September 21 - sargas 35 and 36 of Kishkindha Kanda.
Two short sargas that show how a modicum of wisdom, timely, friendly, and considerate speech, as well as due apology, can set right a difficult situation and avoid permanent damage to relationships.
***
On hearing the piercing words of anger and warning by Lakshmana, Tara steps forward. She says,
नैव लक्ष्मण वक्तव्यो नायं परुषमर्हति ।
हरीणामीश्वरः श्रोतुं तव वक्त्राद् विशेषतः ॥
नैवाकृतज्ञः सुग्रीवो न शठो नापि दारुणः ।
नैवानृतकथो वीर न जिह्मश्च कपीश्वरः ॥
"Lakshmana, such words should not be spoken. Sugriva, the lord of all vanaras, should not hear such words from especially you.
"Oh hero, Lakshmana, Sugriva, the lord of vanaras, is neither ungrateful, nor deceitful, nor evil, nor a liar, nor a crooked one to be thus addressed."
Tara explains how Sugriva won his kingdom and comfort entirely owing to Sri Rama's great act. Before that, he had been wandering for long in the mountains without his people in utter misery. He had come into such a great life with Ruma and Tara and all the creature comforts that he had gone overboard in indulging in pleasures. But such is life.
स हि प्राप्तं न जानीते कालं कालविदां वरः ।
विश्वामित्रो महातेजाः किं पुनर्यः पृथग्जनः ॥
देहधर्मगतस्यास्य परिश्रान्तस्य लक्ष्मण ।
अवित्रप्तस्य कामेषु रामः क्षन्तुमिहार्हति ॥
"You know how sage Vishwamitra lost a whole ten years in the company of a woman and did not realize the terrible waste of his tapas merits or those years. He was supreme among those who know the value of time, and was full of ascetic radiance. And yet he succumbed. What then of a common person like Sugriva? Sugriva has succumbed to the new-found pleasures of the flesh after his long years of adversity. That is why he is not satisfied yet. Under these circumstances, Sri Rama should forgive Sugriva magnanimously."
Tara adds that such uncontrolled anger was unbecoming of a noble hero like Lakshmana and therefore he should cool down and be kind to Sugriva.
Tara goes on to explain that according to her, Sugriva's noble nature was such that he would readily sacrifice Ruma, Tara, and Angada along with his entire kingdom and its wealth if it served the cause of Sri Rama. Sugriva was keen to see Sita reunited with Sri Rama just like the star Rohini with her husband the moon, Chandra.
And consider this. शतकोटिसहस्राणि लङ्कायां किल राक्षसाम् Lanka was guarded by millions of rakshasas milling around Ravana. Therefore to kill Ravana and retrieve Sita was no mean task. This was made clear even by Vali before dying, as Tara had been told later.
Therefore Sugriva has sent out orders for all the great vanara and bear warriors to assemble within a very short time. With such a large army of great warriors, and with Sugriva's leadership, a proper effort was imminent to find and bring back Sita. Therefore Lakshmana should give up his anger.
Tara points out how the red-eyed Lakshmana had struck terror in all the vanaras and vanara women in the palace.
***
Seeing Lakshmana placated by Tara's words, Sugriva, who had sobered down, first tore off the splendid necklace around his own neck and came to Lakshmana, in a gesture of sincere apology.
"Laksmana, all that I had lost - my kingdom, my people, my freedom and honour - getting all that back I owe to Sri Rama's benevolence. How can I ever think of repaying him adequately? It is impossible. Indeed, it will be he who will kill Ravana and retrieve Sita, of course with some help from me and the vanara army."
Sugriva humbly submits that he should be pardoned for any transgressions and omissions.
***
Lakshamana has completely cooled down by now and speaks pleasantly.
यस्ते प्रभावः सुग्रीव यच्च ते शौचमीदृशम् ।
अर्हस्त्वं कपिराज्यस्य श्रियं भोक्तुमनुत्तमम् ॥
सहायेन च सुग्रीव त्वया रामः प्रतापवान् ।
वधिष्यति रणे शत्रूनचिरान्नत्र संशयः ॥
कं तु शीघ्रमितो वीर निष्क्रम त्वं मया सह ।
सान्त्वयस्व वयस्यं च भार्याहरणदुःखितम् ॥
"Oh Sugriva, with your incomparable valour, and now as I see this humility and readiness to accept and correct mistakes, I think you surely deserve to rule the vanara kingdom and enjoy its supreme prosperity for long.
"Indeed, with your assistance, the mighty Sri Rama will soon kill the rakshasas. There is no doubt about it at all.
"So, now, you please come at once with me to go and meet Sri Rama. Please console him as he is deeply distressed over losing his beloved wife Sita."
Lakshmana finally adds,
मया त्वं परुषाण्युक्तस्तत् क्षमस्व सखे मम
"And my friend, kindly forgive me for those very harsh words that I spoke to you."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
