Sugriva's Alarm and Hanuman Sent Forth

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.2.1)

तौ तु दृष्ट्वा महात्मानौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । वरायुधधरौ वीरौ सुग्रीवः शङ्कितोऽभवत् ॥ 2.1 ॥

tau tu dṛṣṭvā mahātmānau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau | varāyudhadharau vīrau sugrīvaḥ śaṅkito'bhavat || 2.1 ||

But seeing those two great-souled brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, heroic and bearing splendid weapons, Sugriva grew fearful.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.2.2)

उद्विग्नहृदयः सर्वा दिशः समवलोकयन् । न व्यतिष्ठत कस्मिंश्चिद् देशे वानरपुंगवः ॥ 2.2 ॥

udvignahṛdayaḥ sarvā diśaḥ samavalokayan | na vyatiṣṭhata kasmiṃścid deśe vānarapuṃgavaḥ || 2.2 ||

His heart troubled, that bull among monkeys, looking about in every direction, could not stay still in any one place.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.2.3)

नैव चक्रे मनः स्थातुं वीक्षमाणौ महाबलौ । कपेः परमभीतस्य चित्तं व्यवससाद ह ॥ 2.3 ॥

naiva cakre manaḥ sthātuṃ vīkṣamāṇau mahābalau | kapeḥ paramabhītasya cittaṃ vyavasasāda ha || 2.3 ||

Watching those two mighty ones, his mind could not settle to remain there at all; the heart of that greatly frightened monkey sank utterly.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.2.4)

चिन्तयित्वा स धर्मात्मा विमृश्य गुरुलाघवम् । सुग्रीवः परमोद्विग्नः सर्वैस्तैर्वानरैः सह ॥ 2.4 ॥

cintayitvā sa dharmātmā vimṛśya gurulāghavam | sugrīvaḥ paramodvignaḥ sarvaistairvānaraiḥ saha || 2.4 ||

Having reflected, that righteous Sugriva, weighing the gravity of the matter, greatly agitated, together with all those monkeys...

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.2.5)

ततः स सचिवेभ्यस्तु सुग्रीवः प्लवगाधिपः । शशंस परमोद्विग्नः पश्यंस्तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ 2.5 ॥

tataḥ sa sacivebhyastu sugrīvaḥ plavagādhipaḥ | śaśaṃsa paramodvignaḥ paśyaṃstau rāmalakṣmaṇau || 2.5 ||

...then that lord of monkeys, greatly agitated, watching Rama and Lakshmana, spoke thus to his ministers:

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.2.6)

एतौ वनमिदं दुर्गं वालिप्रणिहितौ ध्रुवम् । छद्मना चीरवसनौ प्रचरन्ताविहागतौ ॥ 2.6 ॥

etau vanamidaṃ durgaṃ vālipraṇihitau dhruvam | chadmanā cīravasanau pracarantāvihāgatau || 2.6 ||

'These two, wearing bark-garments as a disguise, wandering through this impenetrable forest, have surely been sent here by Vali.'

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.2.7)

ततः सुग्रीवसचिवा दृष्ट्वा परमधन्विनौ । जग्मुर्गिरितटात् तस्मादन्यच्छिखरमुत्तमम् ॥ 2.7 ॥

tataḥ sugrīvasacivā dṛṣṭvā paramadhanvinau | jagmurgiritaṭāt tasmādanyacchikharamuttamam || 2.7 ||

Then Sugriva's ministers, on seeing those two supreme archers, moved away from that mountain-slope to another lofty peak.

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.2.8)

ते क्षिप्रमभिगम्याथ यूथपा यूथपर्षभम् । हरयो वानरश्रेष्ठं परिवार्योपतस्थिरे ॥ 2.8 ॥

te kṣipramabhigamyātha yūthapā yūthaparṣabham | harayo vānaraśreṣṭhaṃ parivāryopatasthire || 2.8 ||

Then those troop-leaders quickly approached the foremost among them, that best of monkeys, and stood surrounding him.

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.2.9)

एवमेकायनगताः प्लवमाना गिरेर्गिरिम् । प्रकम्पयन्तो वेगेन गिरीणां शिखराणि च ॥ 2.9 ॥

evamekāyanagatāḥ plavamānā girergirim | prakampayanto vegena girīṇāṃ śikharāṇi ca || 2.9 ||

Thus moving together along a single course, leaping from mountain to mountain, they made the very peaks tremble with their speed.

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.2.10)

ततः शाखामृगाः सर्वे प्लवमाना महाबलाः । बभञ्जुश्च नगांस्तत्र पुष्पितान् दुर्गमाश्रितान् ॥ 2.10 ॥

tataḥ śākhāmṛgāḥ sarve plavamānā mahābalāḥ | babhañjuśca nagāṃstatra puṣpitān durgamāśritān || 2.10 ||

Then all those mighty tree-dwelling monkeys, leaping about, broke the flowering trees that clung to those inaccessible slopes.

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.2.11)

आप्लवन्तो हरिवराः सर्वतस्तं महागिरिम् । मृगमार्जारशार्दूलांस्त्रासयन्तो ययुस्तदा ॥ 2.11 ॥

āplavanto harivarāḥ sarvatastaṃ mahāgirim | mṛgamārjāraśārdūlāṃstrāsayanto yayustadā || 2.11 ||

Those foremost monkeys, leaping all about that great mountain, went on their way, terrifying the deer, wildcats, and tigers.

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.2.12)

ततः सुग्रीवसचिवाः पर्वतेन्द्रे समाहिताः । संगम्य कपिमुख्येन सर्वे प्राञ्जलयः स्थिताः ॥ 2.12 ॥

tataḥ sugrīvasacivāḥ parvatendre samāhitāḥ | saṃgamya kapimukhyena sarve prāñjalayaḥ sthitāḥ || 2.12 ||

Then Sugriva's ministers, having gathered together upon that lord of mountains, came before the chief of monkeys and all stood with joined palms.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.2.13)

ततस्तु भयसंत्रस्तं वालिकिल्बिषशङ्कितम् । उवाच हनुमान् वाक्यं सुग्रीवं वाक्यकोविदः ॥ 2.13 ॥

tatastu bhayasaṃtrastaṃ vālikilbiṣaśaṅkitam | uvāca hanumān vākyaṃ sugrīvaṃ vākyakovidaḥ || 2.13 ||

Then, to Sugriva, terrified with fear and apprehensive of harm from Vali, Hanuman, skilled in speech, spoke these words:

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.2.14)

सम्भ्रमस्त्यज्यतामेष सर्वैर्वालिकृते महान् । मलयोऽयं गिरिवरो भयं नेहास्ति वालिनः ॥ 2.14 ॥

sambhramastyajyatāmeṣa sarvairvālikṛte mahān | malayo'yaṃ girivaro bhayaṃ nehāsti vālinaḥ || 2.14 ||

'Let this great confusion born of fear of Vali be given up by everyone; this is the excellent Malaya mountain — here there is no danger from Vali.'

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.2.15)

यस्मादुद्विग्नचेतास्त्वं विद्रुतो हरिपुङ्गव । तं क्रूरदर्शनं क्रूरं नेह पश्यामि वालिनम् ॥ 2.15 ॥

yasmādudvignacetāstvaṃ vidruto haripuṅgava | taṃ krūradarśanaṃ krūraṃ neha paśyāmi vālinam || 2.15 ||

'That fierce-looking, cruel Vali, from whom, O bull among monkeys, your mind is troubled and you have fled — I see him nowhere here at all.'

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.2.16)

यस्मात् तव भयं सौम्य पूर्वजात् पापकर्मणः । स नेह वाली दुष्टात्मा न ते पश्याम्यहं भयम् ॥ 2.16 ॥

yasmāt tava bhayaṃ saumya pūrvajāt pāpakarmaṇaḥ | sa neha vālī duṣṭātmā na te paśyāmyahaṃ bhayam || 2.16 ||

'That wicked elder brother of yours, of evil deeds, from whom, O gentle one, comes your fear — that Vali is not here; I see no cause at all for your fear.'

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.2.17)

अहो शाखामृगत्वं ते व्यक्तमेव प्लवङ्गम । लघुचित्ततयाऽऽत्मानं न स्थापयसि यो मतौ ॥ 2.17 ॥

aho śākhāmṛgatvaṃ te vyaktameva plavaṅgama | laghucittatayā''tmānaṃ na sthāpayasi yo matau || 2.17 ||

'Ah, O monkey, your very monkey-nature shows plainly, in that through such fickleness of mind you cannot keep your own self settled and resolved.'

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.2.18)

बुद्धिविज्ञानसम्पन्न इङ्गितैः सर्वमाचर । नह्यबुद्धिं गतो राजा सर्वभूतानि शास्ति हि ॥ 2.18 ॥

buddhivijñānasampanna iṅgitaiḥ sarvamācara | nahyabuddhiṃ gato rājā sarvabhūtāni śāsti hi || 2.18 ||

'Being endowed with intelligence and discernment, act in all things by reading the outward signs. For no king devoid of intelligence can truly rule over all beings.'

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.2.19)

सुग्रीवस्तु शुभं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा सर्वं हनूमतः । ततः शुभतरं वाक्यं हनूमन्तमुवाच ह ॥ 2.19 ॥

sugrīvastu śubhaṃ vākyaṃ śrutvā sarvaṃ hanūmataḥ | tataḥ śubhataraṃ vākyaṃ hanūmantamuvāca ha || 2.19 ||

Sugriva, having heard all of Hanuman's auspicious words, then spoke to Hanuman words even more excellent:

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.2.20)

दीर्घबाहू विशालाक्षौ शरचापासिधारिणौ । कस्य न स्याद् भयं दृष्ट्वा ह्येतौ सुरसुतोपमौ ॥ 2.20 ॥

dīrghabāhū viśālākṣau śaracāpāsidhāriṇau | kasya na syād bhayaṃ dṛṣṭvā hyetau surasutopamau || 2.20 ||

'Long-armed, wide-eyed, bearing arrows, bow, and sword, resembling sons of the gods — who indeed would not feel fear on seeing these two?'

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.2.21)

वालिप्रणिहितावेव शङ्केऽहं पुरुषोत्तमौ । राजानो बहुमित्राश्च विश्वासो नात्र हि क्षमः ॥ 2.21 ॥

vālipraṇihitāveva śaṅke'haṃ puruṣottamau | rājāno bahumitrāśca viśvāso nātra hi kṣamaḥ || 2.21 ||

'I suspect these two excellent men have indeed been sent by Vali; kings have many allies, and trust is not warranted here.'

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.2.22)

अरयश्च मनुष्येण विज्ञेयाश्छद्मचारिणः । विश्वस्तानामविश्वस्ताश्छिद्रेषु प्रहरन्त्यपि ॥ 2.22 ॥

arayaśca manuṣyeṇa vijñeyāśchadmacāriṇaḥ | viśvastānāmaviśvastāśchidreṣu praharantyapi || 2.22 ||

'A man must learn to recognize enemies who move about in disguise; the untrustworthy strike even at those who trust them, once they find an opening.'

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.2.23)

कृत्येषु वाली मेधावी राजानो बहुदर्शिनः । भवन्त परहन्तारस्ते ज्ञेयाः प्राकृतैर्नरैः ॥ 2.23 ॥

kṛtyeṣu vālī medhāvī rājāno bahudarśinaḥ | bhavanta parahantāraste jñeyāḥ prākṛtairnaraiḥ || 2.23 ||

'Vali is highly skilled in such stratagems; far-seeing kings often destroy others in just this way — yet ordinary men can hardly perceive it.'

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.2.24)

तौ त्वया प्राकृतेनेव गत्वा ज्ञेयौ प्लवंगम । इङ्गितानां प्रकारैश्च रूपव्याभाषणेन च ॥ 2.24 ॥

tau tvayā prākṛteneva gatvā jñeyau plavaṃgama | iṅgitānāṃ prakāraiśca rūpavyābhāṣaṇena ca || 2.24 ||

'Therefore, O monkey, go to them as an ordinary person would, and learn of them through their gestures, their appearance, and their manner of speech.'

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.2.25)

लक्षयस्व तयोर्भावं प्रहृष्टमनसौ यदि । विश्वासयन् प्रशंसाभिरिङ्गितैश्च पुनः पुनः ॥ 2.25 ॥

lakṣayasva tayorbhāvaṃ prahṛṣṭamanasau yadi | viśvāsayan praśaṃsābhiriṅgitaiśca punaḥ punaḥ || 2.25 ||

'Gaining their confidence again and again through praise and through subtle signs, discern whether their minds are truly at ease.'

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.2.26)

ममैवाभिमुखं स्थित्वा पृच्छ त्वं हरिपुङ्गव । प्रयोजनं प्रवेशस्य वनस्यास्य धनुर्धरौ ॥ 2.26 ॥

mamaivābhimukhaṃ sthitvā pṛccha tvaṃ haripuṅgava | prayojanaṃ praveśasya vanasyāsya dhanurdharau || 2.26 ||

'Standing facing me, O bull among monkeys, ask those two bow-bearers the purpose of their entering this forest.'

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.2.27)

शुद्धात्मानौ यदि त्वेतौ जानीहि त्वं प्लवङ्गम । व्याभाषितैर्वा रूपैर्वा विज्ञेया दुष्टतानयोः ॥ 2.27 ॥

śuddhātmānau yadi tvetau jānīhi tvaṃ plavaṅgama | vyābhāṣitairvā rūpairvā vijñeyā duṣṭatānayoḥ || 2.27 ||

'If these two are pure of heart, O monkey, learn it; whether there is any wickedness in them is to be discerned from their speech, or from their bearing.'

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.2.28)

इत्येवं कपिराजेन संदिष्टो मारुतात्मजः । चकार गमने बुद्धिं यत्र तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ 2.28 ॥

ityevaṃ kapirājena saṃdiṣṭo mārutātmajaḥ | cakāra gamane buddhiṃ yatra tau rāmalakṣmaṇau || 2.28 ||

Thus instructed by the king of monkeys, the son of the Wind-god resolved to go to the place where Rama and Lakshmana were.

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.2.29)

तथेति सम्पूज्य वचस्तु तस्य कपेः सुभीतस्य दुरासदस्य । महानुभावो हनुमान् ययौ तदा स यत्र रामोऽतिबली सलक्ष्मणः ॥ 2.29 ॥

tatheti sampūjya vacastu tasya kapeḥ subhītasya durāsadasya | mahānubhāvo hanumān yayau tadā sa yatra rāmo'tibalī salakṣmaṇaḥ || 2.29 ||

Saying 'so be it', honouring the words of that greatly fearful yet unassailable monkey-king, the noble Hanuman then went to where the exceedingly mighty Rama stood, together with Lakshmana.