Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 7

Meaning

Spoken to as aforesaid by Śrī Rāma in distress, the monkey chief, Sugrīva, for his part, replied as follows to Śrī Rāma (who had tears in his eyes) with joined palms and in a voice choked with tears : (1)

Meaning

“I do not know at all the abode or strength or prowess or even the pedigree of that sinful ogre of vile birth. (2)

Meaning

“Cast away grief, O tamer of foes ! I for my part make an unfailing promise to you : I will strive in such a way that you will be able to recover Sītā (a princess of Mithilā). (3)

Meaning

“Having killed Rāvaṇa with his followers and given satisfaction to you (thereby), I will exert my strength before long in such a way that you will get pleased with me. (4)

Meaning

“Cease giving way to mental weakness and call to mind your native fortitude. Such littleness of mind is not becoming of people like you. (5)

Meaning

“Great adversity born of separation from my spouse has been met with by me too. I, however, neither grieve nor lose courage thus. (6)

Meaning

“A common monkey though I am, I do not grieve for her; how much less should you, a great man, high-souled and cultured and endowed with courage as you are? (7)

Meaning

“By recourse to fortitude you ought to restrain the tears which have appeared in your eyes. You ought not to abandon propriety of conduct and fortitude, characteristic of those possessed of resolution. (8)

Meaning

“Deliberating by recourse to his own faculty of judgment as to what remedy be adopted in suffering, caused by separation from one’s object of love or in a financial crisis or in a danger leading to the end of one’s life, a man of fortitude does not come to grief. (9)

Meaning

“A foolish man, however, who always gives way to mental weakness, is helplessly plunged in grief, even as a boat loaded with excessive weight sinks in water. (10)

Meaning

“Here are palms joined by me (in supplication) and I beseech you through love: pray, have recourse to manliness; you ought not to allow grief a passage to enter your mind. (11)

Meaning

“Happiness does not dwell in them who yield to grief; their strength too diminishes. Hence you should not grieve. (12)

Meaning

“There is danger even to the life of a man, who is overwhelmed with grief. Therefore, cast away grief, O king of kings, and have recourse to fortitude alone. (13)

Meaning

“I tender a salutary advice to you in a spirit of friendship and do not moralize. Honouring my friendship you should not grieve.” (14)

Meaning

Sweetly comforted in these words by the aforesaid Sugrīva, the celebrated Śrī Rāma wiped his face, which had been bathed in tears, with an end of his loin-cloth. (15)

Meaning

Closely embracing Sugrīva, when he (Śrī Rāma) had returned to his normal condition, as a result of the former’s words of consolation, Lord Śrī Rāma (a scion of Kakutstha) for his part replied as follow : (16)

Meaning

“That which ought to be done by a loving and benevolent friend, nay, that which is worthy of you as well as proper has been done by you, O Sugrīva ! (17)

Meaning

“Counselled by you, my friend, I have returned to normalcy now. Such a friend as you are, is indeed difficult to get, particularly at this time of adversity. (18)

Meaning

“Endeavour should, however, be made by you in the direction of tracing out Sītā (the princess of Mithilā) as well as the terrible and evil-minded ogre, Rāvaṇa. (19)

Meaning

“It may also be pointed out by you unreservedly what should be done by me. All your desire will be accomplished even as all seeds sown in a good field during the rains bear fruit. (20)

Meaning

“The assurance (to the effect that I shall kill Vālī) that has been duly given by me out of self-confidence should be taken by you to be a bare truth, O tiger among monkeys! (21)

Meaning

“Never before has a falsehood been uttered by me nor shall I ever utter it. I solemnly affirm this to you and swear by truth alone.” (22)

Meaning

Sugrīva alongwith his counsellors, who were all monkeys felt immensely delighted to hear the words of Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), particularly the promise made by him. (23)

Meaning

United thus in a lonely retreat, both the aforesaid friends, a human being and a monkey, thereupon spoke each about his joys and sorrows, which were akin to those of the other. (24)

Meaning

Hearing the assurance of Śrī Rāma, the king of kings, who was possessed of great might, the wise Sugrīva, the foremost of monkey heroes, forthwith took his object mentally accomplished. (25)