Yuddha Kanda — Sarga 18

अथ रामः प्रसन्नात्मा श्रुत्वा वायुसुतस्य ह। प्रत्यभाषत दुर्धर्षः श्रुतवानात्मनि स्थितम्॥

Hearing those words of the Wind-god's son, the irrepressible Rāma, conversant with all the Šāstras, replied, with words expressing his own opinion.

Yuddha Kanda 18.1

ममापि च विवक्षास्ति काचित्प्रति विभीषणम्। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं भवद्भिः श्रेयसि स्थितैः॥

I have also thought of some thing regarding Vibhisana. I wish you all, interested in my wellbeing, to hear that.

Yuddha Kanda 18.2

मित्रभावेन संप्राप्तं न त्यजेयं कथंचन। दोषो यद्यपि तस्य स्यात्सतामेतदगर्हितम्॥

(Vibhīşaņa) has come here as friend so I cannot forsake him by any means. And even if he has come with any evil intent it is not culpable for the pious to afford him shelter.

Yuddha Kanda 18.3

सुग्रीवस्त्वथ तद्वाक्यमाभाष्य च विमृश्य च। ततः शुभतरं वाक्यमुवाच हरिपुंगवः॥

There upon hearing his words and considering them well, Sugrīva, the lord of the monkeys, replied in more auspicious* word. *More reasonable word.

Yuddha Kanda 18.4

स दुष्टो वाप्यदुष्टो वा किमेष रजनीचरः। ईदृशं व्यसनं प्राप्तं भ्रातरं यः परित्यजेत् ॥ को नाम स भवेत्तस्य यमेष न परित्यजेत्।

Whether this ranger of the night is sincere or wicked, he should never be offered any shelter, since he has forsaken his brother in the midst of these calamities. What reason is there to believe that he shall not renounce us in our difficulty?

Yuddha Kanda 18.5

वानराधिपतेर्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा सर्वानुदीक्ष्य तु॥ ईषदुत्स्मयमानस्तु लक्ष्मणं पुण्यलक्षणम्। इति होवाच काकुत्स्थो वाक्यं सत्यपराक्रमः।७।।

Hearing the words of the lord of monkeys and casting his looks towards them, Kākutstha, having truth for his prowess, smiling a little, spoke, to Lakşmana, crowned with all the marks of piery, saying.

Yuddha Kanda 18.6

अनधीत्य च शास्त्राणि वृद्धाननुपसेव्य च। न शक्यमीदृशं वक्तुं यदुवाच हरीश्वरः॥

Without being conversant with Sastras, and living in the company of old men, none can speak such words as have been uttered by the king of the minkeys.

Yuddha Kanda 18.7

अस्ति सूक्ष्मतरं किंचिद्यथात्र प्रतिभाति मा। प्रत्यक्षं लौकिकं चापि वर्तते सर्वराजसु॥

There appear to me, however two subtler reasons anent the difference between brothers, among the kings-one is evident and another mundane.

Yuddha Kanda 18.8

अमित्रास्तत्कुलीनाश्च प्रातिदेश्याश्च कीर्तिताः। व्यसनेषु प्रहरिस्तस्मादयमिहागतः॥

There are two classes of foes-one consisting of the members of the same line the other of the neighbours. And these generally bring about our misfortune whenever any opportunity presents itself. And it is for this that he has he has come here.

Yuddha Kanda 18.9

अपापास्तत्कुलीनाश्च मानयन्ति स्वकान्हितान्। एष प्रायो नरेन्द्राणां शङ्कनीयस्तु शोभनः॥

Those kinsmen, who do not think of one another's mischief, generally long for their respective well-being. But even such wellmeaning relatives are feared by the kings.

Yuddha Kanda 18.10

यस्तु दोषस्त्वया प्रोक्तो ह्यादानेऽरिबलस्य च। तत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि यथाशास्त्रमिदं शृणु ॥

And hear, I shall relate, what the Sastras say regarding the weak points you have mentioned as to the advisability of taking the enemies to our side.

Yuddha Kanda 18.11

न वयं तत्कुलीनाश्च राज्यकाझी च राक्षसः। पण्डिता हि भविष्यन्ति तस्माद्ग्राह्यो विभीषणः॥

We are not his kinsmen and this Rākşasa has come here with a view to gain the kingdom. Even the Rākşasas are wise enough to ascertain the proper course-so we must take Vibhisana.

Yuddha Kanda 18.12

अव्यग्राश्च प्रहृष्टाश्च ते भविष्यन्ति संगताः। प्रणादश्च महानेषोऽन्योन्यस्य भयमागतम्। इति भेदं गमिष्यन्ति तस्मात्प्राप्तो विभीषणः॥

If the brothers are confident and satisfied with each other they generally live together, or else they fear each other and ultimately engage in a tumultuous war. And there has sprung up some difference with Råvana and therefore Vibhīşaņa has come here.

Yuddha Kanda 18.13

न सर्वे भ्रातरस्तात भवन्ति भरतोपमाः। मद्विधा वा पितुः पुत्राः सुहृदो वा भवद्विधाः॥

Nor are, O friend, all brothers like Bharata, all sons like me to their and all friends like you.

Yuddha Kanda 18.14

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण सुग्रीवः सहलक्ष्मणः। उत्थायेदं महाप्राज्ञः प्रणतो वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥

Being thus addressed by Rāma, the highly wise Sugriva, along with Lakşmaņa, rose up and bending low his head, said.

Yuddha Kanda 18.15

रावणेन प्रणिहितं तमवेहि निशाचरम्। तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये क्षमं क्षमवतां वर॥

O you the best of all forgiving persons, this night-ranger has been despatched by Rāvana. I therefore think it better to kill him.

Yuddha Kanda 18.16

राक्षसो जिह्मया बुद्ध्या संदिष्टोऽयमिहागतः। प्रहर्तुं त्वयि विश्वस्ते विश्वस्ते मयि वाऽनघ॥ लक्ष्मणे वा महाबाहो स वध्यः सचिवैः सह। रावणस्य नृशंसस्य भ्राता ह्येष विभीषणः॥

Being impelled by his vicious sense that Rākṣasa has come here to slay us, o innocent one, when myself, you and Laksmana shall consider ourselves secure. Therefore the largearmed Vibhīşaņa the younger brother of the ruthless Rāvana, deserves to be slain along with his counsellors.

Yuddha Kanda 18.17

एवमुक्त्वा रघुश्रेष्ठं सुग्रीवो वाहिनीपतिः। वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकुशलं ततो मौनमुपागमत् ॥

Having thus addressed (Rama) the foremost of Raghu's race, skilled in are of speech, Sugrīva, the lord of monkey host, equally versed in the are of speech, became silent.

Yuddha Kanda 18.18

स सुग्रीवस्य तद्वाक्यं रामः श्रुत्वा विमृश्य च। ततः शुभतरं वाक्यमुवाच हरिपुङ्गवम्॥

Hearing the words of Sugrīva, and weighing them, Rāma again addressed the foremost of monkeys with more reasonable accents.

Yuddha Kanda 18.19

स दुष्टो वाऽप्यदुष्टो वा किमेष रजनीचरः। सूक्ष्ममप्यहितं कर्तुं मम शक्तः कथंचन ॥

Wicked or other wise, whatever this nightranger may be, he shall not be able to do me the least mischief.

Yuddha Kanda 18.20

पिशाचान्दानवान्यक्षान्पृथिव्यां चैव राक्षसान्। अङ्गुल्यग्रेण तान्हन्यामिच्छन्हरिगणेश्वर ॥

Piśācas, Dānavas, Yakşas or all the Rākşasas on earth, I can slay them all, if I like, with the tips of my fingers, O you the lord of monkeys.

Yuddha Kanda 18.21

श्रूयते हि कपोतेन शत्रुः शरणमागतः। अर्चितश्च यथान्यायं स्वैश्च मासैनिमन्त्रितः॥

I have heard of a pigeon adoring and entertaining with its own flesh, an enemy who took its shelter.

Yuddha Kanda 18.22

स हि तं प्रतिजग्राह भार्याहर्तारमागतम्। कपोतो वानरश्रेष्ठ किंपुनर्मद्विधो जनः॥

While a pigeon received so friendly its enemy, the slayer of its mate, how can I then act otherwise, O foremost of the monkeys?

Yuddha Kanda 18.23

ऋषेः कण्वस्य पुत्रेण कण्डुना परमर्षिणा। शृणु गाथा पुरा गीता धर्मिष्ठा सत्यवादिना॥

Do you hear, I shall relate, a sacred story, narrated by the great ascetic, the truthful Kandu, son of the ascetic Kanyā.

Yuddha Kanda 18.24

बद्धाञ्जलिपुटं दीनं याचन्तं शरणागतम्। न हन्यादानृशंस्यार्थमपि शत्रु परंतप॥

o slayer of foes, even a wicked-minded enemy, if he, with folded palms and a poor heart, crave for your shelter, should not be slain.

Yuddha Kanda 18.25

आतॊ वा यदि वा दृप्तः परेषां शरणं गतः। अरिः प्राणान्परित्यज्य रक्षितव्यः कृतात्मना॥

If an enemy, proud or terrified, seek shelter in affright, he should be saved by a great man even at the risk of his own life.

Yuddha Kanda 18.26

स चेद्रयाद्वा मोहाद्वा कामाद्वापि न रक्षति। स्वया शक्त्या यथान्यायं तत्पापं लोकगर्हितम्॥

One, who from fear, ignorance or wilfully does not protect him who seek his shelter, perpetrate a mighty iniquity, blamed of all.

Yuddha Kanda 18.27

विनष्टः पश्यतस्तस्य रक्षिणः शरणं गतः। आदाय सुकृतं तस्य सर्वं गच्छेदरक्षितः॥

When a person is slain before him whose shelter he has taken he take away all the virtues of his protector.

Yuddha Kanda 18.28

एवं दोषो महानत्र प्रपन्नानामरक्षणे। अस्वयं चायशस्यं च बलवीर्यविनाशनम्॥

So great is the sin in not affording shelter to those who seek for it; it stands in the way of going to heaven, brings in calumny and destroys the strength and prowess.

Yuddha Kanda 18.29

करिष्यामि यथार्थं तु कण्डोर्वचनमुत्तमम्। धर्मिष्ठं च यशस्यं च स्वयं स्यात्तु फलोदये॥

I shall therefore follow the excellent words of Kaņdu-leading to piety, fame and the attainment of the abode of the celestials.

Yuddha Kanda 18.30

सकृदेव प्रपन्नाय तवास्मीति च याचते। अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो ददाम्येतद्ब्रतं मम॥

I always declare 'no fear' to all creatures, whenever any, approaching me, says, 'I am thine' and seek my shelter. Even this is my pious observance.

Yuddha Kanda 18.31

आनयैनं हरिश्रेष्ठ दत्तमस्याभयं मया। विभीषणो वा सुग्रीव यदि वा रावणः स्वयम्॥

O Sugrīva, O foremost of monkeys, do you soon bring him here, whether he be Rāvaņa or Vibhisana and I shall declare to him 'no fear'.

Yuddha Kanda 18.32

रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवः प्लवगेश्वरः। प्रत्यभाषत काकुत्स्थं सौहार्दैनाभिपूरितः॥

Hearing the words of Rāma, Sugriva, the lords of those who go bounding, over-flowing with friendliness, bespake Kākutstha.

Yuddha Kanda 18.33

किमत्र चित्रं धर्मज्ञ लोकनाथशिखामणे। यत्त्वमार्य प्रभाषेथाः सत्त्ववान्सत्पथे स्थितः॥

What wonder is there that you wouldst speak these auspicious words, O you the foremost of kings, conversant with morality, gifted with prowess and ever treading the pious track as you are.

Yuddha Kanda 18.34

मम चाप्यन्तरात्माऽयं शुद्धं वेत्ति विभीषणम्। अनुमानाच्च भावाच्च सर्वतः सुपरीक्षितः॥

Truly does my inner self regard Vibhīşana as devoid of any wicked intention. He has been well sounded by signs and gestures.

Yuddha Kanda 18.35

तस्मात्क्षिप्रं सहास्माभिस्तुल्यो भवतु राघव। विभीषणो महाप्राज्ञः सखित्वं चाभ्युपैतु नः॥

And let the greatly wise Vibhīşaņa, O Rāghava, be placed on an equal footing with us and gain our friendship.

Yuddha Kanda 18.36

ततस्तु सुग्रीववचो निशम्य तद्धरीश्वरेणाभिहितं नरेश्वरः। विभीषणेनाशु जगाम संगमं पतत्त्रिराजेन यथा पुरन्दरः॥

Hearing the words of Sugrīva, the lord of monkeys, the king of men (Rāma) made instantly friends with Vibhīşaņa, like to the conqueror of enemies' cities making friends with the king of birds.

Yuddha Kanda 18.37