blossoms, with its wealth of foliage, decked by black bees.

तस्यैकां पर्णबहुलां शाखां भङ्कत्वासुशोभिताम्। रामस्यास्तीर्य सुग्रीवो निषसाद सराघवः॥
There at tearing off a beautiful bough full of leaves, Sugrīva spread it (on the earth), and then sat down with Rāghava.

तावासीनौ ततो दृष्ट्वा हनूमानपि लक्ष्मणम्। शालशाखां समुत्पाट्य विनीतमुपवेशयत्॥
Seeing them seated, Hanumān breaking off a branch of śāla, humbly made Lakşmaņa sit down.

सुखोपविष्टं रामं तु प्रसन्नमुदधिं यथा। सालपुष्पावसंकीर्णे तस्मिन् गिरिवरोत्तमे॥ ततः प्रहृष्टः सुग्रीवः श्लक्ष्णया शुभया गिरा। उवाच प्रणयाद् रामं हर्षव्याकुलिताक्षरम्॥
Seeing Rāma seated at his case in that best of mountains abounding in Sāla flowers, and cheerful like the ocean, Sugrīva from love spoke to Rāma sweet and excellent words, of which the letters vibrated with delight.

अहं विनिकृतो भ्रात्रा चराम्येष भयादितः। ऋष्यमूकं गिरिवरं हृतभार्यः सुदुःखितः॥
Wronged by my brother, I deprived of my wife and exceedingly distressed, and exercised with fear, live in this foremost of mountains, Rs yamuka.

सोऽहं त्रस्तो भये मग्नो वने सम्भ्रान्तचेतनः। वालिना निकृतो भ्रात्रा कृतवैरश्च राघव॥
O Rāghava, my senses wildered, having been oppressed by Vāli, and having incurred his enmity, I am afflicted with fear, and tormented with fright.

वालिनो मे भयार्तस्य सर्वलोकाभयंकर। ममापि त्वमनाथस्य प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥
O you, that remove the fear of all creatures, it behove you who am tormented by fear and am helpless, to extend your favour to me.

एवमुक्तस्तु तेजस्वी धर्मज्ञो धर्मवत्सलः। प्रत्युवाच स काकुत्स्थ: सुग्रीवं प्रहसन्निव॥
Thus accosted, that ever energetic one knowing righteousness and devoted to it, Kākutstha, smiling, said to Sugrīva,

उपकारफलं मित्रमपकारोऽरिलक्षणम्। अद्यैव तं वधिष्यामि तव भार्यापहारिणम्॥
Benefits make friends, while injuries denote enemies. Even this very day will I slay him that has deprived you of your wife.

इमे हि मे महाभाग पत्रिणस्तिग्मतेजसः। कार्तिकेयवनोद्भूताः शरा हेमविभूषिताः॥ कङ्कपत्रपरिच्छन्ना महेन्द्राशनिसंनिभाः। सुपर्वाणः सुतीक्ष्णाग्राः सरोषा भुजगा इव॥
O exalted one, these feathered shafts of exceeding energy, sprung from the Kārtikeya forest, decked with gold, furnished with the plumes of the Kanka, resembling the thunderbolt of the great Indra, having smooth knots, and sharp heads, are like enraged serpents.

वालिसंज्ञममित्रं ते भ्रातरं कृतकिल्विषम्। शरैर्विनिहतं पश्य विकीर्णमिव पर्वतम्॥
You shall behold your brother and enemy, who is named Vāli slain by my shafts, and lying like a dislodged hill.

राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवो वाहिनीपतिः। प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे साधुसाध्विति चाब्रवीत्॥
Hearing Rāghava's words, Sugrīva-lord of host-felt excess of joy and exclaimed, Excellent well! Excellent well!

राम शोकाभिभूतोऽहं शोकार्तानां भवान् गतिः। वयस्य इति कृत्वा हि त्वय्यहं परिदेवये॥
O Rāma, overwhelmed am I by grief. You are the succour of those afflicted with sorrow. Having made you my friend, I express to you my grief.

त्वं हि पाणिप्रदानेन वयस्यो मेऽग्निसाक्षिकम्। कृतः प्राणैर्बहुमतः सत्येन च शपाम्यहम्॥
I have, in the presence of Fire by giving you my hand, made you my friend. You are dearer to me than life itself. This I swear to you by Truth.

वयस्य इति कृत्वा च विस्रब्धः प्रवदाम्यहम्। दुःखमन्तर्गतं तन्मे मनो हरति नित्यशः॥
Having made you my friend, I inspired with confidence am unbosoming myself to you. The sorrow, that is in my heart, is constantly enfeebling my mind.

एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं वाष्पदूषितलोचनः। वाष्पदूषितया वाचा नोच्चैः शक्नोति भाषितुम्॥
Having proceeded thus far, he, his eyes filled with tears and his words faltering because of vapour, could not speak aloud.

वाष्पवेगं तु सहसा नदीवेगमिवागतम्। धारयामास धैर्येण सुग्रीवो रामसंनिधौ॥
Sugrīva suddenly restrained, before Rāma, the force of tears, like to the tide of a river.

स निगृह्य तु तं बाष्प प्रसृज्य नयने शुभे। विनिःश्वस्य च तेजस्वी राघवं पुनरूचिवान्॥
Having restrained his tears and wiped his fair eyes, that energetic one, sighing heavily, again went on,

पुराहं वालिना राम राज्यात् स्वादवरोपितः। परुषाणि च संश्राव्य निर्धृतोऽस्मि बलीयसा।
Formerly, O Rāma, I was deprived of my kingdom and reproached in harsh language by the strong Vāli.

हृता भार्या च मे तेन प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी। सुहृदश्च मदीया ये संयता बन्धुनेषु ते॥
He also took away my wife dearer to me than life; and my friends have been imprisoned and been bound.

यत्नवांश्च स दुष्टात्मा मद्विनाशाय राघव। बहुशस्तत्प्रयुक्ताश्च वानरा निहता मया॥
That wicked wight, O Rāghava, seeks my life. Many monkeys commissioned by him have been slain by me.

शङ्कया त्वेतयाहं च दृष्ट्वा त्वामपि राघव। नोपसर्पाम्यहं भीतो भये सर्वे हि बिभ्यति॥
It was, O Rāghava, in consequence of this fear that when I (first) saw you, I did not come out. This is all the fear that oppresses me.

केवलं हि सहाया मे हनुमत्प्रमुखास्त्विमे। अतोऽहं धारयाम्यद्य प्राणान् कृच्छगतोऽपि सन्॥
My adherents are only these headed by Hanumān. It is for this that although reduced to the greatest straits I have been able to preserve my life.

मे शोकान्तः एते हि कपयः स्निग्धा मां रक्षन्ति समन्ततः। सह गच्छन्ति गन्तव्ये नित्यं तिष्ठन्ति चास्थिते॥
These affectionate apes protect me on all sides. They go when I go, and stay when I stay.

संक्षेपस्त्वेष मे राम किमुक्त्वा विस्तरं हि ते। स मे ज्येष्ठो रिपुीता वाली विश्रुतपौरुषः॥
Why should I expatiate? In brief, Vāli my elder brother, famed for his prowess, is my foe.

तद्विनाशेऽपि मे दुखं प्रमृष्टं स्यादनन्तरम्। सुखं मे जीवितं चैव तद्विनाशनिबन्धनम्॥
Even by his death my present pain would be removed. Both my life and my happiness are bound up with his death.

एष राम शोकार्तेन निवेदितः। दुःखितः सुखितो वापि सख्युर्नित्यं सखा गतिः॥
I have, O Rāma, communicated to you, the way in which my grief might be removed. Whether in joy or in sorrow, a friend is the refuge of his friend.

श्रुत्वैतच्च वचो रामः सुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत्। किंनिमित्तमभूद् वैरं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः॥
Hearing these words, Rāma said to Sugrīva, What for arose hostility between yourself and Vāli? I wish to hear this (related) faithfully.

सुखं हि कारणं श्रुत्वा वैरस्य तव वानर। आनन्तर्याद् विधास्यामि सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्॥
Having learnt the cause of your hostility, and ascertained your strength and weakness, I will, O monkey, understanding the irritation that has ensued, compass your happiness.

बलवान् हि ममामर्षः श्रुत्वा त्वामवमानितम्। वर्धते हृदयोत्कम्पी प्रावृड्वेग इवाम्भसः॥
Great is my wrath, on hearing you disgraced; and like a down-pour in the rainy season my ire increases, shaking my very heart.

हृष्टः कथय विस्रब्धो यावदारोप्यते धनुः। सृष्टश्च हि मया बाणो निरस्तश्च रिपुस्तव॥
Do you cheerfully and confidingly speak while I fix the string to my bow. As soon as my shaft is off, your foe is beaten.

एवमुक्तस्तु सुग्रीवः काकुत्स्थेन महात्मना। प्रहर्षमदुलं लेभे चतुर्भिः सह वानरैः॥
Thus addressed by the high-souled Käkutstha, Sugrīva, along with the four (other) monkeys, experienced exceeding delight.

ततः प्रहृष्टवदनः सुग्रीवो लक्ष्मणाग्रजे। वैरस्य कारणं तत्त्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे॥
Then with a cheerful countenance, Sugrīva began to unfold to Lakşmaņa's elder brother the cause of their hostility.

एवमुक्तस्तु सुग्रीवः काकुत्स्थेन महात्मना। प्रहर्षमदुलं लेभे चतुर्भिः सह वानरैः॥
Thus addressed by the high-souled Käkutstha, Sugrīva, along with the four (other) monkeys, experienced exceeding delight.

ततः प्रहृष्टवदनः सुग्रीवो लक्ष्मणाग्रजे। वैरस्य कारणं तत्त्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे॥
Then with a cheerful countenance, Sugrīva began to unfold to Lakşmaņa's elder brother the cause of their hostility.