Rama's Vow of Refuge

Shloka 1 (yuddha.18.1)

अथ रामः प्रसन्नात्मा श्रुत्वा वायुसुतस्य ह। प्रत्यभाषत दुर्धर्षः श्रुतवानात्मनि स्थितम् ॥ 18.1 ॥

atha rāmaḥ prasannātmā śrutvā vāyusutasya ha| pratyabhāṣata durdharṣaḥ śrutavānātmani sthitam || 18.1 ||

Then Rama, his mind now at ease, the unassailable one versed in scripture, having heard the son of the Wind, replied with the resolve firmly settled in his own heart.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.18.2)

ममापि च विवक्षास्ति काचित् प्रति विभीषणम्। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत् सर्वं भवद्भिः श्रेयसि स्थितैः ॥ 18.2 ॥

mamāpi ca vivakṣāsti kācit prati vibhīṣaṇam| śrotumicchāmi tat sarvaṃ bhavadbhiḥ śreyasi sthitaiḥ || 18.2 ||

“I too have something I wish to say regarding Vibhishana; and I wish all of it to be heard by you, who stand firmly for our good.”

Shloka 3 (yuddha.18.3)

मित्रभावेन सम्प्राप्तं न त्यजेयं कथंचन। दोषो यद्यपि तस्य स्यात् सतामेतदगर्हितम् ॥ 18.3 ॥

mitrabhāvena samprāptaṃ na tyajeyaṃ kathaṃcana| doṣo yadyapi tasya syāt satāmetadagarhitam || 18.3 ||

“One who comes with the bearing of a friend I could never abandon, by any means, even should some fault be found in him - good men do not condemn this.”

Shloka 4 (yuddha.18.4)

सुग्रीवस्त्वथ तद्वाक्यमाभाष्य च विमृश्य च। ततः शुभतरं वाक्यमुवाच हरिपुङ्गवः ॥ 18.4 ॥

sugrīvastvatha tadvākyamābhāṣya ca vimṛśya ca| tataḥ śubhataraṃ vākyamuvāca haripuṅgavaḥ || 18.4 ||

Then Sugriva, the bull among monkeys, having taken in and pondered those words, spoke words that were even more auspicious.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.18.5)

स दुष्टो वाप्यदुष्टो वा किमेष रजनीचरः। ईदृशं व्यसनं प्राप्तं भ्रातरं यः परित्यजेत् ॥ 18.5 ॥

sa duṣṭo vāpyaduṣṭo vā kimeṣa rajanīcaraḥ| īdṛśaṃ vyasanaṃ prāptaṃ bhrātaraṃ yaḥ parityajet || 18.5 ||

“What does it matter whether this night-wanderer is wicked or not, if he is one who abandons his own brother when such calamity befalls him?”

Shloka 6 (yuddha.18.6)

को नाम स भवेत् तस्य यमेष न परित्यजेत्। वानराधिपतेर्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा सर्वानुदीक्ष्य तु ॥ 18.6 ॥

ko nāma sa bhavet tasya yameṣa na parityajet| vānarādhipatervākyaṃ śrutvā sarvānudīkṣya tu || 18.6 ||

“Whom indeed would he not betray?” Having heard the words of the monkey chief, and having looked all around at them,

Shloka 7 (yuddha.18.7)

ईषदुत्स्मयमानस्तु लक्ष्मणं पुण्यलक्षणम्। इति होवाच काकुत्स्थो वाक्यं सत्यपराक्रमः ॥ 18.7 ॥

īṣadutsmayamānastu lakṣmaṇaṃ puṇyalakṣaṇam| iti hovāca kākutstho vākyaṃ satyaparākramaḥ || 18.7 ||

Rama, of true valor, smiling faintly, spoke thus to Lakshmana of the auspicious marks.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.18.8)

अनधीत्य च शास्त्राणि वृद्धाननुपसेव्य च। न शक्यमीदृशं वक्तुं यदुवाच हरीश्वरः ॥ 18.8 ॥

anadhītya ca śāstrāṇi vṛddhānanupasevya ca| na śakyamīdṛśaṃ vaktuṃ yaduvāca harīśvaraḥ || 18.8 ||

“Without having studied the scriptures, and without having served the elders, one could not speak as the lord of the monkeys has just spoken.”

Shloka 9 (yuddha.18.9)

अस्ति सूक्ष्मतरं किंचिद् यथात्र प्रतिभाति मा। प्रत्यक्षं लौकिकं चापि वर्तते सर्वराजसु ॥ 18.9 ॥

asti sūkṣmataraṃ kiṃcid yathātra pratibhāti mā| pratyakṣaṃ laukikaṃ cāpi vartate sarvarājasu || 18.9 ||

“There is something subtler still that occurs to my mind here - a thing plainly seen in the world, and present among all kings.”

Shloka 10 (yuddha.18.10)

अमित्रास्तत्कुलीनाश्च प्रातिदेश्याश्च कीर्तिताः। व्यसनेषु प्रहर्तारस्तस्मादयमिहागतः ॥ 18.10 ॥

amitrāstatkulīnāśca prātideśyāśca kīrtitāḥ| vyasaneṣu prahartārastasmādayamihāgataḥ || 18.10 ||

“It is said that men of the same lineage, and rulers of neighboring lands, become adversaries and strike in times of misfortune; that is why this one has come here.”

Shloka 11 (yuddha.18.11)

अपापास्तत्कुलीनाश्च मानयन्ति स्वकान् हितान्। एष प्रायो नरेन्द्राणां शङ्कनीयस्तु शोभनः ॥ 18.11 ॥

apāpāstatkulīnāśca mānayanti svakān hitān| eṣa prāyo narendrāṇāṃ śaṅkanīyastu śobhanaḥ || 18.11 ||

“Yet those of the same lineage who are without sin do honor their own well-wishers; still, among kings, it is generally the very virtuous who are viewed with suspicion.”

Shloka 12 (yuddha.18.12)

यस्तु दोषस्त्वया प्रोक्तो ह्यादानेऽरिबलस्य च। तत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि यथाशास्त्रमिदं शृणु ॥ 18.12 ॥

yastu doṣastvayā prokto hyādāne'ribalasya ca| tatra te kīrtayiṣyāmi yathāśāstramidaṃ śṛṇu || 18.12 ||

“As for the fault you named, of taking in a force belonging to an enemy - hear now what I have to tell you on this, as the scriptures teach.”

Shloka 13 (yuddha.18.13)

न वयं तत्कुलीनाश्च राज्यकाङ्क्षी च राक्षसः। पण्डिता हि भविष्यन्ति तस्माद् ग्राह्यो विभीषणः ॥ 18.13 ॥

na vayaṃ tatkulīnāśca rājyakāṅkṣī ca rākṣasaḥ| paṇḍitā hi bhaviṣyanti tasmād grāhyo vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 18.13 ||

“We are not of his lineage; and this rakshasa desires only the kingdom for himself. Even demons may prove learned - for this reason Vibhishana is to be accepted.”

Shloka 14 (yuddha.18.14)

अव्यग्राश्च प्रहृष्टाश्च ते भविष्यन्ति संगताः। प्रणादश्च महानेषोऽन्योन्यस्य भयमागतम्। इति भेदं गमिष्यन्ति तस्माद् ग्राह्यो विभीषणः ॥ 18.14 ॥

avyagrāśca prahṛṣṭāśca te bhaviṣyanti saṃgatāḥ| praṇādaśca mahāneṣo'nyonyasya bhayamāgatam| iti bhedaṃ gamiṣyanti tasmād grāhyo vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 18.14 ||

“Untroubled and delighted, kinsmen would remain together - but here a great uproar has arisen, and mutual fear has crept in between the brothers; hence a rift has come between them. For this too, Vibhishana is to be accepted.”

Shloka 15 (yuddha.18.15)

न सर्वे भ्रातरस्तात भवन्ति भरतोपमाः। मद्विधा वा पितुः पुत्राः सुहृदो वा भवद्विधाः ॥ 18.15 ॥

na sarve bhrātarastāta bhavanti bharatopamāḥ| madvidhā vā pituḥ putrāḥ suhṛdo vā bhavadvidhāḥ || 18.15 ||

“Dear one, not every brother is like Bharata, nor every son to his father like me, nor every friend like you.”

Shloka 16 (yuddha.18.16)

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण सुग्रीवः सहलक्ष्मणः। उत्थायेदं महाप्राज्ञः प्रणतो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 18.16 ॥

evamuktastu rāmeṇa sugrīvaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ| utthāyedaṃ mahāprājñaḥ praṇato vākyamabravīt || 18.16 ||

Thus addressed by Rama, in the presence of Lakshmana, Sugriva, the man of great wisdom, rose, bowed, and spoke these words.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.18.17)

रावणेन प्रणिहितं तमवेहि निशाचरम्। तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये क्षमं क्षमवतां वर ॥ 18.17 ॥

rāvaṇena praṇihitaṃ tamavehi niśācaram| tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye kṣamaṃ kṣamavatāṃ vara || 18.17 ||

“Know that this night-wanderer has been sent by Ravana; O best among the forbearing, I think it fitting that he be seized.”

Shloka 18 (yuddha.18.18)

राक्षसो जिह्मया बुद्ध्या संदिष्टोऽयमिहागतः। प्रहर्तुं त्वयि विश्वस्ते विश्वस्ते मयि वानघ ॥ 18.18 ॥

rākṣaso jihmayā buddhyā saṃdiṣṭo'yamihāgataḥ| prahartuṃ tvayi viśvaste viśvaste mayi vānagha || 18.18 ||

“O sinless one, this rakshasa has come here sent with crooked intent, to strike either you or me, once trust has been placed in him.”

Shloka 19 (yuddha.18.19)

लक्ष्मणे वा महाबाहो स वध्यः सचिवैः सह। रावणस्य नृशंसस्य भ्राता ह्येष विभीषणः ॥ 18.19 ॥

lakṣmaṇe vā mahābāho sa vadhyaḥ sacivaiḥ saha| rāvaṇasya nṛśaṃsasya bhrātā hyeṣa vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 18.19 ||

“- or upon Lakshmana, O mighty-armed one. He, along with his ministers, deserves death; for this Vibhishana is indeed the brother of cruel Ravana.”

Shloka 20 (yuddha.18.20)

एवमुक्त्वा रघुश्रेष्ठं सुग्रीवो वाहिनीपतिः। वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकुशलं ततो मौनमुपागमत् ॥ 18.20 ॥

evamuktvā raghuśreṣṭhaṃ sugrīvo vāhinīpatiḥ| vākyajño vākyakuśalaṃ tato maunamupāgamat || 18.20 ||

Having spoken thus to the best of the Raghus, Sugriva, the army's commander, himself skilled in speech, fell silent before that eloquent one.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.18.21)

स सुग्रीवस्य तद् वाक्यं रामः श्रुत्वा विमृश्य च। ततः शुभतरं वाक्यमुवाच हरिपुङ्गवम् ॥ 18.21 ॥

sa sugrīvasya tad vākyaṃ rāmaḥ śrutvā vimṛśya ca| tataḥ śubhataraṃ vākyamuvāca haripuṅgavam || 18.21 ||

Rama, having heard and pondered those words of Sugriva, then spoke words even more auspicious to that bull among monkeys.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.18.22)

स दुष्टो वाप्यदुष्टो वा किमेष रजनीचरः। सूक्ष्ममप्यहितं कर्तुं मम शक्तः कथंचन ॥ 18.22 ॥

sa duṣṭo vāpyaduṣṭo vā kimeṣa rajanīcaraḥ| sūkṣmamapyahitaṃ kartuṃ mama śaktaḥ kathaṃcana || 18.22 ||

“What does it matter whether this night-wanderer is wicked or not? By no means is he capable of doing me even the slightest harm.”

Shloka 23 (yuddha.18.23)

पिशाचान् दानवान् यक्षान् पृथिव्यां चैव राक्षसान्। अङ्गुल्यग्रेण तान् हन्यामिच्छन् हरिगणेश्वर ॥ 18.23 ॥

piśācān dānavān yakṣān pṛthivyāṃ caiva rākṣasān| aṅgulyagreṇa tān hanyāmicchan harigaṇeśvara || 18.23 ||

“O lord of the monkey hosts, were I to wish it, I could slay every pishacha, danava, yaksha, and rakshasa on this earth with the mere tip of my finger.”

Shloka 24 (yuddha.18.24)

श्रूयते हि कपोतेन शत्रुः शरणमागतः। अर्चितश्च यथान्यायं स्वैश्च मांसैर्निमन्त्रितः ॥ 18.24 ॥

śrūyate hi kapotena śatruḥ śaraṇamāgataḥ| arcitaśca yathānyāyaṃ svaiśca māṃsairnimantritaḥ || 18.24 ||

“It is told how a dove once received its own enemy who came seeking refuge, honoring him with due hospitality, and offering him a feast of its own flesh.”

Shloka 25 (yuddha.18.25)

स हि तं प्रतिजग्राह भार्याहर्तारमागतम्। कपोतो वानरश्रेष्ठ किं पुनर्मद्विधो जनः ॥ 18.25 ॥

sa hi taṃ pratijagrāha bhāryāhartāramāgatam| kapoto vānaraśreṣṭha kiṃ punarmadvidho janaḥ || 18.25 ||

“That dove, O best of monkeys, welcomed the very fowler who had come, though he had stolen away its mate - how much more, then, should a man such as I?”

Shloka 26 (yuddha.18.26)

ऋषेः कण्वस्य पुत्रोण कण्डुना परमर्षिणा। शृणु गाथा पुरा गीता धर्मिष्ठा सत्यवादिना ॥ 18.26 ॥

ṛṣeḥ kaṇvasya putroṇa kaṇḍunā paramarṣiṇā| śṛṇu gāthā purā gītā dharmiṣṭhā satyavādinā || 18.26 ||

“Hear the verses that were sung long ago by Kandu, the great sage, son of the rishi Kanva, a righteous speaker of truth.”

Shloka 27 (yuddha.18.27)

बद्धाञ्जलिपुटं दीनं याचन्तं शरणागतम्। न हन्यादानृशंस्यार्थमपि शत्रुं परंतप ॥ 18.27 ॥

baddhāñjalipuṭaṃ dīnaṃ yācantaṃ śaraṇāgatam| na hanyādānṛśaṃsyārthamapi śatruṃ paraṃtapa || 18.27 ||

“O scorcher of foes, one who comes with joined palms, wretched, pleading, seeking refuge - even an enemy - should not be slain, for the sake of mercy alone.”

Shloka 28 (yuddha.18.28)

आर्तो वा यदि वा दृप्तः परेषां शरणं गतः। अरिः प्राणान् परित्यज्य रक्षितव्यः कृतात्मना ॥ 18.28 ॥

ārto vā yadi vā dṛptaḥ pareṣāṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ| ariḥ prāṇān parityajya rakṣitavyaḥ kṛtātmanā || 18.28 ||

“Be he stricken with grief or puffed with pride, an enemy who has taken refuge with another must be protected by a man of disciplined soul, even at the cost of his own life.”

Shloka 29 (yuddha.18.29)

स चेद् भयाद् वा मोहाद् वा कामाद् वापि न रक्षति। स्वया शक्त्या यथान्यायं तत् पापं लोकगर्हितम् ॥ 18.29 ॥

sa ced bhayād vā mohād vā kāmād vāpi na rakṣati| svayā śaktyā yathānyāyaṃ tat pāpaṃ lokagarhitam || 18.29 ||

“And if, out of fear, or delusion, or desire, he fails to protect him with all his rightful power - that is a sin condemned by the whole world.”

Shloka 30 (yuddha.18.30)

विनष्टः पश्यतस्तस्य रक्षिणः शरणं गतः। आनाय सुकृतं तस्य सर्वं गच्छेदरक्षितः ॥ 18.30 ॥

vinaṣṭaḥ paśyatastasya rakṣiṇaḥ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ| ānāya sukṛtaṃ tasya sarvaṃ gacchedarakṣitaḥ || 18.30 ||

“If a refugee, left unprotected, perishes before the very eyes of his protector, all his own merit passes over, taken up, to that failed protector.”

Shloka 31 (yuddha.18.31)

एवं दोषो महानत्र प्रपन्नानामरक्षणे। अस्वर्ग्यं चायशस्यं च बलवीर्यविनाशनम् ॥ 18.31 ॥

evaṃ doṣo mahānatra prapannānāmarakṣaṇe| asvargyaṃ cāyaśasyaṃ ca balavīryavināśanam || 18.31 ||

“So great is the fault in failing to protect those who have taken refuge - it forfeits heaven, it destroys good name, and it ruins strength and valor.”

Shloka 32 (yuddha.18.32)

करिष्यामि यथार्थं तु कण्डोर्वचनमुत्तमम्। धर्मिष्ठं च यशस्यं च स्वर्ग्यं स्यात् तु फलोदये ॥ 18.32 ॥

kariṣyāmi yathārthaṃ tu kaṇḍorvacanamuttamam| dharmiṣṭhaṃ ca yaśasyaṃ ca svargyaṃ syāt tu phalodaye || 18.32 ||

“So I shall truly carry out Kandu's excellent teaching - righteous as it is, bringing good name, and leading to heaven when its fruit ripens.”

Shloka 33 (yuddha.18.33)

सकृदेव प्रपन्नाय तवास्मीति च याचते। अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो ददाम्येतद् व्रतं मम ॥ 18.33 ॥

sakṛdeva prapannāya tavāsmīti ca yācate| abhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyo dadāmyetad vrataṃ mama || 18.33 ||

“To one who comes just once, seeking refuge and saying, 'I am yours,' I grant safety from every being - this is my vow.”

Shloka 34 (yuddha.18.34)

आनयैनं हरिश्रेष्ठ दत्तमस्याभयं मया। विभीषणो वा सुग्रीव यदि वा रावणः स्वयम् ॥ 18.34 ॥

ānayainaṃ hariśreṣṭha dattamasyābhayaṃ mayā| vibhīṣaṇo vā sugrīva yadi vā rāvaṇaḥ svayam || 18.34 ||

“Bring him here, O best of monkeys - I have granted him safety, be he Vibhishana, O Sugriva, or Ravana himself.”

Shloka 35 (yuddha.18.35)

रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवः प्लवगेश्वरः। प्रत्यभाषत काकुत्स्थं सौहार्देनाभिपूरितः ॥ 18.35 ॥

rāmasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā sugrīvaḥ plavageśvaraḥ| pratyabhāṣata kākutsthaṃ sauhārdenābhipūritaḥ || 18.35 ||

Hearing Rama's words, Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, overflowing with affection, replied to the son of Kakutstha.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.18.36)

किमत्र चित्रं धर्मज्ञ लोकनाथशिखामणे। यत् त्वमार्यं प्रभाषेथाः सत्त्ववान् सत्पथे स्थितः ॥ 18.36 ॥

kimatra citraṃ dharmajña lokanāthaśikhāmaṇe| yat tvamāryaṃ prabhāṣethāḥ sattvavān satpathe sthitaḥ || 18.36 ||

“What wonder is it, O knower of righteousness, crown-jewel among the lords of the world, that you, of true strength and set upon the noble path, should speak such worthy words?”

Shloka 37 (yuddha.18.37)

मम चाप्यन्तरात्मायं शुद्धं वेत्ति विभीषणम्। अनुमानाच्च भावाच्च सर्वतः सुपरीक्षितः ॥ 18.37 ॥

mama cāpyantarātmāyaṃ śuddhaṃ vetti vibhīṣaṇam| anumānācca bhāvācca sarvataḥ suparīkṣitaḥ || 18.37 ||

“My own inmost heart, too, well satisfied on every count by inference and by his very bearing, senses Vibhishana to be sincere.”

Shloka 38 (yuddha.18.38)

तस्मात् क्षिप्रं सहास्माभिस्तुल्यो भवतु राघव। विभीषणो महाप्राज्ञः सखित्वं चाभ्युपैतु नः ॥ 18.38 ॥

tasmāt kṣipraṃ sahāsmābhistulyo bhavatu rāghava| vibhīṣaṇo mahāprājñaḥ sakhitvaṃ cābhyupaitu naḥ || 18.38 ||

“Therefore, O Raghava, let the wise Vibhishana quickly become one among us, and let him enter into friendship with us.”

Shloka 39 (yuddha.18.39)

ततस्तु सुग्रीववचो निशम्य त- द्धरीश्वरेणाभिहितं नरेश्वरः। विभीषणेनाशु जगाम संगमं पतत्त्रिराजेन यथा पुरंदरः ॥ 18.39 ॥

tatastu sugrīvavaco niśamya ta- ddharīśvareṇābhihitaṃ nareśvaraḥ| vibhīṣaṇenāśu jagāma saṃgamaṃ patattrirājena yathā puraṃdaraḥ || 18.39 ||

Then Rama, lord of men, having heard those words spoken by the lord of the monkeys, swiftly went to meet Vibhishana - as Indra, lord of the storm, once went to meet the king of birds.