Hanuman's Counsel to Sugriva

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.32.1)

अङ्गदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवः सचिवैः सह। लक्ष्मणं कुपितं श्रुत्वा मुमोचासनमात्मवान्॥ 32.1 ॥

aṅgadasya vacaḥ śrutvā sugrīvaḥ sacivaiḥ saha| lakṣmaṇaṃ kupitaṃ śrutvā mumocāsanamātmavān|| 32.1 ||

On hearing Angada's words and learning that Lakshmana was enraged, the sensible Sugriva rose at once from his seat, together with his ministers.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.32.2)

स च तानब्रवीद् वाक्यं निश्चित्य गुरुलाघवम्। मन्त्रज्ञान् मन्त्रकुशलो मन्त्रेषु परिनिष्ठितः॥ 32.2 ॥

sa ca tānabravīd vākyaṃ niścitya gurulāghavam| mantrajñān mantrakuśalo mantreṣu pariniṣṭhitaḥ|| 32.2 ||

Skilled in counsel and ever devoted to sound policy, Sugriva, having weighed the gravity of the matter, spoke thus to his wise ministers.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.32.3)

न मे दुर्व्याहृतं किंचिन्नापि मे दुरनुष्ठितम्। लक्ष्मणो राघवभ्राता क्रुद्धः किमिति चिन्तये॥ 32.3 ॥

na me durvyāhṛtaṃ kiṃcinnāpi me duranuṣṭhitam| lakṣmaṇo rāghavabhrātā kruddhaḥ kimiti cintaye|| 32.3 ||

"I have spoken no ill word, nor done any wrong deed — so I keep wondering why Raghava's brother Lakshmana should be so angry with me.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.32.4)

असुहृद्भिर्ममामित्रैर्नित्यमन्तरदर्शिभिः। मम दोषानसम्भूतान् श्रावितो राघवानुजः॥ 32.4 ॥

asuhṛdbhirmamāmitrairnityamantaradarśibhiḥ| mama doṣānasambhūtān śrāvito rāghavānujaḥ|| 32.4 ||

It may be that some ill-wishers of mine, rivals ever watching for a weakness, have poisoned Raghava's brother's ear with fabricated faults of mine.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.32.5)

अत्र तावद् यथाबुद्धिः सर्वैरेव यथाविधि। भावस्य निश्चयस्तावद् विज्ञेयो निपुणं शनैः॥ 32.5 ॥

atra tāvad yathābuddhiḥ sarvaireva yathāvidhi| bhāvasya niścayastāvad vijñeyo nipuṇaṃ śanaiḥ|| 32.5 ||

In this matter, let each of you, according to his own judgment and in due order, first find out patiently and carefully just what lies behind Lakshmana's mood.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.32.6)

न खल्वस्ति मम त्रासो लक्ष्मणान्नापि राघवात्। मित्रं स्वस्थानकुपितं जनयत्येव सम्भ्रमम्॥ 32.6 ॥

na khalvasti mama trāso lakṣmaṇānnāpi rāghavāt| mitraṃ svasthānakupitaṃ janayatyeva sambhramam|| 32.6 ||

In truth I fear neither Lakshmana nor Raghava, yet even the unfounded anger of a friend is enough to stir up unease in the heart.

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.32.7)

सर्वथा सुकरं मित्रं दुष्करं प्रतिपालनम्। अनित्यत्वात् तु चित्तानां प्रीतिरल्पेऽपि भिद्यते॥ 32.7 ॥

sarvathā sukaraṃ mitraṃ duṣkaraṃ pratipālanam| anityatvāt tu cittānāṃ prītiralpe'pi bhidyate|| 32.7 ||

It is always easy enough to make a friend, but far harder to sustain that friendship; for hearts are fickle by nature, and affection can crack even over a trifle.

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.32.8)

अतो निमित्तं त्रस्तोऽहं रामेण तु महात्मना। यन्ममोपकृतं शक्यं प्रतिकर्तुं न तन्मया॥ 32.8 ॥

ato nimittaṃ trasto'haṃ rāmeṇa tu mahātmanā| yanmamopakṛtaṃ śakyaṃ pratikartuṃ na tanmayā|| 32.8 ||

That is why I am troubled where the noble Rama is concerned — for the favour he has done me is one I can never fully repay." So spoke Sugriva to his ministers.

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.32.9)

सुग्रीवेणैवमुक्ते तु हनूमान् हरिपुंगवः। उवाच स्वेन तर्केण मध्ये वानरमन्त्रिणाम्॥ 32.9 ॥

sugrīveṇaivamukte tu hanūmān haripuṃgavaḥ| uvāca svena tarkeṇa madhye vānaramantriṇām|| 32.9 ||

When Sugriva had spoken thus, Hanuman, foremost among the monkeys, rose amid the assembled ministers and spoke with his own clear reasoning.

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.32.10)

सर्वथा नैतदाश्चर्यं यत् त्वं हरिगणेश्वर। न विस्मरसि सुस्निग्धमुपकारं कृतं शुभम्॥ 32.10 ॥

sarvathā naitadāścaryaṃ yat tvaṃ harigaṇeśvara| na vismarasi susnigdhamupakāraṃ kṛtaṃ śubham|| 32.10 ||

"It is no wonder at all, O lord of the monkey hosts, that you have not forgotten the great and heartfelt favour once done for you.

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.32.11)

राघवेण तु वीरेण भयमुत्सृज्य दूरतः। त्वत्प्रियार्थं हतो वाली शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमः॥ 32.11 ॥

rāghaveṇa tu vīreṇa bhayamutsṛjya dūrataḥ| tvatpriyārthaṃ hato vālī śakratulyaparākramaḥ|| 32.11 ||

For it was the valiant Raghava who, casting all fear far aside, slew Vali — whose might rivalled Indra's — purely to bring you joy.

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.32.12)

सर्वथा प्रणयात् क्रुद्धो राघवो नात्र संशयः। भ्रातरं सम्प्रहितवाँल्लक्ष्मणं लक्ष्मिवर्धनम्॥ 32.12 ॥

sarvathā praṇayāt kruddho rāghavo nātra saṃśayaḥ| bhrātaraṃ samprahitavā~llakṣmaṇaṃ lakṣmivardhanam|| 32.12 ||

There is no doubt that it is out of sheer affection that Raghava is displeased — that is why he has sent his own brother Lakshmana, the enhancer of fortune.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.32.13)

त्वं प्रमत्तो न जानीषे कालं कालविदां वर। फुल्लसप्तच्छदश्यामा प्रवृत्ता तु शरच्छुभा॥ 32.13 ॥

tvaṃ pramatto na jānīṣe kālaṃ kālavidāṃ vara| phullasaptacchadaśyāmā pravṛttā tu śaracchubhā|| 32.13 ||

O best among those who once knew how to reckon time, lost in pleasure you have let it slip by unnoticed; and see — the fair autumn, dark with the bloom of the seven-leaved trees, has already arrived.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.32.14)

निर्मलग्रहनक्षत्रा द्यौः प्रणष्टबलाहका। प्रसन्नाश्च दिशः सर्वाः सरितश्च सरांसि च॥ 32.14 ॥

nirmalagrahanakṣatrā dyauḥ praṇaṣṭabalāhakā| prasannāśca diśaḥ sarvāḥ saritaśca sarāṃsi ca|| 32.14 ||

The sky, its clouds all vanished, now shines clear with planets and stars; every direction has grown limpid, and the rivers and lakes lie calm and clear.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.32.15)

प्राप्तमुद्योगकालं तु नावैषि हरिपुंगव। त्वं प्रमत्त इति व्यक्तं लक्ष्मणोऽयमिहागतः॥ 32.15 ॥

prāptamudyogakālaṃ tu nāvaiṣi haripuṃgava| tvaṃ pramatta iti vyaktaṃ lakṣmaṇo'yamihāgataḥ|| 32.15 ||

O foremost of monkeys, the time appointed for the campaign has arrived, yet you failed to notice it. It is plain that your absorption in pleasure is exactly why Lakshmana himself has come here.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.32.16)

आर्तस्य हृतदारस्य परुषं पुरुषान्तरात्। वचनं मर्षणीयं ते राघवस्य महात्मनः॥ 32.16 ॥

ārtasya hṛtadārasya paruṣaṃ puruṣāntarāt| vacanaṃ marṣaṇīyaṃ te rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ|| 32.16 ||

Raghava is a man in anguish, robbed of his wife, and yet magnanimous withal; so even these harsh words, sent through another's mouth, you ought to bear with patience.

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.32.17)

कृतापराधस्य हि ते नान्यत् पश्याम्यहं क्षमम्। अन्तरेणाञ्जलिं बद्ध्वा लक्ष्मणस्य प्रसादनात्॥ 32.17 ॥

kṛtāparādhasya hi te nānyat paśyāmyahaṃ kṣamam| antareṇāñjaliṃ bad‍dhvā lakṣmaṇasya prasādanāt|| 32.17 ||

Since a fault has indeed been committed on your part, I see no other fitting course for you than to join your palms and win Lakshmana's pardon.

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.32.18)

नियुक्तैर्मन्त्रिभिर्वाच्यो ह्यवश्यं पार्थिवो हितम्। इत एव भयं त्यक्त्वा ब्रवीम्यवधृतं वचः॥ 32.18 ॥

niyuktairmantribhirvācyo hyavaśyaṃ pārthivo hitam| ita eva bhayaṃ tyaktvā bravīmyavadhṛtaṃ vacaḥ|| 32.18 ||

It is the very duty of an appointed minister to speak beneficial words to his king without fail; that is why, setting fear aside, I speak my firm conviction to you.

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.32.19)

अभिक्रुद्धः समर्थो हि चापमुद्यम्य राघवः। सदेवासुरगन्धर्वं वशे स्थापयितुं जगत्॥ 32.19 ॥

abhikruddhaḥ samartho hi cāpamudyamya rāghavaḥ| sadevāsuragandharvaṃ vaśe sthāpayituṃ jagat|| 32.19 ||

Should Raghava once become truly enraged, merely by lifting his bow he is capable of bringing the whole world, gods, demons, and gandharvas alike, under his sway.

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.32.20)

न स क्षमः कोपयितुं यः प्रसाद्यः पुनर्भवेत्। पूर्वोपकारं स्मरता कृतज्ञेन विशेषतः॥ 32.20 ॥

na sa kṣamaḥ kopayituṃ yaḥ prasādyaḥ punarbhavet| pūrvopakāraṃ smaratā kṛtajñena viśeṣataḥ|| 32.20 ||

It is unworthy to provoke one whom you must so often placate, especially for you, who are mindful of past favours and bound by gratitude.

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.32.21)

तस्य मूर्ध्ना प्रणम्य त्वं सपुत्रः ससुहृज्जनः। राजंस्तिष्ठ स्वसमये भर्तुर्भार्येव तद्वशे॥ 32.21 ॥

tasya mūrdhnā praṇamya tvaṃ saputraḥ sasuhṛjjanaḥ| rājaṃstiṣṭha svasamaye bharturbhāryeva tadvaśe|| 32.21 ||

O king, bow your head before him along with your son and your friends, and remain true to your own pledge, standing under his authority just as a devoted wife remains under her husband's.

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.32.22)

न रामरामानुजशासनं त्वया कपीन्द्र युक्तं मनसाप्यपोहितुम्। मनो हि ते ज्ञास्यति मानुषं बलं सराघवस्यास्य सुरेन्द्रवर्चसः॥ 32.22 ॥

na rāmarāmānujaśāsanaṃ tvayā kapīndra yuktaṃ manasāpyapohitum| mano hi te jñāsyati mānuṣaṃ balaṃ sarāghavasyāsya surendravarcasaḥ|| 32.22 ||

"It would not be fitting for you, O king of monkeys, even in thought, to set aside the command of Rama and his brother; for your own heart well knows the very human, yet extraordinary, strength of this Raghava, splendid as Indra, and of the one who stands with him." Thus Hanuman spoke to Sugriva.