Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 10

Meaning

“With intent to do him good I then sought to placate in the following words my elder brother Vālī, who came possessed of anger and was excited : (1)

Meaning

“ ‘By good luck you have returned home safe and the enemy has been killed by you. You are my only protector, protectorless as I was, O the delight of the forlorn ! (2)

Meaning

“ ‘Here is your canopy supported on many ribs and resembling the full moon appeared above horizon, held by me alongwith a pair of whisks; pray, accept it and allow it to be held over your head and the whisks to be waved on both sides of you. (3)

Meaning

“ ‘Having waited at the mouth of that hole for a full year, O monarch, even though I felt distressed over your entry into the hole, I felt agitated at heart through grief to see blood welled up from the hole and collected at its mouth, my mind being distracted. Closing the aforesaid mouth of the hole with the top of a cliff and withdrawing from that area, I then entered Kiṣkindhā again through despondency. Seeing me forlorn, without you for a year, I, for my part, was installed on the throne by the citizens as well as the ministers and not through covetousness on my part. You ought, therefore, to forgive the aforesaid offence on my part, unintentional as it was. You alone are the sovereign deserving of honour, while I am ever your servant as heretofore. (4—7)

Meaning

“ ‘This installation of mine on the throne of Kiṣkindhā was brought about due to your absence. I hereby restore to you your kingdom including ministers, citizens and the city of Kiṣkindhā, which vested in me as a sacred trust and which has been rid of all thorns. Therefore, O gentle brother do not give vent to anger towards me, O exterminator of foes ! (8-9)

Meaning

“ ‘I solicit you, O sovereign, with my head bent low to get pleased with me and here stand my palms joined together in supplication. I was forcibly installed on this throne by your ministers and the citizens in a body lest a rulerless state should tempt others to conquer it.’ “Censuring me, even though I spoke such loving words, and saying ‘Fie upon you !’ the said monkey, Vālī, actually uttered many abusive words. Nay, calling together (accredited representatives of) the people as well as ministers who were held in high esteem, he spoke to me most contemptible words in the midst of my near and dear ones as follows : “ ‘It is known to you how that mighty demon, Māyāvī, who sought a trial of arms with me, angrily challenged me to a duel the other day at dead of night. Hearing his aforesaid challenge, I sallied forth from my royal residence. (10—14)

Meaning

“ ‘This most cruel younger brother of mine too followed me apace. The moment the demon saw me followed by another at night, the fellow, even though possessed of great might, fled for life, distracted as he was through fear. Nay, put to flight with greater speed on perceiving us arrived very near, he entered a big hole with impetuosity. (15-16)

Meaning

“ ‘Knowing him to have entered a most fearful and very large hole, this younger brother of mine of cruel aspect for his part was then spoken to by me as follows : (17)

Meaning

“ ‘Power is lacking in me to return from this place to the city of Kiṣkindhā without disposing of this demon. Therefore, wait you at the mouth of the gate till I get rid of him. (18)

Meaning

“ ‘Presuming that my brother will remain standing there, I for my part penetrated deep into the cave, which was difficult of access. While I remained hunting the demon in that cave a whole year rolled by. Then that dreadful enemy for his part was seen by me without causing any despondency (in me because of his not having been seen for a whole year) and the demon was killed by me then and there with all his kinsmen. (19-20)

Meaning

“ ‘While he was thundering in the bowels of the earth, the said cave was for its part filled with a stream of blood which gushed forth from his mouth and consequently rendered difficult to pass through. (21)

Meaning

“ ‘Having killed with ease my powerful enemy, the notorious Māyāvī, I would not find my way out of the cave as its entrance was closed. (22)

Meaning

“ ‘Since no response whatever came from outside even though I cried out loudly ‘O Sugrīva ! again and again, hence I felt sore afflicted. (23)

Meaning

“ ‘The rock was, however, pushed back by me with many a kick. Emerging through that outlet I then returned to the city. (24)

Meaning

“ ‘Disregarding brotherly affection, I was thus shut up in that cave by this cruel Sugrīva, who sought rulership for himself.’ (25)

Meaning

“Saying so, the monkey, Vālī, for his part, from whom all sense of shame had departed, banished me then and there with a single piece of cloth, stripping me of all my possessions. (26)

Meaning

“Expelled by him and deprived of my spouse too, O scion of Raghu, I ranged the whole earth with its forests and oceans for fear of him. (27)

Meaning

“Distressed by the usurpation of my consort, I have retired to Ṛṣyamūka, the foremost of mountains, which is difficult of access for Vālī due to another reason (the imprecation uttered by Sage Mataṅga). (28)

Meaning

“In this way the whole momentous story of my hostility with Vālī has been narrated to you by me. See for yourself, O scion of Raghu, the misfortune met with by me, innocent though I am. (29)

Meaning

“Nay, you ought to bring immunity to me, situated as I am, from the threat of Vālī through his subjugation, O gallant prince, the dispeller of the fear of all the worlds !” (30)

Meaning

Requested as aforesaid, the glorious Śrī Rāma, who knew what is right, proceeded to address the following words, conformable to righteousness, to Sugrīva as though laughing heartily : (31)

Meaning

“Full of wrath these unfailing sharp arrows of mine, brilliant as the sun, will descend on that Vālī of immoral conduct. (32)

Meaning

“The aforesaid Vālī, whose mind is set on sin and who has transgressed morality, will survive only till I do not behold that usurper of your spouse. (33)

Meaning

“Through inference based on my own example I can see that you are plunged in an ocean of grief. I shall accordingly help you to cross it and you will surely be able to regain all that you have lost, viz., your consort and sovereignty, too.” (34)

Meaning

Supremely rejoiced to hear the aforesaid assurance of Śrī Rāma, which intensified his joy and courage, Sugrīva gave a most momentous reply. (35)