सोऽहं सभाज्यो बन्धूनां सुहृदां चैव राघव। यस्याग्निसाक्षिकं मित्रं लब्धं राघववंशजम्
Thus, among my relatives and friends, I am honored, O descendant of Raghu, for I have gained as a friend, with fire as witness, one born in the Raghu lineage.
अहमप्यनुरूपस्ते वयस्यो ज्ञास्यसे शनैः। न तु वक्तुं समर्थोऽहं त्वयि आत्मगतान् गुणान्
I too am a fitting companion for you, and you will come to know this gradually; but I am not able to speak of my own qualities in your presence.
महात्मनां तु भूयिष्ठं त्वद्विधानां कृतात्मनाम्। निश्चला भवति प्रीतिर्धैर्यमात्मवतां वर
But among great souls like you, who are self-controlled, affection is steadfast, and courage is firm, O best among the self-possessed.
रजतं वा सुवर्णं वा शुभान्याभरणानि च। अविभक्तानि साधूनामवगच्छन्ति साधवः
Whether it is silver, gold, or beautiful ornaments, the virtuous recognize that such things are undivided among the good.
धनत्यागः सुखत्यागो देशत्यागोऽपि वानघ। वयस्यार्थे प्रवर्तन्ते स्नेहं दृष्ट्वा तथाविधम्
For the sake of a friend, O faultless one, people will give up wealth, comfort, even their homeland, when they see such affection.
तत् तथेत्यब्रवीद् रामः सुग्रीवं प्रियवादिनम्। लक्ष्मणस्याग्रतो लक्ष्म्या वासवस्येव धीमतः
Then Rāma, standing before Lakṣmaṇa and the wise Lakṣmī, replied to Sugrīva, who spoke kindly, saying, 'So be it.'
ततो रामं स्थितं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम्। सुग्रीवः सर्वतश्चक्षुर्वने लोलमपातयत्
Then Sugrīva, seeing Rāma standing there and mighty Lakṣmaṇa, cast his restless gaze all around the forest.
स ददर्श ततः सालमविदूरे हरीश्वरः। सुपुष्पमीषत्पत्राढ्यं भ्रमरैरुपशोभितम्
Thereupon, the lord of monkeys saw a śāla tree not far away, richly adorned with blossoms and a few leaves, beautified by bees.
तस्यैकां पर्णबहुलां शाखां भङ्क्त्वा सुशोभिताम्। रामस्यास्तीर्य सुग्रीवो निषसाद सराघवः
Breaking off a single branch thick with leaves from that tree, Sugrīva spread it out for Rāma, and together with Rāghava, sat down.
तावासीनौ ततो दृष्ट्वा हनूमानपि लक्ष्मणम्। शालशाखां समुत्पाट्य विनीतमुपवेशयत्
Then Hanuman, seeing the two seated, also gently seated Lakshmana on a branch of the śāla tree that he had broken off.
सुखोपविष्टं रामं तु प्रसन्नमुदधिं यथा। सालपुष्पावसंकीर्णे तस्मिन् गिरिवरोत्तमे
Rama, comfortably seated and serene like the calm ocean, was on that excellent mountain, covered with śāla blossoms.
ततः प्रहृष्टः सुग्रीवः श्लक्ष्णया शुभया गिरा। उवाच प्रणयाद् रामं हर्षव्याकुलिताक्षरम्
Then Sugriva, delighted, spoke to Rama with gentle and auspicious words, his voice trembling with joy and affection.
अहं विनिकृतो भ्रात्रा चराम्येष भयार्दितः। ऋष्यमूकं गिरिवरं हृतभार्यः सुदुःखितः
I, deprived by my brother, wander in fear on this great mountain Ṛṣyamūka, my wife taken, deeply afflicted.
सोऽहं त्रस्तो भये मग्नो वने सम्भ्रान्तचेतनः। वालिना निकृतो भ्रात्रा कृतवैरश्च राघव
Thus I, terrified, sunk in fear, my mind disturbed in the forest, have been wronged by my brother Vali and have become his enemy, O Raghava.
वालिनो मे भयार्तस्य सर्वलोकाभयंकर। ममापि त्वमनाथस्य प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि
Vali, who terrifies all the worlds, is the cause of my fear; you ought to show favor to me, who am without support.
एवमुक्तस्तु तेजस्वी धर्मज्ञो धर्मवत्सलः। प्रत्युवाच स काकुत्स्थः सुग्रीवं प्रहसन्निव
Thus addressed, the illustrious descendant of Kakutstha, knower of righteousness and devoted to virtue, replied to Sugriva with a smile.
उपकारफलं मित्रमपकारोऽरिलक्षणम्। अद्यैव तं वधिष्यामि तव भार्यापहारिणम्
A friend is one who repays kindness; one who does harm is marked as an enemy. Today itself I will slay him who took your wife.
इमे हि मे महाभाग पत्रिणस्तिग्मतेजसः। कार्तिकेयवनोद्भूताः शरा हेमविभूषिताः
Here are my mighty, sharp arrows, adorned with gold, born from the forest of Kārtikeya, blazing with power.
कङ्कपत्रपरिच्छन्ना महेन्द्राशनिसंनिभाः। सुपर्वाणः सुतीक्ष्णाग्राः सरोषा भुजगा इव
Fitted with vulture-feathered shafts, resembling Indra's thunderbolt, well-jointed, with keen points, they are like angry serpents.
वालिसंज्ञममित्रं ते भ्रातरं कृतकिल्बिषम्। शरैर्विनिहतं पश्य विकीर्णमिव पर्वतम्
See your brother, the enemy named Vali, who has committed evil, struck down by arrows and scattered like a mountain broken apart.
राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवो वाहिनीपतिः। प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे साधु साध्विति चाब्रवीत्
Hearing Raghava's words, Sugriva, the leader of the army, felt incomparable joy and exclaimed, 'Excellent! Excellent!'
राम शोकाभिभूतोऽहं शोकार्तानां भवान् गतिः। वयस्य इति कृत्वा हि त्वय्यहं परिदेवये
Rama, I am overcome by grief; you are the refuge for those afflicted by sorrow. Considering you a friend, I lament before you.
त्वं हि पाणिप्रदानेन वयस्यो मेऽग्निसाक्षिकम्। कृतः प्राणैर्बहुमतः सत्येन च शपाम्यहम्
By the giving of hands, you have become my friend, with fire as witness; you are dearer to me than life itself, and I swear this by truth.
वयस्य इति कृत्वा च विस्रब्धः प्रवदाम्यहम्। दुःखमन्तर्गतं तन्मे मनो हरति नित्यशः
Taking you as a friend, I speak openly; the sorrow within me always weighs down my mind.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं बाष्पदूषितलोचनः। बाष्पदूषितया वाचा नोच्चैः शक्नोति भाषितुम्
Having spoken thus, his eyes filled with tears, his voice choked with emotion, he could not speak aloud.
बाष्पवेगं तु सहसा नदीवेगमिवागतम्। धारयामास धैर्येण सुग्रीवो रामसंनिधौ
But Sugriva, in Rama's presence, with courage restrained the sudden surge of tears, like a river held back.
स निगृह्य तु तं बाष्पं प्रमृज्य नयने शुभे। विनिःश्वस्य च तेजस्वी राघवं पुनरूचिवान्
Having checked his tears, wiped his beautiful eyes, and sighed, the radiant Sugriva again spoke to Raghava.
पुराहं वालिना राम राज्यात् स्वादवरोपितः। परुषाणि च संश्राव्य निर्धूतोऽस्मि बलीयसा
Long ago, O Rāma, Vāli cast me out from my own kingdom, and, after speaking harsh words, I was driven away by his superior strength.
हृता भार्या च मे तेन प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी। सुहृदश्च मदीया ये संयता बन्धनेषु ते
He took my wife, who is dearer to me than my own life, and all my friends have been bound and imprisoned by him.
यत्नवांश्च स दुष्टात्मा मद्विनाशाय राघव। बहुशस्तप्रयुक्ताश्च वानरा निहता मया
That wicked-hearted one has made many efforts to destroy me, O Rāghava, and I have slain many monkeys whom he sent against me.