Hanuma fetches Rama and Lakshmana to Sugreeva, and advises him to befriend Rama. Accordingly Rama and Sugreeva take the oath of friendship before an altar of fire and Rama assures to eliminate Vali the vice, from the face of earth.
R^ishyamuukaat tu hanumaan gatvaa tam malayam girim |
aacacakShe tadaa viirau kapi raajaaya raaghavau
|| 4-5-1
1. hanumaan = Hanuma; R^iSamuukaat tu = from Mt. Rishyamuka; tam malayam giram gatvaa = to that, Mt. Malaya, having gone; kapi raajaaya = to the king of monkeys; raaghavau tadaa = then; viirau = about the valiant ones; aachachakSe = has reported.
Hanuma on going from Mt. Rishyamuka to Mt. Malaya, has reported to the king of monkeys Sugreeva, about the two valiant Raghava-s. [4-5-1]
ayam raamo mahaapraaj~na saMpraapto dR^iDha vikramaH |
lakShmaNena saha bhraatraa raamo.ayam satya
vikramaH || 4-5-2
2. mahaa praaj~naH = oh, great discerner - Sugreeva; ayam raamaH = this is Rama; dhR^iDha vikramaH = oh, stubbornly, valiant one; bhraatraa lakshmanena = along with his brother, Lakshmana; sampraaptaH = arrived; saH raamaH ayam = Rama, he is; satya vikramaH = virtuously valiant one.
"Oh! great discerner Sugreeva, this is Rama... oh, stubbornly valiant Sugreeva, this virtuously valiant Rama arrived along with his brother Lakshmana... [4-5-2]
ikShvaakuuNaam kule jaato raamo dasharathaatmajaH |
dharme nigaditaH ca eva pitur nirdesha kaarakaH
|| 4-5-3
3. iksvaakuuNaam kule jaataH dasharatha aatmajaH = in Ikshvaku, dynasty, born, Dasharatha's, son; Rama; dharme nigaditaH ca = in virtue, adept, also; eva = thus; pituH nirdesha kaarakaH = thus, father's, orders, adherent.
"Rama is the son of king Dasharatha, one born in Ikshvaku dynasty, an adept one in virtue and thus an adherent of his father's orders... [4-5-3]
raajasuuya ashvamedhaiH ca vahniH yena abhitarpitaH |
dakShiNaaH ca tathaa ut.hsR^iShTaa gaavaH shata
sahasrashaH || 4-5-4
tapasaa satya vaakyena vasudhaa yena paalitaa |
strii hetoH tasya putro.ayam
raamaH araNayam samaagataH || 4-5-5
4. yena = by whom; raajasuuya ashvamedhaiH ca = by rajayasuuya, ashvametha rituals, also; vahniH = ritual fire; abhi tarpitaH = is well worshipped; tathaa = likewise; shata sahasrashaH gaavaH dakSiNaaH uthsR^iSTaa = in hundreds and thousands, cows, as charities, were given; yena = by whom; tapasaa = devoutly; satya vaakyena = truthful to his word; vasudhaa = this earth; paalitaa = was ruled; tasya putraH ayam raamaH = his, son, is this, Rama; strii hetoH araNyam samaagataH = a lady, being the reason, to forests, he came.
"By whom the ritual fire is well worshipped in Vedic rituals like rajasuuya, ashvametha, and thus cows in hundreds and thousands are donated in those rituals, by whom this earth is ruled devoutly and truthful to his word, such Dasharatha's son is this Rama, who has to come to forests owing to a woman... [4-5-4, 5]
tasya asya vasato araNye niyatasya mahaatmanaH |
raavaNena hR^itaa bhaaryaa sa tvaam sharaNam aagataH
|| 4-5-6
6. vasataH araNye = when dwelling, in forests; niyatasya = principled one; tasya = his; asya = this; mahaatmanaH bhaaryaa = great soul Rama', wife; raavaNena hR^itaa = by Ravana, stolen; saH tvaam sharaNam aagata = such as he is, to you, for shelter, he came.
"Ravana stole the wife of this principled one and great soul Rama when dwelling in forests, such as he is, he came seeking your refuge... [4-5-6]
bhavataa sakhya kaamau tau bhraatarau raama lakShmaNau |
pragR^ihya ca arcayasva etau puujaniiyatamau
ubhau || 4-5-7
7. tau bhraatarau = those two, brothers; raama lakSmaNau = Rama, Lakshmana; bhavataa sakhya kaamau = with you, friendship, interested; puujaniiyatamau = most venerable are; imau = them; ubhau = two; pragR^ihya = you receive them; arcayasva = worship.
"These two brothers Rama and Lakshmana, are interested to make friendship with you... thus you receive these two and worship them, for they are most venerable ones..." Hanuma thus advised Sugreeva. [4-5-7]
Here Hanuma's role as teacher is depicted. God comes to the rescue of the needy, and communicates through a competent teacher. Only the teacher can visualize the god and his intent, and thus narrate it to the taught. That is what Hanuma's advise to Sugreeva.
shrutvaa hanumato vaakyam sugriivo vaanara adhipaH |
darshaniiyatamo bhuutvaa priityaa uvaaca raaghavam
|| 4-5-8
8. vaanara adhipaH = monkey's chief; sugriivaH = Sugreeva; shrutvaa = on hearing; hanumataH vaakyam = Hanuma's, words; darshaniiyatamaH bhuutvaa = presentable, he became; priityaa = gladly; uvaaca raaghavam = spoke to, Rama.
On hearing Hanuma's words Sugreeva, the chief of monkeys has become presentable and gladly spoke to Rama. [4-5-8]
Sugreeva is not in a presentable form till now because he is outrageously furious with 'friend-or-foe' syndrome, on seeing Rama and Lakshmana. None can calm these vanara heroes down, except their own favourable interests. On listening from Hanuma that the entrants are friends, Sugreeva got his cool back, and thus became 'presentable,' befitting to his honourable kingship.
bhavaan dharma viniitaH ca sutapaaH sarva vatsalaH |
aakhyaataa vaayuputreNa tattvato me bhavad guNaaH
|| 4-5-9
9. bhavaan = you; dharma viniitaH = virtue knower [you are trained to tread virtuous path]; su tapaaH = best, scrupulous one; sarva vatsala = to all, kindlier one; aakhyaataa vaayu putreNa = said so by, Air's son, Hanuma; tattvataH = in subtlety; me = to me; bhavat guNaaH = your, attributes.
"You are a trained one in treading righteous path, best by your scruples, and a kindlier one to all, so said Air-god's son Hanuma to me about your attributes, in subtlety... [4-5-9]
tan mama eva eSha satkaaro laabhaH ca eva uttamaH prabho |
yat tvam icchhasi sauhaardam vaanareNa
mayaa saha || 4-5-10
10. h� prabho = oh, lord; tat tvam vaanareNa mayaa saha sauhaardam icChasi = therefor, you, with a monkey, [like] me, along with, friendship, you wish to have; iti yat = thus, that which topic is there; eSa = this way; mama eva = for me, only; satkaaraH uttamaH laabhaH ca = an honour, best, achievement, also.
"Therefor oh, lord, you wish to make friendship with a monkey like me, thereby this is an honour and a best achievement to me alone... [4-5-10]
rocate yadi me sakhyam baahuH eSha prasaaritaH |
gR^ihyataam paaNinaa paaNiH maryaadaa badhyataam
dhruvaa || 4-5-11
11. me sakhyam rocate yadi = my friendship, you aspire, if; eSa baahuH prasaaritaH = here is, arm, is extended; paaNinaa paaNiH gR^ihyataam = hand, by hand, be taken; dhruvaa = stably; maryaadaa badhyataam = convention, make fast.
"If you aspire my friendship here I extend my arm, take this hand of mine into yours, thus let the convention be stably made fast..." Thus Sugreeva proffered friendship to Rama. [4-5-11]
etat tu vacanam shrutvaa sugriivasya subhaaShitam |
saMprahR^iShTa manaa hastam piiDayaamaasa paaNinaa
|| 4-5-12
hR^iShTaH sauhR^idam aalam.hbya paryaShvajata piiDitam |
12, 13a. etat tu = all those; ugriivasya su bhaashitam vacanam shrutvaa = Sugreeva's, well-said, words, listening; samprahR^iSTa manaa = gladdened, at heart [Rama]; paaNinaa = with hand; hastam = [Sugreeva's] hand; piiDayaamaasa = started to clutch; sauhR^idam aalambya = friendship, while abiding; hR^iSTaH = happily; piiditam = grippingly; paryaSvajata = embraced.
Rama is gladdened at heart on listening all those words well said by Sugreeva, and then clutched Sugreeva's hand in his, and ardently abiding by the vow of friendship he embraced Sugreeva, grippingly and happily. [4-5-12, 13a]
tato hanuumaan saMtyajya bhikShu ruupam arindamaH || 4-5-13
kaaShThayoH svena ruupeNa janayaamaasa
paavakam |
diipyamaanam tato vahnim puShpaiH abhyarcya satkR^itam || 4-5-14
tayor madhye tu supriito
nidadhau susamaahitaH |
13b, 14, 15a. tataH = then; arindamaH hanuumaan = enemy destroyer, Hanuma; bhikshu ruupam samtyajya = ascetic's guise, leaving off; svena ruupeNa = with his own, form; kaaSThayoH paavakam janayaamaasa = with two sticks, fire, started to ignite; tataH = then; vahnim diipyamaanam satkR^itam = fire, making to glow, decorated; puSpaiH = with flowers; abhyarcya = worshipped; supriitaH = gladdened; susamaahitaH = devoutly; tayoH madhye nidadhe = them, in between, placed.
Then the destroyer of enemies Hanuma discarding the guise of ascetic assumed his original monkey form, and on producing fire with two sticks then made it to glow. decorated, worshipped with flowers, then gladly and devoutly placed that fire in between Rama and Sugreeva. [4-5-13b,14,15a]
The holy fire used to kindle the ritual fire in a yaj~na will be produced by constantly rubbing two dry wood sticks, and this is called as araNi . When sparkles of fire and a little fume appear, it will be put into the Altar of Fire. Here, Hanuma has changed his ascetic form to his original monkey shape. This form changing at their will and wish is called kaamaruupa vidya, changing guise at will, which will be useful to Hanuma in the coming episodes of Ramayana.
tato agnim diipyamaanam tau cakratuH ca pradakShiNam || 4-5-15
sugriivo raaghavaH ca eva vayasyatvam
upaagatau |
15b, 16a. tataH = then; tau diipyamaanam agnim pradakshiNam cakratuH = they two, glowing, at fire, circumambulations, they made; Sugreeva; Raaghava; ca = also; eva = thus; vayasyatvam = friendship; upaagatau = entered into.
Then those two performed circumambulations to that well glowing ritual fire, and thus, Rama and Sugreeva entered into the pact of friendship. [4-5-15, 16a]
tataH supriita manasau tau ubhau hari raaghavau || 4-5-16
anyonyam abhiviikShantau na tR^iptim abhijagmatuH
|
16b, 17a. tataH = then; supriita manasau = gladdened, at heart; tau ubhau = those, two; hari = monkey; raaghavau = Raghava anyonyam = at each other; abhi viikshantau = gazing at; na = not; tR^iptim = satisfaction; upajagmatuH = they got.
And then gladdened at heart are those two, that monkey and Raghava, gazed enough at each other eye-to-eye, but their hearts did not derive any fraternal satisfaction. [4-5-16b, 17a]
tvam vayasyo.asi hR^idyaH me hi ekam duHkham sukham ca nau ||4-5-17
sugriivo raaghavam vaakyam iti
uvaacha prahR^iShTavat |
17b, 18a. tvam me hR^idyaH vayasyaH asi = you, are my, amiable, friend, you are; nau sukham duHkham ca ekam = our, mirth, misery, are one [the same]; iti sugriivaH prahR^iSTa vat raaghvam vaakyam uvaacha = thus, Sugreeva, rejoicingly, to Raghava, sentence, said.
Sugreeva rejoicingly said to Raghava, "you are the amiable friend of mine, henceforth our mirth or miseries are same for us..." [4-5-17b, 18a]
tataH suparNa bahulaam bha.nk.htvaa shaakhaam supuShpitaam ||4-5-18
saalasya aastiirya sugriivaH
niShasaada sa raaghavaH |
18b, 19a. tataH = then; Sugreeva; saalasya parNa bahulaam = of sala tree, with leaves, many; supuSpitaam = well flowered; shaakham chitvaa = branch of tree, snapped off; aastiirya = spread it; sa raaghavaH = along with, Rama; niSasaada = sat on it.
And then Sugreeva snapped off and spread a fully flowered tree-branch of sala tree with many leaves, and sat on it along with Rama. [4-5-18b, 19a]
lakshmanaaya atha saMhR^iShTo hanumaan maarutaatmajaH || 4-5-19
shakhaam chandana vR^ikshasya dadau
parama puShpitaam |
19b, 20a. atha = then; samhR^iSTaH = gladly; maaruta aatmajaH = Air's son; Hanuma; chandana vR^ikshasya = of sandalwood, tree; parama puSpitaam = well, flowered; shakhaam = branch of; laksmanaaya = for Lakshmana; dadau = gave.
Then Hanuma the son of Air, gladly gave a well-flowered branch of sandalwood tree to Lakshmana... [4-5-19b, 20a]
tataH prahR^iShTaH sugriivaH shlakshNam madhurayaa giraa || 4-5-20
prati uvaacha tadaa raamam harSha
vyaakula lochanaH |
20b, 21a. tataH = then; prahR^iSTaH = that delighted one; Sugreeva; madhurayaa giraa = with sweet, words; harsha = with happiness; vyaakula = quavering; lochanaH = eyes; shlakshnam = softly; tadaa = that way; prati uvaacha = replied; Rama.
Then that delighted Sugreeva with his sweet words, and with his eyes quavering in happiness, replied Rama softly. [4-5-20b, 21a]
aham vinikR^ito raama charami iha bhaya aarditaH || 4-5-21
hR^ita bhaaryo vane trasto durgam etat
upaashritaH |
21b, 22a. Rama; aham = I am; vinikR^itaH = ridiculed; hR^ita bhaaryaH = stolen, wife; bhaya aarditaH = fear haunting me; iha vane charami = here about, in forest, I am moving; trastaH = dread; durgam = impenetrable; etat = this forest; upaashritaH = took refuse.
"Rama, I am ridiculed, stolen is my wife, I move here about in these forests with dread and fear haunting me... I took refuge in this impenetrable forest... [4-5-21b, 22a]
so.aham trasto vane bhiito vasaami ud.h bhraanta chetanaH || 4-5-22
vaalinaa nikR^ito bhraatraa kR^ita
vairaH ca raaghava |
22b, 23a. Raaghava; bhraatraa = by my brother; vaalinaa = by Vali; nikR^itaH = denounced; kR^ita vairaH ca = made, an enemy, also; saH aham = such as I am; trastaH = fearing; udbhraanta chetanaH = with dismayed, vitality; vane = in forests; abhiitaH = scared; vasaami = I am living.
"Oh, Raghava, my brother denounced me, he even made me an enemy of his, such as I am I am living in these forests with scare and fear, and with dismayed vitality... [4-5-22b, 23a]
vaalino me mahaabhaaga bhaya aartasya abhayam kuru || 4-5-23
kartum arhasi kaakut.hsthaH bhayam me
na bhaved yathaa |
23b, 24a. mahaabhaaga = oh! highly fortunate one Rama; vaalinaH = from Vaali; bhaya aartasya = in fear, intimidated; me = to me; a bhayam kuru = no, fear [fearlessness] give me; kaakutsthaH = Rama; me yathaa bhayam na bhavet = to me, as to how, fear, will not, be there; [tathaa = that way]; kartum arhasi = to do so, apt of you.
"Oh, highly fortunate Rama, affirm fearlessness to me from Vali by who I am highly intimidated, and as to how there will be fearlessness to me from him, it will be apt of you to accomplish that, that way... [4-5-23b, 24a]
evam uktaH tu tejasvii dharmaj~no dharma vatsalaH ||4-5-24
prati abhaaShata kaakut.hsthaH sugriivam
prahasan iva |
24b, 25a; evam = thus; uktaH tu = who is said so; tejasvii = resplendent one; dharmaj~naH = righteous one; dharma vatsalaH = virtue, patron; kaakutsthaH = Rama; sugriivam = to Sugreeva; prati abhaaSata = in turn, spoke [replied]; prahasan iva = laughing off, as though.
When thus said, that resplendent and righteous one being the patron of virtue Rama replied Sugreeva, as though laughing off. [4-5-24b, 25a]
upakaara phalam mitram viditam me mahaakape ||4-5-25
vaalinam tam vadhiShyaami tava bhaarya apahaariNam
|
25b, 26a. mahaa kapeH = oh, great monkey; mitram = a friend has; upakaara phalam = helpfulness, as resultant fruit; viditam me = known to, me; tava bhaarya apahaarinaam = your, wife's, adductor; tam vaalinam = that one, Vali; vadhishyaami = I intend to kill [eliminate.]
"A friend is the resultant factor of helpfulness... that I know... oh, great monkey I intend eliminate that Vali, the abductor of your wife... [4-5-2b, 26a5]
amoghoH suurya sa.nkaashaaH mama ime nishitaaH sharaaH || 4-5-26
tasmin vaalini dur.hvR^itte nipatiShyanti
vegitaaH |
kanka patra praticchhannaa mahendra ashani saMnibhaaH || 4-5-27
tiikshNaagraa R^ijuparvaaNaH
sa roShaa bhujagaa iva |
26b, 27, 28a. amoghaaH = unfailing; suurya sankaashaaH = sun-like; nishitaaH = sharp; kanka patra praticChannaa = eagle's, feathers, tied with; mahendra ashani sannibhaaH = Indra's, Thunderbolt, similar to; tiikshNa agraa = sharp, pointed; R^iju parvaaNaH = with straight, egress; sa roSaaH bhujagaa iva = with rage, snakes, like; ime mama sharaaH = these, my, arrows; vegitaaH = speeded [in shooting]; durvR^itte = vicious one; tasmin vaaalini nipatiSyanti = on that, Vali, will fall.
"Unfailing are these arrows of mine, scorchers like sun, sharp ones tied with eagle feathers, similar to Indra's Thunderbolts, sharp are their point and straight is their egress, similar to enraged snakes, and these arrows of mine will be speeded up to fall on that vicious Vali... [4-5-26b, 27, 28a]
tam adya vaalinam pashya tiikshNaiH aashii viSha upamaiH || 4-5-28
sharaiH vinihitam bhuumau prakiirNam
iva parvatam |
28b, 29a. adya = now; aashii visha upamaiH = snakes, venomous, in similarity; kruuraiH sharaiH vinihitam = by cruel, arrows, completely ruined; bhuumau = on ground; prakiirNam = splintered; parvatam = mountain; iva = like; vaalinam = Vali; pashya = you see.
"You will see now itself the falling of Vali like a splintered mountain onto ground, when completely ruined by these cruel arrows that are similar to venomous snakes..." Thus Rama inculcated confidence in Sugreeva. [4-5-28b, 29a]
sa tu tad vachanam shrutvaa raaghavasya aatmanohitam |
sugriivaH parama priitaH paramam vaakyam abraviit
||4-5-29
29b, c. saH tu = he, also; sugriiva = Sugreeva; aatmanaH hitam = for himself, appeasing; raaghavasya tat vachanam = of Raghava, that saying; shrutvaa = on hearing; parama priitaH = completely satisfied; sumahat = fine; vaakyam = sentence; abraviit = said.
On hearing Raghava's words that are appeasing for his self, Sugreeva is very completely satisfied and said this fine sentence. [4-5-29b, c]
tava prasaadena nR^isiMha viira
priyaam cha raajyam ca samaapnuyaam aham |
tathaa kuru tvam nara
deva vairiNam
yathaa na hi.nsyat sa punar mama agrajam || 4-5-30
30. tava prasaadena = by you, grace; nR^i simha = lion, among men; viira = valiant one; aham = I will; priyaam cha = wife, also; raajyam ca = kingdom, too; sam aapnuyaam = let me regain; nara deva = humans', god; saH = he; punaH = again; yathaa = as to how; na = not to; hinsyat = suffer me; tathaa tvam kuru = like that, you, do; vairiNam = to my enemy; mama agrajam = my elder brother.
"By your grace, oh, lion among men, let me regain my wife and kingdom too... oh, god of humans, as to how he does not suffer me again, thus you may please make happen... let not my elder brother turned as an enemy of mine suffer me again... [4-5-30]
siita kapiindra kshaNadaa charaaNaam
raajiiva hema jvalanopamaanaani |
sugriiva raama praNaya
pasa~Nge
vaamaani netraaNi samam sphuranti || 4-5-31
31. Sugreeva; Rama; praNaya = friendly; prasa~Nge = conversation; siita = Seetha's; kapi indra = monkeys, lord's [Vali's]; kshaNadaa charaanaam = night, walker's [Ravana's]; raajiiva = lotus; hema = golden; jvalana = fireball; upamaanaani = in similitude; vaamaani = left side; netraaNi = eyes; samam = equally; sphuranti = fluttered.
During the friendly conversation of Rama and Sugreeva, the left eyes of Seetha, Vali and Ravana that bear similitude with lotuses, golden orbs, and fireballs respectively have fluttered equally. [4-5-31]
This verse is in krama alankaara, an equated metaphoric expression, by juxtaposing words equally to compare Seetha's eyes with lotuses, Vali's eyes with golden-balls for his complexion is golden, and Ravana's eyes with fireballs. But all are left eyes only that have fluttered. The flutter of left eye to the male is a bad omen while to the female it is a good omen. Hence the friendship of Rama and Sugreeva is the seedling point for eradication of vice, namely Vali and Ravana, from face of the earth.
- - -
iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye kiShkindha kaaNDe pa~nchamaH sargaH
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© 2000, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao, [Revised : March, 04