Kishkindha Kanda · Sarga 5 of 67 · 31 verses
Friendship Sworn Before the Fire
Going from Rishyamuka to Mount Malaya, Hanuman tells the king of the monkeys about the two heroes, the Raghavas: “This is Rama, very wise one, of firm valour, come with his brother Lakshmana; this is Rama of true valour, born in the Ikshvaku line, son of Dasharatha, declared righteous, carrying out his father’s command. His father satisfied the fire with the rajasuya and ashvamedha sacrifices and gave cows by hundreds of thousands as gifts, and protected the earth by austerity and truthful speech. Because of a woman, his son Rama came to the forest. While this great-souled one lived self-restrained in the forest, his wife was carried off by Ravana; he has come to you for refuge. The two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, want friendship with you. Receive them and honour them, for they are most worthy of honour.” Hearing Hanuman’s words, Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, taking on a most handsome form, says to Raghava with affection: “You are trained in dharma, rich in austerity, kind to all; the son of the wind has told me your virtues truly. It is an honour to me and the highest gain, lord, that you wish for friendship with me, a monkey. If my friendship pleases you, here is my hand stretched out; take my hand in yours, and let a firm bond be made.” Hearing Sugriva’s well-spoken words, Rama, glad at heart, presses his hand, and, delighted, embracing friendship, holds him in a close embrace. Then Hanuman, tamer of foes, giving up his mendicant’s form, makes fire in his own form by rubbing two sticks. Honouring the blazing fire with flowers, he places it between them, very pleased and attentive. Then Sugriva and Raghava walk around the blazing fire, keeping it on their right, and become friends. Then the monkey and the Raghava, very pleased at heart, look at each other and cannot look enough. “You are my dear friend; our sorrow and our joy are one,” Sugriva says joyfully to Raghava. Then Sugriva breaks off a flowering branch of a sala tree, thick with leaves, spreads it, and sits on it with Raghava; and Hanuman, son of the wind, delighted, gives Lakshmana a branch of a sandalwood tree in full flower.
Then Sugriva, delighted, his eyes moist with joy, says to Rama smoothly and sweetly: “Rama, I have been cheated and wander here in fear. My wife taken, terrified, I have taken refuge in this hard forest; terrified and afraid, I live in the forest with my mind in turmoil. Cheated by my brother Valin and made his enemy, Raghava, give me freedom from fear of Valin, fortunate one, stricken with fear as I am. You should act, Kakutstha, so that I have no fear.” Spoken to so, the splendid Kakutstha, knowing dharma, devoted to dharma, answers Sugriva as if smiling: “I know, great monkey, that the fruit of friendship is help. I will kill that Valin who carried off your wife. These sharp arrows of mine, unfailing, like the sun, will fall swiftly on that ill-behaved Valin: fletched with heron feathers, like great Indra’s thunderbolt, sharp-pointed, with straight joints, like angry snakes. See that Valin today, struck down on the ground by sharp arrows like venomous serpents, like a scattered mountain.” Hearing Raghava’s words, good for him, Sugriva, very pleased, speaks excellent words: “By your grace, hero, lion among men, may I regain my beloved and my kingdom. Act so, god among men, that my elder brother, my enemy, cannot harm me again.” At this moment of affection between Sugriva and Rama, the left eyes of Sita, of the king of the monkeys, and of the night-ranger, like lotus, gold and fire, throb together.
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ऋष्यमूकात् तु हनुमान् गत्वा तं मलयं गिरिम् । आचचक्षे तदा वीरौ कपिराजाय राघवौ ॥ १ ॥
Having gone from Rishyamuka to that Mount Malaya, Hanuman then told the king of the monkeys about the two heroes, the Raghavas:
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Friendship Sworn Before the Fire 1 min read.
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अयं रामो महाप्राज्ञ सम्प्राप्तो दृढविक्रमः । लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा रामोऽयं सत्यविक्रमः ॥ २ ॥
“This is Rama, very wise one, come, of firm valour, with his brother Lakshmana; this is Rama of true valour,
इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातो रामो दशरथात्मजः । धर्मे निगदितश्चैव पितुर्निर्देशकारकः ॥ ३ ॥
“born in the line of the Ikshvakus, Rama, son of Dasharatha, declared to be in dharma, doer of his father’s command,
राजसूयाश्वमेधैश्च वह्निर्येनाभितर्पितः । दक्षिणाश्च तथोत्सृष्टा गावः शतसहस्रशः ॥ ४ ॥
“he by whom the fire was satisfied with rajasuyas and ashvamedhas, and gifts of cows were given by hundreds of thousands,
तपसा सत्यवाक्येन वसुधा येन पालिता । स्त्रीहेतोस्तस्य पुत्रोऽयं रामोऽरण्यं समागतः ॥ ५ ॥
“by whom the earth was protected with austerity and truthful speech: his son is this Rama, come to the forest because of a woman.
तस्यास्य वसतोऽरण्ये नियतस्य महात्मनः । रावणेन हृता भार्या स त्वां शरणमागतः ॥ ६ ॥
“While this great-souled one lived self-restrained in the forest, his wife was carried off by Ravana; he has come to you for refuge.
भवता सख्यकामौ तौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । प्रगृह्य चार्चयस्वैतौ पूजनीयतमावुभौ ॥ ७ ॥
“These two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, desire friendship with you. Receive them and honour them, both most worthy of honour.”
श्रुत्वा हनूमतो वाक्यं सुग्रीवो वानराधिपः । दर्शनीयतमो भूत्वा प्रीत्योवाच च राघवम् ॥ ८ ॥
Hearing Hanuman’s words, Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, becoming most handsome to look at, spoke with affection to Raghava:
भवान् धर्मविनीतश्च सुतपाः सर्ववत्सलः । आख्याता वायुपुत्रेण तत्त्वतो मे भवद्गुणाः ॥ ९ ॥
“You are trained in dharma, of good austerity, affectionate to all. Your virtues have been told me truly by the son of the wind.
तन्ममैवैष सत्कारो लाभश्चैवोत्तमः प्रभो । यत्त्वमिच्छसि सौहार्दं वानरेण मया सह ॥ १० ॥
“So this is an honour to me, and the highest gain, lord, that you desire friendship with me, a monkey.
रोचते यदि मे सख्यं बाहुरेष प्रसारितः । गृह्यतां पाणिना पाणिर्मर्यादा बध्यतां ध्रुवा ॥ ११ ॥
“If friendship with me pleases you, here is my arm stretched out. Let hand be taken by hand; let a firm bond be made.”
एतत् तु वचनं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवस्य सुभाषितम् । सम्प्रहृष्टमना हस्तं पीडयामास पाणिना ॥ १२ ॥
Hearing these well-spoken words of Sugriva, Rama, very glad at heart, pressed his hand with his hand.
हृष्टः सौहृदमालम्ब्य पर्यष्वजत पीडितम् । ततो हनूमान् संत्यज्य भिक्षुरूपमरिंदमः ॥ १३ ॥
Delighted, taking hold of friendship, he embraced him closely. Then Hanuman, tamer of foes, giving up the mendicant’s form,
काष्ठयोः स्वेन रूपेण जनयामास पावकम् । दीप्यमानं ततो वह्निं पुष्पैरभ्यर्च्य सत्कृतम् ॥ १४ ॥
in his own form produced fire from two sticks. Then, having honoured the blazing fire with flowers, welcoming it,
तयोर्मध्ये तु सुप्रीतो निदधौ सुसमाहितः । ततोऽग्निं दीप्यमानं तौ चक्रतुश्च प्रदक्षिणम् ॥ १५ ॥
very pleased and attentive, he placed it between the two. Then the two walked around the blazing fire, keeping it on their right,
सुग्रीवो राघवश्चैव वयस्यत्वमुपागतौ । ततः सुप्रीतमनसौ तावुभौ हरिराघवौ ॥ १६ ॥
Sugriva and Raghava, and came to friendship. Then those two, the monkey and the Raghava, very pleased at heart,
अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तौ न तृप्तिमभिजग्मतुः । त्वं वयस्योऽसि हृद्यो मे ह्येकं दुःखं सुखं च नौ ॥ १७ ॥
looking at each other, did not reach satisfaction. “You are my dear friend; our sorrow and our joy are one,”
सुग्रीवो राघवं वाक्यमित्युवाच प्रहृष्टवत् । ततः सुपर्णबहुलां भङ्क्त्वा शाखां सुपुष्पिताम् ॥ १८ ॥
so Sugriva said these words to Raghava, as one delighted. Then, breaking off a well-flowering branch of a sala, with many leaves,
सालस्यास्तीर्य सुग्रीवो निषसाद सराघवः । लक्ष्मणायाथ संहृष्टो हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥ १९ ॥
spreading it, Sugriva sat down with Raghava. Then Hanuman, son of the wind, delighted, to Lakshmana
शाखां चन्दनवृक्षस्य ददौ परमपुष्पिताम् । ततः प्रहृष्टः सुग्रीवः श्लक्ष्णं मधुरया गिरा ॥ २० ॥
gave a branch of a sandal tree in full flower. Then Sugriva, delighted, smoothly, with sweet speech,
प्रत्युवाच तदा रामं हर्षव्याकुललोचनः । अहं विनिकृतो राम चरामीह भयार्दितः ॥ २१ ॥
then replied to Rama, his eyes overflowing with joy: “I have been cheated, Rama; I wander here afflicted by fear.
हृतभार्यो वने त्रस्तो दुर्गमेतदुपाश्रितः । सोऽहं त्रस्तो वने भीतो वसाम्युद्भ्रान्तचेतनः ॥ २२ ॥
“My wife carried off, terrified in the forest, I have taken refuge in this hard place. I, terrified, afraid, live in the forest, my mind bewildered,
वालिना निकृतो भ्रात्रा कृतवैरश्च राघव । वालिनो मे महाभाग भयार्तस्याभयं कुरु ॥ २३ ॥
“cheated by my brother Valin and made an enemy, Raghava. Make fearlessness from Valin for me, stricken with fear, fortunate one.
कर्तुमर्हसि काकुत्स्थ भयं मे न भवेद् यथा । एवमुक्तस्तु तेजस्वी धर्मज्ञो धर्मवत्सलः ॥ २४ ॥
“You should act, Kakutstha, so that there may be no fear for me.” Spoken to so, the splendid one, knowing dharma, devoted to dharma,
प्रत्यभाषत काकुत्स्थः सुग्रीवं प्रहसन्निव । उपकारफलं मित्रं विदितं मे महाकपे ॥ २५ ॥
Kakutstha replied to Sugriva as if smiling: “I know, great monkey, that a friend is one whose fruit is help.
वालिनं तं वधिष्यामि तव भार्यापहारिणम् । अमोघाः सूर्यसंकाशा ममेमे निशिताः शराः ॥ २६ ॥
“I will kill that Valin, the carrier-off of your wife. These sharp arrows of mine, unfailing, like the sun,
तस्मिन् वालिनि दुर्वृत्ते निपतिष्यन्ति वेगिताः । कङ्कपत्रप्रतिच्छन्ना महेन्द्राशनिसंनिभाः ॥ २७ ॥
“will fall with speed on that ill-behaved Valin, covered with heron feathers, like great Indra’s thunderbolt,
तीक्ष्णाग्रा ऋजुपर्वाणः सरोषा भुजगा इव । तमद्य वालिनं पश्य तीक्ष्णैराशीविषोपमैः ॥ २८ ॥
“sharp-pointed, with straight joints, like angry serpents. See that Valin today, with sharp arrows like venomous snakes,
शरैर्विनिहतं भूमौ प्रकीर्णमिव पर्वतम् । स तु तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवस्यात्मनो हितम् । सुग्रीवः परमप्रीतः परमं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ २९ ॥
“struck down on the ground, like a scattered mountain.” Hearing those words of Raghava, for his own good, Sugriva, very pleased, spoke supreme words:
तव प्रसादेन नृसिंह वीर प्रियां च राज्यं च समाप्नुयामहम् । तथा कुरु त्वं नरदेव वैरिणं यथा न हिंस्यात् स पुनर्ममाग्रजम् ॥ ३० ॥
“By your grace, lion among men, hero, may I obtain both my beloved and my kingdom. Act so, god among men, that that enemy, my elder brother, may not harm me again.”
सीताकपीन्द्रक्षणदाचराणां राजीवहेमज्वलनोपमानि । सुग्रीवरामप्रणयप्रसङ्गे वामानि नेत्राणि समं स्फुरन्ति ॥ ३१ ॥
At the moment of affection between Sugriva and Rama, the left eyes of Sita, of the lord of the monkeys, and of the night-ranger, like lotus, gold and fire, throbbed together.