Hari Om.
Let us begin the thirtय sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
By asking the vAnaras akk over the earth to join in his mission to help rAma secure sItA, sugrIva demonstrated that he was the sovereign lord of the vAnarakind. He was pretty direct in his command, the vAnaras had to report within ten days or pay with their life! As kings go, sugrIva’s command over the subjects and the grudging respect he earned from all was in another level! The party that went all over to summon the vAnaras managed to convey the message straight and in return hundreds of crores of vAnaras set off to report to sugrIva, The emissaries brought souvenirs from where all they went and came back and presented those to the king and told him that soon the vAnara and the bear army shall be at his command. No one dared to do otherwise. The vAnara king was pleased and received the presents brought by the emissaries from all over. Onwards…
The vAnara king was pleased, he accepted the presents that the emissaries had brought and sent them off. Since they succeeded in the mission he charged them with, he felt himself and the mighty rAma to be accomplished.
विसर्जयित्वा स हरीन् शूरांस्तान्कृतकर्मणः।
मेने कृतार्थमात्मानं राघवं च महाबलम्।।4.38.2।।
Then lakshmaNa addressed the mighty king of vAnaras and said if he was fine with it, they should leave kishkindhA and head to rAma’s presence. Concurring with the timely articulation of lakshmaNa, sugrIva said – “alright, let us go, I shall be bound by your command”.
Speaking affirmatively, sugrIva then let the womenfolk led by tArA to leave and shouted out to the confidantes that were allowed to enter the inner chambers in the presence of the royal women and asked them to get the palanquin ready. The confidantes who took the order with folded hands from the glorious king, soon set into service a lovely looking palanquin. sugrIva requested lakshmaNa to get into the palanquin. Soon surrounded by the vAnara warriors, sugrIva along with lakshmaNa began their journey to where rAma was in the golden palanquin. It was lifted by well built vAnaras and the royal entourage left to meet rAma. sugrIva who had secured the famous and illustrious kingdom was accompanied by blow of conches, drums, the royal parasol held over him and the yak-tail fans fanned him to comfort. Led by hundreds of vAnara warriors, the party reached rAma and soon, sugrIva got down from the palanquin and greeted rAma with folded hands. As rAma cast his lovely glance at the hundreds of vAnara warriors who resembled a fine lotus pond with innumerable lotus buds and felt great affection for the vAnara king, sugrIva fell at rAma’s feet.
तटाकमिव तं दृष्ट्वा रामः कुड्मलपङ्कजम्।।4.38.17।।
वानराणां महत्सैन्यं सुग्रीवे प्रीतिमानभूत्।
पादयोः पतितं मूर्ध्ना तमुत्थाप्य हरीश्वरम्।।4.38.18।।
प्रेम्णा च बहुमानाच्च राघवः परिषस्वजे।
rAma lifted the vAnara king who fell at his feet and with great affection embraced him. Releasing him from the embrace, rAma offered him a seat and as they sat down, rAma said –
धर्ममर्थं च कामं च यस्तु काले निषेवते।।4.38.20।।
विभज्य सततं वीर स्स राजा हरिसत्तम।
हित्वा धर्मं तथाऽर्थं च कामं यस्तु निषेवते।।4.38.21।।
स वृक्षाग्रे यथा सुप्तः पतितः प्रतिबुध्यते।
“O best among vAnaras, the one who divides his time well among the trifold pursuits of dharma, securing the means and fulfilling the goals deserves to be the king. On the other hand, one who just spends time in fulfilling his desires while neglecting both dharma and securing means (artha), meets the fate of one who falls asleep on the edge of the branches and wakes up only upon a fall. Only the king who is constantly on the look out for allies and vanquishes his enemies is able to enjoy the trifold goals of life – dharma, artha and kAma. O slayer of enemies, it is time for the expedition, so confer with your ministers about the way forward”.
Thus spoken to by rAma, sugrIva submitted –
“The lost wealth, glory and the vAnara kingdom have been secured by me by your grace. He who doesn’t repay, O lord, the debt that he owes to you and your brother is the worst among men. The vAnaras assembled here have gone around and summoned the vAnaras from all over. Along with them bears, gOlangula (vAnaras with tail as that of a cow) are descending in crores. They are all well versed with the treacherous forests, fierce to behold, are the off springs of gods and demigods and capable of assuming any form at will. They are all on their way along with their armies.
O rAma, tormentor of the enemies, the vanara troops in hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, crores, sanku, arbuda, hundreds of arbudas, madhyas, antyas, samudras and parardhas (100000000000000000), who are habitants of the vindhyA and the mEru mountains, indra-like in valour and mountainous in appearance will be here soon. All of them will be able to mount the offence on rAvaNa, kill him in the battle and bring maithilI back”.
Taking note of the efforts of sugrIva to further the mission of bringing sItA back, rAma, the prince was thrilled and in joy bloomed like a blue lotus.
Here we conclude the thirty eighth 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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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 