Hari Om.
Let us begin the thirty sixth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Coming face to face with a lackadaisical sugrIva, livid lakshmaNa came down on him heavily and threatened to send him the way of vAlI went not long ago. It is then that tAra, came again to rescue sugrIva’s pride and esteem and engaged lakshmaNa both articulately and rhetorically. She used the example of sage viSwAmitra, the guru of rAma and lakshmaNa who forgot his penance and spent ten years with the Mesmerizing mEnaka! tArA argued, if a great like viSwAmitra did so, what stand do ordinary mortals stand of escaping from bodily passion? This observation of tArA is commendable, since the disciple couldn’t deny this, he had sympathize with sugrIva’s plight rather than get annoyed about it. However, tArA added that it was not as if sugrIva didn’t do anything at all. He has summoned the mighty vAnaras through an order and as soon as they arrive, the quest shall begin. With her timely and lovely intervention, tArA calmed lakshmaNa down and saved the say for sugrIva. It was sugrIva’s turn to speak in his own defense. Onwards…
The tender natured lakshmaNa accepted the articulate arguments of tArA that were laced with dharma. The lord of the vAnaras, sugrIva, grasping that lakshmaNa was pacified by tArA’s words, cast aside his fear of lakshmaNa like one would wet clothes!
तस्मिन्प्रतिगृहीते तु वाक्ये हरिगणेश्वरः।
लक्ष्मणात्सुमहत्त्रासं वस्त्रं क्लिन्नमिवात्यजत्।।4.36.2।।
Emerging from his hangover, sugrIva came to senses, tore apart the garlands that were hanging on him and addressing the eminently mighty lakshmaNa joyously with pleasing words he said –
प्रणष्टा श्रीश्च कीर्तिश्च कपिराज्यं च शाश्वतम्।
रामप्रसादात्सौमित्रे पुन: प्राप्तमिदं मया।।4.36.5।।
“O saumitri, the wealth, fame and the kingdom that I had lost, were regained only by the grace of rAma.
कश्शक्तस्तस्य देवस्य ख्यातस्य स्वेन कर्मणा।
तादृशं विक्रमं वीर प्रतिकर्तुमरिन्दम।।4.36.6।।
Who at all can indeed repay the debt of that mighty god who is famous on account of his own valor and deeds? The righteous rAma will regain sItA by killing rAvaNa on account of his own effulgent valor. I shall be of mere instrumental help, that is all.
सीतां प्राप्स्यति धर्मात्मा वधिष्यति च रावणम्।
सहायमात्रेण मया राघव स्स्वेन तेजसा।।4.36.7।।
सहायकृत्यं किं तस्य येन सप्त महाद्रुमाः।
शैलश्च वसुधा चैव बाणेनैकेन दारिताः।।4.36.8।।
What assistance does he need who with a solitary arrow has uprooted the seven mighty sAl trees, followed by chopping off the hill top and piercing into the nether lands! He who by the mere twang of the bow is capable of shaking the earth laden with mountains, what assistance would he need indeed?
O best among men, as the lord leads the expedition to kill rAvaNa, I shall merely follow him.
अनुयात्रां नरेन्द्रस्य करिष्येऽहं नरर्षभ।
गच्छतो रावणं हन्तुं वैरिणं सपुरस्सरम्।।4.36.10।।
May this servant be forgiven by whatever transgressions committed due to being very confident or taking for granted out of friendly affection. Who doesn’t commit a mistake”?
Spoken to thus by sugrIva, lakshmaNa was pacified and replied in affection:
“O sugrIva, alright, with you, the lord of vAnaras extending this protection to my brother, he shall always prevail. With your influence, purity and forthrightness, you deserved to enjoy the luxuries of the kingdom of vAnaras. The redoubtable rAma, assisted by you shall vanquish rAvaNa before long, there is no doubt. The truthful and apt words that you have spoken, O sugrIva are from a person who knows dharma, who is grateful and has never turned back in a battle. Knowing well that the fault lies with the other person, who else can speak with composure like this except my elder brother and you? You are equal to rAma in your valor and might and your friendship shall remain a gift of god for us forever.
किं तु शीघ्रमितो वीर निष्क्रम त्वं मया सह।
सान्त्वयस्व वयस्यं च त्वं भार्याहरणकर्शितम्।।4.36.19।।
However, O warrior, you better get out of here along with me and go and console the companion who is suffering from the abduction of his wife.
यच्च शोकाभिभूतस्य श्रुत्वा रामस्य भाषितम्।
मया त्वं परुषाण्युक्तस्तच्चत्वं क्षन्तु मर्हसि।।4.36.20।।
Whatever I have spoken to you was in rage was upon hearing the grief-stricken words of rAma. You may please forgive me for using those harsh words, O friend”.
Here we conclude the thirty sixth 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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Previous: 4.35. tArA to the rescue, again
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
