Sugriva Confesses the Snares of Maya, and Rama Calls Him Dear as Bharata
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 21
Doha 21 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sugriva bows at Rama's feet with joined hands. He says the fault is not truly his, for divine Maya is overwhelmingly strong and releases its captive only when Rama is compassionate. Gods, humans, and sages are mastered by the senses. What resistance could be expected from a lowly monkey given to desire?
He names the snares. A woman's glance flies like an arrow, anger spreads a terrible night, and greed closes like a noose around the neck. One untouched by these is equal only to Raghuraya. Such freedom cannot be produced by spiritual practice alone. It comes rarely through Rama's grace.
Raghupati smiles. He does not dispute the confession or prolong the rebuke. Sugriva is as dear to him as his brother Bharata. Now the friend must set his whole mind upon the means of learning Sita's news. Compassion restores intimacy, and intimacy returns at once to the unfinished search.
Rama answers Sugriva's confession by calling him dear as Bharata and returning him to Sita's search.
Read the passage from the Manas
नाइ चरन सिरु कह कर जोरी। नाथ मोहि कछु नाहिन खोरी।। अतिसय प्रबल देव तब माया। छूटइ राम करहु जौं दाया।। बिषय बस्य सुर नर मुनि स्वामी। मैं पावँर पसु कपि अति कामी।। नारि नयन सर जाहि न लागा। घोर क्रोध तम निसि जो जागा।। लोभ पाँस जेहिं गर न बँधाया। सो नर तुम्ह समान रघुराया।। यह गुन साधन तें नहिं होई। तुम्हरी कृपाँ पाव कोइ कोई।। तब रघुपति बोले मुसकाई। तुम्ह प्रिय मोहि भरत जिमि भाई।। अब सोइ जतनु करहु मन लाई। जेहि बिधि सीता कै सुधि पाई।।
Bowing his head at Rama's feet and joining his palms, Sugriva said, 'O Lord, the fault is not truly mine.' Your divine Maya is exceedingly powerful; it can only be overcome if Rama bestows His compassion. Gods, humans, and sages all fall under the sway of the senses, O Master. I am but a lowly creature, a monkey given to desire. One who is not pierced by the arrows of a woman's glances, who remains awake through the terrible darkness of anger, Whose neck is never bound by the noose of greed: such a person is like You alone, O Raghuraya. This virtue cannot be won through any spiritual practice; only by Your grace does one receive it, and that most rarely. Then Raghupati spoke with a gentle smile, 'You are as dear to me as my own brother Bharata.' Now set your mind to this task with care: find the means by which we may learn news of Sita.