Hari Om.
Let us begin the thirty fourth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Unable to tolerate rAma’s hurt arising of the offence of sugrIva committed through indifference, lakshmaNa flew into a rage. Left to himself he would finished sugrIva. But rAma calms him down and asks him to think of the good that sugrIva did earlier and spare him with a stern reminder. The younger brother clamed down, nevertheless possessed the anger of rAma and set off for kishkindhA. Leaving aside the usual route and taking a shortcut, pulverizing stones and boulders that came his way and cutting off the branches that obstructued, lakshmaNa quickly reached the cave city and that scared away the vAnaras who were standing guard to the city. Soon he met angada and asked him to convey the message of his advent to sugrIva. The king if vAnaras was lost in luxuries and sensual pleasures and initially the gravity of the situation didn’t dawn upon him. And then lakshmaNa advanced angrily towards the inner chamber in the palace and stopped only when he notice frolicking women and was embarrassed a bit! Retreating to solitude near the inner chambers, lakshmaNa twanged his mighty bow and that shook up everyone and woke up sugrIva from his slumber. He immediately conferred with his council and thought it best that the articulate and astute tArA first brought the temperature down and then he could deal with lakshmaNa. He was confident that the gentleman of great conduct, lakshmaNa won’t behave rudely with tArA! As it turned out, sugrIva’s reading was correct. lakshmaNa was a tad unprepared to encounter tArA in this mision! She welcomed him warmly and spoke affectionately, occasionally carried away by the floating senses under the influence of the drinks! But she was very controlled and combining both a criticism and considered praise for sugrIva, she calmed lakshmaNa down. Since lakshmaNa was self restrained and had no business with sensual pleasures, he was welcomed into the inner chambers of sugrIva where the vAnara king was surrounded by the womenfolk like the moon accompanied with the stars! Onwards…
sugrIva’s senses were disturbed upon beholding the unstoppable, mighty and angry lakshmaNa who was seething with anger upon the plight of his elder brother and hissing menacingly. Upon seeing him, sugrIva immediately rose from his golden throne in a huff like the hoisted flag of the great indra! Following him, all his women including rumA who were surrounding him like the stars surrounded the full moon rose as well. sugrIva with his bloodshot eyes was shaken up by this sudden entrance of lakshmaNa and stood in attention with folded hands. lakshmaNa, livid with anger at the conduct of sugrIva burst out and said –

“Only such kings who are grateful, truthful, self-restrained, compassionate and born in a noble clan become illustrious in this world. Who can be more malicious than a king who conducts himself in the unrighteous path and doesn’t return the favor done by friends and makes false promises?
शतमश्वानृते हन्ति सहस्रं तु गवानृते।
आत्मानं स्वजनं हन्ति पुरुषः पुरुषानृते।।4.34.9।।
One doesn’t keep a promise regarding a horse incurs the sin of killing a hundred horses, one who doesn’t keep a promise regarding a cow incurs the sin of killing a thousand cows, one who rescinds the word given to man incurs the sin of killing himself and all his kin. One who doesn’t return the favor extended by friends is indeed an ungrateful wretch abhorred by all beings and deserves death. Listen and understand O vAnara, to this verse spoken in the gItA in reference to an ungrateful person –
गोघ्नेचैव सुरापे च चोरे भग्नव्रते तथा ।
निष्कृतिर्विहिता सद्भिः कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः ॥
The great have laid down the way to expiate the sin incurred because of killing a cow, partaking wine, unable to fulfil a sacred vow but have said there really is no way out of ingratitude.
O vAnara, you have broken the gentleman’s code, ungrateful and a liar since you are not returning the favor to rAma by whom you were helped. Upon achieving your mission, didn’t you give word to rAma that you will put efforts in the quest of sItA? Now, you are falsifying your promise and are indulging in vulgar pleasures. rAma wasn’t aware that you are a serpent who croaks like a frog. Without knowing that the great rAma, taking compassion on you, conferred the kingdom of the vAnaras on you. If you do not realize this favour extended by rAma who can effortlessly accomplish the most difficult of things, you will be right away hit by my sharp arrows and will soon see vAlI! Remember, sugrIva, the path through which vAlI exited the world is still unclosed. Honor your promise and do not follow the path of vAlI!
कृतं चेन्नाभिजानीषे रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः।
सद्यस्त्वं निशितैर्भावार्हतो द्रक्ष्यसि वालिनम्।।4.34.17।।
न च सङ्कुचितः पन्था येन वाली हतो गतः।
समये तिष्ठ सुग्रीव मा वालिपथमन्वगाः।।4.34.18।।
You have not seen the thunderbolt like arrows unleashed from the mighty bow of the best of ikshvAkus (rAma). That is the reason you are indulging in pleasures without even giving a thought to the work of rAma.
Here we conclude the thirty fourth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 4.35. tArA to the rescue, again
Previous: 4.33. tArA saves the day for sugrIva
