Rama Sends Sugriva to Rule and Keeps Sita's Search Alive through the Rains
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 12
Doha 12 · Movement 1 of 2
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Shiva tells Uma that no guru, father, mother, brother, or lord in the world works for another's good as Rama does. Gods, humans, and sages commonly love for self-interest. Rama's way appears against that measure. Sugriva, once tormented day and night by Vali, his body wounded and chest burning with worry, has been made king by Raghubira's boundless compassion.
Rama calls the new king near and teaches him the arts of rule in many ways. He will not enter a city during the fourteen years of exile. Summer has ended, the rainy season has arrived, and Rama will remain sheltered upon a nearby mountain. Sugriva must rule with Angada and carry Rama's work continually in his heart.
The friends now take different dwellings. Sugriva returns to the palace and its royal duties. Rama goes with Lakshmana to Pravarshana mountain beneath the gathering rains. Distance does not release Sugriva from the cloth Rama pressed to his heart. The kingdom may be restored, but the search for Sita remains the uncompleted work placed within the king's remembrance.
Sugriva enters the palace, Rama enters the rains, and Sita's search remains between them.
Read the passage from the Manas
उमा राम सम हित जग माहीं। गुरु पितु मातु बंधु प्रभु नाहीं।। सुर नर मुनि सब कै यह रीती। स्वारथ लागि करहिं सब प्रीती।। बालि त्रास ब्याकुल दिन राती। तन बहु ब्रन चिंताँ जर छाती।। सोइ सुग्रीव कीन्ह कपिराऊ। अति कृपाल रघुबीर सुभाऊ।। जानतहुँ अस प्रभु परिहरहीं। काहे न बिपति जाल नर परहीं।। पुनि सुग्रीवहि लीन्ह बोलाई। बहु प्रकार नृपनीति सिखाई।। कह प्रभु सुनु सुग्रीव हरीसा। पुर न जाउँ दस चारि बरीसा।। गत ग्रीषम बरषा रितु आई। रहिहउँ निकट सैल पर छाई।। अंगद सहित करहु तुम्ह राजू। संतत हृदय धरेहु मम काजू।। जब सुग्रीव भवन फिरि आए। रामु प्रबरषन गिरि पर छाए।।
O Uma, there is no one in this world as truly beneficial as Rama. Not guru, not father, not mother, not brother, not any lord. This is the way of all devas, humans, and munis: they all show love only when driven by self-interest. Tormented by Bali's terror day and night, his body covered in wounds, his chest burning with anxiety. That very same Sugriva was made king of the vanaras. Such is the supremely compassionate svabhava of Raghuvira. Even knowing such a Lord, people abandon Him. Why then should they not fall into the snare of vipatti, calamity? Then, calling Sugriva to Him again, Rama taught him nripaniti, the art of governance, in many ways. The Lord said, 'Listen, Sugriva Harisha, chief of the monkeys. I shall not enter any city for fourteen years. Summer has passed and the varsha ritu, the rainy season, has come. I shall stay nearby, sheltered upon the mountain. Rule together with Angada, and hold My work constantly in your heart.' When Sugriva returned to his palace, Rama took shelter on the Pravarshana mountain for the rains.