With gentle urgency, Tara, the wise and compassionate monkey queen, approached Lakshmana, urging him to forgive her husband Sugriva, the lord of the monkey race. Sugriva, she explained, was dear to Rama and driven by the powerful force of desire; overcome by passion, he had lost his sense of shame. Even the greatest sages, devoted to righteousness and austerity, could be bound by delusion when desire takes hold. Sugriva, by nature fickle, was a king—how could he not become attached to worldly pleasures? Having spoken these weighty words, Tara, her eyes unsteady with emotion, addressed Lakshmana once more. Though weary, she spoke for her husband’s good: “O best of men, Sugriva has long since ordered preparations, and even though he is subject to desire, his intent remains fixed on fulfilling your purpose. Now, mighty monkeys of great strength, capable of assuming any form, have arrived—hundreds of thousands of crores, dwelling in various mountains. Therefore come, O strong-armed one; your conduct has preserved the bond of true friendship, and the sight of a wife is unwavering for the virtuous.” Thus permitted and urged by Tara, Lakshmana, the mighty-armed subduer of enemies, entered the inner chambers. There, he saw Sugriva, radiant as the sun, seated upon a most excellent golden throne adorned with splendid coverings. Sugriva shone with divine ornaments, possessing a celestial form and fame, wearing heavenly garlands and garments, unconquerable like mighty Indra himself. He was surrounded by women adorned with celestial ornaments and garlands; his eyes, reddened with excitement, made him appear as formidable as Death. Seated on the splendid throne, the golden-hued hero tightly embraced Rumā, his beloved, and with wide eyes gazed upon Saumitri—Lakshmana—whose spirit was undiminished and whose eyes were equally wide. Now, the thirty-fourth sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa in the Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa begins. As Lakshmana, foremost of men, entered unimpeded and enraged, Sugriva became agitated in his senses. Seeing the son of Dasharatha, angered, breathing heavily, blazing with radiance and tormented by his brother Rama’s distress, Sugriva—the foremost among monkeys—sprang up, abandoning his golden seat like a splendidly adorned banner of Indra. As he leapt up, Rumā and the other women also rose, like stars surrounding the full moon in the sky. With bloodshot eyes, radiant, and hands joined in reverence, Sugriva moved about and stood before Lakshmana, like a great wish-fulfilling tree. Lakshmana, still angered, spoke to Sugriva, who stood with Rumā and was surrounded by women, as the moon is with stars. “A king endowed with strength, noble lineage, compassion, self-control, gratitude, and truthfulness is honored in the world. But if a king, established in unrighteousness, makes false promises to his benefactors, who could be more cruel than he? For breaking a promise about horses, one kills a hundred; for cows, a thousand; but for breaking a promise to a person, he destroys himself and his kin. He who, having first received help from friends, does not reciprocate, is ungrateful to all beings and deserves death, O lord of monkeys. This verse, sung by Brahma and revered by all worlds, was uttered in anger upon seeing ingratitude; listen to it, O monkey. For killing a cow, drinking liquor, theft, or breaking a vow, atonement is prescribed by the virtuous; but for ingratitude, there is no atonement. You are ignoble, ungrateful, and a liar, O monkey, for you do not reciprocate the help previously given by Rama. Indeed, having received help from Rama, you ought to make every effort to search for Sita, if you desire to repay him. You are attached to worldly pleasures, false in your promises; Rama does not recognize you as a snake disguised as a frog. By the great-hearted, compassionate Rama, you, wicked one, have been made king of the monkeys. If you do not understand what has been done by the great-souled Raghava, you will soon see Vali slain by sharp arrows. The path by which Vali was slain is not closed; keep your promise, Sugriva, do not follow the way of Vali. Surely you do not see the bow and those arrows of the descendant of Ikshvaku, resembling thunderbolts; thus you enjoy pleasures at ease and do not even consider Rama’s purpose in your mind.” Now, the thirty-fifth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa in the Kiṣkindhā section begins. As Saumitri, shining like fire in his radiance, spoke thus, Tara—her face resembling the moon—addressed Lakshmana. “Lakshmana, you should not speak in this manner; he does not deserve such harsh words, especially from you, to be heard by the lord of the monkeys. Sugriva is not ungrateful, nor deceitful, nor cruel; the lord of the monkeys does not speak falsehood, nor is he crooked, O hero. The valiant Sugriva has not forgotten the favor done to him; what Rama accomplished in battle, which others could not, is remembered by the monkey. By Rama’s grace, Sugriva has attained lasting fame, the kingdom of the monkeys, Rumā, myself, and you, O scorcher of foes. Having endured great suffering before, he now enjoys supreme happiness; like the sage Viśvāmitra, he does not recognize the proper time. For ten years, Lakshmana, the righteous sage Viśvāmitra was absorbed with Ghṛtācī; he did not realize the passage of time. Even Viśvāmitra, the foremost among those who know time, did not perceive its arrival; what then of ordinary people?” Thus, Tara gently reminded Lakshmana of the power of desire and happiness to cloud even the wisest, urging compassion and patience as the monkey king prepared to fulfill his promise to Rama.