Hanuman's Counsel to Sugriva

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.29.1)

समीक्ष्य विमलं व्योम गतविद्युद्बलाहकम् । सारसाकुलसंघुष्टं रम्यज्योत्स्नानुलेपनम् ॥ 29.1 ॥

samīkṣya vimalaṃ vyoma gatavidyudbalāhakam | sārasākulasaṃghuṣṭaṃ ramyajyotsnānulepanam || 29.1 ||

Beholding the sky now clear, its lightning and storm-clouds gone, alive with the bustle of cranes, and smeared with the delightful light of the moon,

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.29.2)

समृद्धार्थं च सुग्रीवं मन्दधर्मार्थसंग्रहम् । अत्यर्थं चासतां मार्गमेकान्तगतमानसम् ॥ 29.2 ॥

samṛddhārthaṃ ca sugrīvaṃ mandadharmārthasaṃgraham | atyarthaṃ cāsatāṃ mārgamekāntagatamānasam || 29.2 ||

and beholding Sugriva too -- rich in wealth, but grown slack in the pursuit of righteousness and prosperity,

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.29.3)

निवृत्तकार्यं सिद्धार्थं प्रमदाभिरतं सदा । प्राप्तवन्तमभिप्रेतान् सर्वानेव मनोरथान् ॥ 29.3 ॥

nivṛttakāryaṃ siddhārthaṃ pramadābhirataṃ sadā | prāptavantamabhipretān sarvāneva manorathān || 29.3 ||

wholly given over to the ways of the unrighteous, his mind turned only to seclusion, all his cares set aside, his purpose accomplished, ever indulging in the company of women,

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.29.4)

स्वां च पत्नीमभिप्रेतां तारां चापि समीप्सिताम् । विहरन्तमहोरात्रं कृतार्थं विगतज्वरम् ॥ 29.4 ॥

svāṃ ca patnīmabhipretāṃ tārāṃ cāpi samīpsitām | viharantamahorātraṃ kṛtārthaṃ vigatajvaram || 29.4 ||

having gained both his own beloved wife and the greatly desired Tara as well, disporting himself day and night, his purpose fulfilled, and freed from care,

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.29.5)

क्रीडन्तमिव देवेशं गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणैः । मन्त्रिषु न्यस्तकार्यं च मन्त्रिणामनवेक्षकम् ॥ 29.5 ॥

krīḍantamiva deveśaṃ gandharvāpsarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ | mantriṣu nyastakāryaṃ ca mantriṇāmanavekṣakam || 29.5 ||

sporting as it were like the lord of the gods amid throngs of gandharvas and apsaras,

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.29.6)

उच्छिन्नराज्यसंदेहं कामवृत्तमिव स्थितम् । निश्चितार्थोऽर्थतत्त्वज्ञः कालधर्मविशेषवित् ॥ 29.6 ॥

ucchinnarājyasaṃdehaṃ kāmavṛttamiva sthitam | niścitārtho'rthatattvajñaḥ kāladharmaviśeṣavit || 29.6 ||

having entrusted all affairs to his ministers and paying them no further heed, free of any doubt about his once-lost kingdom, and as if wholly given over to sensual pleasure -

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.29.7)

प्रसाद्य वाक्यैर्विविधैर्हेतुमद्भिर्मनोरमैः । वाक्यविद् वाक्यतत्त्वज्ञं हरीशं मारुतात्मजः ॥ 29.7 ॥

prasādya vākyairvividhairhetumadbhirmanoramaiḥ | vākyavid vākyatattvajñaṃ harīśaṃ mārutātmajaḥ || 29.7 ||

approaching that lord of monkeys and, with sweet, reasonable, and heart-pleasing words,

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.29.8)

हितं तथ्यं च पथ्यं च सामधर्मार्थनीतिमत् । प्रणयप्रीतिसंयुक्तं विश्वासकृतनिश्चयम् ॥ 29.8 ॥

hitaṃ tathyaṃ ca pathyaṃ ca sāmadharmārthanītimat | praṇayaprītisaṃyuktaṃ viśvāsakṛtaniścayam || 29.8 ||

winning his goodwill -- with words beneficial, true, and wholesome, imbued with conciliation, righteousness, and sound policy, filled with affection and love, and spoken with a resolve born of trust -

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.29.9)

हरीश्वरमुपागम्य हनूमान् वाक्यमब्रवीत् । राज्यं प्राप्तं यशश्चैव कौली श्रीरभिवर्धिता ॥ 29.9 ॥

harīśvaramupāgamya hanūmān vākyamabravīt | rājyaṃ prāptaṃ yaśaścaiva kaulī śrīrabhivardhitā || 29.9 ||

Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, who knew the essence of speech, approached that lord of monkeys and spoke these words: "The kingdom has been gained, and glory too; your dynastic fortune has thereby been enhanced.

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.29.10)

मित्राणां संग्रहः शेषस्तद् भवान् कर्तुमर्हति । यो हि मित्रेषु कालज्ञः सततं साधु वर्तते ॥ 29.10 ॥

mitrāṇāṃ saṃgrahaḥ śeṣastad bhavān kartumarhati | yo hi mitreṣu kālajñaḥ satataṃ sādhu vartate || 29.10 ||

Only the gathering of your friends and allies remains; that you should now accomplish. Truly, he who is punctual and always deals amiably with his friends,

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.29.11)

तस्य राज्यं च कीर्तिश्च प्रतापश्चापि वर्धते । यस्य कोशश्च दण्डश्च मित्राण्यात्मा च भूमिप । समान्येतानि सर्वाणि स राज्यं महदश्नुते ॥ 29.11 ॥

tasya rājyaṃ ca kīrtiśca pratāpaścāpi vardhate | yasya kośaśca daṇḍaśca mitrāṇyātmā ca bhūmipa | samānyetāni sarvāṇi sa rājyaṃ mahadaśnute || 29.11 ||

his kingdom, his fame, and his valour, all these flourish. O lord of the earth, he in whom treasury, army, allies, and his own self stand in equal measure -- such a one enjoys a truly great kingdom.

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.29.12)

तद् भवान् वृत्तसम्पन्नः स्थितः पथि निरत्यये । मित्रार्थमभिनीतार्थं यथावत् कर्तुमर्हति ॥ 29.12 ॥

tad bhavān vṛttasampannaḥ sthitaḥ pathi niratyaye | mitrārthamabhinītārthaṃ yathāvat kartumarhati || 29.12 ||

Therefore, being one of upright conduct and abiding on the unerring path, you ought duly to accomplish the purpose of your friend, for which he came to you.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.29.13)

संत्यज्य सर्वकर्माणि मित्रार्थे यो न वर्तते । सम्भ्रमाद् विकृतोत्साहः सोऽनर्थैर्नावरुध्यते ॥ 29.13 ॥

saṃtyajya sarvakarmāṇi mitrārthe yo na vartate | sambhramād vikṛtotsāhaḥ so'narthairnāvarudhyate || 29.13 ||

He who, casting aside all his own affairs, does not exert himself for the sake of a friend, and instead hastily gives himself over only to his own self-interest, is assailed by misfortune.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.29.14)

यो हि कालव्यतीतेषु मित्रकार्येषु वर्तते । स कृत्वा महतोऽप्यर्थान्न मित्रार्थेन युज्यते ॥ 29.14 ॥

yo hi kālavyatīteṣu mitrakāryeṣu vartate | sa kṛtvā mahato'pyarthānna mitrārthena yujyate || 29.14 ||

He who acts for a friend's cause only after the proper time has elapsed, even if he has once rendered great service, will no longer be counted as truly serving that friend's purpose.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.29.15)

तदिदं मित्रकार्यं नः कालातीतमरिंदम । क्रियतां राघवस्यैतद् वैदेह्याः परिमार्गणम् ॥ 29.15 ॥

tadidaṃ mitrakāryaṃ naḥ kālātītamariṃdama | kriyatāṃ rāghavasyaitad vaidehyāḥ parimārgaṇam || 29.15 ||

So then, O destroyer of foes, this task of our friend has already been delayed; let this search for Vaidehi, which is Raghava's own mission, now be undertaken.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.29.16)

न च कालमतीतं ते निवेदयति कालवित् । त्वरमाणोऽपि स प्राज्ञस्तव राजन् वशानुगः ॥ 29.16 ॥

na ca kālamatītaṃ te nivedayati kālavit | tvaramāṇo'pi sa prājñastava rājan vaśānugaḥ || 29.16 ||

He is not telling you that the time has passed, punctual though he is; even in his haste, that wise one, O king, remains ever deferential, submitting to your will.

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.29.17)

कुलस्य हेतुः स्फीतस्य दीर्घबन्धुश्च राघवः । अप्रमेयप्रभावश्च स्वयं चाप्रतिमो गुणैः ॥ 29.17 ॥

kulasya hetuḥ sphītasya dīrghabandhuśca rāghavaḥ | aprameyaprabhāvaśca svayaṃ cāpratimo guṇaiḥ || 29.17 ||

Raghava is the cause of his illustrious lineage's continuance, a friend for the long term, of immeasurable power, and himself unequalled in his virtues.

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.29.18)

तस्य त्वं कुरु वै कार्यं पूर्वं तेन कृतं तव । हरीश्वर कपिश्रेष्ठानाज्ञापयितुमर्हसि ॥ 29.18 ॥

tasya tvaṃ kuru vai kāryaṃ pūrvaṃ tena kṛtaṃ tava | harīśvara kapiśreṣṭhānājñāpayitumarhasi || 29.18 ||

It befits you, O lord of monkeys, to accomplish his task, since he had earlier accomplished yours; you ought now to command the foremost of the monkeys.

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.29.19)

नहि तावद् भवेत् कालो व्यतीतश्चोदनादृते । चोदितस्य हि कार्यस्य भवेत् कालव्यतिक्रमः ॥ 29.19 ॥

nahi tāvad bhavet kālo vyatītaścodanādṛte | coditasya hi kāryasya bhavet kālavyatikramaḥ || 29.19 ||

Indeed, time cannot be said to have lapsed until he himself urges us on; only when he is compelled to prod us should the delay be deemed a real transgression of time.

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.29.20)

अकर्तुरपि कार्यस्य भवान् कर्ता हरीश्वर । किं पुनः प्रतिकर्तुस्ते राज्येन च वधेन च ॥ 29.20 ॥

akarturapi kāryasya bhavān kartā harīśvara | kiṃ punaḥ pratikartuste rājyena ca vadhena ca || 29.20 ||

O lord of monkeys, you are one who acts even for those who do nothing for you in return; how much more, then, should you act for him who has already requited you with a kingdom and with the death of your enemy!

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.29.21)

शक्तिमानतिविक्रान्तो वानरर्क्षगणेश्वर । कर्तुं दाशरथेः प्रीतिमाज्ञायां किं नु सज्जसे ॥ 29.21 ॥

śaktimānativikrānto vānararkṣagaṇeśvara | kartuṃ dāśaratheḥ prītimājñāyāṃ kiṃ nu sajjase || 29.21 ||

O powerful and most valiant lord of the hosts of monkeys and bears, why then do you delay in issuing the command to fulfil the desire of Dasharatha's son?

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.29.22)

कामं खलु शरैः शक्तः सुरासुरमहोरगान् । वशे दाशरथिः कर्तुं त्वत्प्रतिज्ञामवेक्षते ॥ 29.22 ॥

kāmaṃ khalu śaraiḥ śaktaḥ surāsuramahoragān | vaśe dāśarathiḥ kartuṃ tvatpratijñāmavekṣate || 29.22 ||

Truly, Dasharathi is capable, if he so wills, of subduing gods, demons, and great serpents alike with his arrows; yet he waits, looking to the fulfilment of your promise.

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.29.23)

प्राणत्यागाविशंकेन कृतं तेन महत् प्रियम् । तस्य मार्गाम वैदेहीं पृथिव्यामपि चाम्बरे ॥ 29.23 ॥

prāṇatyāgāviśaṃkena kṛtaṃ tena mahat priyam | tasya mārgāma vaidehīṃ pṛthivyāmapi cāmbare || 29.23 ||

Without hesitation, ready even to give up his own life, he rendered you an exceptional service; for his sake we shall search for Vaidehi, be it upon the earth or even in the sky.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.29.24)

देवदानवगन्धर्वा असुराः समरुद्गणाः । न च यक्षा भयं तस्य कुर्युः किमिव राक्षसाः ॥ 29.24 ॥

devadānavagandharvā asurāḥ samarudgaṇāḥ | na ca yakṣā bhayaṃ tasya kuryuḥ kimiva rākṣasāḥ || 29.24 ||

Gods, danavas, gandharvas, asuras, the hosts of Maruts, and even yakshas cannot instil fear in him -- how then could the rakshasas?

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.29.25)

तदेवं शक्तियुक्तस्य पूर्वं प्रतिकृतस्तथा । रामस्यार्हसि पिङ्गेश कर्तुं सर्वात्मना प्रियम् ॥ 29.25 ॥

tadevaṃ śaktiyuktasya pūrvaṃ pratikṛtastathā | rāmasyārhasi piṅgeśa kartuṃ sarvātmanā priyam || 29.25 ||

Therefore, O lord of the tawny ones, it behoves you, in every way, to render dear service to Rama, endowed with such power as he is, since he has already requited you in kind.

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.29.26)

नाधस्तादवनौ नाप्सु गतिर्नोपरि चाम्बरे । कस्यचित् सज्जतेऽस्माकं कपीश्वर तवाज्ञया ॥ 29.26 ॥

nādhastādavanau nāpsu gatirnopari cāmbare | kasyacit sajjate'smākaṃ kapīśvara tavājñayā || 29.26 ||

Neither below upon the earth, nor in the waters, nor above in the sky will the course of any one of us be hindered, O king of monkeys, once you have given the command.

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.29.27)

तदाज्ञापय कः किं ते कुतो वापि व्यवस्यतु । हरयो ह्यप्रधृष्यास्ते सन्ति कोट्यग्रतोऽनघ ॥ 29.27 ॥

tadājñāpaya kaḥ kiṃ te kuto vāpi vyavasyatu | harayo hyapradhṛṣyāste santi koṭyagrato'nagha || 29.27 ||

So command us, O blameless one -- who is to go, for what purpose, and from where; for you have more than ten million indomitable monkeys at your command." Thus Hanuman appealed to Sugriva.

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.29.28)

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा काले साधु निरूपितम् । सुग्रीवः सत्त्वसम्पन्नश्चकार मतिमुत्तमाम् ॥ 29.28 ॥

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā kāle sādhu nirūpitam | sugrīvaḥ sattvasampannaścakāra matimuttamām || 29.28 ||

Hearing those words of his, so aptly and validly urged at the right time, Sugriva, endowed with great vigour, came to an excellent resolve.

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.29.29)

संदिदेशातिमतिमान् नीलं नित्यकृतोद्यमम् । दिक्षु सर्वासु सर्वेषां सैन्यानामुपसंग्रहे ॥ 29.29 ॥

saṃdideśātimatimān nīlaṃ nityakṛtodyamam | dikṣu sarvāsu sarveṣāṃ sainyānāmupasaṃgrahe || 29.29 ||

That most wise Sugriva then directed Nila, ever diligent in his endeavours, to gather together all the monkey-forces from every quarter.

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.29.30)

यथा सेना समग्रा मे यूथपालाश्च सर्वशः । समागच्छन्त्यसङ्गेन सेनाग्र्ये ण तथा कुरु ॥ 29.30 ॥

yathā senā samagrā me yūthapālāśca sarvaśaḥ | samāgacchantyasaṅgena senāgrye ṇa tathā kuru || 29.30 ||

"See to it that my entire army, together with all its troop-commanders gathered from every side, assembles without hindrance in the vanguard of the forces.

Shloka 31 (kishkindha.29.31)

ये त्वन्तपालाः प्लवगाः शीघ्रगा व्यवसायिनः । समानयन्तु ते शीघ्रं त्वरिताः शासनान्मम । स्वयं चानन्तरं सैन्यं भवानेवानुपश्यतु ॥ 29.31 ॥

ye tvantapālāḥ plavagāḥ śīghragā vyavasāyinaḥ | samānayantu te śīghraṃ tvaritāḥ śāsanānmama | svayaṃ cānantaraṃ sainyaṃ bhavānevānupaśyatu || 29.31 ||

Let those swift and resolute monkeys who guard the borders be summoned quickly and promptly at my command; and you yourself shall thereafter personally oversee the army."

Shloka 32 (kishkindha.29.32)

त्रिपञ्चरात्रादूर्ध्वं यः प्राप्नुयादिह वानरः । तस्य प्राणान्तिको दण्डो नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ 29.32 ॥

tripañcarātrādūrdhvaṃ yaḥ prāpnuyādiha vānaraḥ | tasya prāṇāntiko daṇḍo nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 29.32 ||

"Whatever monkey arrives here later than fifteen nights from now, for him the penalty shall be death; in this there is to be no further deliberation.

Shloka 33 (kishkindha.29.33)

हरींश्च वृद्धानुपयातु साङ्गदो । भवान् ममाज्ञामधिकृत्य निश्चितम् । इति व्यवस्थां हरिपुङ्गवेश्वरो । विधाय वेश्म प्रविवेश वीर्यवान् ॥ 29.33 ॥

harīṃśca vṛddhānupayātu sāṅgado | bhavān mamājñāmadhikṛtya niścitam | iti vyavasthāṃ haripuṅgaveśvaro | vidhāya veśma praviveśa vīryavān || 29.33 ||

And you, Angada, together with the elder monkeys, shall come before me, in keeping with this firm command of mine." Having thus set the arrangement in order, that mighty lord of the foremost monkeys then entered his palace.