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.
स हि तं प्रतिजग्राह भार्याहर्तारमागतम्। कपोतो वानरश्रेष्ठ किं पुनर्मद्विधो जनः
That pigeon received the one who had taken his wife, O best of monkeys; what then of a person like me?
ऋषेः कण्वस्य पुत्रोण कण्डुना परमर्षिणा। शृणु गाथा पुरा गीता धर्मिष्ठा सत्यवादिना
Hear the verses once sung by Kaṇḍu, the son of sage Kaṇva, a supreme seer, who was righteous and truthful.
बद्धाञ्जलिपुटं दीनं याचन्तं शरणागतम्। न हन्यादानृशंस्यार्थमपि शत्रुं परंतप
One should not kill, even for the sake of compassion, an enemy who has come seeking refuge, with hands joined and in distress, O scorcher of foes.
आर्तो वा यदि वा दृप्तः परेषां शरणं गतः। अरिः प्राणान् परित्यज्य रक्षितव्यः कृतात्मना
Whether afflicted or arrogant, if an enemy has sought refuge with others, a person of self-control must protect him, even at the cost of his own life.
स चेद् भयाद् वा मोहाद् वा कामाद् वापि न रक्षति। स्वया शक्त्या यथान्यायं तत् पापं लोकगर्हितम्
If, out of fear, confusion, or desire, one does not protect with his own power as is proper, that is a sin condemned by the world.
विनष्टः पश्यतस्तस्य रक्षिणः शरणं गतः। आनाय सुकृतं तस्य सर्वं गच्छेदरक्षितः
If one who has sought refuge perishes before the eyes of his protector, all the protector’s merit is lost if he fails to protect.
एवं दोषो महानत्र प्रपन्नानामरक्षणे। अस्वर्ग्यं चायशस्यं च बलवीर्यविनाशनम्
Thus, there is a great fault here in not protecting those who have surrendered: it leads to loss of heaven, loss of fame, and destruction of strength and valor.
करिष्यामि यथार्थं तु कण्डोर्वचनमुत्तमम्। धर्मिष्ठं च यशस्यं च स्वर्ग्यं स्यात् तु फलोदये
I will act according to the excellent words of Kaṇḍu, which are righteous, bring fame, and, in their result, lead to heaven.
सकृदेव प्रपन्नाय तवास्मीति च याचते। अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो ददाम्येतद् व्रतं मम
To one who has surrendered even once, saying 'I am yours,' I grant fearlessness from all beings; this is my vow.
आनयैनं हरिश्रेष्ठ दत्तमस्याभयं मया। विभीषणो वा सुग्रीव यदि वा रावणः स्वयम्
Bring him here, O best of monkeys; I have granted him fearlessness, whether it is Vibhīṣaṇa or even Rāvaṇa himself, O Sugrīva.