Kishkindha Kanda · Sarga 35 of 67 · 23 verses
Tara Defends Sugriva
As Saumitri speaks, as if blazing with splendour, Tara, her face like the moon, says to Lakshmana: “Lakshmana, he should not be spoken to like this. The lord of the monkeys does not deserve to hear harsh words, especially from your mouth. Sugriva is not ungrateful, nor deceitful, nor cruel, nor a liar, hero, nor crooked. The heroic monkey has not forgotten the help Rama gave him, which others could not have done in battle. By Rama’s grace Sugriva has won fame and the lasting kingdom of the monkeys, and Ruma and me, scorcher of foes. Having slept in great misery before, and now gaining this supreme happiness, he does not notice that the time has come, as the sage Vishvamitra did not. It is said that righteous Vishvamitra, the great sage, attached to Ghritachi for ten years, thought it a single day. If Vishvamitra of great splendour, best of those who know time, did not notice that the time had come, how much less an ordinary person? Rama should forgive him, Lakshmana, for he has followed the way of the body, worn out, not yet sated with pleasures. And you, dear Lakshmana, should not fall into anger’s power suddenly, like an ordinary man, without understanding what has been decided. Men of strength like you, bull among men, do not suddenly come under anger’s control without reflection. I beg your favour for Sugriva’s sake, knower of dharma, with all my attention; let this great fury born of anger be given up. I believe Sugriva would give up Ruma, me, Angada, the kingdom, wealth, grain and cattle to please Rama. Sugriva will kill that lowest of rakshasas and reunite Raghava with Sita, like the moon with Rohini. In Lanka, they say, there are a hundred thousand million rakshasas, and thirty-six ten-thousands, thousands and hundreds more. Without killing those invincible rakshasas who take any form at will, Ravana, who carried off Maithili, cannot be killed. They cannot be killed in battle without help, Lakshmana, and cruel Ravana least of all without Sugriva. So Valin, the lord of monkeys, who knew it, used to say. I do not know his source; I tell you what I heard from him. Bulls among the monkeys have been sent out to bring very many monkey chiefs for war, to be your help. Waiting for those valiant, very mighty ones, the lord of the monkeys has not set out yet, for the success of Raghava’s purpose. Sugriva made the arrangements long ago, Saumitri; all those mighty monkeys are due to come today. Thousands of millions of bears and hundreds of langurs will come to you today, and many millions of monkeys of blazing splendour, Kakutstha; give up your anger, tamer of foes. Seeing your face, with eyes like blood from anger, the wives of the best of monkeys find no peace; we are all fearful of the first danger.”
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तथा ब्रूवाणं सौमित्रिं प्रदीप्तमिव तेजसा । अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणं तारा ताराधिपनिभानना ॥ १ ॥
To Saumitri speaking so, as if blazing with splendour, Tara, whose face was like the lord of the stars, spoke to Lakshmana:
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नैवं लक्ष्मण वक्तव्यो नायं परुषमर्हति । हरीणामीश्वरः श्रोतुं तव वक्त्राद् विशेषतः ॥ २ ॥
“He should not be spoken to so, Lakshmana. The lord of the monkeys does not deserve to hear harsh words, especially from your mouth.
नैवाकृतज्ञः सुग्रीवो न शठो नापि दारुणः । नैवानृतकथो वीर न जिह्मश्च कपीश्वरः ॥ ३ ॥
“Sugriva is not ungrateful, nor deceitful, nor cruel; the lord of the monkeys is not a speaker of lies, hero, nor crooked.
उपकारं कृतं वीरो नाप्ययं विस्मृतः कपिः । रामेण वीर सुग्रीवो यदन्यैर्दुष्करं रणे ॥ ४ ॥
“Nor has this heroic monkey forgotten the help done, hero, by Rama for Sugriva, which was hard for others in battle.
रामप्रसादात् कीर्तिं च कपिराज्यं च शाश्वतम् । प्राप्तवानिह सुग्रीवो रुमां मां च परंतप ॥ ५ ॥
“By Rama’s grace Sugriva has obtained here fame and the lasting kingdom of the monkeys, and Ruma and me, scorcher of foes.
सुदुःखशयितः पूर्वं प्राप्येदं सुखमुत्तमम् । प्राप्तकालं न जानीते विश्वामित्रो यथा मुनिः ॥ ६ ॥
“Having lain in great misery before, and having obtained this supreme happiness, he does not know the time that has come, as the sage Vishvamitra did not.
घृताच्यां किल संसक्तो दश वर्षाणि लक्ष्मण । अहोऽमन्यत धर्मात्मा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ॥ ७ ॥
“Attached to Ghritachi, it is said, for ten years, Lakshmana, righteous Vishvamitra, the great sage, thought it a day.
स हि प्राप्तं न जानीते कालं कालविदां वरः । विश्वामित्रो महातेजाः किं पुनर्यः पृथग्जनः ॥ ८ ॥
“For he, best of the knowers of time, did not know that the time had come, Vishvamitra of great splendour; how much less one who is an ordinary person?
देहधर्मगतस्यास्य परिश्रान्तस्य लक्ष्मण । अवितृप्तस्य कामेषु रामः क्षन्तुमिहार्हति ॥ ९ ॥
“To him, following the law of the body, worn out, Lakshmana, not sated with pleasures, Rama should show forgiveness here.
न च रोषवशं तात गन्तुमर्हसि लक्ष्मण । निश्चयार्थमविज्ञाय सहसा प्राकृतो यथा ॥ १० ॥
“And you should not go into anger’s power, dear Lakshmana, suddenly, like an ordinary man, without understanding the decided matter.
सत्त्वयुक्ता हि पुरुषास्त्वद्विधाः पुरुषर्षभ । अविमृश्य न रोषस्य सहसा यान्ति वश्यताम् ॥ ११ ॥
“For men endowed with strength like you, bull among men, do not suddenly come into anger’s control without reflection.
प्रसादये त्वां धर्मज्ञ सुग्रीवार्थं समाहिता । महान् रोषसमुत्पन्नः संरम्भस्त्यज्यतामयम् ॥ १२ ॥
“I beg your favour, knower of dharma, for Sugriva’s sake, attentive. Let this great fury, risen from anger, be given up.
रुमां मां चाङ्गदं राज्यं धनधान्यपशूनि च । रामप्रियार्थं सुग्रीवस्त्यजेदिति मतिर्मम ॥ १३ ॥
“Ruma and me and Angada, the kingdom, wealth, grain and cattle, Sugriva would give up for Rama’s pleasure; this is my belief.
समानेष्यति सुग्रीवः सीतया सह राघवम् । शशाङ्कमिव रोहिण्या हत्वा तं राक्षसाधमम् ॥ १४ ॥
“Sugriva will reunite Raghava with Sita, having killed that lowest of rakshasas, like the moon with Rohini.
शतकोटिसहस्राणि लङ्कायां किल रक्षसाम् । अयुतानि च षट्त्रिंशत्सहस्राणि शतानि च ॥ १५ ॥
“In Lanka, they say, there are a hundred thousand million rakshasas, and thirty-six ten-thousands, thousands and hundreds.
अहत्वा तांश्च दुर्धर्षान् राक्षसान् कामरूपिणः । न शक्यो रावणो हन्तुं येन सा मैथिली हृता ॥ १६ ॥
“Without killing those invincible rakshasas who take forms at will, Ravana cannot be killed, by whom that Maithili was carried off.
ते न शक्या रणे हन्तुमसहायेन लक्ष्मण । रावणः क्रूरकर्मा च सुग्रीवेण विशेषतः ॥ १७ ॥
“They cannot be killed in battle by one without help, Lakshmana, and cruel Ravana especially not without Sugriva.
एवमाख्यातवान् वाली स ह्यभिज्ञो हरीश्वरः । आगमस्तु न मे व्यक्तः श्रवात् तस्य ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥ १८ ॥
“So Valin, the lord of monkeys, who knew, used to say. His source is not clear to me; I speak from hearing him.
त्वत्सहायनिमित्तं हि प्रेषिता हरिपुङ्गवाः । आनेतुं वानरान् युद्धे सुबहून् हरिपुङ्गवान् ॥ १९ ॥
“For bulls among the monkeys have been sent for the purpose of your help, to bring very many monkey chiefs for battle.
तांश्च प्रतीक्षमाणोऽयं विक्रान्तान् सुमहाबलान् । राघवस्यार्थसिद्ध्यर्थं न निर्याति हरीश्वरः ॥ २० ॥
“Waiting for those valiant, very mighty ones, the lord of the monkeys does not set out, for the success of Raghava’s purpose.
कृता सुसंस्था सौमित्रे सुग्रीवेण पुरा यथा । अद्य तैर्वानरैः सर्वैरागन्तव्यं महाबलैः ॥ २१ ॥
“A good arrangement was made by Sugriva long ago, Saumitri; today all those very mighty monkeys are to come.
ऋक्षकोटिसहस्राणि गोलाङ्गूलशतानि च । अद्य त्वामुपयास्यन्ति जहि कोपमरिंदम । कोट्योऽनेकास्तु काकुत्स्थ कपीनां दीप्ततेजसाम् ॥ २२ ॥
“Thousands of millions of bears and hundreds of langurs will come to you today; kill your anger, tamer of foes; and many millions of monkeys of blazing splendour, Kakutstha.
तव हि मुखमिदं निरीक्ष्य कोपात् क्षतजसमे नयने निरीक्षमाणाः । हरिवरवनिता न यान्ति शान्तिं प्रथमभयस्य हि शङ्किताः स्म सर्वाः ॥ २३ ॥
“For seeing this face of yours, with eyes like blood from anger, the wives of the best of monkeys find no peace; for we are all fearful of the first danger.”