Rama Teaches True Friendship, Tests His Strength, and Sends Sugriva to Roar

जे न मित्र दुख होहिं दुखारी। तिन्हहि बिलोकत पातक भारी।। निज दुख गिरि सम रज करि जाना। मित्रक दुख रज मेरु समाना।। जिन्ह कें असि मति सहज न आई। ते सठ कत हठि करत मिताई।। कुपथ निवारि सुपंथ चलावा। गुन प्रगटे अवगुनन्हि दुरावा।। देत लेत मन संक न धरई। बल अनुमान सदा हित करई।। बिपति काल कर सतगुन नेहा। श्रुति कह संत मित्र गुन एहा।। आगें कह मृदु बचन बनाई। पाछें अनहित मन कुटिलाई।। जा कर चित अहि गति सम भाई। अस कुमित्र परिहरेहि भलाई।। सेवक सठ नृप कृपन कुनारी। कपटी मित्र सूल सम चारी।। सखा सोच त्यागहु बल मोरें। सब बिधि घटब काज मैं तोरें।। कह सुग्रीव सुनहु रघुबीरा। बालि महाबल अति रनधीरा।। दुंदुभी अस्थि ताल देखराए। बिनु प्रयास रघुनाथ ढहाए।। देखि अमित बल बाढ़ी प्रीती। बालि बधब इन्ह भइ परतीती।। बार बार नावइ पद सीसा। प्रभुहि जानि मन हरष कपीसा।। उपजा ग्यान बचन तब बोला। नाथ कृपाँ मन भयउ अलोला।। सुख संपति परिवार बड़ाई। सब परिहरि करिहउँ सेवकाई।। ए सब रामभगति के बाधक। कहहिं संत तब पद अवराधक।। सत्रु मित्र सुख दुख जग माहीं। माया कृत परमारथ नाहीं।। बालि परम हित जासु प्रसादा। मिलेहु राम तुम्ह समन बिषादा।। सपनें जेहि सन होइ लराई। जागें समुझत मन सकुचाई।। अब प्रभु कृपा करहु एहि भाँती। सब तजि भजनु करौं दिन राती।। सुनि बिराग संजुत कपि बानी। बोले बिहँसि रामु धनुपानी।। जो कछु कहेहु सत्य सब सोई। सखा बचन मम मृषा न होई।। नट मरकट इव सबहि नचावत। रामु खगेस बेद अस गावत।। लै सुग्रीव संग रघुनाथा। चले चाप सायक गहि हाथा।। तब रघुपति सुग्रीव पठावा। गर्जेसि जाइ निकट बल पावा।। सुनत बालि क्रोधातुर धावा। गहि कर चरन नारि समुझावा।। सुनु पति जिन्हहि मिलेउ सुग्रीवा। ते द्वौ बंधु तेज बल सींवा।। कोसलेस सुत लछिमन रामा। कालहु जीति सकहिं संग्रामा।।

Those who feel no sorrow at their friend's distress, it is a great sin even to look upon such people. One should treat one's own mountain of grief as a grain of dust, while regarding a friend's grain of dust as tall as Mount Meru. Those who do not naturally possess this understanding, why do such fools stubbornly insist on calling themselves friends? A true friend steers you from the wrong path and sets you on the right one, reveals your virtues and hides your faults. In giving and receiving he harbors no suspicion. According to his strength, he always works for your good. In times of calamity, his love multiplies a hundredfold. The Shruti declares that these are the marks of a saintly friend. But one who speaks soft, polished words to your face while plotting harm and nursing crookedness behind your back, whose mind moves like a serpent's crooked path, O brother, it is wise to abandon such a false friend entirely. A foolish servant, a miserly king, a faithless wife, and a treacherous friend: these four are thorns that pierce without ceasing. 'Friend, abandon your worry. By my strength, I shall accomplish your cause in every way.' Sugriva said, 'Listen, O Raghubira! Bali is enormously powerful and utterly fearless in battle.' He showed Rama the bones of the demon Dundubhi and a row of tall palm trees. Raghunatha toppled them without the slightest effort. Seeing that limitless strength, Sugriva's love surged, and faith was born in him that this Lord would surely destroy Bali. Again and again he bowed his head at the sacred feet, and the king of monkeys rejoiced, knowing at last that he stood before the Lord himself. Then wisdom dawned, and he spoke these words: 'O Natha, by your grace my mind has grown still and steady. Happiness, wealth, family, worldly praise: I will renounce them all and devote myself to your service. All these are obstacles to devotion to Rama, so declare the saints who worship at your feet. Enemy and friend, joy and sorrow, all that appears in this world is the handiwork of Maya. None of it is ultimately real. Bali has been my supreme benefactor, for by his grace I have met you, O Rama, the one who destroys all grief. If I were to fight someone in a dream, I would feel ashamed upon waking and understanding. So it is with my enmity toward Bali. Now, O Lord, grant me this grace: that I may abandon everything else and worship you alone, day and night.' Hearing the monkey's words, so full of vairagya (dispassion), Rama, bow in hand, smiled gently and replied. 'Whatever you have said is entirely true, O friend. But know this: my word never proves false.' Like an entertainer who makes his monkey dance, so Rama makes all beings dance. Thus sing the Vedas, O Khagesha. Taking Sugriva along, Raghunatha set forth with bow and arrows in his hands. Then Raghupati sent Sugriva ahead. Strengthened by the Lord, Sugriva went near and roared mightily. Hearing the roar, Bali rushed forth in fury. But his wife Tara caught his feet and tried to restrain him. 'Listen, my husband. Those two brothers with whom Sugriva has allied are the very limit of radiance and power. They are the sons of the king of Kosala: Rama and Lakshmana. They can conquer even Kala, Death himself, in battle.'