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SETUBANDHA
.. 21 24. "The everflowing currents of rivers, even though deep as the sea, can be guided backwards. But honest persons cannot be induced to turn back without having achieved their task. . 25. 'How could it be said that it was beyond the power of the apes to traverse the ocean that is accustomed to humiliation, traversed as it is by the sun, and consumed by the fire of the epoch of universal ruin, time and again?
26. "Think of this: for those who possess a renown worthy of their family tradition, which of the two evils—the ocean and disgrace-is harder to overcome?17
27. 'Yea, let not the moon, an autumnal cloud as it were, after overcoming ye, strong as mountains, release on Rāma its thunder, the lunar rays, destructive of happiness.18
28. 'Even an enemy, served with humility, becomes kinder than a kinsman; let alone Rāma, a disinterested benign friend, who hath done good to us. 19
29. "Verily my royal fortune, like a new-grown creeper, is still in bud, and doth not bear fruit, because your martial ardour, like the right season, is slow to manifest itself.20
30. 'How long will Rāma's patience, thus worn out, last without leaving him altogether? Doth not the Beauty born of the day lotus leave it at night?21
31. 'Indecision about an undertaking doth not abide long in an able person that hath illumined the entire earth (with his glory), and extended his power over all living beings; even as the faint light of early dawn doth not linger in the sun.22
17. i.e., it will be easier for them to cross the sea than to bear the disgrace resulting from their failure to do so.
18. The rays of the moon supposed to be unbearable to virahins are represented as thunder, while the moon is fancied as a white cloud of the autumn with its rumblings of thunder. The idea is, delay in the conquest of Lanka and the recovery of Sită will add to the sufferings of Rāma as well as themselves, separated from their wives, and so virahins like Räma.
19. Trans. takes the first handhava in the sense of 'kinsman'. Cf. 11.55
20. Sugriva, recently installed on the throne by Rāma, does not feel secure until he has requited his obligations to the latter.
21. The day lotus closes at night.
22. Sugriva asks his followers not to be discouraged by Rāma's indecision about what should be done to cross over to Lankā.
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