Kishkindha Kanda · Sarga 36 of 67 · 20 verses
Sugriva Apologises; Lakshmana Relents
Spoken to so by Tara with courteous words joined with dharma, gentle-natured Saumitri accepts her words. When those words have been accepted, the lord of the hosts of monkeys throws off his great fear of Lakshmana like a wet garment. Then Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, tears off the great, many-coloured garland of many strands at his throat and becomes sober. Sugriva, best of all monkeys, delighting Lakshmana of terrible strength, speaks courteously: “My lost fortune and fame, and the lasting kingdom of the monkeys, I have regained by Rama’s grace, Saumitri. Who could repay that god, famous for his own deeds, even in part, prince? Righteous Raghava will win back Sita and kill Ravana by his own splendour, with me as a mere helper. What need of help has he, who split seven great trees, a mountain and the earth with one arrow? What need has he of allies, Lakshmana, at the sound of whose bow, as he draws it, the earth and its mountains shook? I will follow the king, bull among men, as he goes to kill his enemy Ravana and those around him. If I have overstepped at all, out of trust or affection, it should be forgiven your servant; there is no one who never does wrong.” As great-souled Sugriva speaks so, Lakshmana is pleased and says with love: “In every way, lord of monkeys, my brother has a protector in you, Sugriva, especially now that you are humble. With such power as yours, Sugriva, and such purity, you deserve to enjoy the unsurpassed glory of the monkey kingdom. With you as his ally, Sugriva, mighty Rama will kill his enemies in battle before long; there is no doubt. What you have said, Sugriva, is right and fitting for one who knows dharma, is grateful and never turns back in battle. Who else, aware of his fault, would speak so when he had the power, except my elder brother and you, best of monkeys? You are equal to Rama in valour and strength, bull among monkeys, an ally given by the gods for a long time. But come out quickly from here with me, hero, and comfort your friend, grieving at the abduction of his wife. And forgive me, friend, the harsh words I spoke to you after hearing what Rama, overcome by grief, said.”
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इत्युक्तस्तारया वाक्यं प्रश्रितं धर्मसंहितम् । मृदुस्वभावः सौमित्रिः प्रतिजग्राह तद्वचः ॥ १ ॥
Spoken to so by Tara with courteous words joined with dharma, gentle-natured Saumitri accepted those words.
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Sugriva Apologises; Lakshmana Relents 1 min read.
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तस्मिन् प्रतिगृहीते तु वाक्ये हरिगणेश्वरः । लक्ष्मणात् सुमहत् त्रासं वस्त्रं क्लिन्नमिवात्यजत् ॥ २ ॥
When those words were accepted, the lord of the hosts of monkeys cast off his very great fear of Lakshmana like a wet garment.
ततः कण्ठगतं माल्यं चित्रं बहुगुणं महत् । चिच्छेद विमदश्चासीत् सुग्रीवो वानरेश्वरः ॥ ३ ॥
Then Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, tore off the great, many-coloured, many-stranded garland at his throat, and became sober.
स लक्ष्मणं भीमबलं सर्ववानरसत्तमः । अब्रवीत् प्रश्रितं वाक्यं सुग्रीवः सम्प्रहर्षयन् ॥ ४ ॥
Sugriva, best of all monkeys, delighting Lakshmana of terrible strength, spoke courteous words:
प्रणष्टा श्रीश्च कीर्तिश्च कपिराज्यं च शाश्वतम् । रामप्रसादात् सौमित्रे पुनश्चाप्तमिदं मया ॥ ५ ॥
“Lost fortune and fame and the lasting kingdom of the monkeys have been regained by me through Rama’s grace, Saumitri.
कः शक्तस्तस्य देवस्य ख्यातस्य स्वेन कर्मणा । तादृशं प्रतिकुर्वीत अंशेनापि नृपात्मज ॥ ६ ॥
“Who is able to repay that god, famed by his own deeds, for such a thing, even in part, prince?
सीतां प्राप्स्यति धर्मात्मा वधिष्यति च रावणम् । सहायमात्रेण मया राघवः स्वेन तेजसा ॥ ७ ॥
“Righteous Raghava will win Sita and will kill Ravana by his own splendour, with me merely as helper.
सहायकृत्यं किं तस्य येन सप्त महाद्रुमाः । गिरिश्च वसुधा चैव बाणेनैकेन दारिताः ॥ ८ ॥
“What need of help has he, by whom seven great trees, a mountain and the earth were split with one arrow?
धनुर्विस्फारमाणस्य यस्य शब्देन लक्ष्मण । सशैला कम्पिता भूमिः सहायैः किं नु तस्य वै ॥ ९ ॥
“At the sound of whose bow, as he draws it, Lakshmana, the earth with its mountains shook: what indeed has he to do with allies?
अनुयात्रां नरेन्द्रस्य करिष्येऽहं नरर्षभ । गच्छतो रावणं हन्तुं वैरिणं सपुरस्सरम् ॥ १० ॥
“I will make the following of the king, bull among men, as he goes to kill Ravana, the enemy, with those before him.
यदि किंचिदतिक्रान्तं विश्वासात् प्रणयेन वा । प्रेष्यस्य क्षमितव्यं मे न कश्चिन्नापराध्यति ॥ ११ ॥
“If anything has been overstepped through trust or affection, it should be forgiven your servant; there is no one who does not offend.”
इति तस्य ब्रुवाणस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । अभवल्लक्ष्मणः प्रीतः प्रेम्णा चेदमुवाच ह ॥ १२ ॥
As great-souled Sugriva spoke so, Lakshmana became pleased and said this with love:
सर्वथा हि मम भ्राता सनाथो वानरेश्वर । त्वया नाथेन सुग्रीव प्रश्रितेन विशेषतः ॥ १३ ॥
“In every way my brother has a protector, lord of the monkeys, in you as protector, Sugriva, especially as you are courteous.
यस्ते प्रभावः सुग्रीव यच्च ते शौचमीदृशम् । अर्हस्त्वं कपिराज्यस्य श्रियं भोक्तुमनुत्तमाम् ॥ १४ ॥
“Such power as is yours, Sugriva, and such purity as yours, you deserve to enjoy the unsurpassed glory of the kingdom of the monkeys.
सहायेन च सुग्रीव त्वया रामः प्रतापवान् । वधिष्यति रणे शत्रूनचरान्नात्र संशयः ॥ १५ ॥
“And with you as ally, Sugriva, mighty Rama will kill his enemies in battle before long; there is no doubt here.
धर्मज्ञस्य कृतज्ञस्य संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनः । उपपन्नं च युक्तं च सुग्रीव तव भाषितम् ॥ १६ ॥
“What you have said, Sugriva, is fitting and right for one knowing dharma, grateful, never turning back in battles.
दोषज्ञः सति सामर्थ्ये कोऽन्यो भाषितुमर्हति । वर्जयित्वा मम ज्येष्ठं त्वां च वानरसत्तम ॥ १७ ॥
“Knowing his fault, when he has the power, who else deserves to speak so, except my elder brother and you, best of monkeys?
सदृशश्चासि रामेण विक्रमेण बलेन च । सहायो दैवतैर्दत्तश्चिराय हरिपुंगव ॥ १८ ॥
“And you are equal to Rama in valour and strength, an ally given by the gods for a long time, bull among monkeys.
किं तु शीघ्रमितो वीर निष्क्रम त्वं मया सह । सान्त्वयस्व वयस्यं च भार्याहरणदुःखितम् ॥ १९ ॥
“But come out quickly from here, hero, with me, and comfort your friend, grieved by the carrying off of his wife.
यच्च शोकाभिभूतस्य श्रुत्वा रामस्य भाषितम् । मया त्वं परुषाण्युक्तस्तत् क्षमस्व सखे मम ॥ २० ॥
“And the harsh words that were spoken to you by me, having heard the speech of Rama, overcome by grief, forgive me that, friend.”