Sugreeva's Apology

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.36.1)

इत्युक्तस्तारया वाक्यं प्रश्रितं धर्मसंहितम् । मृदुस्वभावः सौमित्रिः प्रतिजग्राह तद्वचः ॥ 36.1 ॥

ityuktastārayā vākyaṃ praśritaṃ dharmasaṃhitam | mṛdusvabhāvaḥ saumitriḥ pratijagrāha tadvacaḥ || 36.1 ||

Thus addressed by Tara with humble words grounded in righteousness, Saumitri, being gentle by nature, accepted what she said.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.36.2)

तस्मिन् प्रतिगृहीते तु वाक्ये हरिगणेश्वरः । लक्ष्मणात् सुमहत् त्रासं वस्त्रं क्लिन्नमिवात्यजत् ॥ 36.2 ॥

tasmin pratigṛhīte tu vākye harigaṇeśvaraḥ | lakṣmaṇāt sumahat trāsaṃ vastraṃ klinnamivātyajat || 36.2 ||

When that speech was accepted, the lord of the monkey hosts cast off his great fear of Lakshmana, as one sheds a soaked garment.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.36.3)

ततः कण्ठगतं माल्यं चित्रं बहुगुणं महत् । चिच्छेद विमदश्चासीत् सुग्रीवो वानरेश्वरः ॥ 36.3 ॥

tataḥ kaṇṭhagataṃ mālyaṃ citraṃ bahuguṇaṃ mahat | ciccheda vimadaścāsīt sugrīvo vānareśvaraḥ || 36.3 ||

Then Sugreeva, lord of the vanaras, tore apart the wondrous, many-stranded, splendid garland that hung about his neck, and became free of his complacency.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.36.4)

स लक्ष्मणं भीमबलं सर्ववानरसत्तमः । अब्रवीत् प्रश्रितं वाक्यं सुग्रीवः सम्प्रहर्षयन् ॥ 36.4 ॥

sa lakṣmaṇaṃ bhīmabalaṃ sarvavānarasattamaḥ | abravīt praśritaṃ vākyaṃ sugrīvaḥ sampraharṣayan || 36.4 ||

Sugreeva, foremost among all vanaras, then spoke humble words to Lakshmana of fearsome strength, seeking to gladden him.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.36.5)

प्रणष्टा श्रीश्च कीर्तिश्च कपिराज्यं च शाश्वतम् । रामप्रसादात् सौमित्रे पुनश्चाप्तमिदं मया ॥ 36.5 ॥

praṇaṣṭā śrīśca kīrtiśca kapirājyaṃ ca śāśvatam | rāmaprasādāt saumitre punaścāptamidaṃ mayā || 36.5 ||

O Saumitri, my prosperity, my fame, and this ancient kingdom of the monkeys had all been lost — by Rama's grace I have won them back again.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.36.6)

कः शक्तस्तस्य देवस्य ख्यातस्य स्वेन कर्मणा । तादृशं प्रतिकुर्वीत अंशेनापि नृपात्मज ॥ 36.6 ॥

kaḥ śaktastasya devasya khyātasya svena karmaṇā | tādṛśaṃ pratikurvīta aṃśenāpi nṛpātmaja || 36.6 ||

O prince, who is capable of repaying, even in the smallest part, that godlike one renowned for deeds of his own doing?

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.36.7)

सीतां प्राप्स्यति धर्मात्मा वधिष्यति च रावणम् । सहायमात्रेण मया राघवः स्वेन तेजसा ॥ 36.7 ॥

sītāṃ prāpsyati dharmātmā vadhiṣyati ca rāvaṇam | sahāyamātreṇa mayā rāghavaḥ svena tejasā || 36.7 ||

The righteous Raghava will win back Sita and slay Ravana by his own splendour alone — my assistance is help in name only.

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.36.8)

सहायकृत्यं किं तस्य येन सप्त महाद्रुमाः । शैलश्च वसुधा चैव बाणेनैकेन दारिताः ॥ 36.8 ॥

sahāyakṛtyaṃ kiṃ tasya yena sapta mahādrumāḥ | śailaśca vasudhā caiva bāṇenaikena dāritāḥ || 36.8 ||

What need has he of any helper's service — he who split seven great trees, a mountain, and the very earth with a single arrow?

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.36.9)

धनुर्विस्फारमाणस्य यस्य शब्देन लक्ष्मण । सशैला कम्पिता भूमिः सहायैः किं नु तस्य वै ॥ 36.9 ॥

dhanurvisphāramāṇasya yasya śabdena lakṣmaṇa | saśailā kampitā bhūmiḥ sahāyaiḥ kiṃ nu tasya vai || 36.9 ||

O Lakshmana, at the mere twang of whose drawn bow the earth trembled together with its mountains — of what use indeed are helpers to him?

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.36.10)

अनुयात्रां नरेन्द्रस्य करिष्येऽहं नरर्षभ । गच्छतो रावणं हन्तुं वैरिणं सपुरस्सरम् ॥ 36.10 ॥

anuyātrāṃ narendrasya kariṣye'haṃ nararṣabha | gacchato rāvaṇaṃ hantuṃ vairiṇaṃ sapurassaram || 36.10 ||

O bull among men, I shall simply walk in attendance behind that lord of men and his vanguard, as he goes to slay his enemy Ravana.

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.36.11)

यदि किंचिदतिक्रान्तं विश्वासात् प्रणयेन वा । प्रेष्यस्य क्षमितव्यं मे न कश्चिन्नापराध्यति ॥ 36.11 ॥

yadi kiṃcidatikrāntaṃ viśvāsāt praṇayena vā | preṣyasya kṣamitavyaṃ me na kaścinnāparādhyati || 36.11 ||

If, out of trust or affection, I have overstepped in anything, it should be forgiven in a servant of mine — no one is without fault.

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.36.12)

इति तस्य ब्रुवाणस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । अभवल्लक्ष्मणः प्रीतः प्रेम्णा चेदमुवाच ह ॥ 36.12 ॥

iti tasya bruvāṇasya sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ | abhavallakṣmaṇaḥ prītaḥ premṇā cedamuvāca ha || 36.12 ||

As the great-souled Sugreeva spoke thus, Lakshmana was pleased, and with affection he said this:

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.36.13)

सर्वथा हि मम भ्राता सनाथो वानरेश्वर । त्वया नाथेन सुग्रीव प्रश्रितेन विशेषतः ॥ 36.13 ॥

sarvathā hi mama bhrātā sanātho vānareśvara | tvayā nāthena sugrīva praśritena viśeṣataḥ || 36.13 ||

O lord of the vanaras, my brother is protected in every way, especially, Sugreeva, with you as his humble protector.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.36.14)

यस्ते प्रभावः सुग्रीव यच्च ते शौचमीदृशम् । अर्हस्त्वं कपिराज्यस्य श्रियं भोक्तुमनुत्तमाम् ॥ 36.14 ॥

yaste prabhāvaḥ sugrīva yacca te śaucamīdṛśam | arhastvaṃ kapirājyasya śriyaṃ bhoktumanuttamām || 36.14 ||

Such is your might, O Sugreeva, and such your purity, that you well deserve to enjoy this unrivalled glory of the monkeys' kingdom.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.36.15)

सहायेन च सुग्रीव त्वया रामः प्रतापवान् । वधिष्यति रणे शत्रूनचरान्नात्र संशयः ॥ 36.15 ॥

sahāyena ca sugrīva tvayā rāmaḥ pratāpavān | vadhiṣyati raṇe śatrūnacarānnātra saṃśayaḥ || 36.15 ||

With you, O Sugreeva, as his helper, the mighty Rama will soon slay his enemies in battle — of this there is no doubt.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.36.16)

धर्मज्ञस्य कृतज्ञस्य संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनः । उपपन्नं च युक्तं च सुग्रीव तव भाषितम् ॥ 36.16 ॥

dharmajñasya kṛtajñasya saṃgrāmeṣvanivartinaḥ | upapannaṃ ca yuktaṃ ca sugrīva tava bhāṣitam || 36.16 ||

O Sugreeva, this speech of yours is fitting and wise, worthy of one who knows dharma, is grateful, and never turns back in battle.

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.36.17)

दोषज्ञः सति सामर्थ्ये कोऽन्यो भाषितुमर्हति । वर्जयित्वा मम ज्येष्ठं त्वां च वानरसत्तम ॥ 36.17 ॥

doṣajñaḥ sati sāmarthye ko'nyo bhāṣitumarhati | varjayitvā mama jyeṣṭhaṃ tvāṃ ca vānarasattama || 36.17 ||

Who else, possessed of such power yet mindful of what is wrong, deserves to speak so — save my elder brother, and you, best of vanaras?

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.36.18)

सदृशश्चासि रामस्य विक्रमेण बलेन च । सहायो दैवतैर्दत्तश्चिराय हरिपुंगव ॥ 36.18 ॥

sadṛśaścāsi rāmasya vikrameṇa balena ca | sahāyo daivatairdattaścirāya haripuṃgava || 36.18 ||

O bull among monkeys, you are indeed the equal of Rama's own valour and strength — a helper given by the gods for this long undertaking.

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.36.19)

किं तु शीघ्रमितो वीर निष्क्रम त्वं मया सह । सान्त्वयस्व वयस्यं च भार्याहरणदुःखितम् ॥ 36.19 ॥

kiṃ tu śīghramito vīra niṣkrama tvaṃ mayā saha | sāntvayasva vayasyaṃ ca bhāryāharaṇaduḥkhitam || 36.19 ||

But now, O hero, come forth quickly with me, and console your friend, who grieves over the abduction of his wife.

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.36.20)

यच्च शोकाभिभूतस्य श्रुत्वा रामस्य भाषितम् । मया त्वं परुषाण्युक्तस्तत् क्षमस्व सखे मम ॥ 36.20 ॥

yacca śokābhibhūtasya śrutvā rāmasya bhāṣitam | mayā tvaṃ paruṣāṇyuktastat kṣamasva sakhe mama || 36.20 ||

And forgive me, friend, for the harsh words I spoke to you on hearing what the grief-stricken Rama had said.