Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 2

Meaning

Sugrīva was seized with apprehension to see the two aforesaid gallant brothers, the high-souled Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, who for their part carried excellent weapons on their person. (1)

Meaning

Glancing round on all sides, perturbed at heart as he was, Sugrīva (the foremost of monkeys) could not find rest at any one place. (2)

Meaning

Perceiving the two princes of extraordinary might, Sugrīva did not feel inclined to stay at his own place. The mind of the monkey who was extremely frightened, gave way to despondency: so the tradition goes. (3)

Meaning

Pondering himself and considering with his ministers the superiority of the enemy’s strength and his own weakness, the celebrated Sugrīva, whose mind was set on virtue, felt extremely perturbed with all the aforesaid monkeys. (4)

Meaning

Beholding the said Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the celebrated Sugrīva, the overlord of monkeys, for his part, who was extremely sad, thereupon pointed out the two princes to his ministers in the following words : (5)

Meaning

“Undoubtedly sent by Vālī (my elder brother), these two princes, who are clad in the bark of trees by way of disguise, have come roaming about to this forest here, which is difficult of access.” (6)

Meaning

Seeing the two great bowmen, the counsellors of Sugrīva moved from that mountain-side to another excellent peak. (7)

Meaning

Reaching the peak in no time, the monkeys, who were all leaders of troops, stood surrounding Sugrīva (the foremost of monkeys), the leader of those leaders. (8)

Meaning

Leaping from crag to crag, and violently shaking the hill-tops with their vehemence, the monkeys thus reached a common track. (9)

Meaning

Nay, while leaping (from crag to crag), the monkeys, who were all possessed of extraordinary might, thereupon broke down the trees in blossom standing on the hill at that time. (10)

Meaning

Jumping on that great mountain from all sides and scaring the deer, wild cats and leopards (living on that hill), the foremost of monkeys then moved on. (11)

Meaning

Coming together with Sugrīva (the chief of monkeys), all the ministers of Sugrīva then stood attentive on the Ṛṣyamūka hill (the lord of mountains) with joined palms. (12)

Meaning

Thereupon Hanumān, for his part, who was an adept in expression, spoke as follows to Sugrīva, who was distracted through fear and was apprehensive of some mischief on the part of Vālī: (13)

Meaning

“Let this great flurry on account of Vālī be given up by all. This jewel among mountains is no other than Malaya (otherwise known as Ṛṣyamūka); there is no fear here from Vālī. (14)

Meaning

“I do not see here that cruel Vālī of ferocious aspect, because of whom you have run away, perturbed in mind, O bull among monkeys ! (15)

Meaning

“That Vālī of wicked mind, your elder brother of sinful deeds, from whom there is danger to you, O gentle one, is not here. I, therefore, see no cause of fear to you. (16)

Meaning

“Oh, too evident is the ape in you, O bull among monkeys, who due to light-mindedness, are not able to keep yourself fixed on a particular conclusion. (17)

Meaning

“Reading the mind of others through their gestures, richly endowed as you are with intelligence and wisdom, do everything needful in the proper way. Surely a king who has taken recourse to thoughtlessness cannot effectively rule over all his subjects.” (18)

Meaning

Hearing the brilliant speech of Hanumān in its entirety, Sugrīva for his part addressed to Hanumān the following observation, which was more brilliant than the former (that of Hanumān) : (19)

Meaning

“Who will not be actually seized with fear to see these two warriors possessed of unusually long arms and large eyes, nay, carrying a bow, sword and arrow on their person and looking like the offspring of gods? (20)

Meaning

“I suspect these two jewels among men to have been sent by Vālī alone; for kings have many friends and no reliance should be placed in them. (21)

Meaning

“Enemies moving in disguise ought to be recognized by a clever man. For remaining distrustful themselves, they instil, trust in their enemies and then go the length of assailing the vulnerable points of their trustful adversaries. (22)

Meaning

“Vālī is shrewd in his state affairs; nay, kings are well-versed in many expedients and destroy their enemies. They should be known (in their true colours) with the help of spies clad as ordinary men. (23)

Meaning

“Making a move to them like one unconcerned, the aforesaid two strangers ought to be truly known by you, O monkey hero, through the nature of their gestures, as also through their facial expression and mutual talks. (24)

Meaning

“Find out their intentions and, inspiring confidence in them again and again by means of my praises and gestures (corroborating them), if they are highly rejoiced in mind, and standing with your face turned towards me, inquire of the two bowmen the purpose of their entry into this forest, O bull among monkeys ! (25-26)

Meaning

“Even if you conclude them to be honest of purpose, O monkey hero, their wickedness should be discovered by means of their talks as well as by their facial expression.” (27)

Meaning

Instructed thus by Sugrīva (a king of monkeys), Hanumān, son of wind-god, made up his mind to proceed to the spot where the aforesaid Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa were. (28)

Meaning

Bowing with the words “So be it” to the command of Sugrīva, who felt dismayed, though otherwise difficult to approach, that high-souled monkey, Hanumān, then left for the place where Śrī Rāma, who was possessed of extraordinary might, was with Lakṣmaṇa. (29)