Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 31

Meaning

Prince Lakṣmaṇa, younger brother of Śrī Rāma, submitted as follows to his eldest brother (Śrī Rāma), the son of a king, who, though noble-minded, was feeling distressed, overcome as he was with grief and full of longing for his lost consort, his wrath having grown intense: (1)

Meaning

“Since Sugrīva, who is a monkey after all, would not stick to the conduct of the virtuous, who are constant in their friendship and love, nor does he recognize the relation of cause and effect between his virtuous action (in the shape of cultivating friendship with you and solemnizing it in the presence of fire) and its reward (in the shape of regaining his lost sovereignty and his wife), it is therefore clear that he is not going to enjoy long the fortune in the shape of the kingdom of the monkeys. Hence his mind does not take rapid strides on the path of discharging one’s obligations towards a friend. (2)

Meaning

“He has got addicted to the vulgar pleasures due to loss of reason and the inclination to repay one’s debt, springs up in one only as a result of your grace (which has evidently not descended on him). Let him, therefore, see, on his being killed, his elder brother, the heroic Vālī; rulership should not be conferred on an individual who is so destitute of virtues as he is. (3)

Meaning

“I am unable to contain my wrath, whose vehemence has been intensified, and shall get rid of the faithless Sugrīva this very day. Let the son of Vālī, on being installed on the throne in place of Sugrīva, conduct the search for Sītā (the daughter of a ruler of men) alongwith the foremost heroes among monkeys.” (4)

Meaning

To Lakṣmaṇa, who was rushing forward towards Kiṣkindhā, bow in hand, nay, who had made known to Śrī Rāma, his purpose of sallying forth to Kiṣkindhā and manifested wild anger as a precursor of fight, Śrī Rāma, the destroyer of hostile warriors, gave the following reply, which was well thought out and full of civility : (5)

Meaning

“Surely no one like you, who knows what is right, will ever knowingly perpetrate such a sin as indulging in the very thought of killing a friend. He who kills his anger through right judgment is a hero and the foremost of men. (6)

Meaning

“No such idea should be entertained on this occasion by you, O Lakṣmaṇa, a man of pious conduct as you are. Pursue the former love that existed between us and Sugrīva and recollect what happened in the past and also our friendship. (7)

Meaning

“Avoiding harsh words, you ought to speak to Sugrīva, who stands guilty of delay, in a conciliatory language, reminding him of the time that has already elapsed.” (8)

Meaning

Having been duly instructed as to what should be done, Lakṣmaṇa, the well-known hero, a veritable jewel among men and the slayer of hostile warriors, boldly proceeded to enter the city of Kiṣkindhā. (9)

Meaning

Thereupon the wise and pious-minded Lakṣmaṇa—who was intent on doing what is pleasing and what is conducive to the good of his eldest brother, and was feeling indignant—made for the palace of the monkey chief. (10)

Meaning

“Bearing as he did his bow, shining brightly like the rainbow (the bow of Indra), nay, dreadful as the all-destroying, Time-Spirit and the god of death (the destroyer of the world) and resembling a mountain-peak, he stood like the Mandara mountain. (11)

Meaning

Revolving in his mind what he had got to say to Sugrīva as well as the reply he expected from the latter alongwith his own contemplated rejoinder, Lakṣmaṇa, a younger brother of Śrī Rāma—who was wont to do as he was told by Śrī Rāma, who vied with Sage Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of gods, in intelligence, nay, who was encompassed by the fire of wrath sprung from the longing in his brother’s heart (for getting a search for Sītā initiated) and its frustration and displeased with Sugrīva—then rushed from that place like a tempest, uprooting with his might sal, palmyra and Aśwakarṇa as well as other trees, throwing down mountain-peaks, full of impetuosity as he was. (12—14)

Meaning

Nay, crushing the rocks under his feet like a swift-going elephant, he moved speedily, taking long strides due to exigency of the moment. (15)

Meaning

Lakṣmaṇa, a tiger among the Ikṣwākus, beheld Kiṣkindhā, the famous capital of the king of monkeys, situated in the midst of mountains and surrounded by an army of monkeys and, therefore, difficult of access. (16)

Meaning

Lakṣmaṇa, whose lips were trembling through anger directed against Sugrīva, saw fearful monkeys roaming outside in Kiṣkindhā. (17)

Meaning

Seeing the celebrated Lakṣmaṇa, a jewel among men, all the monkeys, who looked like elephants and behaved like men, snatched mountain-peaks in hundreds as well as fully grown up trees in the midst of mountains. (18)

Meaning

Lakṣmaṇa for his part got doubly enraged to see them all, weapons in hand, as a fire would flare up when fed with abundant firewood. (19)

Meaning

Seeing him agitated like the all-devouring Time-Spirit, the god of death and the fire of universal destruction, the monkeys fled in their hundreds in all directions, their limbs overpowered through fear. (20)

Meaning

Duly entering the palace of Sugrīva, the leaders of monkeys then apprised him of Lakṣmaṇa’s arrival and wrath. (21)

Meaning

Sugrīva (the foremost of monkeys), who was accompanied by Tārā at that moment, and who was full of longing for women and deeply attached to the pleasure of sense, did not instantly heed the words of those lions among monkeys. (22)

Meaning

As commanded by the ministers, the monkeys, who looked like mountains, elephants and clouds in size and made the hair of those who looked on them stand on end, thereupon issued out of the city at once. (23)

Meaning

Having nails and sharp teeth for their weapons, they were all heroic and terrible to look at. The teeth of them all were like those of a tiger and they could be clearly seen, standing as they were in the open. (24)

Meaning

Some of them possessed the strength of ten elephants, others were ten times stronger, while still others were equal in energy to ten thousand elephants. (25)

Meaning

Full of wrath, Lakṣmaṇa thereupon cast his eyes on the aforesaid Kiṣkindhā, surrounded by those exceptionally mighty monkeys, standing trees in hand, which was difficult of access. (26)

Meaning

Coming out of the fortification wall and crossing the limits of the moat surrounding it, all the aforesaid monkeys for their part, who were exceptionally mighty, thereupon stood in the open on that occasion. (27)

Meaning

Considering the negligence on the part of Sugrīva as well as the purpose of his eldest brother, Śrī Rāma, the valiant Lakṣmaṇa, even though self-possessed, fell a victim to anger once more. (28)

Meaning

Heaving deep and burning sighs, his eyes blood-red through anger, that tiger among men looked like fire enveloped in smoke. (29)

Meaning

With the head of the arrow for its flickering tongues and the bow for its coils and full of poison in the shape of his martial ardour, Lakṣmaṇa stood like a five-headed serpent. (30)

Meaning

Duly approaching Lakṣmaṇa, who shone like the blazing fire of universal destruction and resembled the infuriated king of serpents, Śeṣa, Prince Aṅgada gave way to utter despondency through fear. (31)

Meaning

His eyes bloodshot through anger, the highly glorious Lakṣmaṇa commanded Aṅgada as follows : “Let Sugrīva, my child, be apprised of my arrival as below : (32)

Meaning

“ ‘Arrived in your presence, O tamer of enemies, here waits Lakṣmaṇa, Śrī Rāma’s younger brother, at your door, tormented as he is by the said plight of his eldest brother, Śrī Rāma. (33)

Meaning

“ ‘His advice may be duly followed if it pleases you, O monkey chief !’ Delivering this message of mine, O tamer of foes, return soon, my child !” (34)

Meaning

Overcome with grief to hear the message of Lakṣmaṇa, and seeking the presence of his uncle, Sugrīva, Aṅgada submitted to him, “Here is Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā) come.” (35)

Meaning

Slipping away from the presence of Lakṣmaṇa, the swift-footed Aṅgada, who was perplexed in mind at the highly pungent words of Lakṣmaṇa, and wore a most wretched look on his countenance, bowed first at the feet of the king (his uncle Sugrīva) and then at those of his aunt, Rumā, as well as of his own mother, Tārā. (36)

Meaning

Clasping tightly the feet of his uncle, Aṅgada, who was endowed with terrific energy, caught hold once more of the feet of his mother and, pressing firmly the feet of Rumā, he then submitted to him the aforesaid matter. (37)

Meaning

The aforesaid monkey, however, who was heavy with sleep and overwhelmed with it, nay, who was drunk with wine and infatuated with love, did not wake up to the situation. (38)

Meaning

Perceiving Lakṣmaṇa enraged, the monkeys, whose mind was confused through fear, thereupon raised a hue and cry, seeking to pacify him. (39)

Meaning

Descrying the presence of Lakṣmaṇa, they raised near about Sugrīva a clamour resembling all at once the sound of a great onrush of water or the peals of thunder or the roar of a lion. (40)

Meaning

The monkey, Sugrīva, woke up at that loud noise. With blood-red eyes he was beside himself through intoxication and felt troubled, garlands being his only ornaments. (41)

Meaning

Hearing the submission of Aṅgada, and gladdening Sugrīva with words which expressed a definite opinion about the matter in hand, two famous counsellors of Sugrīva, the lord of monkeys, namely Plakṣa and Prabhāva—who gave sage counsel and had come with Prince Aṅgada himself, nay, who were highly esteemed by Sugrīva, and were noble of appearance, and who stood respectfully by the side of Sugrīva, sitting like Indra, the ruler of gods—announced to him the presence of Lakṣmaṇa, who had come to teach him various things about worldly fortune and righteousness. (42—44)

Meaning

They said: “Having assumed for sport a human semblance, the two brothers, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa are true to their promise, highly blessed and deserving of sovereignty of all the three worlds and have conferred rulership on you. (45)

Meaning

“One of them, viz., Lakṣmaṇa, stands at your door, bow in hand. Afraid of him and violently shaking, the monkeys are raising shrill cries. (46)

Meaning

“Here stands the celebrated Lakṣmaṇa, younger brother of Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), arrived at the command of the same Śrī Rāma with the latter’s message as his charioteer (guide) and the determination to achieve his purpose for his chariot. (47)

Meaning

“Nay, this beloved son of Tārā, Aṅgada, has been sent with expedition by Lakṣmaṇa to your presence, O sinless one ! (48)

Meaning

“And consuming, as it were, the monkeys with his angry look, O lord of monkeys, there stands at your door the powerful Lakṣmaṇa, his eyes suffused with anger. (49)

Meaning

“Accompanied by your son and kinsfolk, make respectful obeisance to him with your head bent low. Depart quickly, O monarch ! Let his anger be appeased this very day. (50)

Meaning

“Devoutly act precisely as Śrī Rāma, whose mind is set on virtue, directs you to do, O king; abide by your understanding with him and remain true to your promise.” (51)