--- title: "Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 12" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/kishkindha-kanda/sarga-12" lang: "en" --- # Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 12 > एतच्च वचनं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवस्य सुभाषितम्। > प्रत्ययार्थं महातेजा रामो जग्राह कार्मुकम्॥ १॥ Nay, hearing this well-worded submission of Sugrīva, Śrī Rāma, who was invested with exceptional glory, took up his bow to inspire confidence in the former. (1) > स गृहीत्वा धनुर्घोरं शरमेकं च मानदः। > सालमुद्दिश्य चिक्षेप पूरयन् स रवैर्दिशः॥ २॥ Taking up the dreadful bow and an arrow and aiming it at the sal tree (pointed out by Sugrīva), the celebrated Śrī Rāma, the bestower of honour on others, discharged it filling the quarters with the twang of the bow. (2) > स विसृष्टो बलवता बाणः स्वर्णपरिष्कृतः। > भित्त्वा सालान् गिरिप्रस्थं सप्तभूमिं विवेश ह॥ ३॥ Piercing all the seven sal trees (though it was aimed at only one of them), as well as the plateau on which they stood, as also the six subterranean regions, the aforesaid arrow, which was shot by the mighty prince and was decked with gold, entered Pātāla (the seventh subterranean region); so the tradition goes. (3) > सायकस्तु मुहूर्तेन सालान् भित्त्वा महाजवः। > निष्पत्य च पुनस्तूणं तमेव प्रविवेश ह॥ ४॥ Having pierced the sal trees (as well as the plateau and the bowels of the earth) in the course of less than an hour and forcing its way out, the arrow for its part, which was possessed of great velocity, quickly entered once more, they say, the same quiver from which it had emerged. (4) > तान् दृष्ट्वा सप्त निर्भिन्नान् सालान् वानरपुङ्गवः। > रामस्य शरवेगेन विस्मयं परमं गतः॥ ५॥ Sugrīva (the foremost of monkeys) was seized with great wonder to see (with his own eyes) those seven sal trees thoroughly pierced by the impetuosity of Śrī Rāma’s arrow. (5) > स मूर्ध्ना न्यपतद् भूमौ प्रलम्बीकृतभूषणः। > सुग्रीवः परमप्रीतो राघवाय कृताञ्जलिः॥ ६॥ Supremely pleased, Sugrīva with joined palms fell flat on the ground as a token of respect towards Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), with his head touching the ground and his ornaments also hanging loose in the process of bending low. (6) > इदं चोवाच धर्मज्ञं कर्मणा तेन हर्षितः। > रामं सर्वास्त्रविदुषां श्रेष्ठं शूरमवस्थितम्॥ ७॥ Nay, delighted with that feat of Śrī Rāma, he spoke as follows to the valiant Śrī Rāma, the foremost of those adept in the use of all types of missiles, who knew what is right and stood before him : (7) > सेन्द्रानपि सुरान् सर्वांस्त्वं बाणैः पुरुषर्षभ। > समर्थः समरे हन्तुं किं पुनर्वालिनं प्रभो॥ ८॥ “You are able to kill with your arrows in an encounter all the gods including even Indra, their ruler, O jewel among men, much more so, Vālī, my lord ! (8) > येन सप्त महासाला गिरिर्भूमिश्च दारिताः। > बाणेनैकेन काकुत्स्थ स्थाता ते को रणाग्रतः॥ ९॥ “Who can stand in the van of a battle before you, by whom seven big sal trees as well as the mountain on which the trees stood and the earth supporting it have been pierced with a single arrow, O scion of Kakutstha? (9) > अद्य मे विगतः शोकः प्रीतिरद्य परा मम। > सुहृदं त्वां समासाद्य महेन्द्रवरुणोपमम्॥ १०॥ “Now that I have duly met in the form of an ally you, who are a compeer of the mighty Indra (the ruler of gods) and Varuṇa (the god of waters), my grief has totally disappeared and my joy is supreme today. (10) > तमद्यैव प्रियार्थं मे वैरिणं भ्रातृरूपिणम्। > वालिनं जहि काकुत्स्थ मया बद्धोऽयमञ्जलिः॥ ११॥ “For my pleasure, O scion of Kākutstha, pray, make short work of Vālī, my enemy in the guise of a brother, this very day: so have these palms been joined by me.” (11) > ततो रामः परिष्वज्य सुग्रीवं प्रियदर्शनम्। > प्रत्युवाच महाप्राज्ञो लक्ष्मणानुगतं वचः॥ १२॥ Embracing Sugrīva of pleasing aspect, Śrī Rāma, who was exceptionally wise, thereupon replied as follows to Sugrīva, who was dear as Lakṣmaṇa to him : (12) > अस्माद्गच्छाम किष्किन्धां क्षिप्रं गच्छ त्वमग्रतः। > गत्वा चाह्वय सुग्रीव वालिनं भ्रातृगन्धिनम्॥ १३॥ “Let us proceed, O Sugrīva, to Kiṣkindhā from this mountain; depart you ahead without delay and, going there, challenge to a duel Vālī, who bears the name of a brother !” (13) > सर्वे ते त्वरितं गत्वा किष्किन्धां वालिनः पुरीम्। > वृक्षैरात्मानमावृत्य ह्यतिष्ठन् गहने वने॥ १४॥ Reaching with hasty steps Kiṣkindhā, the capital of Vālī, and hiding themselves behind trees, they all halted in a dense forest. (14) > सुग्रीवोऽप्यनदद् घोरं वालिनो ह्वानकारणात्। > गाढं परिहितो वेगान्नादैर्भिन्दन्निवाम्बरम्॥ १५॥ Tightly girded about his loins, even Sugrīva roared frightfully by way of a challenge to Vālī, rending the air, as it were, by his shouts uttered with vehemence. (15) > तं श्रुत्वा निनदं भ्रातुः क्रुद्धो वाली महाबलः। > निष्पपात सुसंरब्धो भास्करोऽस्ततटादिव॥ १६॥ Enraged to hear that roar of his (younger) brother and highly excited, Vālī, who was possessed of extraordinary might, rushed forth as impetuously as the sun would slide from the edge of the western mountain (behind which the sun is supposed to set). (16) > ततः सुतुमुलं युद्धं वालिसुग्रीवयोरभूत्। > गगने ग्रहयोर्घोरं बुधाङ्गारकयोरिव॥ १७॥ Then ensued a most tumultuous and terrible combat between Vālī and Sugrīva, resembling a clash between Mercury and Mars in the heavens. (17) > तलैरशनिकल्पैश्च वज्रकल्पैश्च मुष्टिभिः। > जघ्नतुः समरेऽन्योन्यं भ्रातरौ क्रोधमूर्च्छितौ॥ १८॥ Blinded with anger, the two brothers struck each other in the course of their encounter with their palms and soles, which fell like lightning, and fists, which descended like the thunderbolt. (18) > ततो रामो धनुष्पाणिस्तावुभौ समुदैक्षत। > अन्योन्यसदृशौ वीरावुभौ देवाविवाश्विनौ॥ १९॥ Bow in hand, Śrī Rāma thereupon keenly watched both the aforesaid heroes, who both closely resembled each other like the two Aświns (the twin-gods presiding over the star, Gemini). (19) > यन्नावगच्छत् सुग्रीवं वालिनं वापि राघवः। > ततो न कृतवान् बुद्धिं मोक्तुमन्तकरं शरम्॥ २०॥ Since Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) could not make out Sugrīva or Vālī because of their close resemblance, he, therefore, could not make up his mind to discharge his deadly arrow (lest it should hit Sugrīva and dispose him of). (20) > एतस्मिन्नन्तरे भग्नः सुग्रीवस्तेन वालिना। > अपश्यन् राघवं नाथमृष्यमूकं प्रदुद्रुवे॥ २१॥ Discomfited by the aforesaid Vālī and not perceiving Śrī Rāma as his protector, Sugrīva in the meantime ran for life towards Ṛṣyamūka. (21) > क्लान्तो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गः प्रहारैर्जर्जरीकृतः। > वालिनाभिद्रुतः क्रोधात् प्रविवेश महावनम्॥ २२॥ Exhausted and battered with the blows of Vālī, his whole body bathed in blood, and chased in anger by Vālī, he entered the large forest (occupied by Sage Mataṅga). (22) > तं प्रविष्टं वनं दृष्ट्वा वाली शापभयात् ततः। > मुक्तो ह्यसि त्वमित्युक्त्वा स निवृत्तो महाबलः॥ २३॥ Seeing him having penetrated into the forest and saying “Indeed you are spared,” the aforesaid Vālī, even though possessed of extraordinary might, desisted from the pursuit due to fear of the curse. (23) > राघवोऽपि सह भ्रात्रा सह चैव हनूमता। > तदेव वनमागच्छत् सुग्रीवो यत्र वानरः॥ २४॥ Alongwith his younger brother, Lakṣmaṇa, as well as Hanumān, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) too returned to the same forest where the monkey chief Sugrīva was. (24) > तं समीक्ष्यागतं रामं सुग्रीवः सहलक्ष्मणम्। > ह्रीमान् दीनमुवाचेदं वसुधामवलोकयन्॥ २५॥ Discerning Śrī Rāma returned with Lakṣmaṇa, Sugrīva piteously spoke to him as follows, looking at the ground, full of shame at his discomfiture, as he was : (25) > आह्वयस्वेति मामुक्त्वा दर्शयित्वा च विक्रमम्। > वैरिणा घातयित्वा च किमिदानीं त्वया कृतम्॥ २६॥ “Having demonstrated your prowess and saying to me ‘Challenge Vālī to a duel’, what have you done now by getting me smitten by the enemy? (26) > तामेव वेलां वक्तव्यं त्वया राघव तत्त्वतः। > वालिनं न निहन्मीति ततो नाहमितो व्रजे॥ २७॥ “In all faith it should have been pointed out by you that very moment : ‘I am not going to kill Vālī’. Then I would not have moved from this place.” (27) > तस्य चैवं ब्रुवाणस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः। > करुणं दीनया वाचा राघवः पुनरब्रवीत्॥ २८॥ To that high-minded Sugrīva, who was piteously speaking as aforesaid in doleful accents, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) replied again : (28) > सुग्रीव श्रूयतां तात क्रोधश्च व्यपनीयताम्। > कारणं येन बाणोऽयं स मया न विसर्जितः॥ २९॥ “Sugrīva, dear brother, let anger be banished from your mind and the reason why this deadly arrow was not discharged by me be heard. (29) > अलंकारेण वेषेण प्रमाणेन गतेन च। > त्वं च सुग्रीव वाली च सदृशौ स्थः परस्परम्॥ ३०॥ “You, O Sugrīva, and Vālī resemble each other in personal embellishment, costume, stature and gait too. (30) > स्वरेण वर्चसा चैव प्रेक्षितेन च वानर। > विक्रमेण च वाक्यैश्च व्यक्तिं वां नोपलक्षये॥ ३१॥ “I did not perceive any distinction between you two—in voice as well as in splendour, in look and in prowess as well as in speech.(31) > ततोऽहं रूपसादृश्यान्मोहितो वानरोत्तम। > नोत्सृजामि महावेगं शरं शत्रुनिबर्हणम्॥ ३२॥ > जीवितान्तकरं घोरं सादृश्यात् तु विशङ्कितः। > मूलघातो न नौ स्याद्धि द्वयोरिति कृतो मया॥ ३३॥ “Puzzled as I was by the likeness of your features, O jewel among the monkeys, I, therefore, did not let fly the deadly and terrible arrow possessed of great velocity and capable of destroying the enemy. Seized as I was with apprehension, due to your close resemblance, lest the very root of us both should be destroyed by me by killing you unwittingly, this omission was deliberately committed by me. (32-33) > त्वयि वीर विपन्ने हि अज्ञानाल्लाघवान्मया। > मौढ्यं च मम बाल्यं च ख्यापितं स्यात् कपीश्वर॥ ३४॥ “In the event of your being killed by me through ignorance or frivolity, my stupidity and puerility would have been surely exposed, O gallant ruler of monkeys ! (34) > दत्ताभयवधो नाम पातकं महदद्भुतम्। > अहं च लक्ष्मणश्चैव सीता च वरवर्णिनी॥ ३५॥ > त्वदधीना वयं सर्वे वनेऽस्मिन् शरणं भवान्। > तस्माद् युध्यस्व भूयस्त्वं मा माशङ्कीश्च वानर॥ ३६॥ “Killing one to whom protection has been vouchsafed is professedly a great and astounding sin. Moreover, myself and Lakṣmaṇa too as well as Sītā of excellent complexion—we all depend on you. You are our refuge in this forest. Therefore, engage you in a combat with Vālī once more. Pray, do not, O do not fall a prey to misgiving, O monkey chief ! (35-36) > एतन्मुहूर्ते तु मया पश्य वालिनमाहवे। > निरस्तमिषुणैकेन चेष्टमानं महीतले॥ ३७॥ “Within this hour behold Vālī struck down by me in course of the very combat with you with a single arrow and writhing on the ground. (37) > अभिज्ञानं कुरुष्व त्वमात्मनो वानरेश्वर। > येन त्वामभिजानीयां द्वन्द्वयुद्धमुपागतम्॥ ३८॥ “Wear some distinguishing mark on your person, O lord of monkeys, by means of which I might recognize you when actually come to grips with Vālī. (38) > गजपुष्पीमिमां फुल्लामुत्पाट्य शुभलक्षणाम्। > कुरु लक्ष्मण कण्ठेऽस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः॥ ३९॥ Turning to Lakṣmaṇa, he continued : “Uprooting this creeper, named Gajapuṣpī, which is in blossom and is propitious in character, fasten it, O Lakṣmaṇa, about the neck of the high-souled Sugrīva.” (39) > ततो गिरितटे जातामुत्पाट्य कुसुमायुताम्। > लक्ष्मणो गजपुष्पीं तां तस्य कण्ठे व्यसर्जयत्॥ ४०॥ Plucking Gajapuṣpī creeper, adorned with flowers and growing on the side of the mountain, Lakṣmaṇa then fastened it about the neck of Sugrīva. (40) > स तया शुशुभे श्रीमाल्ँलतया कण्ठसक्तया। > मालयेव बलाकानां ससंध्य इव तोयदः॥ ४१॥ With that creeper fastened to his neck, the glorious Sugrīva shone like a cloud accompanied by twilight, and encircled by a string of herons. (41) > विभ्राजमानो वपुषा रामवाक्यसमाहितः। > जगाम सह रामेण किष्किन्धां पुनराप सः॥ ४२॥ Shining brightly with his body and reassured by Śrī Rāma’s words, Sugrīva left with Śrī Rāma and reached Kiṣkindhā once more. (42) Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana --- Source: Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions. Buy the book: https://gitapress.org/product/sri-ramcharitmanas-special-edition Ramayana.com, a free, ad-free project of Ved Vyas Foundation.