Sloka & Translation

[Tara suspects Sugriva's intention -- advises Vali to make alliance with Rama -- obstructs Vali from going for war]

अथ तस्य निनादं तं सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः।

शुश्रावान्तः पुर गतो वाली भ्रातुरमर्षणः4.15.1।।


अथ then, महात्मनः venerable, भ्रातुः brother, तस्य सुग्रीवस्य Sugriva's, तं निनादम् that sound, आन्तःपुरगतः into the inner chambers, अमर्षणः indignant, वाली Vali, शुश्राव heard.

The indignant Vali, who was in the harem, heard the roaring of his venerable brother, Sugriva.
श्रुत्वा तु तस्य निनदं सर्वभूतप्रकम्पनम्।

मदश्चैकपदे नष्टः क्रोधश्चापतितो महान्4.15.2।।


तस्य his, सर्वभूतप्रकम्पनम् that shook all creatures, निनदम् roar, श्रुत्वा having heard, एकपदे at once, मदः च vanity नष्टः lost, महान् violent, क्रोधः rage, आपादितश्च was aroused

The roar (of Sugriva) that frightened all beings gave Vali's vanity a jolt and at once aroused in him violent rage.
स तु रोषपरीताङ्गो वाली सन्ध्याकनकप्रभः।

उपरक्त इवादित्यस्सद्यो निष्प्रभतां गतः4.15.3।।


ततः then, रोषपरीताङ्गःovercome with anger, कनकप्रभः radiant like gold, वालीVali, उपरक्तः eclipsed, आदित्यः इव like the Sun, सद्यःat once, निष्प्रभताम् pale, गतः became

Overcome with anger, Vali looked pale like the eclipsed Sun with the golden radiance faded from his face.
वाली दंष्ट्राकरालस्तु क्रोधाद्दीप्ताग्निसन्निभः।

भात्युत्पतितपद्मस्तु समृणाळ इव ह्रदः4.15.4।।


दंष्ट्राकरालः of fierce teeth, क्रोधात् in anger, दीप्ताग्निसन्निभः like the flaming fire, वाली Vali, उत्पतितपद्मस्तु a pond with uprooted lotuses, समृणालः with the stalks, ह्रदः इव like a pond

Vali, who looked fierce with his teeth and whose eyes shone like a flaming fire through anger looked like a pond with the lotuses and their stalks uprooted.
शब्दं दुर्मर्षणं श्रुत्वा निष्पपात ततो हरिः।

वेगेन चरणन्यासैर्दारयन्निव मेदिनीम्4.15.5।।


ततः then, हरिः Sugriva, दुर्मर्षणम् intolerable, शब्दम् sound, श्रुत्वा on hearing, वेगेन hurriedly, पदन्यासैः long strides, मेदिनीम् earth, दारयन्निव as if breaking, निष्पपात rushed out

Unable to tolerate Sugriva's roar, Vali stepped out hurriedly, taking long strides as if breaking the earth.
तं तु तारा परिष्वज्य स्नेहाद्दर्शितसौहृदाः।

उवाच त्रस्तसम्भ्रान्ता हितोदर्कमिदं वचः4.15.6।।


तारा Tara, तम् him, स्नेहात् with love, परिष्वज्य embraced, दर्शितसौहृदाः glanced lovingly, त्रस्तसम्भ्रान्ता perplexed out of fear, हितोदर्कम् a good counsel, इदं वचः these words, उवाच spoke

Tara, perplexed out of fear, glanced at Vali lovingly, embraced him and gave him wise counsel:
साधु क्रोधमिमं वीर नदीवेगमिवागतम्।

शयनादुत्थितः काल्यं त्यज भुक्तामिव स्रजम्4.15.7।।


वीर valiant Vali, नदीवेगमिव like the flood of river, आगतम् come, इमम् this, क्रोधम् with anger, काल्यम् entertained at this time, शयनात् from bed, उत्थितः got up, भुक्ताम् used up, स्रजमिव like a flower garland, साधु the wise, त्यज give up.

'O valiant Vali anger has overtaken you like the flood of a river. It is natural for you to be angry at this time, but shake off your anger just as the wise discard a flower garland already used up.
काल्यमेतेन सङ्ग्रामं करिष्यसि च वानर।

वीर ते शत्रुबाहुल्यं फल्गुता वा न विद्यते4.15.8।।


वानर monkey, एतेन with him, काल्यम् tomorrow morning, सङ्ग्रामम् fight, करिष्यसि wish to wage, वीर hero, ते to you, शत्रुबाहुल्यम् respect enemy more, फल्गुता वा weak also, न विद्यते not become

'O monkey fight him only tomorrow morning. By this you are not going to prove your weakness or increase your respect for the enemy.
सहसा तव निष्क्रामो मम तावन्न रोचते।

श्रूयतां चाभिधास्यामि यन्निमित्तं निवार्यसे4.15.9।।


सहसा rashly, तव you, निष्क्रामः exit, मम for me, न रोचते तावम् do not feel good, यन्निमित्तम् for what reason, निवार्यसे you are prevented, अभिधास्यामि I will explain, श्रूयताम् listen.

'I do not like your rashness. I will explain the reason I am preventing you. Listen:
पूर्वमापतितः क्रोधात्स त्वामाह्वयते युधि।

निष्पत्य च निरस्तस्ते हन्यमानो दिशो गतः4.15.10।।


सः he, पूर्वम् earlier, क्रोधात् raged, आपतितः came, त्वाम् you, आह्वयते challenging you, ते for
you, निष्पत्य attacked, निरस्तः thrown , हन्यमानः struck , दिशः directions, गतः went.

'Earlier, he (Sugriva) came and challenged you to a duel. You struck him in anger, and defeated, he fled, running in all directions. Now his challenge rouses my suspicion.
त्वया तस्य निरस्तस्य पीडितस्य विशेषतः।

इहैत्य पुनराह्वानं शङ्कां जनयतीव मे4.15.11।।


त्वया by you, निरस्तस्य defeated by you, विशेषतः specially, पीडितस्य hurt by you, तस्य his, इह here, पुनः again, एत्य after coming, आह्वानम् inviting you, मे to me, शङ्काम् suspicion, जनयतीव arouses.

'One who is defeated and badly mauled by you is again coming and inviting you to a duel in this manner arouses suspicion in me.
दर्पश्च व्यवसायश्च यादृशस्तस्य नर्दतः।

निनादश्चापि संरम्भो नैतदल्पं हि कारणम्4.15.12।।


नर्दतः roaring, तस्य his, दर्पश्च and his arrogance, व्यवसायश्च determination also, निनादस्य roaring, संरम्भः insolence, एतत् all this, अल्पम् small, कारणम् cause, न हि cannot be.

'His determination, his insolence, his roaring, his arroganceall this cannot be for a small reason.
नासहायमहं मन्ये सुग्रीवं तमिहागतम्।

अवष्टब्धसहायश्च यमाश्रित्यैष गर्जति4.15.13।।


इह here, आगतम् came, तं सुग्रीवम् that Sugriva, असहायम् without any help, न मन्ये not think so, अवष्टब्धसहाय certainly sought refuge, यम् big, आश्रित्य having taken help, एषः he, गर्जति is roaring.

'Certainly Sugriva has not come here to give a warcry without any external help. The
person whose refuge he has sought is not a small one.
प्रकृत्या निपुणश्चैव बुद्धिमांश्चैव वानरः।

अपरीक्षितवीर्येण सुग्रीवस्सहनैष्यति।।4.15.14।।


प्रकृत्या निपुणश्चैव naturally a clever, बुद्धिमांश्चैव wise person, वानरः monkey, सुग्रीवः Sugriva, अपरीक्षितवीर्येण without testing the ability of the ally, सख्यम् friendship न एष्यति will not make

'Sugriva is clever by nature. He is wise. Without assessing the ability of the ally he will not enter into friendship.
पूर्वमेव मया वीर श्रुतं कथयतो वचः।

अङ्गदस्य कुमारस्य वक्ष्यामित्वा हितं वचः4.15.15।।


वीर O hero, पूर्वमेव earlier, कथयतः what he spoke, कुमारस्य from the son, अङ्गदस्य of Angada, वचः news, मय by me, श्रुतम् heard, हितम् good, वचः words, अद्य now, वक्ष्यामि त्वा will tell you.

'O hero I have heard the news earlier from our son Angada. I will tell you what he had heard and what he has said to me:
अङ्गदस्तु कुमारोऽयं वनान्तमुपनिर्गतः।

प्रवृत्तिस्तेन कथिता चारै राप्तैर्निवेदिता4.15.16।।


कुमारः son, अयम् अङ्गदः this Angada, वनान्तम् to the forest, उपनिर्गतः had gone, तेन by him, प्रवृत्ति: news, कथिता narrated, चारैः by spies, निवेदिता revealed.

'When our son Angada was out into the forest he had collected some reports from the spies which he has transmitted to me.
अयोध्याधिपतेः पुत्रौ शूरौ समरदुर्जयौ।

इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातौ प्रथितौ रामलक्ष्मणौ4.15.17।।

सुग्रीवप्रियकामार्थं प्राप्तौ तत्र दुरासदौ।


इक्ष्वाकूणाम् of Ikshvaku, कुले race, जातौ both born, अयोध्याधिपतेः king of Ayodhya, पुत्रौ sons, शूरौ two heroic, समरदुर्जयौ inviacible in war, रामलक्ष्मणौ Rama and Lakshmana, प्रस्थितौ both had, दुरासदौ both unconquerable, सुग्रीवप्रियकामार्थम् to please Sugriva, तत्र there, प्राप्तौ came.

'Rama and Lakshmana, two heroic sons of the king of Ayodhya born of the Ikshvaku race, are invincible in war. They have come there to help Sugriva.
तव भ्रातुर्हि विख्यातस्सहायो रणकर्कशः।

रामः परबलामर्दी युगान्ताग्निरिवोत्थितः4.15.18।।


रणकर्कशः crushing the foes in war, विख्यातः famous man, उत्थितः sprung up, युगान्ताग्निरिव like fire at the end of creation, परबलामर्दी who slayed strong enemies like Khara, सः रामः that Rama, ते your, भ्रातुः brother's, सहायः हि will help.

'Rama, famous for crushing foes in war, like the fire that breaks out at the dissolution of the world, has slain strong enemies like Khara and will help your brother.
निवासवृक्षः साधूनामापन्नानां परा गतिः।

आर्तानां संश्रयश्चैव यशसश्चैकभाजनम्4.15.19।।


साधूनाम् to the virtuous people, निवासवृक्षः a sheltering tree, आपन्नानाम् to the destitutes, परा supreme, गतिः refuge, आर्तानाम् to the distressed, संश्रयश्चैव protector, यशसः fame, एकभाजनम् sole repository.

'He is like a sheltering tree to the virtuous, an ultimate refuge for the destitutes and a protector of the distressed. He is the sole repository of fame.
ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नो निदेशे निरतः पितुः।

धातूनामिव शैलेन्द्रो गुणानामाकरो महान्4.15.20।।


ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नः endowed with knowledge of scriptures science and, पितुः father's, निदेशे at the command, स्थितः stood by, शैलेन्द्रः lord of mountains, धातूनामिव like the mine of minerals, गुणानाम् for all virtues, महान् great, आकरः a mine.

'He is endowed with the knowledge of science and scriptures. He stood by his father's command. He is like a mine of virtues just as the lord of the mountain is a mine of minerals.
तत्क्षमं न विरोधस्ते सह तेन महात्मना।

दुर्जयेनाप्रमेयेन रामेण रणकर्मसु4.15.21।।


तत् therefore, महात्मना great, रणकर्मसु in war, दुर्जयेन unconquerable, अप्रमेयेन of immeasurable, तेन रामेण by that Rama, ते to you, विरोधः enmity, न क्षमम् not desirable.

'Rama is immeasurable in prowess and unconquerable in war. Therefore, enmity with him is not desirable for you.
शूर वक्ष्यामि ते किञ्चिन्न चेच्छाम्यभ्यसूयितुम्।

श्रूयतां क्रियतां चैव तव वक्ष्यामि यद्धितम्4.15.22।।


शूर valiant, ते to you, किञ्चित् a little, वक्ष्यामि I will tell, अभ्यसूयितुम् not to dislike you, न इच्छामि not intend to, तव your, हितम् welfare, यत् वक्ष्यामि telling for your sake, श्रूयताम् please listen, क्रियतां च do as I say.

'O hero, this I tell you not because I dislike you, but because I wish your welfare. Listen, and do as I say
यौवराज्येन सुग्रीवं तूर्णं साध्वभिषेचय।

विग्रहं मा कृथा वीर भ्रात्रा राजन्बलीयसा4.15.23।।


वीर hero, राजन् king, त्वम् you, तूर्णम् swiftly, सुग्रीवम् Sugriva, यौवराज्येन you may consecrate, अभिषेचय on consecration, यवीयसा with an younger one, भ्रात्रा brother, विग्रहम् enmity, मा कृथा do not have.

'O king O hero consecrate your brother Sugriva as prince at once. Do not create enmity with him.
अहं हि ते क्षमं मन्ये तेन रामेण सौहृदम्।

सुग्रीवेण च सम्प्रीतिं वैरमुत्सृज्य दूरतः4.15.24।।


वैरम् enmity, दूरतः to a distance, उत्सृज्य shed, सुग्रीवेण with Sugriva, सम्प्रीतिम् love, तेन रामेण with Rama, सौहृदम् friendship, ते to you, क्षमम् is the right, अहम् I, मन्ये I think.

'Leave enmity with Sugriva far behind. Make friendship with Rama. I think it is the right thing for you.
लालनीयो हि ते भ्राता यवीयानेष वानरः।

तत्र वा सन्निहस्थो वा सर्वथा बन्धुरेव ते4.15.25।।


यवीयान् भ्राता he is your younger brother, एषः वानरः this monkey, ते to you, लालनीयः हि deserves your protection, तत्र there, सन् वा इहस्थो वा whether he is here(at kishkinda) or there (at Rishyamuka), सर्वथा all means, ते your, बन्धुरेव relation.

'This monkey is your younger brother and, therefore, deserves your protection. Whether he is here or there, he is your brother.
न हि तेन समं बन्धुं भुवि पश्यामि कञ्चन4.15.26।।

दानमानादिसत्कारैः कुरुष्व प्रत्यनन्तरम्।

वैरमेतत्समुत्सृज्य तव पार्श्वे स तिष्ठतु4.15.27।।


तेन with him, समम् equal, बन्धुम् relation, कञ्चन whoever, भुवि on this earth, न पश्यामि हि I do not see, एतत् this, वैरम् enmity, समुत्सृज्य give up, दानमानादिसत्कारैः by honouring him, by giving wealth and respect, प्रत्यनन्तरम् after that, कुरुष्व you may do, सः he, तव your, पार्श्वे by the side, तिष्ठतु remain.

'Indeed I do not see any of your relatives comparable to him on earth. Give up enmity with him. Give him wealth. Give him respect. Keep him by your side.
सुग्रीवो विपुलग्रीवस्तवबन्धुस्सदा मतः।

भ्रातृस्सौहृदमालम्ब नान्या गतिरिहास्ति ते4.15.28।।


विपुलग्रीवः broadnecked, सुग्रीवः Sugriva, तव your, महाबन्धुः great relation, मतः your, भ्रातृसौहृदम् brotherly affection, आलम्ब you extend, ते to you, इह now, अन्यागतिः alternative, नास्ति no

'Extend your brotherly affection to broadnecked Sugriva. He is always your great relation. There is no alternative for you other than this at present.
यदि ते मत्प्रियं कार्यं यदि चावैषि मां हिताम्।

याच्यमानः प्रयत्नेन साधु वाक्यं कुरुष्व मे4.15.29।।


ते to you, मत्प्रियम् a favour to me, कार्यं यदि if it is going to be done, माम् me, हिताम् a good counsel, अवेषि यदि if you treat me so, प्रयत्नेन by the effort, याच्यमानः pray you, मे my, वाक्यम् words, साधु please, कुरुष्व heed.

'Pray, do me this favour. Treat me as your wellwisher. Heed my advice given with care.
प्रसीद पथ्यं शृणु जल्पितं हि मे

न रोष मेवानुविधातुमर्हसि।

क्षमो हि ते कोसलराजसूनुना

न विग्रहश्शक्रसमानतेजसा4.15.30।।


प्रसीद quieten your mind, मे my, पथ्यम् beneficial, जल्पितं word, शृणु listen, रोषमेव only anger, अनुविधातुम् follow, न अर्हसि you should not, शक्रसमानतेजसा resembling Indra in splendour, कोसलराजसूनुना with the prince of the kingdom of Kosala, ते you, विग्रहः enmity, न क्षमः हि not fit for you.

'Do not lose your temper. Quieten your mind. My advice is beneficial to you. You should not fight with the prince of Kosala who is comparable to Indra in splendour.It is not proper for you.'
तदा हि तारा हितमेव वाक्यं

तं वालिनं पथ्यमिदं बभाषे।

न रोचते तद्वचनं हि तस्य

कालाभिपन्नस्य विनाशकाले4.15.31।।


तदा then, तारा Tara, तं वालिनम् to Vali, हितम् counsel, पथ्यम् beneficial, इदं वाक्यम् these words, बभाषे spoke, कालाभिपन्नस्य influenced by bad time, तस्य his, विनाशकाले at the time of destruction, तत् वचनम् those words, न रोचते not liking.

Even though Tara gave good counsel to Vali at the hour of destruction, the advice did not find favour with him as he was under the influence of unfavourable time (seized by death).
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे पञ्चदशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fifteenth sarga of Kishkindakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.