Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/433

Rh as mount Meru; such men are churls, upon whom it is useless to press friendship. To restrain from evil paths and to direct in the path of virtue; to publish all good qualities and conceal the bad; to give and take without any distrust of mind; to be always ready to assist with all one's power, and in time of misfortune to be a hundred times more affectionate than ever; such the seriptures declare to be the properties of a true friend. But one who speaks you fairly to your face, but behind your back is an enemy in the viciousness of his soul, whose mind, brother, is as tortuous as the movements of a snake, such a man is a bad friend, whom it is well to let alone. A dishonest servant, a miserly king, a false wife, and a treacherous friend, are four things as bad as the stake. Cease to distress yourself, friend; I will put forth all my strength to do your business for you." Said Sugríva: "Hearken, Raghubír; Báli is very strong and most resolute in battle," and he showed him Dundubhi's bones and the palm-trees. Without an effort, Raghubír tossed them away. At this exhibition of boundless strength the affection of the monkey king was increased and he made sure of killing Báli. Again and again he bowed his head at his feet, in the greatest delight, knowing him to be the Lord. Knowledge sprung up in his soul, and he spoke and said: "By my lord's. favour my mind is set at rest; I will abandon pleasure, fortune, home, grandeur and all, to do you service; for all these things are hindrances to faith in Ráma, as the saints declare who are devoted to the worship of your feet. All the friends and enemies, joys and sorrows of the world, are effects of delusion, and are not eternal realities. Báli is my greatest friend, by whose favour I have met you, O Ráma, destroyer of all sorrow; as when a man dreams that he has been fighting some one, and on waking and coming to his senses is ashamed of his illusion. Now, my lord, do me this favour that I may leave all and worship you, night and day." When Ráma heard the monkey's devout speech, he smiled and said, with his bow in his hand: "Whatever I have said is all true; my words, friend, cannot fail." O Garúr, Ráma, as the scriptures say, is the juggler who makes us all dance like so many monkeys. Sugriva then took Raghunáth away with him, who went with bow and arrows in hand. Afterwards he sent Sugríva on ahead,