उपलब्धं च मे श्लाघ्यं सन्मित्रं मित्रवत्सल। त्वामहं पुरुषव्याघ्र हिमवन्तमिवाश्रितः
I have found a praiseworthy friend, devoted to friendship; I rely on you, tiger among men, as one would on the Himalayas.
किं तु तस्य बलज्ञोऽहं दुर्भ्रातुर्बलशालिनः। अप्रत्यक्षं तु मे वीर्यं समरे तव राघव
But I know the strength of my powerful, wicked brother; yet your valor in battle, Rāghava, is not visible to me.
न खल्वहं त्वां तुलये नावमन्ये न भीषये। कर्मभिस्तस्य भीमैश्च कातर्यं जनितं मम
I do not compare you, nor do I disrespect or fear you; but his terrifying deeds have made me fearful.
कामं राघव ते वाणी प्रमाणं धैर्यमाकृतिः। सूचयन्ति परं तेजो भस्मच्छन्नमिवानलम्
Indeed, Rāghava, your words, courage, and bearing are proof; they hint at a great energy, like fire covered in ash.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः। स्मितपूर्वमथो रामः प्रत्युवाच हरिं प्रति
Hearing these words of the noble Sugrīva, Rāma, smiling, replied to the monkey.
यदि न प्रत्ययोऽस्मासु विक्रमे तव वानर। प्रत्ययं समरे श्लाघ्यमहमुत्पादयामि ते
If you do not have confidence in our prowess, O monkey, I will create for you a praiseworthy assurance in battle.
एवमुक्त्वा तु सुग्रीवं सान्त्वयँल्लक्ष्मणाग्रजः। राघवो दुन्दुभेः कायं पादाङ्गुष्ठेन लीलया
Having spoken thus to Sugrīva, Rāghava, elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa, comforted him and with his toe playfully touched Dundubhi's body.
तोलयित्वा महाबाहुश्चिक्षेप दशयोजनम्। असुरस्य तनुं शुष्कां पादाङ्गुष्ठेन वीर्यवान्
The mighty-armed hero, having lifted it, flung the dried body of the demon ten yojanas away with his toe.
क्षिप्तं दृष्ट्वा ततः कायं सुग्रीवः पुनरब्रवीत्। लक्ष्मणस्याग्रतो रामं तपन्तमिव भास्करम्। हरीणामग्रतो वीरमिदं वचनमर्थवत्
Seeing the body cast away, Sugrīva again spoke to Rāma, shining like the sun before Lakṣmaṇa and the foremost monkeys, uttering these meaningful words.
आर्द्रः समांसः प्रत्यग्रः क्षिप्तः कायः पुरा सखे। परिश्रान्तेन मत्तेन भ्रात्रा मे वालिना तदा
Once, my body was fresh, with flesh, and full of vigor, my friend, when it was thrown by my brother Vāli, who was exhausted and intoxicated.
लघुः सम्प्रति निर्मांसस्तृणभूतश्च राघव। क्षिप्त एवं प्रहर्षेण भवता रघुनन्दन
But now, O Rāghava, it is light, without flesh, and like straw; yet you, in your delight, have thrown it in this state, O joy of the Raghu line.
नात्र शक्यं बलं ज्ञातुं तव वा तस्य वाधिकम्। आर्द्रं शुष्कमिति ह्येतत् सुमहद् राघवान्तरम्
Here, it is not possible to discern whose strength is greater—yours or his; for the difference between fresh and dried is truly immense, O Rāghava.
स एव संशयस्तात तव तस्य च यद्बलम्। सालमेकं विनिर्भिद्य भवेद् व्यक्तिर्बलाबले
That is the very doubt, dear one, regarding your strength and his; if you split a single sāl tree, the difference in strength and weakness will become clear.
कृत्वैतत् कार्मुकं सज्यं हस्तिहस्तमिवाततम्। आकर्णपूर्णमायम्य विसृजस्व महाशरम्
Therefore, string this bow, stretching it like an elephant's trunk; draw it fully to your ear and release a mighty arrow.
इमं हि सालं प्रहितस्त्वया शरो न संशयोऽत्रास्ति विदारयिष्यति। अलं विमर्शेन मम प्रियं ध्रुवं कुरुष्व राजन् प्रतिशापितो मया
If you shoot this sāl tree with an arrow, there is no doubt it will be pierced; enough of deliberation, my dear—certainly do this, O king, for I have pledged you.
यथा हि तेजःसु वरः सदारवि- र्यथा हि शैलो हिमवान् महाद्रिषु। यथा चतुष्पात्सु च केसरी वर- स्तथा नराणामसि विक्रमे वरः
Just as you are foremost among the radiant, as Himālaya is among great mountains, and as the lion is chief among four-legged beasts, so are you the best among men in valor.
thumb|द्वादशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे किष्किन्धाकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः ॥४-
Listen now to the twelfth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa.
एतच्च वचनं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवस्य सुभाषितम्। प्रत्ययार्थं महातेजा रामो जग्राह कार्मुकम्
Hearing these well-spoken words of Sugrīva, Rāma of great splendor took up his bow to inspire confidence.
स गृहीत्वा धनुर्घोरं शरमेकं च मानदः। सालमुद्दिश्य चिक्षेप पूरयन् स रवैर्दिशः
He, the giver of honor, took up the formidable bow and a single arrow, and aiming at the sāl tree, released it, filling the directions with its sound.
स विसृष्टो बलवता बाणः स्वर्णपरिष्कृतः। भित्त्वा सालान् गिरिप्रस्थं सप्तं भूमिं विवेश ह
That arrow, released with great force and adorned with gold, pierced through seven sāl trees, the mountain slope, and entered the earth.
सायकस्तु मुहूर्तेन सालान् भित्त्वा महाजवः। निष्पत्य च पुनस्तूणं तमेव प्रविवेश ह
In a moment, that swift arrow, having pierced the sāl trees, emerged and returned again into the very same quiver.
तान् दृष्ट्वा सप्त निर्भिन्नान् सालान् वानरपुङ्गवः। रामस्य शरवेगेन विस्मयं परमं गतः
Seeing those seven sāl trees split by the force of Rāma's arrow, the foremost of monkeys was filled with utmost wonder.
स मूर्ध्ना न्यपतद् भूमौ प्रलम्बीकृतभूषणः। सुग्रीवः परमप्रीतो राघवाय कृताञ्जलिः
Overjoyed, Sugrīva, with his ornaments dangling, fell to the ground with his head bowed, joining his palms to Rāghava.
इदं चोवाच धर्मज्ञं कर्मणा तेन हर्षितः। रामं सर्वास्त्रविदुषां श्रेष्ठं शूरमवस्थितम्
Delighted by this deed, he spoke to Rāma, knower of righteousness and best among those skilled in all weapons, who stood there as a hero.
सेन्द्रानपि सुरान् सर्वांस्त्वं बाणैः पुरुषर्षभ। समर्थः समरे हन्तुं किं पुनर्वालिनं प्रभो
O best of men, you are capable of defeating even all the gods along with Indra in battle with your arrows—what need to speak of Vāli, O lord?
येन सप्त महासाला गिरिर्भूमिश्च दारिताः। बाणेनैकेन काकुत्स्थ स्थाता ते को रणाग्रतः
By whom, O descendant of Kakutstha, seven great sāl trees, the mountain, and the earth were split with a single arrow—who could stand before you in battle?
अद्य मे विगतः शोकः प्रीतिरद्य परा मम। सुहृदं त्वां समासाद्य महेन्द्रवरुणोपमम्
Today my sorrow is gone, and my joy is supreme, having found you, my friend, equal to Mahendra and Varuṇa.
तमद्यैव प्रियार्थं मे वैरिणं भ्रातृरूपिणम्। वालिनं जहि काकुत्स्थ मया बद्धोऽयमञ्जलिः
Today itself, for the sake of my dear friend, O descendant of Kakutstha, slay that enemy who appears as a brother—Vali. With joined palms, I beseech you.
अस्माद्गच्छाम किष्किन्धां क्षिप्रं गच्छ त्वमग्रतः। गत्वा चाह्वय सुग्रीव वालिनं भ्रातृगन्धिनम्
Let us now proceed swiftly to Kishkindha; you go ahead. Upon arrival, summon Sugriva and Vali, who bears the scent of brotherhood.
सर्वे ते त्वरितं गत्वा किष्किन्धां वालिनः पुरीम्। वृक्षैरात्मानमावृत्य ह्यतिष्ठन् गहने वने
All of them hurried to Kishkindha, the city of Vali, and, concealing themselves with trees, stood in the dense forest.