Chapter 18

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

इति उक्तः प्रश्रितम् वाक्यम् धर्म अर्थ सहितम् हितम्
परुषम् वालिना रामो निहतेन विचेतसा

iti uktaḥ praśritam vākyam dharma artha sahitam hitam
paruṣam vālinā rāmo nihatena vicetasā

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | nihatena: hit down | vicetasā: without vitality [collapsing] | vālinā: with Vali | dharma artha sahitam: probity, meaning, containing | hitam: expedient | paruṣam vākyam: exacting, words | praśritam: [but] humbly | iti uktaḥ: thus, [Rama,] was addressed [by Vali.] |

TRANSLATION

Thus, Vali who is hit down by arrow and who is collapsing humbly spoke exacting words that contained probity, meaningfulness, and expedience, to Rama. [4-18-1]

VERSE 2

तम् निष्प्रभम् इव आदित्यम् मुक्त तोयम् इव अंबुदम्
उक्त वाक्यम् हरि श्रेष्ठम् उपशांतम् इव अनलम्

tam niṣprabham iva ādityam mukta toyam iva aṃbudam
ukta vākyam hari śreṣṭham upaśāṃtam iva analam

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | rāmaḥ: Rama | adhikṣiptaḥ: he who is arraigned [find fault with | niṣ prabham ādityam iva = vithout, luster, sun, like: to lusterless Vali | mukta toyam ambudam iva: released, waters, cloud, like | upaśāntam analam iva: quenched, fire, like | hari śreṣṭham: to monkey, the best | hari īśvaram: to monkeys, lord | an uttamam: unexcelled one | dharma artha guṇa sampannam = righteousness, meaningfulness, attributes, abounding vith: in the words of Vali | ukta vākyam: on who has the words spoken, Vali | vālinam: to Vali | paścāt abravīt: [Rama] subsequently, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

Then to him who is rendered like a lusterless sun, fizzling out like a cloud that released its water, and who became like a quenched fire, to such a best monkey and an unexcelled lord of monkeys who has just now imputed Rama with words that are abounding with righteousness and meaningfulness, Rama spoke subsequently. [4-18-3, 4]

PURPORT

The words Vali spoke contain righteousness from his viewpoint, when he said 'How did you hit me without confronting me...' and the meaningfulness in the words like 'a quarrel comes when gold and silver are the cause, I should have brought Ravana without bloodshed, I would have brought Maithili and presented before your...' etc. But these words are with the death time wisdom of Vali, and they become parroted saying but cannot be practical with the kind of righteousness followed by Vali.
VERSE 4

धर्मम् अर्थम् च कामम् च समयम् च अपि लौकिकम्
अविज्ञाय कथम् बाल्यात् माम् इह अद्य विगर्हसे

dharmam artham ca kāmam ca samayam ca api laukikam
avijñāya katham bālyāt mām iha adya vigarhase

SYNONYMS

dharmam artham ca kāmam ca: probity, prosperity, pleasures gaining | laukikam samayam: social, conventions | ca api: also, even | a vijñāya = un, knovingly: uncaring | iha adya bālyāt: in this matter, now, childishly | mām katham vigarhase: me, how, rebuking. |

TRANSLATION

"Uncaring for probity, prosperity, pleasure deriving, and even for the social conventions, now how do you rebuke me childishly in this matter? [4-18-4]

VERSE 5

अपृष्ट्वा बुद्धि संपन्नान् वृद्धान् आचार्य संमतान्
सौम्य वानर चापल्यात् त्वम् माम् वक्तुम् इह इच्छसि

apṛṣṭvā buddhi saṃpannān vṛddhān ācārya saṃmatān
saumya vānara cāpalyāt tvam mām vaktum iha icchasi

SYNONYMS

buddhi sampannān: intellectually, enriched | ācārya sammatān: to mentors, agreeable ones | vṛddhān: doyens [ of your race] | a pṛṣṭvā = vithout, asking, un, asking: unconsulting [about the deeds you undertook] | tvam: you | saumya: o, gentle one | [or saumyam mām: gentle, me] | mām: with me | vānara cāpalyāt: a monkey's [primate's,] with caprice | iha vaktum = in this matter, to talk: to debate | [katham: how do] | icchasi: you wish. |

TRANSLATION

"Unconsulted are the doyens of your race that are intellectually well off and agreeable to your mentors about rights and wrongs about your deeds, oh, gentle one, how do you wish to debate with me in this matter with your primate's caprice. [4-18-5]

VERSE 6

इक्ष्वाकूणाम् इयम् भूमिः स शैल वन कानना
मृग पक्षि मनुष्याणाम् निग्रह अनुग्रहेषु अपि

ikṣvākūṇām iyam bhūmiḥ sa śaila vana kānanā
mṛga pakṣi manuṣyāṇām nigraha anugraheṣu api

SYNONYMS

sa śaila vana kānanā: with, mountains, woods, forests | iyam bhūmiḥ: this, earth | mṛga pakṣi manuṣyāṇām: of animals, of birds, of humans | nigraha anugraheṣu api: [authority] to control, to punish, to condone, even in | ikṣvākūṇām: [this belongs to] Ikshvaku-s. |

TRANSLATION

"This earth with its mountains, woods, and forests, even along with the authority to condone or condemn the animals, birds, and humans on it belongs to Ikshvaku-s. [4-18-6]

PURPORT

Vali's question No. 4] 'I have not done any misdeed either in your country or city...' is answered in this, "when entire earth belongs to us where is the question of a city or a particular country?"
VERSE 7

ताम् पालयति धर्मात्मा भरतः सत्यवान् ऋजुः
धर्म काम अर्थ तत्त्वज्ञो निग्रह अनुग्रहे रतः

tām pālayati dharmātmā bharataḥ satyavān ṛjuḥ
dharma kāma artha tattvajño nigraha anugrahe rataḥ

SYNONYMS

dharmātmā satyavān ṛjuḥ: virtue-souled one, one who abides truth | straightforvard: plain-speaking | dharma kāma artha tattva jñaḥ: probity, pleasures prosperity, import, knower of | nigraha anugrahe rataḥ: in controlling, in condoning, concerned in | bharataḥ: Bharata | tām pālayati: her [earth,] is ruling. |

TRANSLATION

"He who is virtue-souled, truth-abiding, plain-speaking, and the knower of the import of probity, pleasures, and prosperity, and the one who is concerned in controlling or condoning his subjects, that Bharata is the ruler of earth. [4-18-7]

VERSE 8

नयः च विनयः च उभौ यस्मिन् सत्यम् च सुस्थितम्
विक्रमः च यथा दृष्टः स राजा देश कालवित्

nayaḥ ca vinayaḥ ca ubhau yasmin satyam ca susthitam
vikramaḥ ca yathā dṛṣṭaḥ sa rājā deśa kālavit

SYNONYMS

yasmin: in whom | nayaḥ ca vinayaḥ ca ubhau: scrupulousness, also, benignancy, both are there | satyam ca su sthitam: truthfulness, also, firmly, abides in | vikramaḥ ca yathā dṛṣṭaḥ: valour, also, as has been, seen [stipulated by scriptures] | saḥ deśa kāla vit rājā: he is, place, time, knower, king. |

TRANSLATION

"In whom both scrupulousness and benignancy are there, truthfulness is firmed up, and valour as evinced by scriptures is evident, and he who is the knower of time and place is the king, namely Bharata. [4-18-8]

VERSE 9

तस्य धर्म कृत आदेशा वयम् अन्ये च पार्थिवः
चरामो वसुधाम् कृत्स्नाम् धर्म संतानम् इच्छवः

tasya dharma kṛta ādeśā vayam anye ca pārthivaḥ
carāmo vasudhām kṛtsnām dharma saṃtānam icchavaḥ

SYNONYMS

tasya: his [by him] | dharma kṛta ādeśā: for righteousness, made, decree | vayam: we [Rama, Lakshmana] | anye pārthivaḥ ca: other, kings, also | dharma sam tānam = rightness, gūd, continuity: continuum | icchavaḥ: while desiring for | kṛtsnām vasudhām carāmaḥ: entire, on earth, we are moving. |

TRANSLATION

"Holding his virtuous decree desiring to keep up the continuum of righteousness, we and some other kings are wayfaring this earth in its entirety. [4-18-9]

PURPORT

The 'virtuous decree to keep up virtue' dharma kR^ita aadesha is not that of Bharata, but by the king raaaja dharma kR^ita aadesha . Bharata as younger brother cannot order his elder, and that too, a 'would-have-been-king,' but the throne demands it to be done by any subject, and now Bharata is in that throne. Actually Bharata did not give any explicit orders to Rama or others making them responsible for the upkeep of dharma, on his behalf. Rama himself orders Bharata as at: tvam raajaa bharata bhava svayam naraaNaam | vanyaanaam aham api raaja raaNmR^igaaNaam | Ayodhya Kanda II, 1-674-17 'Bharata, you become the king of humans, and I shall be the king of forest-beings...' Thus, taking responsibility on his own shoulders, in his own duty as a Kshatriya to keep up dharma, Rama is trekking forests. Some 'other kings' roaming like this are not detailed.
VERSE 10

तस्मिन् नृपति शार्दूल भरते धर्म वत्सले
पालयति अखिलाम् पृथ्वीम् कः चरेत् धर्म विप्रियम्

tasmin nṛpati śārdūla bharate dharma vatsale
pālayati akhilām pṛthvīm kaḥ caret dharma vipriyam

SYNONYMS

nṛpati śārdūla: kingly, tiger | dharma vatsala: righteousness, patron of | tasmin bharate: that, Bharata | akhilām pṛthvīm pālayati: entire, earth, while ruling | kaḥ: who | dharma vi priyam: to morality, un, acceptable [way] | caret: [who] conducts. |

TRANSLATION

"While that Bharata, the kingly-tiger and a patron of virtue, is ruling the earth in its entirety, who is there to conduct himself in an unacceptable way to morality on it? [4-18-10]

VERSE 11

ते वयम् मार्ग विभ्रष्टम् स्वधर्मे परमे स्थिताः
भरत आज्ञाम् पुरस्कृत्य निगृह्णीमो यथा विधि

te vayam mārga vibhraṣṭam svadharme parame sthitāḥ
bharata ājñām puraskṛtya nigṛhṇīmo yathā vidhi

SYNONYMS

parame sva dharme sthitāḥ: pre-eminent, our own, righteousness, abiding | vayam: we | bharata ājñām puraskṛtya: Bharata's, orders, abided by | mārga vibhraṣṭam: of path, deviant one | yathā vidhi: according to, custom | nigṛhṇīmaḥ: we control = punish. |

TRANSLATION

"Abiding in our own pre-eminent righteousness, and even abiding by the order of Bharata we punish him who deviated from the path of morality, according to custom. [4-18-11]

VERSE 12

त्वम् तु संक्लिष्ट धर्मः च कर्मणा च विगर्हितः
काम तंत्र प्रधानः च न स्थितो राज वर्त्मनि

tvam tu saṃkliṣṭa dharmaḥ ca karmaṇā ca vigarhitaḥ
kāma taṃtra pradhānaḥ ca na sthito rāja vartmani

SYNONYMS

tvam tu: as for you | samkliṣṭa dharmaḥ = complicated: decadent, virtue is made to | karmaṇā ca vigarhitaḥ = by dīds: decadent behaviour, also, reprovable | kāma tantra pradhānaḥ ca: carnality, doctrine, primary, also | rāja vartmani na sthitaḥ: in king's, route [conduct,] not, abided. |

TRANSLATION

"As for you, you brought virtue to a state of decadence, rendered yourself reprovable by your own decadent behaviour, for carnality alone has become your primary doctrine, and thus you have not abided by the conduct meetly to a king. [4-18-12]

PURPORT

Vali's question 5. 'Non-guilty being is hurt...' is answered: 'your only guilt is that you have not abided by conduct a king should have...' The nature of that guilt is narrated in next verses.
VERSE 13

ज्येष्ठो भ्राता पिता चैव यः च विद्याम् प्रयच्छति
त्रयः ते पितरो ज्ञेया धर्मे च पथि वर्तिनः

jyeṣṭho bhrātā pitā caiva yaḥ ca vidyām prayacchati
trayaḥ te pitaro jñeyā dharme ca pathi vartinaḥ

SYNONYMS

dharme pathi vartinaḥ: [for him who] in virtuous, way, treader | jyeṣṭhaḥ bhrātā pita ca eva: elder, brother, is father, also, thus | yaḥ ca: he who | vidyām prayacchati: education, endows | te trayaḥ pitaraḥ jñeyā: they, three, fathers, thus are to be known. |

TRANSLATION

"It is to be known by him who treads the way of righteousness that he has three fatherly personages, namely his own father, his elder brother, and the one who accords education to him. [4-18-13]

VERSE 14

यवीयान् आत्मनः पुत्रः शिष्यः च अपि गुणोदितः
पुत्रवत् ते त्रयः चिंत्या धर्मः चैव अत्र कारणम्

yavīyān ātmanaḥ putraḥ śiṣyaḥ ca api guṇoditaḥ
putravat te trayaḥ ciṃtyā dharmaḥ caiva atra kāraṇam

SYNONYMS

yavīyān: younger brother | putraḥ: son | guṇoditaḥ śiṣyaḥ ca api: with good characteristics, disciple, also, even | te trayaḥ: these, three | ātmanaḥ putra vat: one's, own, son like | cintyā: are to be deemed | atra dharmaḥ caiva kāraṇam = there: in that matter, rectitude, alone, is the base. |

TRANSLATION

"An younger brother, a son, and a disciple with good characteristics, these three are to be deemed as one's own sons, for such matters take base on rectitude alone. [4-18-14]

VERSE 15

सूक्ष्मः परम दुर्ज्ञेयः सताम् धर्मः प्लवंगम
हृदिस्थः सर्व भूतानाम् आत्मा वेद शुभाशुभम्

sūkṣmaḥ parama durjñeyaḥ satām dharmaḥ plavaṃgama
hṛdisthaḥ sarva bhūtānām ātmā veda śubhāśubham

SYNONYMS

plavamgama: oh, fly-jumper Vali | satām dharmaḥ su ukṣmaḥ: by principled people, probity [practised ,] is very, subtle | parama dur jñeyaḥ: highly, not, ponderable | sarva bhūtānām hṛdi sthaḥ ātmā: in all, beings, in heart, abiding, soul | śubha a śubham: good and bad, just and unjust | veda = knovs: differentiates. |

TRANSLATION

"The probity practised by principled people is very subtle and highly imponderable, and the soul that abides in the hearts of all beings alone can differentiate between just and unjust. [4-18-15]

PURPORT

In another way the above is: 'I am that Supreme Soul residing in the hearts of all beings. So I alone will decide what is right and what is wrong...' Vali's question 8 is taken up. 'Your primary aspiration is to kill without probing into good or bad...' is answered saying that 'I am the decider...'
VERSE 16

चपलः चपलैः सार्धम् वानरैः अकृत आत्मभिः
जात्यंध इव जात्यन्धैः मंत्रयन् द्रक्ष्यसे
नु किम्

capalaḥ capalaiḥ sārdham vānaraiḥ akṛta ātmabhiḥ
jātyaṃdha iva jātyandhaiḥ maṃtrayan drakṣyase
nu kim

SYNONYMS

capalaḥ: [you are a ] vacillant | a kṛta ātmabhiḥ: un, controlled [frantic,] minded ones | capalaiḥ vānaraiḥ sārdham: with vacillant, monkeys, your kind of | jāti andha jāti andhaiḥ iva: by birth, blind, with them who by birth, blind, like | mantrayan: by counselling | drakṣyase nu kim: can you see, [can you fathom, distinguish, what is just and unjust,] really, what? |

TRANSLATION

"Like a blind by birth counselling with similarly blind, you being a vacillant, on your counselling only with frantic minded vacillant monkeys, what can you really fathom about right and wrong? [4-18-16]

VERSE 17

अहम् तु व्यक्तताम् अस्य वचनस्य ब्रवीमि ते
न हि माम् केवलम् रोषात् त्वम् विगर्हितुम् अर्हसि

aham tu vyaktatām asya vacanasya bravīmi te
na hi mām kevalam roṣāt tvam vigarhitum arhasi

SYNONYMS

aham: I | asya vacanasya: about these, words [of mine] | vyaktatām: will clarify | te bravīmi: to you, I am telling | tvam kevalam roṣāt: you, just by, outrage | mām vigarhitum: me, to disdain, scorn | na arhasi hi: not, apt of you, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"I will clarify about the words I have said, but I tell you that it is indeed inapt of you to disdain me just out of your outrage. [4-18-17]

VERSE 18

तत् एतत् कारणम् पश्य यत् अर्थम् त्वम् मया हतः
भ्रातुर् वर्तसि भार्यायाम् त्यक्त्वा धर्मम् सनातनम्

tat etat kāraṇam paśya yat artham tvam mayā hataḥ
bhrātur vartasi bhāryāyām tyaktvā dharmam sanātanam

SYNONYMS

tvam yat artham mayā hataḥ: you are, by which, reason, by me, killed | tat etat kāraṇam paśya: that, this, reason, behold | sanātanam dharmam tyaktvā: perpetual, tradition, on forsaking | bhrātuḥ bhāryāyām vartasi: in brother's, wife, you misbehaved. |

TRANSLATION

"Realise this reason by which I have eliminated you... you misbehaved with your brother's wife, forsaking the perpetual tradition. [4-18-18]

PURPORT

With this one and only reason Rama suffices all the thirteen questions of Vali, as summarised in endnote of last chapter. Beyond this Rama also answers other paltry questions, later.
VERSE 19

अस्य त्वम् धरमाणस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः
रुमायाम् वर्तसे कामात् स्नुषायाम् पाप कर्मकृत्

asya tvam dharamāṇasya sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ
rumāyām vartase kāmāt snuṣāyām pāpa karmakṛt

SYNONYMS

mahātmanaḥ asya sugrīvasya: great-souled, his, Sugreeva's | dharamāṇasya: while alive | pāpa karma kṛt: sinful, act, while doing | kāmāt: with lust | snuṣāyām rumāyām vartase: in daughter-in-law, in Ruma, you misbehaved. |

TRANSLATION

"While the great-souled Sugreeva is still alive, you with your habit of sinful acts have lustily misbehaved with Sugreeva's wife Ruma, who should be counted as your daughter-in-law. [4-18-19]

PURPORT

Vali being a king, he committed incest transgressing tradition. vaalii taavat sva raajye sthitvaa dharmaati kramam kR^itavaan | dharma duuShakaH ca raajaa avashyam daNDaniiyaH | dharmaakuutam This is the very fault found by Rama when expressing 'vaalii caaritra duuSakaH 'abuser of history/tradition...' in Kishkindha, 4-10-33.
VERSE 20

तद् व्यतीतस्य ते धर्मात् काम वृत्तस्य वानर
भ्रातृ भार्या अभिमर्शे अस्मिन् दण्डो अयम् प्रतिपादितः

tad vyatītasya te dharmāt kāma vṛttasya vānara
bhrātṛ bhāryā abhimarśe asmin daṇḍo ayam pratipāditaḥ

SYNONYMS

vānara: oh, vanara | tat: thereby | dharmāt vyatītasya: from tradition / virtue, he who transgressed | kāma vṛttasya = in immorality, vho is abiding: for dissolute | te: to you | asmin: in this [for the sin] | bhrātṛ bhāryā abhimarśe = brother's, vife, for toucing: abusing | ayam daṇḍaḥ pratipāditaḥ = this, puniśment, proposed: imposed. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereby, oh, vanara, this punishment is imposed on you, for your dissolute sinning in abusing your brother's wife, thereby for your transgression of tradition and virtue. [4-18-20]

PURPORT

Vali's question 10, 'inveterate killers are hell-goers...' is replied, 'killing a sinner is no sin and no hell is ensuing thereby...' is the reply, establishing Vali's sin.
VERSE 21

न हि लोक विरुद्धस्य लोक वृत्तात् अपेयुषः
दण्डात् अन्यत्र पश्यामि निग्रहम् हरि यूथप

na hi loka viruddhasya loka vṛttāt apeyuṣaḥ
daṇḍāt anyatra paśyāmi nigraham hari yūthapa

SYNONYMS

hari yūthapa: oh, monkey's, chief | loka viruddhasya = to vorld: society, contrary one | loka vṛttāt apeyuṣaḥ: world's, convention, one who is deviant | daṇḍāt anyatra: from punishment, other than | nigraham: [other sort of] control | na paśyāmi hi: not, I see, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"I foresee no other kind of control other than punishment to him who conducts himself contrary to the society and who is deviant of conventions. [4-18-21]

PURPORT

Vali's question: 2] 'you are not punishing the wrongdoer...' is answered. saama daanam kSamaa dharmaH satyam dhR^iti 'influencing, largesse, forbearance, probity, candour' etc., will work with kings of equal status and worthiness in political strategies. But you are an inferior with an immodest conduct. Then, why should I waste that much of political manoeuvre in your regard? Thus you are eliminated straightaway...' Vali may counter Rama in asking for a lesser punishment than killing, like exiling etc., which he has given to Sugreeva. For this Rama is ready to say that no other punishment is evident than the one said by Manu: sapiNDaapatya daareShu (retaH siktvaa) praaNa tyaago vidhiiyate - - manu smR^iti .
VERSE 22

न च ते मर्षये पापम् क्ष्त्रियो अहम् कुलोद्गतः
औरसीम् भगिनीम् वा अपि भार्याम् वा अपि अनुजस्य
यः

na ca te marṣaye pāpam kṣtriyo aham kulodgataḥ
aurasīm bhaginīm vā api bhāryām vā api anujasya
yaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 23a| kula udgataḥ kśtriyaḥ: [from best] dynasty, emerged, as a Kshatriya | aham te pāpam na marṣaye: I, your, wrongdoing, do not, tolerate | yaḥ naraḥ: which, person | aurasīm: with daughter | bhaginīm vā api: with sister, or, even | anujasya bhāryām vā api: with brother's, wife, or, even | kāmāt pracareta: lustfully, involves with | tasya daṇḍaḥ vadhaḥ smṛtaḥ: his [to him,] punishment, elimination, recalled [from scriptures, specified.] |

TRANSLATION

"As a Kshatriya emerged from a best dynasty I do not tolerate your wrongdoing, and the punishment to the one who lustfully indulges with his daughter, or with his sister, or with the wife of his younger brother is his elimination, as recalled from scriptures. [4-18-22, 23a]

VERSE 23

भरतः तु महीपालो वयम् तु आदेश वर्तिनः

bharataḥ tu mahīpālo vayam tu ādeśa vartinaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 24a| bharataḥ tu mahī pālaḥ: Bharata, but, of land, land | vayam tu ādeśa vartinaḥ = ve, but, in his orders, moving ones: proxies adhering to | tvam ca dharmāt ati krāntaḥ: you, also, from rightness, over, stepped | upekṣitum katham śakyam: to be lenient, how, possible. |

TRANSLATION

While Bharata is the lord of land and we are his proxies adhering to his orders, and while you too have overstepped the bounds of rightness, then how is it possible to be lenient? [4-18-23b, 24a]

VERSE 24

गुरु धर्म व्यतिक्रान्तम् प्राज्ञो धर्मेण पालयन्

guru dharma vyatikrāntam prājño dharmeṇa pālayan

SYNONYMS

b, 25a| prājñaḥ = sensible: Bharata | guru dharma vyati krāntam = = veighty: momentous, virtue, [one who] over steps | [him: nighnan = while punishing- Bharata] | dharmeṇa pālayan: with righteousness, while ruling | bharataḥ: Bharata | kāma yuktānām: lust, those that are with it | nigrahe paryavasthitaḥ: to put down, is poised for. |

TRANSLATION

"While ruling righteously sensible Bharata punishes him who oversteps the momentous virtue, and he is poised to put down lustful ones. [4-18-24b, 25a]

VERSE 25

वयम् तु भरत आदेशम् विधिम् कृत्वा हरीश्वर
त्वत् विधान् भिन्न मर्यादान् निग्रहीतुम् व्यवस्थिताः

vayam tu bharata ādeśam vidhim kṛtvā harīśvara
tvat vidhān bhinna maryādān nigrahītum vyavasthitāḥ

SYNONYMS

b, c| hari īśvara: oh, monkey's, lord | vayam tu: as for us | bharata ādeśam: brother's, orders | vidhim: duty | kṛtvā: on effectuating | bhinna maryādān: one who shattered, ethics | tvat vidhān: your, kind of | nigrahītum vyavasthitāḥ: to curb, we stand for. |

TRANSLATION

"As for us, oh, monkey's lord, we effectuate our brother's orders and our duty, and we stand for curbing your kind of shatterers of ethics. [4-18-25b, c]

VERSE 26

सुग्रीवेण च मे सख्यम् लक्ष्मणेन यथा तथा
दार राज्य निमित्तम् च निःश्रेयसकरः स मे

sugrīveṇa ca me sakhyam lakṣmaṇena yathā tathā
dāra rājya nimittam ca niḥśreyasakaraḥ sa me

SYNONYMS

sugrīveṇa me sakhyam: with Sugreeva, my, association | lakṣmaṇena yathā tathā: with Lakshmana, as with, so it is | dāra rājya nimittam ca: wife, kingdom, owing to, also [our friendship materialised] | saḥ me: he, to me | niḥśreyasa karaḥ: succour, he does. |

TRANSLATION

"My association with Sugreeva is as good as that with Lakshmana, nevertheless it betided with an understanding to regain Sugreeva's wife and kingdom, and he will give succour to me. [4-18-26]

PURPORT

Vali's question 13] 'I would have brought back Maithili in one day...' is given an answer. Bringing Maithili from the captivity of Ravana would have averted Vali's death - so Vali thought. But who will bring Ruma, wife of Sugreeva, and give her back to Sugreeva? Vali does not consider this, and in this alone Vali's transgression is said to have been proved. Thus any truce between Vali and Rama is an impossible and improbable proposition. What all Rama wanted is the 'search for Seetha...' not bring her to his fore. Elimination of Ravana is to be done by Rama alone, for which Seetha is to be located first. If a truce is struck between Vali and Rama, Vali straightway goes to Ravana and asks for Seetha. If Ravana yields Seetha there is no cause left for his elimination. Ravana for sure refuses to yield her. Then a combat ensues between Ravana and Vali. But Vali can combat one-to-one in a duel and he may not encounter a magical war of Indrajit or Kumbhakarna. Then all the demons will combine to eliminate Vali, thus the epic concludes there haphazardly. Other way round, if Vali seeks help of Ravana and his military to combat Rama, Vali's forces and Ravana's forces will come down on a handful warriors like Rama, Sugreeva Hanuma, and Jambavanta et al. Then the whole of monkey force will be with Vali, and these few warriors will be routed down mercilessly. Above all, Rama has promised Sugreeva to eliminate Vali, the abuser of tradition, and Rama becomes blameworthy if he fails in his word. Hence the simplest formula 'enemy's friend is my enemy too...' works well and Rama followed that only.
VERSE 27

प्रतिज्ञा च मया दत्ता तदा वानर संनिधौ
प्रतिज्ञा च कथम् शक्या मत् विधेन अनवेक्षितुम्

pratijñā ca mayā dattā tadā vānara saṃnidhau
pratijñā ca katham śakyā mat vidhena anavekṣitum

SYNONYMS

tadā maya = then: at the time of befriending, by me | vānara sannidhau: vanara-s, in presence | pratijñā ca dattā: promise, also, is given | mat vidhena: by my, type of [person] | pratijñā: promise | an avekṣitum: not, to honour | katham śakyā: how is, possible. |

TRANSLATION

"I gave a promise to Sugreeva at the time of befriending him in the presence of vanara-s, and how is it possible for my kind to dishonour a given promise? [4-18-27]

PURPORT

In Aranya Kanda he tells Seetha, that he even leaves his life than to feign his promise. api aham jiivitam jahyaam tvaam vaa siite sa lakSmaNaam || 4-10-18. Hence there is no question of his going back on the word given to them that crave for his mercy.
VERSE 28

तत् एभिः कारणैः सर्वैर् महद्भिः धर्म संहितैः
शासनम् तव यत् युक्तम् तत् भवान् अनुमन्यताम्

tat ebhiḥ kāraṇaiḥ sarvair mahadbhiḥ dharma saṃhitaiḥ
śāsanam tava yat yuktam tat bhavān anumanyatām

SYNONYMS

tat: thereby | dharma samhitaiḥ: virtue, abounding | sarvaiḥ mahadbhiḥ: with all of them, with supreme values | ebhiḥ kāraṇaiḥ: due to these, reasons | tava yat śāsanam: to you, which, punishment | yuktam: befitting | tat bhavān anumanyatām: that, by you, you infer. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereby you have to infer that a befitting punishment is given to you, owing to all these great reasons that abound with virtue and with supreme value. [4-18-28]

VERSE 29

सर्वथा धर्म इति एव द्रष्टव्यः तव निग्रहः
वयस्यस्य उपकर्तव्यम् धर्मम् एव अनुपश्यता

sarvathā dharma iti eva draṣṭavyaḥ tava nigrahaḥ
vayasyasya upakartavyam dharmam eva anupaśyatā

SYNONYMS

tava nigrahaḥ: your, control [keeping you under control, punishing you] | sarvathā dharmaḥ iti eva = anyvise, is righteous: condign, legitimate, thus, only | draṣṭavyaḥ: is to be seen [you shall regard it] | dharmam anupaśyatā: rectitude, he who is guided by it | vayasyasya upakartavyam eva = to a friend, has to render assistance, alone: in any event. |

TRANSLATION

"Anywise, you have to regard the punishment given to you is legitimate, and he whom rectitude guides has to render assistance to his friend, in any event. [4-18-29]

VERSE 30

शक्यम् त्वया अपि तत् कार्यम् धर्मम् एव अनुवर्तता
श्रूयते मनुना गीतौ श्लोकौ चारित्र वत्सलौ

śakyam tvayā api tat kāryam dharmam eva anuvartatā
śrūyate manunā gītau ślokau cāritra vatsalau

SYNONYMS

dharmam eva anuvartatā = righteous, only, if sīn: if pursued [had you pursued] | tvayā api: by you, even | tat kāryam śakyam = that, dīd [dīd of imposing suc a puniśment,] possible: you too would have done the same | manunā: by Manu | cāritra vatsalau: good convention, advocates of [the verses said next] | ślokau = tvo verses: verses of law | gītau = said to be sung: as said to be | śrūyate: we hear so | dharma kuśalaiḥ: in rightness, experts | gṛhītau = they [verses] taken: accepted | mayāa tat tathā caritam = by me, that [vay,] likevise, done: I have conducted myself. |

TRANSLATION

"Had you pursued rightness you too would have done the same deed in imposing such a punishment, and we hear two verses that are given to the advocacy of good conventions, which the experts of rightness have also accepted, and which are said to be coined by Manu, and I too conducted myself only as detailed in those verses of law. [4-18-30]

VERSE 31

राजभिः धृत दण्डाः च कृत्वा पापानि मानवाः
निर्मलाः स्वर्गम् आयान्ति सन्तः सुकृतिनो यथा

rājabhiḥ dhṛta daṇḍāḥ ca kṛtvā pāpāni mānavāḥ
nirmalāḥ svargam āyānti santaḥ sukṛtino yathā

SYNONYMS

mānavāḥ: humans | pāpāni kṛtvā: sins, on making | rājabhiḥ dhṛta daṇḍāḥ ca: by kings, imposed, punishment, also | nirmalāḥ sukṛtinaḥ santaḥ yathā = unblemiśed: sinless, with good deeds, pious souled ones, as with | svargam āyānti: to heaven, they come. |

TRANSLATION

" 'When kings impose proper punishment on the humans who have sinned, they become sinless and enter heaven as with the pious souls with good deeds.' So says one verse of Manu. [4-18-31]

VERSE 32

शसनात् वा अपि मोक्षात् वा स्तेनः पापात् प्रमुच्यते
राजा तु अशासन् पापस्य तद् आप्नोति किल्बिषम्

śasanāt vā api mokṣāt vā stenaḥ pāpāt pramucyate
rājā tu aśāsan pāpasya tad āpnoti kilbiṣam

SYNONYMS

stenaḥ: a thief | śasanāt vā api mokśāt vā = by puniśment, either, even, by releasing: by clemency, or | pāpāt pramucyate: from sin, will be released | a śāsan rājā tu: un, punishing, king, but | pāpasya tat kilbiṣam āpnoti: sin's, that, blot, he derives. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Either by punishment or by clemency a thief will be absolved from sin, but the king who does not impose proper punishment will derive the blot of that sin.' So says the other verse of Manu. [4-18-32]

VERSE 33

आर्येण मम मान्धात्रा व्यसनम् घोरम् ईप्सितम्
श्रमणेन कृते पापे यथा पापम् कृतम् त्वया

āryeṇa mama māndhātrā vyasanam ghoram īpsitam
śramaṇena kṛte pāpe yathā pāpam kṛtam tvayā

SYNONYMS

mama āryeṇa māndhātrā: by my [ancestor,] venerable, Maandhaata | tvayā yathā pāpam kṛtam = by you, as you have, sin, done: committed | śramaṇena pāpe kṛte: by renouncer, [as with] sin, committed | īpsitam ghoram vyasanam: what is desired, terrible, problem [punishment is given.] |

TRANSLATION

"When a renouncer has committed sin like that of the one committed by you, my venerable ancestor Maandhaata has given punishment which he desired. [4-18-33]

PURPORT

This is according to the meaning derived by ancient commentators which doe not go well with the import of earlier verse 'the king derives the blot if he does not punish properly' or with the next one. Rama's ancestor Maandhaata should have got that blot for not punishing a renouncer in proper way. Other mms has this verse like this: puurveNa mama maandhaataa sampraaptam vyasanam mahat | shramaNena kR^ite paape yathaa paapam kR^itam tvayaa || And which verse is to be kept, it is up to the pundits. Rama is quoting a precedent from his own dynasty. Maandhaata has to impose capital punishment to a sage, for that sage committed some immoral act. Here also the shramaNa is used for a wandering sage, called yati . Because he is religious person is he to let off; a religious person's sinning is doubly punishable; are the problems of Maandhaata. This word shramaNa yati, need not be equated with a Buddhist monk, for they also have same titles, and Maandhaata is said to have existed long before Buddha's era.
VERSE 34

अन्यैः अपि कृतम् पापम् प्रमत्तैः वसुधा अधिपैः
प्रायश्चित्तम् च कुर्वन्ति तेन तत् शाम्यते रजः

anyaiḥ api kṛtam pāpam pramattaiḥ vasudhā adhipaiḥ
prāyaścittam ca kurvanti tena tat śāmyate rajaḥ

SYNONYMS

anyaiḥ api: by others, even | kṛtam pāpam: committed [acquired,] sin | pramattaiḥ vasudhā adhipaiḥ: by unobservant, land, lords [kings] | prāyaścittam ca kurvanti: make amends, also, do | tena tat rajaḥ śāmyate: by that, that, filth of sin, they mitigate. |

TRANSLATION

"Such sin is acquired even by other kings who are unobservant in imposing proper punishment, and those kings had to make amends for it at appropriate time, by that propitiation they used to mitigate that filth of that sin. [4-18-34]

PURPORT

The kings who are otherwise busy may not hanker after thieves and sinners always, thus they become unobservant of each and every individual's behaviour. So the kings used to make amends at appropriate time. It is up to the individual to comport properly or improperly. An offender may escape hundred offences, but if caught once, he has to pay for all his wrongdoings.
VERSE 35

तत् अलम् परितापेन धर्मतः परिकल्पितः
वधो वानरशार्दूल न वयम् स्व वशे स्थिताः

tat alam paritāpena dharmataḥ parikalpitaḥ
vadho vānaraśārdūla na vayam sva vaśe sthitāḥ

SYNONYMS

vānara śārdūla: Vanara, the tiger | tat alam paritāpena: thereby, enough, with annoyance | vadhaḥ dharmataḥ parikalpitaḥ: [your] elimination, righteously, devised | vayam sva vaśe na sthitāḥ = ve, our ovn, control, not, abiding: we are not independent. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereby, enough with your annoyance, oh, tigerly vanara, as your elimination is devised righteously, and we too are not independent. [4-18-35]

PURPORT

They are bound by duty. They are not at their free will to act on their own whims and fancies. Vali's question: 9] 'How do you face criticism by scholars?' is answered. ' None can criticise because I have not acted on my own, but bound by scriptures and precedents...' yaa vaa na vadhasya vadhe taavaan vadhasya mokShNe | adharmo nR^ipateH dR^iShTo dharmastu viniyacchataH - manu smR^iti 9-249- 'How much sin is acquired by executing a murderer, that much sin is acquired by executing a non-murderer...' which again is somewhat similar to the present day saying, 'let hundred criminals go unpunished, but let no innocent be punished.'
VERSE 36

श्रुणु च अपि अपरम् भूयः कारणम् हरिपुंगव
तत् श्रुत्वा हि महत् वीर न मन्युम् कर्तुम् अर्हसि

śruṇu ca api aparam bhūyaḥ kāraṇam haripuṃgava
tat śrutvā hi mahat vīra na manyum kartum arhasi

SYNONYMS

mahat vīra: oh, great, brave one | hari pungava: monkey's, best of | bhūyaḥ aparam kāraṇam śruṇu: further, another, reason, you hear | tat mahat śrutvā: that, important [cause,] on hearing | manyum kartum na arhasi = fury, to do, not, apt of you: you will not be infuriated. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, brave and best one among monkeys, further listen to another cause, and on listening that important cause you will not be infuriated. [4-18-36]

VERSE 37

न मे तत्र मनस्तापो न मन्युः हरिपुंगव
वागुराभिः च पाशैः च कूटैः च विविधैः नराः

na me tatra manastāpo na manyuḥ haripuṃgava
vāgurābhiḥ ca pāśaiḥ ca kūṭaiḥ ca vividhaiḥ narāḥ

SYNONYMS

, 38a| tatra = in that matter: of my killing you, or, your reviling me | me: to me | manaḥ tāpaḥ = at heart, grief: angst | manyuḥ: ire | na: are not there | hari pungava: oh, monkey, the best | narāḥ: people | vāgurābhiḥ ca: with snares, also | pāśaiḥ ca: with loops, also | vividhaiḥ kūṭaiḥ ca: numerous, by contrivances, even | praticchannāḥ ca dṛśyāḥ ca: covertly, either, overtly, or | su bahūn: very many | mṛgān gṛhṇanti: animals, they capture. |

TRANSLATION

"I have neither angst nor ire in this matter of my eliminating you, or, your reviling me, oh, best monkey, but listen to the other point I wish to make clear. People will be capturing several animals, either covertly or overtly, with snares, springes and even with numerous contrivances. [4-18-37, 38a]

PURPORT

So far Rama replied Vali with a view that Vanara-s are a species of Vedic-beings who hold fast to Vedic duties like sandhyaa vandana, suuryopasthaana performed by Vali, and swasthyana performed by Tara, and the other their daily routines of Veda-s. But Vali takes a U-turn declaring himself an animal and asks: 6] Why fruits, tubers eating being is killed; 11] Un-wearable is my skin uneatable is my flesh; 12] Five kinds of five-nailed animals are usable by humans...' Rama started to tell how humans deal with animals, should Vali declare himself an animal, if not a specific Vedic-being.
VERSE 38

प्रधावितान् वा वित्रस्तान् विस्रब्धान् अतिविष्ठितान्

pradhāvitān vā vitrastān visrabdhān ativiṣṭhitān

SYNONYMS

b, 39| māmsa aśinaḥ narāḥ: meat, eating, humans | pra dhāvitān vā: speedily, sprinting away, or, vi trastaan = fully, dismayed | vi srabdhān = vithout, dismay: roaming with confidence | ati viṣṭhitān: steadily, standing | pra mattān: very, vigilant ones | a pramattān vā: un, vigilant ones, or | vi mukhām ca api: away, faced, also, even | bhṛśam vidhyanti: undeniably, will kill | atra doṣaḥ na vidyate ca: in that, blame [sacrilege,] not, evident. |

TRANSLATION

"Meat eating people will undeniably kill animals, either they are speedily sprinting or standing steadily, fully dismayed or undismayed, vigilant or unvigilant, and even if they are facing away, in that there is no sacrilege. [4-18-38b, 39]

VERSE 40

यान्ति राजर्षयः च अत्र मृगयाम् धर्म कोविदाः
तस्मात् त्वम् निहतो युद्धे मया बाणेन वानर
अयुध्यन् प्रतियुध्यन् वा यस्मात् शाखा मृगो हि असि

yānti rājarṣayaḥ ca atra mṛgayām dharma kovidāḥ
tasmāt tvam nihato yuddhe mayā bāṇena vānara
ayudhyan pratiyudhyan vā yasmāt śākhā mṛgo hi asi

SYNONYMS

atra: in this [world] | dharma kovidāḥ: in virtue, well versed ones | rāja ṛṣayaḥ: kings, sagely | mṛgayām yānti ca: for hunting, they go, even | vānara: oh, vanara | tvam: you | a yudhyan: not, combating | prati yudhyan vā: counter, combating, or | yasmāt śākhā mṛgaḥ asi: by which reason [because,] tree-branch, animal, you are | tasmāt: therefore | mayā yuddhe bāṇena nihataḥ hi: by me, in combat, with arrow, I felled, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"In this world even the kingly sages well-versed in virtue will go on hunting, and hunting is no face to face game, as such, oh, vanara, therefore I felled you in combat with my arrow because you are a tree-branch animal, whether you are not combating with me or combating against me. [4-18-40]

PURPORT

'Whether you face this way or that you are an animal, as you alone said, besides being an enemy of my friend...' For this Griffith says - I cannot understand how Valmiki could put such an excuse as this into Rama's mouth. Rama with all solemn ceremony, has made a league of alliance with Vali's younger brother whom he regards as a dear friend and almost as an equal, and now he winds up his reasons for killing Vali by coolly saying: 'Besides you are only a monkey, you know, after all, and as such I have every right to kill you how, when, and where I like.'
VERSE 41

दुर्लभस्य च धर्मस्य जीवितस्य शुभस्य च
राजानो वानरश्रेष्ठ प्रदातारो न संशयः

durlabhasya ca dharmasya jīvitasya śubhasya ca
rājāno vānaraśreṣṭha pradātāro na saṃśayaḥ

SYNONYMS

vānara śreṣṭha: oh, Vanara, the best | rājānaḥ: kings are | dur labhasya dharmasya: un, obtainable, of righteousness | śubhasya jīvitasya ca: of propitious, lifestyles, also | pra dātāraḥ: are bounteous, benefactors | na samśayaḥ: no, doubt. |

TRANSLATION

"Kings are the bounteous benefactors of the unobtainable righteousness and propitious lifestyles, oh, best vanara, no doubt about it. [4-18-41]

VERSE 42

तान् न हिंस्यात् न च आक्रोशेन् न आक्षिपेन् न अप्रियम् वदेत्
देवा मानुष रूपेण चरन्ति एते मही तले

tān na hiṃsyāt na ca ākrośen na ākṣipen na apriyam vadet
devā mānuṣa rūpeṇa caranti ete mahī tale

SYNONYMS

tān na himsyāt: them, not, to be harmed | na ca ākrośet: not, also, reproved | na ākṣipet: not, disparaged | na a priyam vadet: not, dis, pleasing, to be spoken to them | ete devāḥ: these, divinities [the kings] | mānuṣa rūpeṇa: in human, form | mahī tale caranti = earth's, plane, they are moving: conducting themselves. |

TRANSLATION

"They the kings are not to be harmed, also not to be reproved, not disparaged and nothing displeasing is spoken to them, as they are the divinities conducting themselves in human form on the plane of earth. [4-18-42]

VERSE 43

त्वम् तु धर्मम् अविज्ञाय केवलम् रोषम् आस्थितः
विदूषयसि माम् धर्मे पितृ पैतामहे स्थितम्

tvam tu dharmam avijñāya kevalam roṣam āsthitaḥ
vidūṣayasi mām dharme pitṛ paitāmahe sthitam

SYNONYMS

tvam tu: as for you | dharmam a vijñāya: righteousness, without, knowing | kevalam roṣam āsthitaḥ: solely, to rancour, clinging to | pitṛ paitāmahe dharme sthitam: of fathers, forefathers, in righteousness, abiding by | mām vidūṣayasi: me, you revile. |

TRANSLATION

"I am abiding by the ethicalness practised by my father and forefathers, but you revile me without the knowledge of rightness, just by clinging to your rancour." Thus said Rama to dying Vali. [4-18-43]

PURPORT

There is none to say that Vali is 'unkillable...' or 'not to be killed...' But to every one a doubt occurs as to why Rama did not come face to face with and killed him? Why hit him from a remote place? For these doubts, the above said arguments may not suffice or satisfactory, either to Vali or to us, the readers. Dharmaakuutam, the only commentary on Ramayana insofar as dharma is concerned explains that for us. evam ca adya eva tam haniShyaamiiti pratij~naa paripaalanam tadaa bhavet yadaa pracchannatayaa hanam iti ? prakaashatayaa yuddhaaya aahuutastu, bhayaan aagacchet - rumaam gR^ihiitvaa deshaantaram vaa gacchet - raavaNam vaa samaashrayet - sharaNam vaa samaagacchet - sa sahaayam sugriivam avalokya sakala vaanara senayaa yuddhaartham samaagacchet - vaa tatra adya pakShatraye tad hananasya cirakaala saadhyatvena adyaiva tam haniShyaami rumaam raajyam ca tava daasyaami iti puurva pratij~naa kaalatipaata syaat | pratij~naakaalaatipaate ca doShaH sharanaagatam anapakShe ca sharaNaagato vaalii hanyeta vaa na vaa - na adyaH - sharaNaagata hananasya niShiddhatvaat - - - - raama kR^ite vaali vadhaH adharmadhaayako na bhavati - kim tu dharma eva When it is said by Rama that 'today only I will kill Vali...' then it may be countered by saying, 'then why killing him from distance, why not confront him?' If Rama comes to fore, fear may grip Vali, then he may take Ruma, Sugreeva's wife, and to insult, Sugreeva further, Vali may go to a distant place with her. Or, he may seek shelter with Ravana. Or, he may even take refuge in Rama like Sugreeva. Or, on seeing Sugreeva with enough support, he may summon all his Vanara army to fight with Sugreeva and his supporters. Then it will prolong for a time. Then the promise of Rama made to Sugreeva to accord his wife and his kingdom by killing Vali, also prolongs. Justice delayed is denied. Otherwise, if Vali surrenders to Rama, as the killing of a refugee is not a merited act, Rama has to pardon Vali. Whether Vali takes refuse or not, killing Vali on that day itself, and establishing Sugreeva in Kishkindha are the promises made by Rama, at the time of befriending Sugreeva. The word given is to be kept up. So Rama did it and there is no unrighteous deed done by Rama. And Vali also accepts this in the coming stanzas.
VERSE 44

एवम् उक्तः तु रामेण वाली प्रव्यथितो भृशम्
न दोषम् राघवे दध्यौ धर्मे अधिगत निश्चयः

evam uktaḥ tu rāmeṇa vālī pravyathito bhṛśam
na doṣam rāghave dadhyau dharme adhigata niścayaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāmeṇa evam uktaḥ tu: by Rama, that way, he who is said [categorically] | vālī bhṛśam pravyathitaḥ: Vali, muchly, distressed [at heart of hearts] | dharme adhigata niścayaḥ = in righteousness, deriving, decisiveness: resolve | rāghave doṣam na dadhyau: in Rama, incorrectness, not, found. |

TRANSLATION

Vali is much distressed at heart of hearts when Rama has said categorically in that way, whereby, deriving certitude about rightness he found no incorrectness with Rama. [4-18-44]

PURPORT

From here on Vali's repentance is narrated. ata eva vaalinaa sakala dharma abhij~nena - bhavataa anabhij~no aham na prati vaktum arhasi - atra ca dharmo'dhigataniscaya iti visheSheNa puurva kR^itam akhilam api raama duuShaNam aj~naana pravR^ittam eva | itaH param vakShyamaaNam akhilam dharmyam eva vadati iti avagatam : dharmaakuutam- Whatever spoken by Vali earlier is without proper knowledge of dharma, and whatever said hereafter is in conformity with righteousness [owing to the dawn of death-time wisdom.] Dharmaakuutam.
VERSE 45

प्रत्युवाच ततो रामम् प्रांजलिर् वानरेश्वरः
यत् त्वम् आत्थ नरश्रेष्ठ तत् थथा एव न अत्र
संशयः

pratyuvāca tato rāmam prāṃjalir vānareśvaraḥ
yat tvam āttha naraśreṣṭha tat thathā eva na atra
saṃśayaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ vānara īśvaraḥ: then, vanara-s, lord Vali | prānjaliḥ: with adjoined-palms | rāmam prati uvāca = to ṟama, inreturn, spoke: replied | nara śreṣṭha: man, the best among men | tvam yat āttha: you, what, said | tat tathā eva = that, that vay, only: proper | atra samśayaḥ na: in that, doubt, is not there. |

TRANSLATION

That lord of vanara-s then replied Rama with adjoined palms, "oh, best one among men, what all you have said is that way proper, undoubtedly. [4-18-45]

VERSE 46

प्रतिवक्तुम् प्रकृष्टे हि न अपकृष्टः तु शक्नुयात्
यत् अयुक्तम् मया पूर्वम् प्रमादात् वाक्यम् अप्रियम्

prativaktum prakṛṣṭe hi na apakṛṣṭaḥ tu śaknuyāt
yat ayuktam mayā pūrvam pramādāt vākyam apriyam

SYNONYMS

, 47a| rāghava: oh, Raghava | prakṛṣṭe: in respect of nobleman | apa kṛṣṭaḥ: ignoble | prati vaktum = in turn, speak: to rebut, disprove | na śaknuyāt hi: not, capable, indeed | mayā pūrvam: by me, earlier | pramādāt = accidentally: fortuitously | yat: which | a yuktam: un, desirable | a priyam: not, proper | vākyam [uktam]: words, [spoken] | tatra api = in there, even: with regard to them | mām: towards me | doṣam kartum: blame, to make | khalu na arhasi: truly, not, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"Indeed an ignoble cannot disprove a nobleman, Raghava, and with regards to the undesirable and improper words I have unwittingly spoken earlier, in that mater too it will be truly unapt of you to make me blameworthy, as I spoke them in anguish and ignorance. [4-18-46, 47a]

VERSE 47

त्वम् हि दृष्टार्थ तत्त्वज्ञः प्रजानाम् च हिते रतः
कार्य कारण सिद्धौ च प्रसन्ना बुद्धिः अव्यया

tvam hi dṛṣṭārtha tattvajñaḥ prajānām ca hite rataḥ
kārya kāraṇa siddhau ca prasannā buddhiḥ avyayā

SYNONYMS

b, c| tvam hi dṛṣṭa artha tattvajñaḥ: you, alone, seen [knower of,] means [recourses, and their] real nature | prajānām ca hite rataḥ: in people's, also, welfare, delighted in | avyayā buddhiḥ: with faultless, intellect | kārya kāraṇa siddhau ca: effect, cause, in accomplishment | prasannā: serene, clear. |

TRANSLATION

"You alone are the knower of recourses and their real nature, namely probity, prosperity, pleasure seeking, and emancipation; dharma, artha, kaama, moksha ; and you take delight in the welfare of subjects, and your faultless intellect is clear in accomplishing ends by judging the causes and effects. [4-18-47b, c]

VERSE 48

माम् अपि अवगतम् धर्मात् व्यतिक्रान्त पुरस्कृतम्
धर्म संहितया वाचा धर्मज्ञ परिपालय

mām api avagatam dharmāt vyatikrānta puraskṛtam
dharma saṃhitayā vācā dharmajña paripālaya

SYNONYMS

dharmajña: oh, knower of probity, Rama | dharmāt avagatam [apa gatam?]: from righteousness, known [digressed] | vyatikrānta [vi ati krānta] puraskṛtam: [among] transgressors, forerunner | mām api: me, even | dharma samhitayā vācā: righteousness, abounding with, words | paripālaya = command me: care for me, give me absolution. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, the knower of probity, I am the one who digressed from the rightness and a forerunner among such transgressors, such as I am, give absolution even to me with words abounded with rightness." Vali is thus saying to Rama. [4-18-48]

VERSE 49

बाष्प संरुद्ध कण्ठः तु वाली स आर्त रवः शनैः
उवाच रामम् संप्रेक्ष्य पंकलग्न इव द्विपः

bāṣpa saṃruddha kaṇṭhaḥ tu vālī sa ārta ravaḥ śanaiḥ
uvāca rāmam saṃprekṣya paṃkalagna iva dvipaḥ

SYNONYMS

panka lagna dvipaḥ iva: in slough, plumped, elephant, like | vālī: Vali | bāṣpa sam ruddha kaṇṭhaḥ tu: tears, fully, impeding, throat, but | sa ārta ravaḥ: with, agonised, moaning | rāmam samprekṣya: Rama, keenly, on viewing | śanaiḥ uvāca: slowly, [continued] to say. |

TRANSLATION

Vali who like an elephant plumped in slough continued to say slowly, with tears fully impeding his throat and with an agonised moan, on keenly observing Rama. [4-18-49]

VERSE 50

न च आत्मानम् अहम् शोचे न ताराम् न अपि बान्धवान्
यथा पुत्रम् गुणश्रेष्ठम् अंगदम् कनकांगदम्

na ca ātmānam aham śoce na tārām na api bāndhavān
yathā putram guṇaśreṣṭham aṃgadam kanakāṃgadam

SYNONYMS

guṇa śreṣṭham: in virtue, the best | kanaka angadam: one with golden, bicep-lets | putram angadam: about son, Angada | yathā: as to how [I am worrying] | aham ātmānam na ca śoce: I, for myself, even, not, worried | tārām na: about Tara, no | bāndhavān api na: about relative, even, no. |

TRANSLATION

"Also, I neither worry for myself, nor for Tara, nor even for any relatives of mine, as I do for my son Angada, the best-virtuous one with golden bicep-lets. [4-18-50]

VERSE 51

स मम अदर्शनात् दीनो बाल्यात् प्रभृति लालितः
तटाक इव पीतांबुः उपशोषम् गमिष्यति

sa mama adarśanāt dīno bālyāt prabhṛti lālitaḥ
taṭāka iva pītāṃbuḥ upaśoṣam gamiṣyati

SYNONYMS

bālyāt prabhṛti: childhood, right from | lālitaḥ: [Angada is] nourished looked after fondly | saḥ: he, that Angada | mama a darśanāt = my, non, appearance: not seeing me | dīnaḥ: he will be dejected | pīta ambuḥ taṭāka iva = drunk, vater, lake, like: like a lake whose waters are drained | upa śoṣam gamiṣyati = dry out: wither, gets into. |

TRANSLATION

"Right from his childhood I fondly looked after Angada, and he will be dejected when he sees me no more, and he withers away like a lake with its water drained for a drink. [4-18-51]

VERSE 52

बालः च अकृतबुद्धिः च एक पुत्रः च मे प्रियः
तारेयो राम भवता रक्षणीयो महाबलः

bālaḥ ca akṛtabuddhiḥ ca eka putraḥ ca me priyaḥ
tāreyo rāma bhavatā rakṣaṇīyo mahābalaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāma: Rama | bālaḥ ca: he is a boy | a kṛta buddhiḥ ca: boyish, also, not, made-up, mind [juvenile] | me priyaḥ eka putraḥ ca: to me, dear, only, son, also | mahābalaḥ: great-mighty one | tāreyaḥ: Tara's son Angada | bhavatā rakśaṇīyaḥ: by you, needs to be protected. |

TRANSLATION

"He is boyish, juvenile, and the only dear son of mine, oh, Rama, as such that great-mighty son of Tara needs your protection. [4-18-52]

VERSE 53

सुग्रीवे च अंगदे चैव विधत्स्व मतिम् उत्तमाम्
त्वम् हि गोप्ता च शास्ता च कार्याकार्य विधौ स्थितः

sugrīve ca aṃgade caiva vidhatsva matim uttamām
tvam hi goptā ca śāstā ca kāryākārya vidhau sthitaḥ

SYNONYMS

sugrīve ca angade caiva: in Sugreeva, also, in Angada, thus | uttamām matim vidhatsva = best, mind: you make - treat both of them with equal compassion | [tvam: you] | kārya a kārya vidhau sthitaḥ = in practicable, not, practicable, procedures, you abide in: you have firm convictions | tvam hi goptā ca: you, alone, protector, also | śāstā ca: punisher, also. |

TRANSLATION

"You have firm convictions about practicable and impracticable procedures, and you alone are the protector of the good and punisher of the bad, hence treat both Sugreeva and Angada with equal compassion. [4-18-53]

VERSE 54

या ते नरपते वृत्तिः भरते लक्ष्मणे च या
सुग्रीवे च अंगदे राजन् ताम् चिंतयितुम् अर्हसि

yā te narapate vṛttiḥ bharate lakṣmaṇe ca yā
sugrīve ca aṃgade rājan tām ciṃtayitum arhasi

SYNONYMS

nara pate: oh, men's lord | rājan: oh, king | bharate: in Bharata | te yā vṛttiḥ: your, which, outlook is there | lakṣmaṇe ca: of Lakshmana, too | yā = vhic: stance is there | tām: that [bent] alone | sugrīve angade ca: towards Sugreeva, Angada, even | cintayitum arhasi = to think about: show, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, lord of men, it will be apt of you to show the same kind of outlook towards Sugreeva, oh, king, even towards Angada, which you have for Bharata and Lakshmana. [4-18-54]

VERSE 55

मत् दोष कृत दोषाम् ताम् यथा ताराम् तपस्विनीम्
सुग्रीवो न अवमन्येत तथा अवस्थातुम् अर्हसि

mat doṣa kṛta doṣām tām yathā tārām tapasvinīm
sugrīvo na avamanyeta tathā avasthātum arhasi

SYNONYMS

mat doṣa kṛta doṣām: my, fault, done [occurring,] fault | tapasvinīm tām tārām: self-reproachful, her, regarding Tara | sugrīvaḥ: Sugreeva | yathā: as to how | na avamanyeta = not, going to diśonour: look down on | tathā avasthātum arhasi = thus, to establiś: you may see to it, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"The fault occurring from my fault of maltreating Sugreeva may not light upon that self-reproachful Tara, and it will be apt of you to see that Sugreeva will not look down on her treating her as the wife his rival. [4-18-55]

VERSE 56

त्वया हि अनुगृहीतेन शक्यम् राज्यम् उपासितुम्
त्वत् वशे वर्तमानेन तव चित्त अनुवर्तिना

tvayā hi anugṛhītena śakyam rājyam upāsitum
tvat vaśe vartamānena tava citta anuvartinā

SYNONYMS

, 57a| tvayā anugṛhītena hi: [one who is] by you, approved, indeed | tvat vaśe vartamānena: under you, control, while abiding | tava citta anuvartinā: your, heart, following | rājyam upāsitum śakyam: kingdom, to run [govern,] capable of | śakyam: possible [even to] | vasudhām śāsitum ca api: earth, to rule, also, even | divam ārjayitum ca: heaven, to achieve, also. |

TRANSLATION

"When you indeed approve someone, he is capable enough to govern the kingdom, abiding himself under your control and following your heart, why a kingdom, he can rule the earth, why earth, he can even achieve the heaven itself. [4-18-56, 57a]

VERSE 57

त्वतः अहम् वधम् आकांक्षयन् वार्यमाणो अपि तारया

tvataḥ aham vadham ākāṃkṣayan vāryamāṇo api tārayā

SYNONYMS

b, 58| aham tārayā vāryamāṇaḥ api: I, by Tara, dissuaded, though | tvataḥ vadham ākānkśayan: by you, I, elimination, [as though] aspiring | bhrātā sugrīveṇa saha: with brother, Sugreeva, along with | dvandva yuddham upāgatam = duel, combat, ī obtained: met with | hari īśvaraḥ: monkeys, king of | vānaraḥ: vanara, Vali | rāmam iti uktvā: to Rama, thus, on saying | virarāma [vi ra rāma]: paused a while. |

TRANSLATION

"Though Tara dissuaded me I met with my brother Sugreeva in a duel as though aspiring elimination at your hand.." On saying thus to Rama that vanara, Vali the lord of monkeys' paused for a while. [4-18-57b, 58]

PURPORT

Any combatant is self-assertive until he is defeated. Here Vali is telling that he came here to die on his own. This statement has two kinds of meaning. One is, Vali being an all-daring Vanara came out, in ' come-what-may ' sense and readying himself to confront even Rama, if Rama affronts him. His argument with Tara at the start of 16th chapter details this. He asks Tara, 'If Rama is a virtue-knower and a diligent one, how then he can sin, in killing me?' Vali, unlike Ravana, never goes to a duel unless provoked. Vali being a wilful combatant and Sugreeva is coming for a second time with the support of Rama, he wanted to defeat that unknown Rama, along with suppressing Sugreeva's trivial pride. Vali promises Tara that he is not going to kill Sugreeva, but wanted to take him to task. On coming to field Rama is not evident. Then Vali wanted to see to Sugreeva first and then search for Rama. But what happened is the reverse of it. Perhaps gorilla war tactics started from this point onwards.
VERSE 59

स तम् आश्वासयत् रामो वालिनम् व्यक्त दर्शनम्
साधु सम्मतया वाचा धर्म तत्त्वार्त्ध युक्तया

sa tam āśvāsayat rāmo vālinam vyakta darśanam
sādhu sammatayā vācā dharma tattvārtdha yuktayā

SYNONYMS

saḥ rāmaḥ: he, that Rama | vyakta darśanam = one vho has clear, viev: clear thought | tam vālinam: him, that Vali | sādhu sammatayā: to savants, agreeable | dharma tatva artdha yuktayā: probity's, essence, meaning, containing | vācā: with words | āśvāsayat: consoled. |

TRANSLATION

Rama consoled Vali with words that are agreeable to savants and that contain the essence and meaning of rightness, while Vali is with an evincible perspective of righteousness by now. And Rama spoke to Vali this way. [4-18-59]

VERSE 60

न संतापः त्वया कार्यम् एतत् अर्थम् प्लवंगम
न वयम् भवता चिंत्या न अपि आत्मा हरिसत्तम
वयम् भवत् विशेषेण धर्मतः कृत निश्चयाः

na saṃtāpaḥ tvayā kāryam etat artham plavaṃgama
na vayam bhavatā ciṃtyā na api ātmā harisattama
vayam bhavat viśeṣeṇa dharmataḥ kṛta niścayāḥ

SYNONYMS

plavan gama: oh, fly-jumper | etat artham: for this, reason | tvayā satāpaḥ na kāryaḥ: by you, remorse, not, doable | hari sattama: oh, monkey, the best | bhavatā vayam: by you, we [who are now left behind you, Tara, Angada and us] | na cintyā: not, those that are to bothered | ātmā api na: about yourself, even, not [to be bothered] | vayam: we | bhavat: in your respect | viśeṣeṇa: [anugraha buddhyaa] = considerateness | dharmataḥ: according to rightness | kṛtaḥ niścayāḥ = made, decision: we took a decision. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, fly-jumper, you need not be remorseful about your wife, son and others you leave behind, because we take care of them... nor you should bother about us thinking that we have arbitrarily eliminated you, nor necessarily bother about yourself for committing sins, as we took this decision according to rightness and considerateness in your respect. [4-18-60]

VERSE 61

दण्ड्ये यः पातयेत् दण्डम् दण्ड्यो यः च अपि दण्ड्यते
कार्य कारण सिद्धार्थौ उभौ तौ न अवसीदतः

daṇḍye yaḥ pātayet daṇḍam daṇḍyo yaḥ ca api daṇḍyate
kārya kāraṇa siddhārthau ubhau tau na avasīdataḥ

SYNONYMS

yaḥ: he who | daṇḍye: regarding the punishable one | daṇḍam pātayet = puniśment, let falls: imposes | yaḥ ca api: he, who is, even | daṇḍyaḥ: is punishable | daṇḍyate: gets punished | kārya kāraṇa siddha arthau: effect, cause, accomplished, with means | tau ubhau: those, two | na ava sīdataḥ = vill not, sink dovn: doomed, get condemned. |

TRANSLATION

"He who administers punishment to the punishable, and he who is punishable and gets punished, both of them will achieve the results of cause and effect, where punishment is the effect from the cause of wrongdoing, and they both thereby will not be condemned. [4-18-61]

VERSE 62

तत् भवान् दण्ड सम्योगात् अस्मात् विगत कल्मषः
गतः स्वाम् प्रकृतिम् धर्म्याम् धर्म दिष्टेन वर्त्मना

tat bhavān daṇḍa samyogāt asmāt vigata kalmaṣaḥ
gataḥ svām prakṛtim dharmyām dharma diṣṭena vartmanā

SYNONYMS

tat: thereby | bhavān: you are | asmāt daṇḍa sam yogāt = vith this, puniśment, by linkage: by virtue of | vi gata kalmaṣaḥ: [you are] completely, divested, of blemish | dharma diṣṭena vartmanā = by rightness, given, course: as contained in the scriptures of rightness | dharmyām: agreeable to righteousness | svām prakṛtim gataḥ = your ovn, nature, you got into: obtained. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereby, by virtue of the punishment you are completely divested of your blemish, and as contained in the scriptures on rightness you attained your true nature, that which is agreeable to rightness. [4-18-62]

VERSE 63

त्यज शोकम् च मोहम् च भयम् च हृदये स्थितम्
त्वया विधानम् हर्यग्र्य न शक्यम् अतिवर्तितुम्

tyaja śokam ca moham ca bhayam ca hṛdaye sthitam
tvayā vidhānam haryagrya na śakyam ativartitum

SYNONYMS

hari agrya: oh, monkeys, supreme of | hṛdaye sthitam: in heart, abiding | śokam ca moham ca bhayam ca: distress, desire, dread, also | tyaja: you discard | tvayā: by you | vidhānam = system: destiny | ati vartitum = to over, step: to transcend | na śakyam: not, possible. |

TRANSLATION

"Let distress, desire and even dread that abide in your heart be discarded, oh, monkey's supreme, you cannot possibly transcend destiny. [4-18-63]

VERSE 64

यथा त्वयि अंगदो नित्यम् वर्तते वानरेश्वरः
तथा वर्तते सुग्रीवो मयि च अपि न संशयः

yathā tvayi aṃgado nityam vartate vānareśvaraḥ
tathā vartate sugrīvo mayi ca api na saṃśayaḥ

SYNONYMS

vānara īśvaraḥ: oh, vanara-s, lord | angadaḥ tvayi yathā vartate: Angada, with you, as has been, conducting himself | sugrīve: with Sugreeva | mayi ca api: me, even with | tathā nityam varteta: likewise, always, he will conduct himself | na samśayaḥ: no, doubt. |

TRANSLATION

"As Angada has always been conducting himself with you, thus he will conduct himself with Sugreeva and also even with me, without doubt." Thus Rama spoke to Vali. [4-18-64]

VERSE 65

स तस्य वाक्यम् मधुरम् महात्मनः
समाहितम् धर्म पथानुवर्तिनः
निशम्य रामस्य रणावमर्दिनो
वचः सुयुक्तम् निजगाद वानरः

sa tasya vākyam madhuram mahātmanaḥ
samāhitam dharma pathānuvartinaḥ
niśamya rāmasya raṇāvamardino
vacaḥ suyuktam nijagāda vānaraḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ vānaraḥ = he, that vanara: Vali | mahātmanaḥ: of great-souled Rama | dharma patha anuvartinaḥ: in righteousness, path, one who treads | raṇa ava mardinaḥ: in war, absolute, crusher [of enemy] | tasya rāmasya: his, of that Rama | madhuram: agreeable | samāhitam: assertive | vākyam niśamya: sentence, on listening | su yuktam vacaḥ nijagāda: well, disposed, words, [Vali] spoke. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing the agreeable and assertive words of that great-souled Rama, who is the treader on the path of rightness and an absolute crusher of enemies in war, Vali, the vanara, spoke these well-disposed words to Rama. [4-18-65]

VERSE 66

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे अष्टदशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe aṣṭadaśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

vibho: oh, lord | mahendra upama: oh, one similar to, Indra | bhīma vikrama: oh, tremendously, braving one | nareśvara: oh, people's lord | śara abhi taptena: by arrow, verily, sweltered | vi cetasā = vithout, vitality [of mind: unable to think, imbecile] | a jānatā: un, knowingly | mayā tvam yat pra dūṣitāḥ: by me, you are, which, muchly, one who is blamed | me idam kṣama: my [blaming,] this, you excuse | tvam prasāditaḥ: you are, appeased. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, lord, oh, tremendously braving one, oh, Rama, the lord of people, I blamed you when your arrow sweltered and rendered me imbecile, thus I blamed you unthinkingly for which I may please be pardoned, I appease you for the same. [4-18-66]

PURPORT

There are three kinds of giving. Grudge giving, duty giving, and thanksgiving. Grudge giving says ' I have to...' Duty giving says " I ought to...' Thanksgiving says " I want to...' The first comes from constraint; the second from a sense of obligation; the third from a full heart. This being the saying by an unknown, Vali gave torture to Sugreeva because he had to, Rama gave punishment to Vali because he ought to, and Sugreeva given himself to Rama, because he wanted to. Rama befriends Sugreeva only to take his help in searching Seetha, because Danu, the demon, after release from his curse advises Rama to do so. The killing of Vali is incidental to that befriending. To take help of Sugreeva, he is to be uplifted from his nasty state, and the abuser of tradition Vali is to be resolved. -diinasya sugreevasya rakShanam raamasya dharmaH | raaj~naa diina jana rakShnasya parama dharmatvaat | vastuaH tu mukhya dharmaanusaareNa eva vaali hananam | -- dharmaakuutam In aananda raamayana, saara kaanDa another treatise of Ramayana, tells that Rama not only accords salvation to Vali but accords a boon to become a tribal in Krishna's incarnation, and kill Krishna at the end, as retaliation to the present killing. yadi api tvam duraacaaro nihato asi raNe mayaa | tathaa api bhilla ruupeNa dvaapara ante anghri mama | bhitvaa prabhaase baaNena puurva vaireNa vaanara But bhagavata puraaNa or padma puraaNa do not quote this sort of sanction by Rama. It is said in Anada Ramayana only to extol Rama's kind-heartedness.