स उवाच महाप्राज्ञः स्वरेण महता महान्। सुग्रीवं तांश्च सम्प्रेक्ष्य खस्थ एव विभीषणः
That great and wise Vibhīṣaṇa, still standing in the sky, addressed Sugrīva and the others in a loud voice.
रावणो नाम दुर्वृत्तो राक्षसो राक्षसेश्वरः। तस्याहमनुजो भ्राता विभीषण इति श्रुतः
There is a wicked rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas; I am his younger brother, known as Vibhīṣaṇa.
तेन सीता जनस्थानाद् हृता हत्वा जटायुषम्। रुद्धा च विवशा दीना राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता
By him, Sītā was taken from Janasthāna after killing Jaṭāyu; she is held captive, helpless and distressed, guarded securely by rākṣasīs.
तमहं हेतुभिर्वाक्यैर्विविधैश्च न्यदर्शयम्। साधु निर्यात्यतां सीता रामायेति पुनः पुनः
I repeatedly advised him with many reasonable words: 'Let Sītā be returned to Rāma, this is right.'
स च न प्रतिजग्राह रावणः कालचोदितः। उच्यमानं हितं वाक्यं विपरीत इवौषधम्
But Rāvaṇa, impelled by fate, did not accept the beneficial words spoken to him, just as a wrong medicine is not accepted.
सोऽहं परुषितस्तेन दासवच्चावमानितः। त्यक्त्वा पुत्रांश्च दारांश्च राघवं शरणं गतः
Thus, insulted by him and treated like a servant, I abandoned my sons and wife and have come to seek refuge with Rāghava.
एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवो लघुविक्रमः। लक्ष्मणस्याग्रतो रामं संरब्धमिदमब्रवीत्
Hearing these words, Sugrīva, swift in action, spoke these agitated words to Rāma in Lakṣmaṇa’s presence.
प्रविष्टः शत्रुसैन्यं हि प्राप्तः शत्रुरतर्कितः। निहन्यादन्तरं लब्ध्वा उलूको वायसानिव
Indeed, an enemy has entered the enemy’s army, arriving unsuspected; if he finds an opening, he may strike, like an owl among crows.
मन्त्रे व्यूहे नये चारे युक्तो भवितुमर्हसि। वानराणां च भद्रं ते परेषां च परंतप
You must be vigilant in counsel, formation, strategy, and intelligence; may there be safety for the vānaras and for you, scorcher of foes.
अन्तर्धानगता ह्येते राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः। शूराश्च निकृतिज्ञाश्च तेषां जातु न विश्वसेत्
These rākṣasas can vanish and assume forms at will; they are brave and skilled in deceit—one should never trust them.
प्रणिधी राक्षसेन्द्रस्य रावणस्य भवेदयम्। अनुप्रविश्य सोऽस्मासु भेदं कुर्यान्न संशयः
This one may be a spy of Rāvaṇa, king of the rākṣasas; having entered among us, he would certainly sow division.
अथ वा स्वयमेवैष छिद्रमासाद्य बुद्धिमान्। अनुप्रविश्य विश्वस्ते कदाचित् प्रहरेदपि
Or else, this intelligent one himself, having found a weakness, might enter when trusted and perhaps attack at some point.
मित्राटविबलं चैव मौलभृत्यबलं तथा। सर्वमेतद् बलं ग्राह्यं वर्जयित्वा द्विषद्बलम्
One should accept the strength of friends, forest-dwellers, and loyal servants, but always exclude the strength of enemies.
प्रकृत्या राक्षसो ह्येष भ्रातामित्रस्य वै प्रभो। आगतश्च रिपुः साक्षात् कथमस्मिंश्च विश्वसेत्
By nature, he is a rākṣasa and the brother of your enemy, O lord; and he has come as an enemy in person—how can one trust him here?
रावणस्यानुजो भ्राता विभीषण इति श्रुतः। चतुर्भिः सह रक्षोभिर्भवन्तं शरणं गतः
It is said that Vibhīṣaṇa is Rāvaṇa’s younger brother; with four rākṣasas, he has come to seek your protection.
रावणेन प्रणीतं हि तमवेहि विभीषणम्। तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये क्षमं क्षमवतां वर
Know this Vibhīṣaṇa as sent by Rāvaṇa; I think restraining him is proper, O best of the forbearing.
राक्षसो जिह्मया बुद्ध्या संदिष्टोऽयमिहागतः। प्रहर्तुं मायया छन्नो विश्वस्ते त्वयि चानघ
This rākṣasa, instructed with crooked intent, has come here, concealed by illusion, to strike when you, O faultless one, trust him.
वध्यतामेष तीव्रेण दण्डेन सचिवैः सह। रावणस्य नृशंसस्य भ्राता ह्येष विभीषणः
Let this Vibhīṣaṇa, brother of cruel Rāvaṇa, be punished with severe penalty along with his counselors.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तं रामं संरब्धो वाहिनीपतिः। वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकुशलं ततो मौनमुपागमत्
Having spoken thus to Rāma, the agitated commander of the army, skilled in speech, then became silent.
सुग्रीवस्य तु तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा रामो महाबलः। समीपस्थानुवाचेदं हनुमत्प्रमुखान् कपीन्
Hearing those words of Sugrīva, Rāma, mighty in strength, addressed the monkeys standing nearby, with Hanumān at their head.
यदुक्तं कपिराजेन रावणावरजं प्रति। वाक्यं हेतुमदत्यर्थं भवद्भिरपि च श्रुतम्
The words spoken by the monkey king concerning Rāvaṇa’s younger brother, full of reason and meaning, have also been heard by you all.
सुहृदामर्थकृच्छ्रेषु युक्तं बुद्धिमता सदा। समर्थेनोपसंदेष्टुं शाश्वतीं भूतिमिच्छता
It is always fitting for a wise person, desiring lasting prosperity, to consult capable friends in times of difficulty.
इत्येवं परिपृष्टास्ते स्वं स्वं मतमतन्द्रिताः। सोपचारं तदा राममूचुः प्रियचिकीर्षवः
Thus questioned, each one of them, attentive and wishing to please, respectfully spoke their own opinion to Rāma.
अज्ञातं नास्ति ते किंचित् त्रिषु लोकेषु राघव। आत्मानं पूजयन् राम पृच्छस्यस्मान् सुहृत्तया
There is nothing unknown to you in the three worlds, O Rāghava; yet, honoring us as friends, you ask us out of friendship.
त्वं हि सत्यव्रतः शूरो धार्मिको दृढविक्रमः। परीक्ष्यकारी स्मृतिमान् निसृष्टात्मा सुहृत्सु च
For you are one who keeps his vows, courageous, righteous, firm in valor, careful in action, mindful, self-controlled, and friendly to companions.
तस्मादेकैकशस्तावद् ब्रुवन्तु सचिवास्तव। हेतुतो मतिसम्पन्नाः समर्थाश्च पुनः पुनः
Therefore, let your counselors, wise and capable, each speak their view in turn, giving reasons again and again.
इत्युक्ते राघवायाथ मतिमानङ्गदोऽग्रतः। विभीषणपरीक्षार्थमुवाच वचनं हरिः
When this was said to Rāghava, the thoughtful Aṅgada, standing in front, spoke these words to examine Vibhīṣaṇa.
शत्रोः सकाशात् सम्प्राप्तः सर्वथा तर्क्य एव हि। विश्वासनीयः सहसा न कर्तव्यो विभीषणः
Since he has come from the enemy’s side, Vibhīṣaṇa must certainly be regarded with suspicion; he should not be trusted at once.
छादयित्वाऽऽत्मभावं हि चरन्ति शठबुद्धयः। प्रहरन्ति च रन्ध्रेषु सोऽनर्थः सुमहान् भवेत्
For those with deceitful minds conceal their true nature and act covertly; they strike at weak points, and such harm can be very great.
अर्थानर्थौ विनिश्चित्य व्यवसायं भजेत ह। गुणतः संग्रहं कुर्याद् दोषतस्तु विसर्जयेत्
Having discerned benefit and harm, one should make a decision; one should accept on the basis of merit and reject on account of fault.