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राम

दक्षिणखण्ड · अध्याय 185

Rāma Reassures Sugrīva and Marks Him with a Garland

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Chapter context and opening material

Bloodied and exhausted, Sugrīva returns from defeat and accuses Rāma of betraying his trust. Rāma compassionately heals him and explains that the brothers' identical appearance made a safe shot impossible: he would not risk killing his friend. He promises Vālin's death and places a flower garland on Sugrīva as an unmistakable sign for the renewed challenge. Sugrīva Returns Wounded

Passage 1

ब्रह्मोवाच— मुष्टिप्रहारविध्वस्तः शस्त्रघातपरिक्षतः। क्षरद्रुधिरदिग्धाङ्गः कपिश्रेष्ठपराक्रमः॥१॥

Brahmā said: Sugrīva, valiant among the foremost monkeys, was shattered by fist-blows, cut by weapons, and smeared with flowing blood.

Passage 2

मुहुर्विनिःश्वसन् श्रान्तो धावनश्रमवेगतः। पलायनसलज्जोऽसौ रामस्यान्तिकमागतः॥२॥

Panting repeatedly and exhausted by his flight, he came ashamed into Rāma's presence.

Passage 3

मुहुर्विचकितस्तत्र शत्रोरागमशङ्कया। विवृत्य वदनं पश्चात् पश्यन् सत्रासमानसः॥३॥

Still fearing his enemy's arrival, he repeatedly turned his face backward and looked behind in alarm.

Passage 4

तं प्रणम्यात्मसुहृदं तर्जन्यग्रेण निर्दिशन्। उपालेभे पराभूतो वाक्यैरुच्चावचैर्मुहुः॥४॥

Defeated, he bowed to his friend, pointed with his forefinger, and reproached him repeatedly in agitated words. Sugrīva Accuses Rāma

Passage 5

अहो रघुकुलोत्तंस वञ्चितो भवतास्म्यहम्। विध्वस्तः संगरे युद्ध्वा बलिना तेन वालिना॥५॥

“Crest-jewel of Raghu's line, you have deceived me! I fought mighty Vālin in battle and was crushed.

Passage 6

जानाम्यात्मबलं तस्मिन्नपर्याप्ततमं रिपौ। तव विश्वासमाश्रित्य युक्तोऽहं तेन संगरे॥६॥

“I knew my own strength was entirely inadequate against that enemy, but trusting you, I engaged him.

Passage 7

सोऽहं सम्यक् त्वया मित्र नीतस्तेन पराजयम्। यद्यहं न पलायेय हतः स्यामद्य तेन तत्॥७॥

“Friend, through you I was led directly to defeat. Had I not fled, he would have killed me today.

Passage 8

प्राणान् गृहीत्वा कथमप्यागतोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम्। क एवं सुहृदो हन्याद् विश्वासं रघुसत्तम॥८॥

“Barely preserving my life, I have returned to you. Best of the Raghus, who would destroy a friend's trust in this way?

Passage 9

पुरैवाहं हतबलस्तस्माद् भीतः पलायितः। ऋष्यमूकगिरेः शृङ्गमाश्रित्य रहसि स्थितः॥९॥

“Before this I had already fled him in fear, my strength broken, and secretly took refuge on Ṛṣyamūka's peak.

Passage 10

त्वद्बलं तु समाश्रित्य पुनः सोत्साहमानसः। युक्तोऽहं तेन समरे द्राक् सम्प्राप्तं च तत्फलम्॥१०॥

“Taking refuge in your strength, I again faced him with confidence—and immediately received the result.

Passage 11

नैतत्तेऽनुचितं वीर यन्मित्रपरिवञ्चनम्। महौजसोऽतिमहतो धार्मिकस्य यशस्विनः॥११॥

“Hero, deceiving a friend is unworthy of one so mighty, great, righteous, and renowned.

Passage 12

किमहं कृतवान् राम तव विश्वासमात्मना। आगन्तुकस्य का मैत्री किं दुःखं मे पराजये॥१२॥

“Rāma, what have I done by placing my trust in you? What friendship can there be with a newcomer? Why should my defeat grieve you?

Passage 13

सोऽहं स्वच्छतमं शत्रुं विप्रकृत्य सुनिर्बलः। कथं स्थास्यामि लोकेऽस्मिन् सक्षेमो जीवितान्वितः॥१३॥

“Weak as I am, I have openly provoked my enemy. How can I remain safe and alive in this world?

Passage 14

अत्राप्यागमनं शङ्के तस्य दुष्टस्य विद्विषः। प्रहर्तुमुद्यते तस्मिन् को मे त्राता भविष्यति॥१४॥

“I fear that wicked enemy may come even here. If he raises his hand to strike, who will protect me?” Rāma Heals and Explains

Passage 15

इति तस्य गिरो रामः श्रुत्वात्मसुहृदस्तदा। सानुकम्पमनाश्चक्रे हस्तस्पर्शेन लालनम्॥१५॥

Hearing his friend's words, compassionate Rāma comforted him with the touch of his hand.

Passage 16

वालिनो मुष्टिघातेन शस्त्रघातेन चापि सः। परिक्षताखिलतनुः क्षतजौघपरिप्लुतः॥१६॥

His whole body had been wounded by Vālin's fists and weapons and was drenched in streams of blood.

Passage 17

रामस्य हस्तस्पर्शेन भृशं पीयूषवर्षिणा। अगदेनैव सुग्रीवस्तत्क्षणात्सुखितोऽभवत्॥१७॥

At the nectar-raining touch of Rāma's hand, Sugrīva became comfortable at once, as though treated with perfect medicine.

Passage 18

तमुवाच रघुश्रेष्ठो लालयित्वा भृशं प्रभुः। न मे दोषोऽस्ति वै मित्र युवां ननु रणाङ्गणे॥१८॥

After tenderly comforting him, the Lord said: “Friend, I am not at fault. On the battlefield, the two of you—

Passage 19

युध्यमानौ मया दृष्टावेक रूपवपुर्धरौ। अतो मम वितर्कोऽभूत् को मे मित्रं भवेदिति॥१९॥

“—appeared to me fighting with identical forms and bodies. I therefore wondered which one was my friend.

Passage 20

चिह्नं नैव मया दृष्टं मित्रस्य तव युध्यतः। अतः कथमहं हन्यां विशिखेनानिवर्तिना॥२०॥

“I saw no distinguishing mark on you as you fought. How, then, could I shoot an arrow that cannot be recalled?

Passage 21

हत्वा प्रमादतो मित्रं कथं स्यां पापभागहम्। इष्टेन च वियुज्येय ततः कालः प्रतीक्षितः॥२१॥

“If by error I killed my friend, how could I avoid sharing in sin? I would also lose one dear to me, so I waited.

Passage 22

मयाद्यैवैकबाणेन तव शत्रुर्निपातितः। अधुना पुनरेव त्वं प्रयाहि रिपुमात्मनः॥२२॥

“Today your enemy will fall by my single arrow. Go now once more against him.

Passage 23

सत्यं वदामि ते मित्र हनिष्ये तं महेषुणा। इत्याख्याय रघुश्रेष्ठः सुग्रीवं सुहृदं निजम्॥२३॥

“Friend, I tell you truthfully: I shall kill him with my great arrow.” Having told his friend Sugrīva this—

Passage 24

चिह्नाय तस्य ग्रीवायां मालां कुसुमनिर्मिताम्। निदधावात्महस्तेन करुणारसवारिधिः॥२४॥

—the ocean of compassion placed with his own hand a flower garland upon Sugrīva's neck as a sign.

Passage 25

भूयोऽप्येष स्वामिना राघवेण दत्ताश्वासो लालितश्चैव कीशः। युद्धं कर्तुं वालिना वीर्यभाजा किष्किन्धाख्यां नगरीं संजगाम॥२५॥

Reassured and cherished by his Lord Rāghava, the monkey again went to the city called Kiṣkindhā to fight the valorous Vālin.