Rāmāyana |Kiṣkindha Kaṇḍa| Chapter 31

31. Lakṣmaṇa Reaches Kiṣkindha

[Lakṣmaṇa reaches Kiṣkindha burning with anger and sends word to Sugrīva. Being drunk and engaged in making love to Tara, Sugrīva is not bothered. The monkeys are scared and two monkey ministers try to reason t out with Sugrīva.]

Looking at the lovelorn, pitiable indomitable hero and who was greatly grieving, the son of the king who was the younger brother of Rāma became extremely angry and told his elder brother. 31.1

"A monkey does not have good character, is not bothered about fruits of Karma and will not enjoy the wealth of the monkey kingdom and does not think about the future." 31.2

"He would be greatly attached to sensual pleasures and does not have love towards us who have helped him and Oh warrior, he wanted to see us killing his brother and I feel we should not have given the kingdom to a characterless person like him." 31.3

"I am not able to control my anger which is rising very fast and I would kill that liar Sugrīva and let the son of Vali along with other monkey lords go in search of Sītā." 31.4

"To that killer of enemies who told like this with anger as a prelude to war and who had bent himself for wielding the bow and arrow told Rāma told his opinion in conciliatory words. 31.5

"A person like you should not do a sin like that in this world for a valorous person capable of killing his anger is the best of men." 31.6

"Oh Lakṣmaṇa, since you are well behaved, you should not think like that. You should like earlier follow the path of love and friendship." 31.7

"You should give up using harsh words but talk in a soft conciliatory fashion to Sugrīva who has exceeded the limit imposed on time." 31.8

Told like this by his elder brother, right away that bull among men, the valorous Lakṣmaṇa, the killer of enemies entered the city. 31.9

That good hearted wise Lakṣmaṇa who was interested in doing good to his brother, who resembled the God of death at time of deluge, who was interested to retaliate, and who was like Mandāra Mountain, holding a bow which was similar to that of Indra and which resembled the mountain peak entered the home of the great monkey. 31.10-31.11

That brother of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa who was faithful and equal to Brihaspati [Jupiter] in wisdom thought over what he will ask and what reply he would give. But he was burning with anger due to the rising passion and anger of his elder brother and he entered like a storm in to that house." 31.12- 31.13

He went quickly and fell several Sāla, Tala and Aśvakarṇa trees on the way and also felled mountain peaks and many other trees, broke big stones under his feet and followed the single pathway wanting to complete his mission swiftly. 31.14-31.15

That tiger of the Ikshvāku clan saw that, the great city of monkeys located in between mountains was filled by a large army and was inaccessible. 31.16

The lips of Lakṣmaṇa quivered due to his great anger with Sugrīva and he saw the gates of Kiṣkindha guarded by huge soldiers who were fierce. 31.17

All those monkey chiefs who were like elephants seeing Lakṣmaṇa the bull among men picked up hundreds of mountain peaks and hundreds of fully grown trees as well as rocks. 31.18

When Lakṣmaṇa saw all those monkeys who were holding weapons, like the burning fire when abundant firewood is present his anger doubled. 31.19

Hundreds of those monkeys seeing the anger of Lakṣmaṇa, who looked like the god of death at final deluge, with limbs shaking in fear, ran away in different directions. 31.20

Those monkey lords entered the home of Sugrīva and told him about the arrival of Lakṣmaṇa as also his anger. 31.21

The bull among monkeys who was passionately engaged in love play with Tara, did not pay any attention to the words of the monkey warriors. 31.22

Those monkeys looking like a huge mountain, elephant and a huge cloud came out as instructed by the ministers creating horripilation. 31.23

The horrifying monkeys looking like and were having weapons of claws and teeth like tigers and were horrible to look at with deformed faces. 31.24

All those monkeys were of equal valour with some of them possessing strength of ten elephants, some that of hundred elephants and some possessing strength of thousand elephants. 31.25

The exceedingly angry Lakṣmaṇa saw that the entire placed was filled up with very strong monkeys armed with trees and were spread out and that Kiṣkindha was inaccessible. 31.26

Then all those monkeys of exceedingly great strength came out of the enclosure and stood there, revealing their appearance. 31.27

That sensitive warrior Lakṣmaṇa seeing the dereliction of duty of Sugrīva and the helplessness of his brother, once again became highly infuriated. 31.28

Taking a deep hot breath and with eyes turned red due to anger that tiger among men appeared like a raging fire. 31.29

With the iron nails placed on his arrow appearing like fangs, the bow appearing like a snake and with his lustre as the poison, Lakṣmaṇa looked like five hooded snake. 31.30

The greatly worried Angada approached him who was burning like the fire of death and angry like the king of snakes with fear and great worry. 31.31

That very famous Lakṣmaṇa with blood red eyes sent message through Angada, "Oh Lad go and inform Sugrīva that I have come." 31.32

"Oh lad who is the subduer of your enemies, you may tell Sugrīva that, "The younger brother of Rāma, who is burning with grief has come to see you. He is waiting for you at the door greatly worried by the grief of his brother. If you like you can please do his work ", and having spoken like this you please come back." 31.33-31.34

Hearing the words of Lakṣmaṇa, Angada became very sad and he went near to his father and told him, "The son of Sumitrā has come." 31.35

Angada on hearing the words of Lakṣmaṇa, with a face turned pale and with an agitated mind prostrated first to the king and then offered salutations to the feet of Ruma. 31.36

The highly powerful Angada held the feet of his father and then again held the feet of his mother, then pressing the feet of Ruma revealed the message to him. 31.37

That monkey under the influence of sleep and drinks did not come back to his senses as he was greatly intoxicated and was influenced by the lord of love. 31.38

The monkeys seeing the angry Lakṣmaṇa, with a heart full of great fear made sounds like "Kila, kila" so as to please Lakṣmaṇa. 31.39

Seeing him advance like a great flood and hearing his voice which was like a thunderbolt, they all went near Sugrīva and roared like a lion, equalling his voice. 31.40

By that very great sound the monkey was awakened and he was having red eyes due to intoxication and all his ornaments were in disarray. 31.41

After listening to the words of Angada, two ministers called Plakṣa and Prabhava both of whom had the permission to go to see the wives of the king and who were in charge of wealth and Dharma went along with Angada, and reported to Sugrīva the arrival of Lakṣmaṇa and spoke about several aspects. 31.42-31.43

By speaking conciliatory words they pleased Sugrīva and sat near him who was like Indra the lord of Maruts. 31.44

"The great brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa are votaries of truth though they merited their kingdom; they have given it up and come here extending friendship to you." 31.45

"One of them Lakṣmaṇa having a bow in his hand is standing near our gate and the monkeys who are trembling with fear have run away." 31.46

"Lakṣmaṇa who is the brother of Rāma is one who steers the chariot of the needed action of Rāma, and he has reached here as per the order of Rāma." 31.47

"Oh sinless king, Lakṣmaṇa has sent dear Angada, who is the son of Tara to your presence." 31.48

"Oh lord of monkeys, that valorous man is standing near our gate with eyes filled with anger, as if he wants to burn the monkeys with his eyes." 31.49

"Oh king, you go quickly along with your son and relatives and salute him, so that the results of his anger can be averted." 31.50

"Oh king, with a steady mind complete the task of Rāma and honour your agreement with him and keep up your promise." 31.51

This is the end of Thirty First Sarga of Kiṣkindha Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.