Kishkindha Kanda · Sarga 15 of 67 · 31 verses
Tara’s Warning
In his inner apartments, Valin, who cannot bear his brother, hears the roar of great-souled Sugriva. Hearing that roar, which shakes all beings, his intoxication vanishes in an instant and a great anger arises. Valin, golden in radiance, his limbs filled with rage, loses his brightness at once like the sun in eclipse. With his terrible fangs and his eyes blazing like fire with anger, he looks like a lake with its lotuses torn out by their stalks. Hearing that unbearable sound, the monkey rushes out, with steps so forceful that he seems to split the earth. But Tara, embracing him with love and showing her devotion, frightened and alarmed, speaks words whose outcome would be good: “Hero, give up this anger that has come like a river in flood, as one who rises from bed in the morning gives up yesterday’s garland. Fight him tomorrow morning, monkey. You have no lack of strength against your enemies, hero, nor any weakness; but your rushing out so suddenly does not please me. Listen; I will tell you why I hold you back. Earlier he came in anger and challenged you to battle; you rushed out and threw him back, and, beaten, he fled to the directions. That he should come back here and challenge you again, after being thrown back and so badly hurt by you, makes me suspicious. The pride and determination with which he roars, and the passion of his roaring, are not for a small reason. I do not think Sugriva has come here without a helper. He has some strong ally on whom he relies as he roars. That monkey is clever by nature and wise; Sugriva would not make friends with anyone whose strength he had not tested. I heard it before, hero, from young Angada, and today I will tell you what is good for you. Prince Angada went out to the edge of the forest, and he told the news that spies had reported: the two sons of the lord of Ayodhya, heroes invincible in battle, born in the Ikshvaku line, famous Rama and Lakshmana, unassailable, have come there to do Sugriva a kindness. Your brother’s famous ally in battle is Rama, crusher of enemy armies, risen like the fire at the end of an age, the sheltering tree of the good, the highest refuge of those in trouble, the support of the afflicted, the one vessel of glory, full of knowledge and wisdom, devoted to his father’s command, a great mine of virtues as the king of mountains is of minerals. So you must not oppose that great soul, Rama, invincible and immeasurable in battle. Hero, I will tell you something, and I do not wish to find fault with you; listen, and do what I say is good for you. Quickly and properly consecrate Sugriva as heir apparent. Do not make war, hero, king, with your younger brother. I think friendship with that Rama is right for you, and affection with Sugriva, casting enmity far away. This younger brother, the monkey, should be cherished by you. Whether he is there or here, he is in every way your kinsman; I see no kinsman on earth equal to him. Win him over at once with gifts, honours and courtesies; give up this enmity and let him stand at your side. Broad-necked Sugriva is your great kinsman, I believe. Hold to a brother’s love; there is no other way for you here. If you would do what pleases me, and if you know I wish you well, I beg you as one dear to you: follow my good advice. Be gracious, listen to my wholesome words; you should not simply follow your anger. Peace with the son of the king of Kosala, whose splendour is equal to Shakra’s, is right for you, not war.” So Tara speaks good, wholesome words to Valin; but they do not please him, seized by Time as he is, at the hour of his destruction.
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अथ तस्य निनादं तं सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । शुश्रावान्तःपुरगतो वाली भ्रातुरमर्षणः ॥ १ ॥
Then Valin, in the inner apartments, intolerant of his brother, heard that roar of great-souled Sugriva.
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Tara’s Warning 1 min read.
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श्रुत्वा तु तस्य निनदं सर्वभूतप्रकम्पनम् । मदश्चैकपदे नष्टः क्रोधश्चापादितो महान् ॥ २ ॥
Hearing that roar of his, which made all beings tremble, his intoxication vanished in one step, and a great anger was produced.
ततो रोषपरीताङ्गो वाली स कनकप्रभः । उपरक्त इवादित्यः सद्यो निष्प्रभतां गतः ॥ ३ ॥
Then Valin, his limbs filled with rage, golden in radiance, at once lost his brightness like the sun in eclipse.
वाली दंष्ट्राकरालस्तु क्रोधाद् दीप्ताग्निलोचनः । भात्युत्पतितपद्माभः समृणाल इव ह्रदः ॥ ४ ॥
And Valin, terrible with fangs, his eyes like blazing fire with anger, shone like a lake with its lotuses torn out with their stalks.
शब्दं दुर्मर्षणं श्रुत्वा निष्पपात ततो हरिः । वेगेन च पदन्यासैर्दारयन्निव मेदिनीम् ॥ ५ ॥
Hearing that unbearable sound, the monkey then rushed out, with speed, and with his steps as if splitting the earth.
तं तु तारा परिष्वज्य स्नेहाद् दर्शितसौहृदा । उवाच त्रस्तसम्भ्रान्ता हितोदर्कमिदं वचः ॥ ६ ॥
But Tara, embracing him, showing her devotion out of love, frightened and alarmed, spoke these words with a good outcome:
साधु क्रोधमिमं वीर नदीवेगमिवागतम् । शयनादुत्थितः काल्यं त्यज भुक्तामिव स्रजम् ॥ ७ ॥
“Well then, hero, give up this anger, come like the force of a river, as one risen from bed in the morning gives up a used garland.
काल्यमेतेन संग्रामं करिष्यसि च वानर । वीर ते शत्रुबाहुल्यं फल्गुता वा न विद्यते ॥ ८ ॥
“And in the morning you will make battle with him, monkey. Hero, there is no excess of enemies for you, nor weakness.
सहसा तव निष्क्रामो मम तावन्न रोचते । श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि यन्निमित्तं निवार्यते ॥ ९ ॥
“Your sudden going out does not please me now. Let it be heard; I will tell for what reason you are held back.
पूर्वमापतितः क्रोधात् स त्वामाह्वयते युधि । निष्पत्य च निरस्तस्ते हन्यमानो दिशो गतः ॥ १० ॥
“Earlier he came in anger and challenged you to battle; and, you having rushed out, he was thrown back, and, being struck, went to the directions.
त्वया तस्य निरस्तस्य पीडितस्य विशेषतः । इहैत्य पुनराह्वानं शङ्कां जनयतीव मे ॥ ११ ॥
“That he, thrown back by you and especially harmed, should come here and challenge again, seems to produce suspicion in me.
दर्पश्च व्यवसायश्च यादृशस्तस्य नर्दतः । निनादस्य च संरम्भो नैतदल्पं हि कारणम् ॥ १२ ॥
“The pride and determination of him as he roars, and the passion of his roaring: this is not a small cause.
नासहायमहं मन्ये सुग्रीवं तमिहागतम् । अवष्टब्धसहायश्च यमाश्रित्यैष गर्जति ॥ १३ ॥
“I do not think that Sugriva has come here without a helper. He has a firm helper, relying on whom he roars.
प्रकृत्या निपुणश्चैव बुद्धिमांश्चैव वानरः । नापरीक्षितवीर्येण सुग्रीवः सख्यमेष्यति ॥ १४ ॥
“By nature that monkey is clever, and wise. Sugriva would not go to friendship with one whose valour was untested.
पूर्वमेव मया वीर श्रुतं कथयतो वचः । अङ्गदस्य कुमारस्य वक्ष्याम्यद्य हितं वचः ॥ १५ ॥
“Already before, hero, I heard the words of young Angada as he spoke; today I will tell you good words.
अङ्गदस्तु कुमारोऽयं वनान्तमुपनिर्गतः । प्रवृत्तिस्तेन कथिता चारैरासीन्निवेदिता ॥ १६ ॥
“This young Angada went out to the forest’s edge; the news was told by him that had been reported by spies:
अयोध्याधिपतेः पुत्रौ शूरौ समरदुर्जयौ । इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातौ प्रथितौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ १७ ॥
“’The two sons of the lord of Ayodhya, heroes invincible in battle, born in the line of the Ikshvakus, famed, Rama and Lakshmana,
सुग्रीवप्रियकामार्थं प्राप्तौ तत्र दुरासदौ । स ते भ्रातुर्हि विख्यातः सहायो रणकर्मणि ॥ १८ ॥
“’have arrived there, unassailable, for the sake of doing a kindness to Sugriva.’ He, famous, is your brother’s helper in deeds of war:
रामः परबलामर्दी युगान्ताग्निरिवोत्थितः । निवासवृक्षः साधूनामापन्नानां परा गतिः ॥ १९ ॥
“Rama, crusher of enemy forces, risen like the fire at the end of an age, the dwelling-tree of the good, the highest refuge of those in distress,
आर्तानां संश्रयश्चैव यशसश्चैकभाजनम् । ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नो निदेशे निरतः पितुः ॥ २० ॥
“and the shelter of the afflicted, the one vessel of glory, endowed with knowledge and wisdom, devoted to his father’s command,
धातूनामिव शैलेन्द्रो गुणानामाकरो महान् । तत् क्षमो न विरोधस्ते सह तेन महात्मना ॥ २१ ॥
“a great mine of virtues, like the king of mountains of minerals. So opposition with that great soul is not fit for you,
दुर्जयेनाप्रमेयेण रामेण रणकर्मसु । शूर वक्ष्यामि ते किंचिन्न चेच्छाम्यभ्यसूयितुम् ॥ २२ ॥
“with Rama, invincible, immeasurable in deeds of war. Hero, I will tell you something, and I do not wish to find fault.
श्रूयतां क्रियतां चैव तव वक्ष्यामि यद्धितम् । यौवराज्येन सुग्रीवं तूर्णं साध्वभिषेचय ॥ २३ ॥
“Let it be heard and done: I will tell you what is good. Quickly and properly consecrate Sugriva as heir apparent.
विग्रहं मा कृथा वीर भ्रात्रा राजन् यवीयसा । अहं हि ते क्षमं मन्ये तेन रामेण सौहृदम् ॥ २४ ॥
“Do not make war, hero, king, with your younger brother. For I think friendship with that Rama is fitting for you,
सुग्रीवेण च सम्प्रीतिं वैरमुत्सृज्य दूरतः । लालनीयो हि ते भ्राता यवीयानेष वानरः ॥ २५ ॥
“and affection with Sugriva, casting enmity far away. For this younger brother, the monkey, should be cherished by you.
तत्र वा सन्निहस्थो वा सर्वथा बन्धुरेव ते । नहि तेन समं बन्धुं भुवि पश्यामि कंचन ॥ २६ ॥
“Whether he is there or near here, he is in every way your kinsman. I see no kinsman on earth equal to him.
दानमानादिसत्कारैः कुरुष्व प्रत्यनन्तरम् । वैरमेतत् समुत्सृज्य तव पार्श्वे स तिष्ठतु ॥ २७ ॥
“With gifts, honours and other courtesies, win him over at once. Giving up this enmity, let him stand at your side.
सुग्रीवो विपुलग्रीवो महाबन्धुर्मतस्तव । भ्रातृसौहृदमालम्ब्य नान्या गतिरिहास्ति ते ॥ २८ ॥
“Broad-necked Sugriva is regarded as your great kinsman. Hold to a brother’s love; there is no other way for you here.
यदि ते मत्प्रियं कार्यं यदि चावैषि मां हिताम् । याच्यमानः प्रियत्वेन साधु वाक्यं कुरुष्व मे ॥ २९ ॥
“If what pleases me is to be done by you, and if you know me as wishing your good, being begged with affection, do my good words.
प्रसीद पथ्यं शृणु जल्पितं हि मे न रोषमेवानुविधातुमर्हसि । क्षमो हि ते कोशलराजसूनुना न विग्रहः शक्रसमानतेजसा ॥ ३० ॥
“Be gracious; listen to my wholesome speech. You should not simply follow anger. Peace is fitting for you with the son of the king of Kosala, of splendour equal to Shakra’s, not war.”
तदा हि तारा हितमेव वाक्यं तं वालिनं पथ्यमिदं बभाषे । न रोचते तद् वचनं हि तस्य कालाभिपन्नस्य विनाशकाले ॥ ३१ ॥
Then Tara spoke these good, wholesome words to that Valin; but those words did not please him, overtaken by Time at the time of his destruction.