Chapter CXIII: Section XXXVIII

Having accepted all those presents, (Sugriva), after soothing the monkeys, dismissed them. Having dismissed the thousands of apes, who had performed their task, he deemed himself as well as the mighty Raghava as having secured success. Then Lakshmana in sweet words spoke unto the exceedingly strong chief of monkeys--Sugriva-- gladdening him, "If it please thee, O placid one, I will go out of Kishkindha." Hearing Lakshmana's soft speech, Sugriva, highly delighted, said, "Be it so. Let us go. I abide by thy behest." Having said this unto Lakshmana of auspicious marks, Sugriva dismissed the women with Tara at their head. Then Sugriva in a loud voice summoned the foremost monkeys, saying, "Come (hither)." Hearing his words, those monkeys that could present themselves before the females, did so with joined hands. To them, who had presented themselves, said the king, of splendour resembling that of the Sun, "Do, ye monkeys, bring hither a car." bearing his words, monkeys uniting vigor with celerity, brought a car lovely to behold. Seeing the car brought up, the lord of monkeys said unto Sumitra's son, "O Lakshmana, ascend speedily." Having said this, Sugriva in company with Lakshmana swiftly ascended the golden car resembling the sun, yoked with numerous steeds. With a pale umbrella held over his head, and white chowris waving around, with conchs and trumpets blowing, eulogized by bards, Sugriva marched out, having obtained supreme regal auspiciousness. And surrounded by hundreds of high-spirited apes and armed people, he proceeded whither Rama was staying.-- And having arrived at the excellent spot which was the home of Rama, that highly energetic one alighted from the car along with Lakshmana. And having come to Rama, Sugriva (stood) folding his hands. And when Sugriva had folded his hands, the monkeys also did so. And beholding the mighty host of the monkeys resembling a tank filled with lotus buds, Rama was well-pleased with Sugriva. And raising up the monkey-king who had bent his head at Rama's feet, Raghava embraced him from love and regard. Having embraced Sugriva, that righteous one said unto him, "Be seated." And seeing Sugriva seated on the ground, Rama said, "He, O best of monkeys, is a king who, O hero, in season follows righteousness, pleasure and profit, always dividing the same (among all.) He that, renouncing righteousness and the good, devotes himself to pleasure solely, is like a man that falling asleep on the top of a tree, wakes when he hath fallen down. That king is verily virtuous that, engaged in uprooting foes and advancing friends, attends to all the three ends. O destroyer of foes, the time is come for exertion: do thou, O lord of monkeys, bethink thyself along with thy monkey ministers." Thus addressed, Sugriva said unto Rama, "O mighty-armed one, my lost luck, and repute, and the entire monkey kingdom I have received back through thy gift, owing to thine and thy brother's grace, thou foremost of victors. He that, having received a good office, doth not requite it, reapeth obloquy among persons. These hundreds of prime monkeys. O destroyer of enemies, have come here, bringing with them all the monkeys of the world. O Raghava, bears and monkeys, heroic Golangulas--acquainted with woods and forests and strongholds, and of terrible shapes--and monkeys who are the sons of deities, wearing forms at will--stay on the way, O Raghava, surrounded by their own armies. And, O hero, O repressor of foes, monkeys surrounded by hundreds, and hundred thousands, and _kotis_, and _ayutas_, and _sankus_,[132] and _arvudas_, and hundreds of _arvudas_, and _madhyas_, and _antyas_, wait (here). And _samudras_, and _parardhas_ of monkeys--leaders of herds--inhabiting Meru and Vindhya, resembling clouds or hills, and in might resembling the great India, are on their way unto thee, O king. They will join thee for battling the fiend in the field; and, slaying Ravana in fight, shall bring Mithila's daughter."

Thereat the puissant son of the Earth's lord, witnessing the preparations made by the heroic monkey, remaining under his command, appeared like a blown blue lotus.

[132] A _Sanku_ is a thousand _Arvudas_; a _Madhya_ is an _Arvuda_ ten
times; an _Antya_ is a _Madhya_ ten times; a _Samudra_ is a
_Madhya_ twenty times; and a _Parardha_, a _Samudra_ thirty
times.--T.