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.
सुग्रीवोऽप्यनदद् घोरं वालिनो ह्वानकारणात्। गाढं परिहितो वेगान्नादैर्भिन्दन्निवाम्बरम्
Sugriva, for the purpose of calling Vali, let out a dreadful roar, forcefully uttered, splitting the sky with its speed and intensity.
तं श्रुत्वा निनदं भ्रातुः क्रुद्धो वाली महाबलः। निष्पपात सुसंरब्धो भास्करोऽस्ततटादिव
Hearing his brother's roar, Vali, mighty and enraged, leapt out, fiercely agitated, like the sun rising from the western horizon.
ततः सुतुमुलं युद्धं वालिसुग्रीवयोरभूत्। गगने ग्रहयोर्घोरं बुधाङ्गारकयोरिव
Then a tumultuous battle arose between Vali and Sugriva, fierce in the sky like the dreadful clash of Mercury and Mars.
तलैरशनिकल्पैश्च वज्रकल्पैश्च मुष्टिभिः। जघ्नतुः समरेऽन्योन्यं भ्रातरौ क्रोधमूर्च्छितौ
With blows like slaps and belts, and fists as hard as thunderbolts, the two brothers, overcome by wrath, struck each other in combat.
ततो रामो धनुष्पाणिस्तावुभौ समुदैक्षत। अन्योन्यसदृशौ वीरावुभौ देवाविवाश्विनौ
Rama, holding his bow, observed both of them intently; both heroes were alike, as if they were the twin Ashvins among the gods.
यन्नावगच्छत् सुग्रीवं वालिनं वापि राघवः। ततो न कृतवान् बुद्धिं मोक्तुमन्तकरं शरम्
Since Raghava could not distinguish Sugriva from Vali, he did not decide to release the deadly arrow.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे भग्नः सुग्रीवस्तेन वालिना। अपश्यन् राघवं नाथमृष्यमूकं प्रदुद्रुवे
Meanwhile, Sugriva was defeated by Vali, and, unable to see Raghava for support, fled toward Rishyamuka.
क्लान्तो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गः प्रहारैर्जर्जरीकृतः। वालिनाभिद्रुतः क्रोधात् प्रविवेश महावनम्
Exhausted, his body drenched in blood, battered by blows, and pursued by Vali in anger, he entered the great forest.
तं प्रविष्टं वनं दृष्ट्वा वाली शापभयात् ततः। मुक्तो ह्यसि त्वमित्युक्त्वा स निवृत्तो महाबलः
Seeing Sugriva enter the forest, Vali, fearing the curse, declared, 'You are freed,' and then withdrew, mighty as he was.
राघवोऽपि सह भ्रात्रा सह चैव हनूमता। तदेव वनमागच्छत् सुग्रीवो यत्र वानरः
Raghava, together with his brother and Hanuman, went to that very forest where Sugriva, the vanara, had gone.
तं समीक्ष्यागतं रामं सुग्रीवः सहलक्ष्मणम्। ह्रीमान् दीनमुवाचेदं वसुधामवलोकयन्
Seeing Rama arrive with Lakshmana, Sugriva, ashamed and dejected, spoke these words while gazing at the earth.
आह्वयस्वेति मामुक्त्वा दर्शयित्वा च विक्रमम्। वैरिणा घातयित्वा च किमिदानीं त्वया कृतम्
Having called me, shown your prowess, and slain the enemy, what have you now accomplished?
तामेव वेलां वक्तव्यं त्वया राघव तत्त्वतः। वालिनं न निहन्मीति ततो नाहमितो व्रजे
At this very moment, you must tell me the truth, O Raghava: why did you not slay Vali? Otherwise, I will not remain here.
तस्य चैवं ब्रुवाणस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः। करुणं दीनया वाचा राघवः पुनरब्रवीत्
As Sugriva, the great-souled, spoke thus, with a voice full of sorrow and distress, Raghava replied again.
सुग्रीव श्रूयतां तात क्रोधश्च व्यपनीयताम्। कारणं येन बाणोऽयं स मया न विसर्जितः
Sugriva, listen, dear friend, and let your anger be set aside; I shall explain the reason why I did not release this arrow.
अलंकारेण वेषेण प्रमाणेन गतेन च। त्वं च सुग्रीव वाली च सदृशौ स्थः परस्परम्
In ornament, attire, stature, and gait, you and Vāli, O Sugrīva, are alike to each other.
स्वरेण वर्चसा चैव प्रेक्षितेन च वानर। विक्रमेण च वाक्यैश्च व्यक्तिं वां नोपलक्षये
In voice, radiance, glance, valor, and speech, O monkey, I discern no distinction between you two.
ततोऽहं रूपसादृश्यान्मोहितो वानरोत्तम। नोत्सृजामि महावेगं शरं शत्रुनिबर्हणम्
Therefore, O foremost of monkeys, being bewildered by your resemblance, I did not release the swift arrow that destroys enemies.
जीवितान्तकरं घोरं सादृश्यात् तु विशङ्कितः। मूलघातो न नौ स्याद्धि द्वयोरिति कृतो मया
Because of your similarity, I hesitated to let loose the dreadful arrow that ends life, lest it strike the root of both of you.
त्वयि वीर विपन्ने हि अज्ञानाल्लाघवान्मया। मौढ्यं च मम बाल्यं च ख्यापितं स्यात् कपीश्वर
If you, O hero, had perished through my ignorance, then my folly and childishness would be exposed, O lord of monkeys.