The Enmity of Vali and Sugriva

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.8.1)

परितुष्टः तु सुग्रीवः तेन वाक्येन हर्षितः । लक्ष्मणस्य अग्रजम् शूरम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 8.1 ॥

parituṣṭaḥ tu sugrīvaḥ tena vākyena harṣitaḥ | lakṣmaṇasya agrajam śūram idam vacanam abravīt

Pleased and delighted by those words, Sugriva spoke these words to the valiant elder brother of Lakshmana.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.8.2)

सर्वथा अहम् अनुग्राह्यो देवतानाम् न संशयः । उपपन्नः गुण उपेतः सखा यस्य भवान् मम ॥ 8.2 ॥

sarvathā aham anugrāhyo devatānām na saṃśayaḥ | upapannaḥ guṇa upetaḥ sakhā yasya bhavān mama

Without doubt, I am in every way worthy of the gods' favor, since one so accomplished and endowed with virtue as you have become my friend.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.8.3)

शक्यम् खलु भवेत् राम सहायेन त्वया अनघ । सुर राज्यम् अपि प्राप्तुम् स्व राज्यम् किमुत प्रभो ॥ 8.3 ॥

śakyam khalu bhavet rāma sahāyena tvayā anagha | sura rājyam api prāptum sva rājyam kimuta prabho

O sinless Rama, with your help even the kingdom of the gods could surely be won — how much more, then, my lord, my own kingdom!

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.8.4)

सोऽहम् सभाज्यो बन्धूनाम् सुहृदाम् चैव राघव । यस्य अग्नि साक्षिकम् मित्रम् लब्धम् राघव वंशजम् ॥ 8.4 ॥

so'ham sabhājyo bandhūnām suhṛdām caiva rāghava | yasya agni sākṣikam mitram labdham rāghava vaṃśajam

I, who have gained as my friend — with fire as witness — one born of the Raghu line, have thereby become worthy of honor among my kinsmen and well-wishers.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.8.5)

अहम् अपि अनुरूपः ते वयस्यो ज्ञास्यसे शनैः । न तु वक्तुम् समर्थोऽहम् त्वयि आत्मगतान् गुणान् ॥ 8.5 ॥

aham api anurūpaḥ te vayasyo jñāsyase śanaiḥ | na tu vaktum samartho'ham tvayi ātmagatān guṇān

That I too am a fitting friend for you, you will come to know in time; but I myself am not able to speak of the qualities within me.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.8.6)

महात्मनाम् तु भूयिष्ठम् त्वत् विधानाम् कृत आत्मनाम् । निश्चला भवति प्रीतिः धैर्यम् आत्मवताम् वर ॥ 8.6 ॥

mahātmanām tu bhūyiṣṭham tvat vidhānām kṛta ātmanām | niścalā bhavati prītiḥ dhairyam ātmavatām vara

O best of the self-possessed, the friendship and steadfastness of great souls of purified heart, such as you, generally remain unshaken.

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.8.7)

रजतम् वा सुवर्णम् वा शुभानि आभरणानि च । अविभक्तानि साधूनाम् अवगच्छन्ति साधवः ॥ 8.7 ॥

rajatam vā suvarṇam vā śubhāni ābharaṇāni ca | avibhaktāni sādhūnām avagacchanti sādhavaḥ

Good men understand that silver, gold, or precious ornaments are never divided among the virtuous as 'mine' and 'yours' — among the good, all remains held in common.

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.8.8)

आढ्यो वा अपि दरिद्रो वा दुःखितः सुखितोऽपि वा । निर्दोषः च सदोषः च वयस्यः परमा गतिः ॥ 8.8 ॥

āḍhyo vā api daridro vā duḥkhitaḥ sukhito'pi vā | nirdoṣaḥ ca sadoṣaḥ ca vayasyaḥ paramā gatiḥ

Whether rich or poor, sorrowful or joyful, faultless or flawed — a friend remains, for anyone, the ultimate refuge.

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.8.9)

धन त्यागः सुख त्यागो देश त्यागोऽपि वा अनघः । वयस्यार्थे प्रवर्तन्ते स्नेहम् दृष्ट्वा तथा विधम् ॥ 8.9 ॥

dhana tyāgaḥ sukha tyāgo deśa tyāgo'pi vā anaghaḥ | vayasyārthe pravartante sneham dṛṣṭvā tathā vidham

O sinless one, beholding such affection, true friends do not hesitate to give up wealth, comfort, even their own homeland, for their friend's sake.

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.8.10)

तत् तथा इति अब्रवीत् रामः सुग्रीवम् प्रिय दर्शनम् । लक्ष्मणस्य अग्रतः लक्ष्म्या वासवस्य इव धीमतः ॥ 8.10 ॥

tat tathā iti abravīt rāmaḥ sugrīvam priya darśanam | lakṣmaṇasya agrataḥ lakṣmyā vāsavasya iva dhīmataḥ

Rama said to the pleasant-looking Sugriva, in the presence of the wise Lakshmana who shone like Indra himself, 'It is exactly so.'

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.8.11)

ततो रामम् स्थितम् दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणम् च महाबलम् । सुग्रीवः सर्वतः चक्षुः वने लोलम् अपातयत् ॥ 8.11 ॥

tato rāmam sthitam dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇam ca mahābalam | sugrīvaḥ sarvataḥ cakṣuḥ vane lolam apātayat

Then, seeing Rama standing there with the mighty Lakshmana, Sugriva cast his restless glance all around the forest.

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.8.12)

स ददर्श ततः सालम् अविदूरे हरीश्वरः । सुपुष्पम् ईषत् पत्र आढ्यम् भ्रमरैः उपशोभितम् ॥ 8.12 ॥

sa dadarśa tataḥ sālam avidūre harīśvaraḥ | supuṣpam īṣat patra āḍhyam bhramaraiḥ upaśobhitam

That lord of monkeys then saw, not far off, a sala tree richly flowered, sparse in leaves, and adorned with humming bees.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.8.13)

तस्य एकाम् पर्ण बहुलाम् शाखाम् भंक्त्वा सुशोभिताम् । रामस्य आस्तीर्य सुग्रीवो निषसाद स राघवः ॥ 8.13 ॥

tasya ekām parṇa bahulām śākhām bhaṃktvā suśobhitām | rāmasya āstīrya sugrīvo niṣasāda sa rāghavaḥ

Breaking off one beautiful, leaf-laden branch of that tree, Sugriva spread it out for Rama, and sat down upon it together with Raghava.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.8.14)

तौ आसीनौ ततः दृष्ट्वा हनूमान् अपि लक्ष्मणम् । साल शाखाम् समुत्पाट्य विनीतम् उपवेशयत् ॥ 8.14 ॥

tau āsīnau tataḥ dṛṣṭvā hanūmān api lakṣmaṇam | sāla śākhām samutpāṭya vinītam upaveśayat

Seeing those two thus seated, Hanuman likewise broke off a branch of sala and seated the modest Lakshmana upon it.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.8.15)

सुख उपविष्टम् रामम् तु प्रसन्नम् उदधिम् यथा । साल पुष्पाव संकीर्णे तस्मिन् गिरिवर उत्तमे ॥ 8.15 ॥

sukha upaviṣṭam rāmam tu prasannam udadhim yathā | sāla puṣpāva saṃkīrṇe tasmin girivara uttame

There on that best of mountains, strewn with sala blossoms, Rama, seated at ease, appeared like a tranquil ocean.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.8.16)

ततः प्रहृष्टः सुग्रीवः श्लक्ष्णया शुभया गिरा । उवाच प्रणयाद् रामम् हर्ष व्याकुलित अक्षरम् ॥ 8.16 ॥

tataḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ sugrīvaḥ ślakṣṇayā śubhayā girā | uvāca praṇayād rāmam harṣa vyākulita akṣaram

Then the delighted Sugriva, out of affection, began to speak to Rama in a soft and gracious voice, his words trembling a little with joy.

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.8.17)

अहम् विनिकृतो भ्रात्रा चरामि एष भयार्दितः । ऋष्यमूकम् गिरि वरम् हृत भार्यः सुदुःखितः ॥ 8.17 ॥

aham vinikṛto bhrātrā carāmi eṣa bhayārditaḥ | ṛṣyamūkam giri varam hṛta bhāryaḥ suduḥkhitaḥ

Betrayed by my own brother, tormented by fear and robbed of my wife, I now wander, deeply sorrowful, upon this excellent mountain Rishyamuka.

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.8.18)

सोऽहम् त्रस्तः भये मग्नः वने संब्रान्त चेतनः । वालिना निकृतः भ्रात्रा कृत वैरः च राघव ॥ 8.18 ॥

so'ham trastaḥ bhaye magnaḥ vane saṃbrānta cetanaḥ | vālinā nikṛtaḥ bhrātrā kṛta vairaḥ ca rāghava

I, O Raghava, cheated by my brother Vali and made his enemy, live on in this forest terrified, sunk in fear, my mind distraught.

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.8.19)

वालिनः मे भय आर्तस्य सर्वलोक अभयंकर । मम अपि त्वम् अनाथस्य प्रसादम् कर्तुम् अर्हसि ॥ 8.19 ॥

vālinaḥ me bhaya ārtasya sarvaloka abhayaṃkara | mama api tvam anāthasya prasādam kartum arhasi

O giver of refuge to all the worlds, upon me too — tormented by fear of Vali, and without protector — it befits you to show your grace.

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.8.20)

एवम् उक्तः तु तेजस्वी धर्मज्ञो धर्म वत्सलः । प्रत्युवाच स काकुत्स्थः सुग्रीवम् प्रहसन् इव ॥ 8.20 ॥

evam uktaḥ tu tejasvī dharmajño dharma vatsalaḥ | pratyuvāca sa kākutsthaḥ sugrīvam prahasan iva

Thus addressed, the radiant Kakutstha, knower of righteousness and devoted to it, replied to Sugriva as though smiling.

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.8.21)

उपकार फलम् मित्रम् अपकारो अरि लक्षणम् । अद्य एव तम् वधिष्यामि तव भार्या अपहारिणम् ॥ 8.21 ॥

upakāra phalam mitram apakāro ari lakṣaṇam | adya eva tam vadhiṣyāmi tava bhāryā apahāriṇam

The fruit of friendship is help rendered, as harm is the mark of an enemy; this very day I shall slay him who abducted your wife.

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.8.22)

इमे हि मे महाभाग पत्रिणः तिग्म तेजसः । कार्तिकेय वन उद्भूताः शरा हेम विभूषिताः ॥ 8.22 ॥

ime hi me mahābhāga patriṇaḥ tigma tejasaḥ | kārtikeya vana udbhūtāḥ śarā hema vibhūṣitāḥ

Behold, O fortunate one, these feathered shafts of mine, fierce in their power, born of the reed-forest of Kartikeya and adorned with gold.

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.8.23)

कन्क पत्र परिच्छन्ना महेन्द्र अशनि सन्निभाः । सुपर्वाणः सुतीक्ष्ण अग्रा सरोषा भुजगा इव ॥ 8.23 ॥

kanka patra paricchannā mahendra aśani sannibhāḥ | suparvāṇaḥ sutīkṣṇa agrā saroṣā bhujagā iva

Fletched with the plumes of the kanka bird, resembling the thunderbolt of great Indra, well-jointed and sharp of point, they are like serpents in fury.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.8.24)

वालि सज्ञम् अमित्रम् ते भ्रातरम् कृत किल्बिषम् । शरैः विनिहतम् पश्य विकीर्णम् इव पर्वतम् ॥ 8.24 ॥

vāli sajñam amitram te bhrātaram kṛta kilbiṣam | śaraiḥ vinihatam paśya vikīrṇam iva parvatam

You shall see your offending enemy-brother, Vali by name, struck down by these very arrows, scattered like a shattered mountain.

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.8.25)

राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवो वाहिनी पतिः । प्रहर्षम् अतुलम् लेभे साधु साध्विति च अब्रवीत् ॥ 8.25 ॥

rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā sugrīvo vāhinī patiḥ | praharṣam atulam lebhe sādhu sādhviti ca abravīt

Hearing Raghava's words, Sugriva, lord of the monkey host, was filled with matchless joy and exclaimed, 'Excellent! Excellent!'

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.8.26)

राम शोक अभिभूतो अहम् शोक आर्तानाम् भवान् गतिः । वयस्य इति कृत्वा हि त्वयि अहम् परिदेवये ॥ 8.26 ॥

rāma śoka abhibhūto aham śoka ārtānām bhavān gatiḥ | vayasya iti kṛtvā hi tvayi aham paridevaye

Rama, I am overwhelmed by grief, and you alone are the refuge of the grief-stricken; it is because I count you my friend that I pour out my sorrow before you.

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.8.27)

त्वम् हि पाणि प्रदानेन वयस्यो मे अग्नि साक्षिकम् । कृतः प्राणैः बहुमतः सत्येन च शपामि अहम् ॥ 8.27 ॥

tvam hi pāṇi pradānena vayasyo me agni sākṣikam | kṛtaḥ prāṇaiḥ bahumataḥ satyena ca śapāmi aham

By joining your hand with mine, with fire as witness, you have become my friend, dearer to me than my own life — this I say, swearing by truth.

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.8.28)

वयस्य इति कृत्वा च विस्रब्धः प्रवदामि अहम् । दुःखम् अन्तर्गतम् तन् मे मनो हरति नित्यशः ॥ 8.28 ॥

vayasya iti kṛtvā ca visrabdhaḥ pravadāmi aham | duḥkham antargatam tan me mano harati nityaśaḥ

It is because I hold you my friend that I speak so freely — this sorrow hidden within me forever gnaws at my mind.

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.8.29)

एतावत् उक्त्वा वचनम् बाष्प दूषित लोचनः । बाष्प दूषितया वाचा न उच्चैः श्क्नोति भाषितुम् ॥ 8.29 ॥

etāvat uktvā vacanam bāṣpa dūṣita locanaḥ | bāṣpa dūṣitayā vācā na uccaiḥ śknoti bhāṣitum

Having said this much, his eyes clouded with tears, Sugriva, his voice choked by the same tears, could not speak aloud any further.

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.8.30)

बाष्प वेगम् तु सहसा नदी वेगम् इव आगतम् । धारयामास धैर्येण सुग्रीवः राम संनिधौ ॥ 8.30 ॥

bāṣpa vegam tu sahasā nadī vegam iva āgatam | dhārayāmāsa dhairyeṇa sugrīvaḥ rāma saṃnidhau

In Rama's presence, Sugriva, with great composure, checked that sudden rush of tears which had surged up like the flood of a river.

Shloka 31 (kishkindha.8.31)

स निगृह्य तु तम् बाष्पम् प्रमृज्य नयने शुभे । विनिःश्वस्य च तेजस्वी राघवम् पुनरूचिवान् ॥ 8.31 ॥

sa nigṛhya tu tam bāṣpam pramṛjya nayane śubhe | viniḥśvasya ca tejasvī rāghavam punarūcivān

Restraining those tears and wiping his fair eyes, the radiant Sugriva sighed deeply and spoke once more to Raghava.

Shloka 32 (kishkindha.8.32)

पुरा अहम् वलिना राम राज्यात् स्वात् अवरोपितः । परुषाणि च संश्राव्य निर्धूतो अस्मि बलीयसा ॥ 8.32 ॥

purā aham valinā rāma rājyāt svāt avaropitaḥ | paruṣāṇi ca saṃśrāvya nirdhūto asmi balīyasā

O Rama, once that mighty Vali cast me down from my own kingdom, and having spoken harsh words to me, drove me out.

Shloka 33 (kishkindha.8.33)

हृता भार्या च मे तेन प्राणेभ्यो अपि गरीयसी । सुहृदः च मदीया ये संयता बन्धनेषु ते ॥ 8.33 ॥

hṛtā bhāryā ca me tena prāṇebhyo api garīyasī | suhṛdaḥ ca madīyā ye saṃyatā bandhaneṣu te

He seized from me my wife, dearer to me than my own life, and my well-wishers too he has bound and cast into captivity.

Shloka 34 (kishkindha.8.34)

यत्नवान् च स दुष्टात्मा मद् विनाशाय राघव । बहुशः तत् प्रयुक्ताः च वानरा निहता मया ॥ 8.34 ॥

yatnavān ca sa duṣṭātmā mad vināśāya rāghava | bahuśaḥ tat prayuktāḥ ca vānarā nihatā mayā

That evil-souled one, O Raghava, has ever striven for my destruction; the monkeys he sent against me time and again, I have slain.

Shloka 35 (kishkindha.8.35)

शंकया एतया अहम् च दृष्ट्वा त्वाम् अपि राघव । न उपसर्पामि अहम् भीतो भये सर्वे हि बिभ्यति ॥ 8.35 ॥

śaṃkayā etayā aham ca dṛṣṭvā tvām api rāghava | na upasarpāmi aham bhīto bhaye sarve hi bibhyati

It was from this same fear, O Raghava, that even on seeing you I did not approach — for one who is afraid finds everything fearsome.

Shloka 36 (kishkindha.8.36)

केवलम् हि सहाया मे हनुमत् प्रमुखास्त्विमे । अतः अहम् धारयामि अद्य प्राणान् कृच्छ्र गतः अपि सन् ॥ 8.36 ॥

kevalam hi sahāyā me hanumat pramukhāstvime | ataḥ aham dhārayāmi adya prāṇān kṛcchra gataḥ api san

These monkeys, Hanuman foremost among them, are my only helpers; it is because of them alone that, even in such distress, I still hold on to my life today.

Shloka 37 (kishkindha.8.37)

एते हि कपयः स्निग्धा माम् रक्षन्ति समन्ततः । सह गच्छन्ति गन्तव्ये नित्यम् तिष्ठन्ति च स्थिते ॥ 8.37 ॥

ete hi kapayaḥ snigdhā mām rakṣanti samantataḥ | saha gacchanti gantavye nityam tiṣṭhanti ca sthite

These loving monkeys guard me on every side; when I go, they go with me, and when I stay, they always stay as well.

Shloka 38 (kishkindha.8.38)

संक्षेपः ते एष मे राम किम् उक्त्वा विस्तरम् हि ते । स मे ज्येष्ठो रिपुः भ्राता वाली विश्रुत पौरुषः ॥ 8.38 ॥

saṃkṣepaḥ te eṣa me rāma kim uktvā vistaram hi te | sa me jyeṣṭho ripuḥ bhrātā vālī viśruta pauruṣaḥ

This, O Rama, is my story in brief — why trouble you with its full detail; that very elder brother of mine, Vali of renowned prowess, is now my enemy.

Shloka 39 (kishkindha.8.39)

तद् विनाशे अपि मे दुःखम् प्रमृष्टम् स्यात् अनन्तरम् । सुखम् मे जीवितम् चैव तद् विनाश निबन्धनम् ॥ 8.39 ॥

tad vināśe api me duḥkham pramṛṣṭam syāt anantaram | sukham me jīvitam caiva tad vināśa nibandhanam

The moment he is destroyed, this grief of mine will be wiped away; both my happiness and my very life depend upon his destruction.

Shloka 40 (kishkindha.8.40)

एष मे राम शोकान्तः शोक आर्तेन निवेदितः । दुःखितः सुखितः वा अपि सख्युः नित्यम् सखा गतिः ॥ 8.40 ॥

eṣa me rāma śokāntaḥ śoka ārtena niveditaḥ | duḥkhitaḥ sukhitaḥ vā api sakhyuḥ nityam sakhā gatiḥ

This, O Rama, is the end of my grief, which I, tormented by sorrow, have laid before you; whether in sorrow or in joy, a friend is ever the true refuge of a friend.

Shloka 41 (kishkindha.8.41)

श्रुत्वा एतत् च वचः रामः सुग्रीवम् इदम् अब्रवीत् । किम् निमित्तम् अभूत् वैरम् श्रोतुम् इच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥ 8.41 ॥

śrutvā etat ca vacaḥ rāmaḥ sugrīvam idam abravīt | kim nimittam abhūt vairam śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ

Hearing these words, Rama said to Sugriva, 'For what reason did this enmity arise? I wish to hear the truth of it.'

Shloka 42 (kishkindha.8.42)

सुखम् हि कारणम् श्रुत्वा वैरस्य तव वानर । आनन्तर्यद् विधास्यामि संप्रधार्य बलाबलम् ॥ 8.42 ॥

sukham hi kāraṇam śrutvā vairasya tava vānara | ānantaryad vidhāsyāmi saṃpradhārya balābalam

Once I have heard, O monkey, the cause of your enmity, and duly weighed the strength and weakness involved, I shall then do easily whatever needs to be done next.

Shloka 43 (kishkindha.8.43)

बलवान् हि मम अमर्षः श्रुत्वा त्वाम् अवमानितम् । वर्धते हृदय उत्कम्पी प्रावृड् वेग इव अंभसः ॥ 8.43 ॥

balavān hi mama amarṣaḥ śrutvā tvām avamānitam | vardhate hṛdaya utkampī prāvṛḍ vega iva aṃbhasaḥ

Hearing that you have been insulted, my mighty indignation swells within me, setting my heart pounding, like the surging flood of the rainy season.

Shloka 44 (kishkindha.8.44)

हृष्टः कथय विस्रब्धो यावत् आरोप्यते धनुः । सृष्टः च हि मया बाणो निरस्तः च रिपुः तव ॥ 8.44 ॥

hṛṣṭaḥ kathaya visrabdho yāvat āropyate dhanuḥ | sṛṣṭaḥ ca hi mayā bāṇo nirastaḥ ca ripuḥ tava

Speak freely and gladly, even before this bow is drawn, before the arrow is loosed, and before your enemy is brought down.

Shloka 45 (kishkindha.8.45)

एवम् उक्तः तु सुग्रीवः काकुत्स्थेन महात्मना । प्रहर्षम् अतुलम् लेभे चतुर्भिः सह वानरैः ॥ 8.45 ॥

evam uktaḥ tu sugrīvaḥ kākutsthena mahātmanā | praharṣam atulam lebhe caturbhiḥ saha vānaraiḥ

Thus addressed by the great-souled Kakutstha, Sugriva, together with the four monkeys present with him, was filled with boundless joy.

Shloka 46 (kishkindha.8.46)

ततः प्रहृ^इष्ट वदनः सुग्रीवः लक्ष्मणाग्रजे । वैरस्य कारणम् तत्त्वम् आख्यातुम् उपचक्रमे ॥ 8.46 ॥

tataḥ prahṛ^iṣṭa vadanaḥ sugrīvaḥ lakṣmaṇāgraje | vairasya kāraṇam tattvam ākhyātum upacakrame

Then, his face lit with joy, Sugriva began to relate to the elder brother of Lakshmana the true cause of that enmity.