एवमुक्तस्तु सुग्रीवो रामेणार्तेन वानरः। अब्रवीत् प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं सवाष्पं बाष्पगद्गदः॥
Thus addressed by the aggrieved Rāma, the monkey, Sugriva, his accents obstructed by vapour and his eyes filled with tears, said with joined hands,
न जाने निलयं तस्य सर्वथा पापरक्षसः। सामर्थ्य विक्रमं वापि दौष्कुलेयस्य वा कुलम्॥
I do not know the hidden abode of that exceedingly wicked Raksasa,-nor do l know his heroism and prowess, or the lineage of that one sprung from a vicious race.
सत्यं तु प्रतिजानामि त्यज शोकमरिंदम। करिष्यामि तथा यत्नं यथा प्राप्स्यसि मैथिलीम्॥
O vanquisher of foes, leave off sorrowing. I promise to you truly, I will exert so that you mayst obtain Maithilī.
रावणं सगणं हत्वा परितोष्यात्मपौरुषम्। तथास्मि कर्ता नचिराद् यथा प्रीतो भविष्यसि॥
Slaying Rāvaņa with his hosts, and putting forth my manliness capable of pleasing others, I will speedily act so that you mayst be pleased.
अलं वैक्लव्यमालम्ब्य धैर्यमात्मगतं स्मर। त्वद्विधानां न सदृशमीदृशं बुद्धिलाघवम्॥
Do not be overwhelmed with grief: summon the fortitude that is in you. Such lightness of sense does not become persons like you.
मयापि व्यसनं प्राप्तं भार्याविरहजं महत्। नाहमेवं हि शोचामि धैर्ये न च परित्यजे॥
I also have experienced mighty disaster arising out of separation from my wife; but I do not weep in this wise,-nor do I forsake my fortitude.
नाहं तामनुशोचामि प्राकृतो वानरोऽपि सन्। महात्मा च विनीतश्च किं पुन तिमान् महान्॥
A despicable monkey as I am, I do not grieve for her,-and what again shall I say of one that is magnanimous, endued with meekness and firmness, and great?
वाष्पमापतितं धैर्यान्निग्रहीतुं त्वमर्हसि। मर्यादां सत्त्वयुक्तानां धृतिं नोत्स्रष्टुमर्हसि॥
It behoveth you to restrain your falling tears by patience. It behoveth you not to resign that patience which is the dignity of persons possessed of the quality of goodness.
व्यसने वार्थकृच्छ्रे वा भये वा जीवितान्तगे। विमृशंश्च स्वया बुद्ध्या धृतिमान् नावसीदति॥
Persons endued with firmness of understanding by help of their intellect, do not in calamity consequent on separation from dear ones, or on the occasion of loss of wealth, or of fear arising from thieves, wild beasts, etc., or of loss of life itself, lose their self-possession.
बालिशस्तु नरो नित्यं वैक्लव्यं योऽनुवर्तते। स मज्जत्यवशः शोके भाराक्रान्तेव नौ ले॥
He that is senseless as well as he that suffers himself to be overwhelmed with grief, losing all control over self, drown themselves in sorrow like a boat bearing a heavy load in water.
एषोऽञ्जालमया बद्धः प्रणयात् त्वां प्रसादये। पौरुषं श्रय शोकस्य नान्तरं दातुमर्हसि ॥
I soothe you from the love I bear towards you. Do you have recourse to manliness. It does not behove you to let grief overcome you.
ये शोकमनुवर्तन्ते न तेषां विद्यते सुखम्। तेजश्च क्षीयते तेषां न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥
Those that indulge in sorrow, know no happiness; and their virtue* goeth out of them. Therefore it behoveth you not to grieve. In the sense of energy.
शोकेनाभिप्रपन्नस्य जीविते चापि संशयः। स शोकं त्यज राजेन्द्र धैर्यमाश्रय केवलम्॥
The life even of him that is mastered by sorrow is in jeopardy. Therefore, you foremost of monarchs, leave off that grief. Do you entirely have recourse to fortitude.
हितं वयस्यभावेन ब्रूमि नोपदिशामि ते। वयस्यतां पूजयन्मे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥
In the spirit of a friend I tell what is for your good: I do not instruct you. Honour the amity I bear towards you. It behoveth you not to weep.
मधुरं सान्त्वितस्तेन सुग्रीवेण स राघवः। मुखमश्रुपरिक्लिन्नं वस्त्रान्तेन प्रमार्जयत्॥
Thus sweetly consoled by Sugrīva, Rāghava with the end of his cloth wiped his face tarnished with tears.
प्रकृतिस्थस्तु काकुत्स्थः सुग्रीववचनात् प्रभुः। सम्परिष्वज्य सुग्रीवमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
And after that lord, Kakutstha, had recovered his natural state through the words of Sugrīva he embraced Sugrīva and addressed him, saying,
कर्तव्यं यद् वयस्येन स्निग्धेन च हितेन च। अनुरूपं च युक्तं च कृतं सुग्रीव तत् त्वया॥
O Sugriva, that which, pleasing and profitable, proper and fit, ought to be done by a friend, has been done by you.
एष च प्रकृतिस्थोऽहमनुनीतस्तया सखे। दुर्लभो हीदृशो बन्धुरस्मिन् काले विशेषतः॥
Solicited by you, I have, O friend, regained my natural tone of mind. Such a friend is rare, specially at such a time.
किं तु यत्नस्त्वया कार्यो मैथिल्याः परिमार्गणे। राक्षसस्य च रौद्रस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः॥
But you should strive to trace Maithili as well as bring about the destruction of that fierce Räks asa, the impious Rāvana.
मया च यदनुष्ठेयं विस्रब्धेन तदुच्यताम्। वर्षास्विव च सुक्षेत्रे सर्वं सम्पद्यते तव॥
Do you also without reserve say what I shall have to do for you. Like corn sown in a fertile field in the rainy season, every concern of thine shall attain success.
मया च यदिदं वाक्यमभिमानाद् समीरितम्। तत्त्वया हरिशार्दूल तत्त्वमित्युपधार्यताम्॥
O best of monkeys, do you verily consider as true the words that I have uttered through affection.
अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे न च वक्ष्ये कदाचन। एतत्ते प्रतिजानामि सत्येनैव शपाम्यहम्॥
Falsehoods have I never spoken before, nor will I ever say one (in future). This I promise to you. I swear by truth itself.
ततः प्रहृष्टः सुग्रीवो वानरैः सचिवैः सह। राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रतिज्ञातं विशेषतः॥
Hearing Rāghava's words, and in special his promise, Sugrīva felt exceedingly delighted along with this monkey ministers.
एवमेकान्तसम्पृक्तौ ततस्तौ नरवानरौ। उभावन्योन्यसदृशं सुखं दुःखमभाषताम्॥
Thus fast bound in friendship, the man and the monkey conversed with each other about (topics) which each thought fit, connected with their joys and griefs.
महानुभावस्य वचो निशम्य हरिपाणामधिपस्य तस्य। स्तदा च कार्यं हृदयेन विद्वान्॥
Hearing the words of that illustrious monarch of kings, that hero-greatest of monkeys-considered and felt in his heart as if his work had already been accomplished.