सुग्रीवलक्ष्मणयोः प्रसादः

Addressed by Tārā in such modest words, in keeping with dharma, the son of Sumitrā, gentle by nature, accepted what she said. Once her words had been accepted, the lord of the monkey hosts threw off his great fear of Lakṣmaṇa as one throws off a wet garment. The image is subtle: a wet cloth clings to the body like a weight, and once cast off it brings instant relief, and so it was with his fear. Then Sugrīva, lord of the monkeys, tore from his neck the great, many-stranded, brilliant garland and became sober. Tearing off the garland is symbolic: by casting away the token of pleasure he begins to wake to his duty, and "sober" is the one word that carries the heart of the sarga. Then the best of all monkeys, wishing to gladden Lakṣmaṇa of terrible might, spoke to him humbly. In this sarga the story turns: anger gives way to goodwill, intoxication to good sense, fear to friendship. Calling Lakṣmaṇa "gentle by nature" seems to clash with his wrath in the last sarga, yet it shows his true temper: the anger was passing, the gentleness his own.

"My fortune, my fame and the lasting kingdom of the monkeys had all been lost," said Sugrīva, "and it is by Rāma's favour, son of Sumitrā, that I have won them back. Who could repay even a part of such valour as that godlike man's, famed for his own deeds, prince?" Asked as a question, this settles that repayment is impossible, and in calling Rāma godlike Sugrīva sets him above the merely human, as happens again and again in the sargas ahead. "The righteous Rāghava will win back Sītā and kill Rāvaṇa by his own might; I shall be only his helper. What help does he need, whose single arrow split seven great trees, a mountain and the earth itself? Lakṣmaṇa, when the earth and its mountains trembled at the mere sound of his drawing the bow, what need has he of allies? Still, bull among men, I will follow behind the lord of men as he marches with his vanguard to kill his enemy Rāvaṇa." Piercing the seven trees, splitting the hill and shaking the earth with the sound of his bow are deeds told in earlier sargas, recalled here to show that Rāma needs no one; yet Sugrīva promises to follow him, for even knowing his help is not needed he will not give up service, and that is the mark of devotion. "If out of trust or affection I have overstepped in anything, it should be forgiven me, your servant; there is no servant who never offends." His speech has three parts, acknowledgment of the debt, confession of his own smallness and a pledge of service; describing Rāma's greatness he makes his own help seem slight, the height of humility. At the end, placing himself as a servant, he asks forgiveness and lightens his fault by the common truth that no one is without offence.

Lakṣmaṇa was pleased by these words of the great-souled Sugrīva, and spoke to him with affection. "In every way, lord of the monkeys, my brother has a protector in you, above all in one so modest"; Rāma is no longer alone, and humility is valued here above every other virtue. "With such power as yours, Sugrīva, and such integrity, you deserve to enjoy the matchless glory of the monkey kingdom"; his right to the kingdom, once in doubt, is now confirmed. "With you as his ally, Sugrīva, the mighty Rāma will soon kill his enemies in battle; of that there is no doubt." "Soon" restores their hope. "Your words are fitting and right, Sugrīva, coming from one who knows dharma, who is grateful and never turns back in battle. Who else, having the power and knowing his own faults, would speak like this, except my elder brother and you, best of monkeys? In valour and in strength you are Rāma's equal, bull among monkeys; the gods themselves have given him such an ally for years to come." Lakṣmaṇa's answer is praise: the one who had called him base and ungrateful now calls him knower of dharma and grateful, and the contradiction proves that his anger was passing. Comparing Sugrīva with his own elder brother puts him on a level with Rāma, the highest honour friendship can give, and an ally given by the gods makes their bond the work of heaven.

"But come out from here with me at once, hero," said Lakṣmaṇa, "and comfort your friend, who is stricken with grief at the loss of his wife. And forgive me, my friend, for the harsh words I spoke to you after hearing Rāma speak in his sorrow." At the end it is Lakṣmaṇa who asks forgiveness: he who had rebuked Sugrīva now seals the friendship, and calling him "friend" marks the end of the quarrel and the start of the work ahead. His words are all commands, come out, comfort, forgive, yet here they are the commands of a request.