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The rains are gone, and Rama tells Lakshmana that no news of Sita has been found. Sugriva too, he says, has forgotten him. He speaks of the arrow that killed Vali. Then he tells Lakshmana to bring friend Sugriva, showing him fear.
In the town Hanuman speaks to Sugriva, and the messengers go out to the troops. Lakshmana reaches the town with his bow strung. Angada comes, then Hanuman with Tara, and Sugriva bows his head at Lakshmana’s feet. At Rama’s feet Sugriva says that there is no fault in him, and Rama smiles. The troops of monkeys come from every quarter, and Parvati is told that whoever wants to count the army is a fool. Rama asks every monkey in it his welfare. The troops are told to go to every side, and good warriors to go south together. After them Hanuman bows his head, and Rama gives him the ring from his hand.
From Pravarshana to the town
The main figures in this episode
- Rama who, when the clear season comes, tells Lakshmana that no news has been found of Sita. He names the arrow with which he killed Vali, and tells his younger brother to bring Sugriva, showing him fear. When Sugriva speaks at his feet, he smiles and says that Sugriva is as dear to him as Bharata. He asks the welfare of every monkey in the army, and gives Hanuman the ring from his hand.
- Lakshmana who knows Rama angry and, stringing his bow, takes arrows in his hand. Rama tells him to bring Sugriva, showing him fear. Stringing his bow at the town, he says that, burning it, he will make it ash. He gives Angada the arm of safety, embraces Sugriva, and explains to him in many ways. When Sugriva comes where Rama is, he puts Lakshmana ahead.
- Sugriva the king of the monkeys, who, as Hanuman thinks in his heart, has forgotten Rama’s work. He feels supreme fear and tells Hanuman to send messengers to the troops. Hearing that Lakshmana is angry, he tells Hanuman to take Tara and persuade him. Then he bows his head at Lakshmana’s feet and comes where Rama is. There, with joined hands, he speaks at Rama’s feet, and Rama smiles. He tells the troops to go to every side and come within a month. He calls Angada, Nala, and Hanuman, and tells Nila, Angada, Hanuman, and Jambavan that all the good warriors are to go south together.
- Hanuman who thinks in his heart that Sugriva has forgotten Rama’s work. Going near, he bows his head at Sugriva’s feet and explains to him in all four ways. He calls the messengers and shows them fear, love, and policy. He goes with Tara to Lakshmana and describes Rama’s fair fame. He bows his head after them, and Rama touches his head, gives him the ring, and tells him to console Sita.
- Angada Vali’s son, who, seeing the town distraught, comes and, bowing his head at Lakshmana’s feet, makes entreaty. Lakshmana gives him the arm of safety. He goes with Sugriva to Rama. Later Sugriva calls him with Nala and Hanuman, and tells him and the others to go south.
- Tara whom Sugriva tells Hanuman to take with him to Lakshmana. She goes with him and says nothing.
- Shiva and Parvati Shiva, telling the story to Parvati, asks her a question. Later he tells her that he saw the monkey army, and that he is a fool who wants to count it.
The clear season, and no news of Sita
Rama said to Lakshmana, “The rains are gone and the clear season has come, and no news, dear one, of Sita has been found. If once, by any means, I could know the news, I would conquer even Time and bring her back within the fall of an eyelid. Wherever she may be, if she is alive, dear one, I will bring her back by effort. Sugriva too has forgotten me. He has gained kingdom, treasury, town, wife.”
The arrow that killed Vali
Rama went on. “With the arrow with which I killed Vali, with that arrow I would strike the fool tomorrow.”
Shiva, telling the story to Parvati, said, “Can he by whose grace pride and delusion fall away be angry even in a dream? The wise sages who have set their love on Rama’s feet know these deeds.” The commentary adds that it is lila alone.
Lakshmana knew Rama angry. Stringing his bow, he took arrows in his hand.
Rama explains to his younger brother
Then Rama explained to his younger brother. “Showing him fear, bring, dear one, friend Sugriva.” The commentary adds that there is no talk of killing him.
In the town, Hanuman goes to Sugriva
Here, in Kishkindha in the commentary’s reading, Hanuman thought in his heart that Sugriva had forgotten Rama’s work. Going near, he bowed his head at Sugriva’s feet. Telling him all four ways, he explained to him. The commentary names the four: conciliation, gifts, force, and division.
Hearing it, Sugriva felt supreme fear. “The things of sense have taken away my knowledge. Now, Hanuman, send throngs of messengers here and there to the troops of monkeys. Say that whoever does not come within a fortnight, his death will be by my hand.”
Then Hanuman called the messengers, and, paying them all much honor, he showed them fear, love, and policy. All went, bowing their heads at his feet.
A strung bow in the town
At this moment Lakshmana came to the town. Seeing his anger, the monkeys ran here and there.
Stringing his bow, he then said, “Burning the town, I will make it ash.” Seeing the town distraught, Angada then came.
Bowing his head at Lakshmana’s feet, Angada made entreaty. Lakshmana gave him the arm of safety. The commentary reads it as his arm raised, telling him not to fear.
Those who came between
Hearing with his ears that Lakshmana was angry, Sugriva said, very distressed with fear, “Listen, Hanuman. Taking Tara with you and making entreaty, persuade the prince.”
Going with Tara and bowing at Lakshmana’s feet, Hanuman described Rama’s fair fame. Making entreaty, they brought him into the palace. Washing his feet, they seated him on the couch. Then Sugriva bowed his head at Lakshmana’s feet, and, taking hold of his arm, Lakshmana embraced him.
In the commentary’s reading Sugriva spoke. “Master, there is no intoxicant at all like the things of sense. In a moment it works delusion in the minds of sages.” Hearing his humble words, Lakshmana was pleased and explained to him in many ways.
Hanuman told the whole story, how the throngs of messengers had gone.
Sugriva says the maya is exceedingly strong
Glad, Sugriva then set out with Angada and the other monkeys. Putting Lakshmana ahead, he came where Rama was.
Bowing his head at Rama’s feet, he said, with joined hands, “Master, there is no fault in me at all. Your maya, lord, is exceedingly strong. It falls away, Rama, if you show pity. In the power of the things of sense are gods, men, sages, master. I am a wretched beast, a monkey very lustful. He whom a woman’s eye-arrow has not struck, who stays awake in the dark night of terrible anger, who has not let the noose of greed bind his neck. That man is like you, Rama. This virtue does not come by practice. By your grace some one or other gains it.”
Then Rama spoke, smiling. “You are dear to me as Bharata is, brother. Now make that effort, setting your mind to it, by which news of Sita may be found.”
The army, and the fool who would count it
While talk went on in this way, the troops of monkeys came. Bands of monkeys of many colors were to be seen in every quarter.
“I saw the monkey army,” Parvati is told. “He is a fool who wants to count it.”
Coming, they bowed their heads at Rama’s feet, and, looking on his face, all found their master. The commentary reads their finding a master as being made fulfilled. There was not one such monkey in the army whose welfare Rama did not ask. For him this is nothing great. Rama is the form of the universe, pervading all.
Every side, and a month’s term
They stood here and there, having the order. Sugriva said to them all, explaining, “It is Rama’s work, and my request. Troops of monkeys, go to every side, and search for Sita, going there. Come within a month, brothers. Whoever, letting the term go by, comes without finding news, it will fall to me to have him killed.”
Hearing his words, all the monkeys went at once here and there. Then Sugriva called Angada, Nala, and Hanuman.
“Listen, Nila, Angada, Hanuman, and Jambavan, steady of mind and wise. All good warriors, go south together, and ask everyone for news of Sita. In mind, deed, and word think out that effort, and set Rama’s work in order. The sun is to be served with the back, fire with the breast, the master with every feeling, leaving deceit. Giving up maya, one is to serve the other world. All the griefs born of becoming end. This is the fruit of bearing a body, brothers. Rama is to be worshiped, letting go every desire. He is the knower of virtue, he the fortunate one, who is full of love for Rama’s feet.” Asking leave and bowing their heads at his feet, they set out, glad, remembering Rama.
The servant who bowed after the others
After them Hanuman bowed his head, and, knowing the work, Rama called him near. He touched Hanuman’s head with his hand, and gave him the ring from his hand, knowing him a servant.
Rama said, “Console Sita in many ways. Telling of strength and separation, come quickly.” The commentary reads the separation as love. Hanuman counted his birth fruitful and went, holding Rama in his heart.
Though Rama knew everything, he kept the policy of kings. The commentary adds that he was sending monkeys here and there to find Sita, to keep the bounds of policy.
All set out, searching the forests, rivers, ponds, hills, and caves. Their minds were lost in Rama’s work. Care for the body was forgotten.
When the searchers had gone
The clear season came, and no news of Sita had been found. Rama spoke of the arrow that had killed Vali, and a question was put to Parvati. Then he told Lakshmana to bring his friend, showing him fear.
In the town Hanuman spoke to Sugriva, and the messengers went out. Lakshmana came to the town, his bow strung. Angada made entreaty and was given the arm of safety. Hanuman went with Tara, and in the palace Lakshmana embraced Sugriva.
Glad, Sugriva set out and came where Rama was, with Lakshmana ahead, and he spoke at Rama’s feet. Rama, smiling, called Sugriva as dear to him as Bharata. The troops came, and Rama asked every monkey his welfare. Sugriva set the troops a month’s term, and good warriors were told to go south together. Hanuman bowed his head after them, and Rama touched his head and gave him the ring. Hanuman went with a word for Sita, and all set out searching, their care for the body forgotten.
The next episode opens as the searchers, wherever they meet a night-walker, take his life with one slap each.
The same story, elsewhere: Valmiki’s Ramayana, chapter 17: The Rains, Sugriva’s Delay, and the Quarters of the Search.
Source: the Gita Press edition of Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, Kishkindhakand, doha 18 to 23, read with Hanuman Prasad Poddar’s Hindi commentary.