The Rainy Season and Sugriva's Forgotten Promise

Sugriva said to Ram, "Come to Kishkindha and crown me with your own hands." Ram declined. "Friend, my father's command is that for fourteen years I enter no village or city. You go. Let Sugriva be king and Angada heir." So it was done.

Then Ram looked at the sky. "This is the month of Shravana. For the four months of rain an army cannot march and rivers cannot be crossed. You have suffered a great deal; now live at home in comfort. When Kartika comes, prepare for the destruction of Ravana."

Four months in a cave

Ram and Lakshmana made their home in a cave on Mount Prasravana. The clouds gathered. Ram would watch them and say, "Lakshmana, look, the sky is like a sick man pale with grief. In the lap of the clouds the lightning writhes like Vaidehi in the lap of Ravana. Sugriva has his wife and his kingdom again. My wife is taken, my kingdom is taken, and I am crumbling slowly like a river bank."

Each time Lakshmana said the same thing: "Brother, nothing is achieved by grief. Wait for the autumn."

Autumn

The clouds cleared. The sky was washed blue. The rivers shrank, the roads dried and the swans returned. But no message came from Kishkindha.

After years of hardship Sugriva had found pleasure and sunk into it. He had left the government to his ministers and spent day and night in the women's apartments. Only Hanuman kept count of time. He said to Sugriva in private, "King, you have your kingdom and your fame. What remains is your friend's work. One who does a friend's work after its time has passed does nothing, however great the deed. Ram will not ask; he is waiting for you. Act before he has to speak."

Sugriva started. He ordered his general Nila to summon the vanaras of every quarter within fifteen days. But he himself went back into the palace.

Lakshmana's anger

Ram's patience broke. "Lakshmana, these four months have been like a hundred years. Sugriva has forgotten me now that his own work is done. Go and tell him: the road by which Vali went is not closed. Hold to your word."

Lakshmana took his bow and went, breathing hard with anger. Ram called after him, "He is our friend. Do not be harsh. Reason with him first."

At the gate of Kishkindha the vanaras saw him and scattered in fear. Angada, trembling, carried the news inside. Lakshmana walked right into the palace. There, hearing anklets and singing, he stopped in embarrassment and twanged his bowstring. At that sound Sugriva's stupor left him.

Sugriva said to Tara, "You go first. Great men are not harsh before women." Tara spoke with great good sense. "Prince, this is not a time for anger. Sugriva has known much sorrow, and so in happiness he lost count of time. He is not ungrateful. He has already given orders to summon the army. Vanaras and bears in their millions are on the way."

Lakshmana went in and spoke plainly to Sugriva: "One who takes help from a friend and does not repay it is the lowest of all." Sugriva tore the garland from his own neck and folded his hands. "All that I have, I have by Ram's grace. I was at fault. A servant's fault is forgiven." Lakshmana's anger faded. "With a friend like you my brother is not alone. Forget my harsh words."

Sugriva went to Ram in a palanquin. Behind him rose a cloud of dust that hid the sun: the vanaras and bears of the Himalaya, the Vindhya, the Malaya hills and the seashore were coming. When Sugriva bowed at his feet, Ram lifted him and embraced him, and spoke not one word of reproach.