न त्वस्य ब्रुवतो जातु लक्ष्यते दुष्टभावता। प्रसन्नं वदनं चापि तस्मान्मे नास्ति संशयः
But as he speaks, no sign of malice is ever seen; his face is clear and open, so I have no doubt.
अशङ्कितमतिः स्वस्थो न शठः परिसर्पति। न चास्य दुष्टवागस्ति तस्मान्मे नास्ति संशयः
His mind is untroubled and unsuspecting; he does not move deceitfully, nor does he speak wickedly—therefore, I have no doubt.
देशकालोपपन्नं च कार्यं कार्यविदां वर। सफलं कुरुते क्षिप्रं प्रयोगेणाभिसंहितम्
O best among those who know what should be done, an action undertaken at the right place and time quickly bears fruit when properly executed.
उद्योगं तव सम्प्रेक्ष्य मिथ्यावृत्तं च रावणम्। वालिनं च हतं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवं चाभिषेचितम्
Seeing your preparations, Ravana's false conduct, hearing of Vali's death, and Sugriva's coronation—
राज्यं प्रार्थयमानस्तु बुद्धिपूर्वमिहागतः। एतावत् तु पुरस्कृत्य युज्यते तस्य संग्रहः
He has come here thoughtfully, seeking a kingdom; thus, considering all this, it is fitting to accept him.
यथाशक्ति मयोक्तं तु राक्षसस्यार्जवं प्रति। प्रमाणं त्वं हि शेषस्य श्रुत्वा बुद्धिमतां वर
I have spoken according to my ability regarding the sincerity of the rākṣasa; you, having heard, are the authority for what remains, O best among the wise.
thumb|एकोनविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे अष्टादशः सर्गः ॥६-
The eighteenth sarga in the Yuddha Kāṇḍa of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa is now to be heard.
अथ रामः प्रसन्नात्मा श्रुत्वा वायुसुतस्य ह। प्रत्यभाषत दुर्धर्षः श्रुतवानात्मनि स्थितम्
Then Rāma, his mind serene, having heard the words of the Wind-god’s son, replied resolutely, steadfast in himself and learned.
ममापि च विवक्षास्ति काचित् प्रति विभीषणम्। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत् सर्वं भवद्भिः श्रेयसि स्थितैः
I too have something to say regarding Vibhīṣaṇa; I wish to hear all of it from you who are established in what is best.
मित्रभावेन सम्प्राप्तं न त्यजेयं कथंचन। दोषो यद्यपि तस्य स्यात् सतामेतदगर्हितम्
One who has come in the guise of a friend should never be rejected; even if he has some fault, this is not censured among the virtuous.
सुग्रीवस्त्वथ तद्वाक्यमाभाष्य च विमृश्य च। ततः शुभतरं वाक्यमुवाच हरिपुङ्गवः
Then Sugrīva, having spoken and considered those words, uttered an even more auspicious speech, the foremost among the monkeys.
स दुष्टो वाप्यदुष्टो वा किमेष रजनीचरः। ईदृशं व्यसनं प्राप्तं भ्रातरं यः परित्यजेत्
Whether this night-wanderer is wicked or not, who would abandon a brother who has encountered such misfortune?
को नाम स भवेत् तस्य यमेष न परित्यजेत्। वानराधिपतेर्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा सर्वानुदीक्ष्य तु
Who indeed would not abandon him? Having heard the words of the monkey king, all considered them.
ईषदुत्स्मयमानस्तु लक्ष्मणं पुण्यलक्षणम्। इति होवाच काकुत्स्थो वाक्यं सत्यपराक्रमः
Then Kākutstha, of true valor, slightly smiling, spoke these words to Lakṣmaṇa, whose marks were auspicious.
अनधीत्य च शास्त्राणि वृद्धाननुपसेव्य च। न शक्यमीदृशं वक्तुं यदुवाच हरीश्वरः
Without studying the scriptures and without serving the elders, it is not possible to speak as the lord of the monkeys has spoken.
अस्ति सूक्ष्मतरं किंचिद् यथात्र प्रतिभाति मा। प्रत्यक्षं लौकिकं चापि वर्तते सर्वराजसु
There is something subtler here, as it appears to me; and there is also direct worldly experience among all kings.
अमित्रास्तत्कुलीनाश्च प्रातिदेश्याश्च कीर्तिताः। व्यसनेषु प्रहर्तारस्तस्मादयमिहागतः
Enemies, those of noble lineage, and neighbors are mentioned; in adversity, they strike—therefore he has come here.
अपापास्तत्कुलीनाश्च मानयन्ति स्वकान् हितान्। एष प्रायो नरेन्द्राणां शङ्कनीयस्तु शोभनः
Those who are blameless and of noble lineage honor their own well-wishers; this is generally the way of kings, though one should be cautious even with the good.
यस्तु दोषस्त्वया प्रोक्तो ह्यादानेऽरिबलस्य च। तत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि यथाशास्त्रमिदं शृणु
As for the fault you mentioned regarding accepting the enemy’s strength, I will explain to you according to the treatises; listen to this.
न वयं तत्कुलीनाश्च राज्यकाङ्क्षी च राक्षसः। पण्डिता हि भविष्यन्ति तस्माद् ग्राह्यो विभीषणः
We are not of his lineage, nor does the rākṣasa seek the kingdom; the wise will discern—therefore Vibhīṣaṇa should be accepted.
अव्यग्राश्च प्रहृष्टाश्च ते भविष्यन्ति संगताः। प्रणादश्च महानेषोऽन्योन्यस्य भयमागतम्। इति भेदं गमिष्यन्ति तस्माद् ग्राह्यो विभीषणः
They will be untroubled and joyful, having come together; this great sound will arise, and mutual fear will come—thus division will occur; therefore Vibhīṣaṇa should be accepted.
न सर्वे भ्रातरस्तात भवन्ति भरतोपमाः। मद्विधा वा पितुः पुत्राः सुहृदो वा भवद्विधाः
Not all brothers, dear one, are like Bharata, nor are all sons like me, nor friends like you.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण सुग्रीवः सहलक्ष्मणः। उत्थायेदं महाप्राज्ञः प्रणतो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by Rāma, Sugrīva, together with Lakṣmaṇa, rose up, and that great wise one, bowing, spoke these words.
रावणेन प्रणिहितं तमवेहि निशाचरम्। तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये क्षमं क्षमवतां वर
Know that this night-walker has been sent by Rāvaṇa; among those who are patient, I consider his restraint to be fitting.
राक्षसो जिह्मया बुद्ध्या संदिष्टोऽयमिहागतः। प्रहर्तुं त्वयि विश्वस्ते विश्वस्ते मयि वानघ
This rākṣasa has come here, instructed with deceitful intent, to strike when you trust him, and when I am unsuspecting, O faultless one.
एवमुक्त्वा रघुश्रेष्ठं सुग्रीवो वाहिनीपतिः। वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकुशलं ततो मौनमुपागमत्
Having spoken thus to the best of the Raghu lineage, Sugrīva, lord of the troops, skilled in speech, then became silent.
स सुग्रीवस्य तद् वाक्यं रामः श्रुत्वा विमृश्य च। ततः शुभतरं वाक्यमुवाच हरिपुङ्गवम्
Rāma, having heard and considered Sugrīva's words, then spoke a more auspicious statement to the foremost among monkeys.
स दुष्टो वाप्यदुष्टो वा किमेष रजनीचरः। सूक्ष्ममप्यहितं कर्तुं मम शक्तः कथंचन
Whether this night-walker is wicked or not, how could he, in any subtle way, do me harm?
पिशाचान् दानवान् यक्षान् पृथिव्यां चैव राक्षसान्। अङ्गुल्यग्रेण तान् हन्यामिच्छन् हरिगणेश्वर
O lord of the monkey hosts, if I wished, I could slay piśācas, dānavas, yakṣas, and rākṣasas of the earth with just the tip of my finger.
श्रूयते हि कपोतेन शत्रुः शरणमागतः। अर्चितश्च यथान्यायं स्वैश्च मांसैर्निमन्त्रितः
It is heard that an enemy who sought refuge with a pigeon was honored according to custom and invited with the pigeon’s own flesh.