इक्ष्वाकूणामियं भूमिः सशैलवनकानना। मृगपक्षिमनुष्याणां निग्रहानुग्रहेष्वपि
This land of the Ikṣvākus, with its mountains, forests, and groves, is for the protection and punishment of beasts, birds, and humans alike.
तां पालयति धर्मात्मा भरतः सत्यवानृजुः। धर्मकामार्थतत्त्वज्ञो निग्रहानुग्रहे रतः
That land is guarded by righteous, truthful, and upright Bharata, who knows the essence of righteousness, desire, and wealth, and delights in both punishment and favor.
नयश्च विनयश्चोभौ यस्मिन् सत्यं च सुस्थितम्। विक्रमश्च यथा दृष्टः स राजा देशकालवित्
In him are found both policy and discipline, and truth firmly established; as seen, he is a king of valor, knowing time and place.
तस्य धर्मकृतादेशा वयमन्ये च पार्थिवाः। चरामो वसुधां कृत्स्नां धर्मसंतानमिच्छवः
By the command of the righteous, we and the other kings roam the entire earth, desiring the preservation of righteousness.
तस्मिन् नृपतिशार्दूले भरते धर्मवत्सले। पालयत्यखिलां पृथ्वीं कश्चरेद् धर्मविप्रियम्
While Bharata, the tiger among kings, devoted to righteousness, rules the whole earth, who would act against righteousness?
ते वयं मार्गविभ्रष्टं स्वधर्मे परमे स्थिताः। भरताज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य निगृह्णीमो यथाविधि
We, firmly established in our own supreme duty, restrain those who have strayed from the path, upholding Bharata's command as is proper.
त्वं तु संक्लिष्टधर्मश्च कर्मणा च विगर्हितः। कामतन्त्रप्रधानश्च न स्थितो राजवर्त्मनि
But you are corrupted in righteousness, blameworthy in action, ruled by desire, and not established on the royal path.
ज्येष्ठो भ्राता पिता वापि यश्च विद्यां प्रयच्छति। त्रयस्ते पितरो ज्ञेया धर्मे च पथि वर्तिनः
The eldest brother, the father, and the one who imparts knowledge—these three are to be regarded as fathers by those who walk the path of righteousness.
यवीयानात्मनः पुत्रः शिष्यश्चापि गुणोदितः। पुत्रवत्ते त्रयश्चिन्त्या धर्मश्चैवात्र कारणम्
A younger son, or a disciple endowed with virtue, should be regarded as a son; these three are to be considered as sons, and righteousness is the reason for this.
सूक्ष्मः परमदुर्ज्ञेयः सतां धर्मः प्लवङ्गम। हृदिस्थः सर्वभूतानामात्मा वेद शुभाशुभम्
Righteousness among the virtuous is subtle and extremely difficult to discern, O monkey; the self, residing in the hearts of all beings, knows what is good and what is evil.
चपलश्चपलैः सार्धं वानरैरकृतात्मभिः। जात्यन्ध इव जात्यन्धैर्मन्त्रयन् प्रेक्षसे नु किम्
Why do you, unstable yourself, surrounded by unstable monkeys lacking self-control, deliberate like a blind man among the blind?
अहं तु व्यक्ततामस्य वचनस्य ब्रवीमि ते। नहि मां केवलं रोषात् त्वं विगर्हितुमर्हसि
But I speak to you words that are clearly true; you should not blame me solely out of anger.
अस्य त्वं धरमाणस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः। रुमायां वर्तसे कामात् स्नुषायां पापकर्मकृत्
You, while Sugriva the great-souled endures, have acted out of desire with Rumā, your daughter-in-law, committing a sinful deed.
तद् व्यतीतस्य ते धर्मात् कामवृत्तस्य वानर। भ्रातृभार्याभिमर्शेऽस्मिन् दण्डोऽयं प्रतिपादितः
Therefore, for you who have strayed from righteousness and act according to desire, this punishment is prescribed for violating your brother's wife.
नहि लोकविरुद्धस्य लोकवृत्तादपेयुषः। दण्डादन्यत्र पश्यामि निग्रहं हरियूथप
For one who acts against the ways of the world and departs from worldly conduct, O monkey chief, I see no restraint other than punishment.
न च ते मर्षये पापं क्षत्रियोऽहं कुलोद्गतः। औरसीं भगिनीं वापि भार्यां वाप्यनुजस्य यः
Nor do I, a kṣatriya born of a noble line, tolerate your sin—whoever approaches his own father's, uterine sister's, or younger brother's wife out of desire.
प्रचरेत नरः कामात् तस्य दण्डो वधः स्मृतः। भरतस्तु महीपालो वयं त्वादेशवर्तिनः
If a man approaches such a woman out of desire, the punishment is declared to be death; but Bharata is the ruler, and we act according to his command.
त्वं च धर्मादतिक्रान्तः कथं शक्यमुपेक्षितुम्। गुरुधर्मव्यतिक्रान्तं प्राज्ञो धर्मेण पालयन्
And you, having transgressed righteousness, how could one who is wise and upholds righteousness overlook the violation of the duty owed to a superior?
भरतः कामयुक्तानां निग्रहे पर्यवस्थितः। वयं तु भरतादेशावधिं कृत्वा हरीश्वर। त्वद्विधान् भिन्नमर्यादान् निग्रहीतुं व्यवस्थिताः
Bharata is intent on restraining those given to desire; and we, O monkey lord, having set the limit by Bharata's command, are resolved to restrain those like you who have broken boundaries.
सुग्रीवेण च मे सख्यं लक्ष्मणेन यथा तथा। दारराज्यनिमित्तं च निःश्रेयस्करः स मे
My friendship with Sugriva is just as it is with Lakṣmaṇa; and for the sake of his wife and kingdom, this brings me the highest good.
प्रतिज्ञा च मया दत्ता तदा वानरसंनिधौ। प्रतिज्ञा च कथं शक्या मद्विधेनानवेक्षितुम्
And the vow I made then in the presence of the monkeys—how could someone like me disregard a vow?
तदेभिः कारणैः सर्वैर्महद्भिर्धर्मसंश्रितैः। शासनं तव यद् युक्तं तद् भवाननुमन्यताम्
Therefore, with all these great and righteous reasons, whatever command you give is proper; let it be approved by you.
सर्वथा धर्म इत्येव द्रष्टव्यस्तव निग्रहः। वयस्यस्योपकर्तव्यं धर्ममेवानुपश्यता
In every way, your act of restraint must be seen as dharma; one who seeks to help a friend should always consider righteousness.
शक्यं त्वयापि तत्कार्यं धर्ममेवानुवर्तता। श्रूयते मनुना गीतौ श्लोकौ चारित्रवत्सलौ। गृहीतौ धर्मकुशलैस्तथा तच्चरितं मया
You too are able to perform that duty, following only dharma; it is heard that Manu sang two verses, rich in virtue, which were adopted by those skilled in dharma, and I have followed that conduct.
राजभिर्धृतदण्डाश्च कृत्वा पापानि मानवाः। निर्मलाः स्वर्गमायान्ति सन्तः सुकृतिनो यथा
When kings enforce punishment, people who commit sins become pure and reach heaven, just as the virtuous do.
शासनाद् वापि मोक्षाद् वा स्तेनः पापात् प्रमुच्यते। राजा त्वशासन् पापस्य तदवाप्नोति किल्बिषम्
Whether by punishment or by release, a thief is freed from sin; but if a king does not punish the sinner, he himself incurs guilt.
आर्येण मम मान्धात्रा व्यसनं घोरमीप्सितम्। श्रमणेन कृते पापे यथा पापं कृतं त्वया
My noble ancestor Māndhātr̥ desired a terrible calamity; when a sin was committed by an ascetic, the sin was as you have committed.
अन्यैरपि कृतं पापं प्रमत्तैर्वसुधाधिपैः। प्रायश्चित्तं च कुर्वन्ति तेन तच्छाम्यते रजः
Even when other careless rulers commit sin, they perform atonement, and by that the stain is removed.
तदलं परितापेन धर्मतः परिकल्पितः। वधो वानरशार्दूल न वयं स्ववशे स्थिताः
Therefore, enough of sorrow; the killing is ordained by dharma, O foremost of monkeys, for we are not independent.
शृणु चाप्यपरं भूयः कारणं हरिपुंगव। तच्छ्रुत्वा हि महद् वीर न मन्युं कर्तुमर्हसि
Hear also another reason, O chief of monkeys; after hearing it, O hero, you should not be angry.