66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

And now Tara quietly mentioned, “Some persons who are
interested in our welfare have told me of a rumour that one
Rama has moved into these parts, and he is Sugreeva’s ally.
Rama bears an invincible bow, and it has given new hope to
Sugreeva.”
“Oh, foolish creature, you are betraying a woman’s
intelligence and a gossiping tongue. You are uttering a
blasphemy for which I would have killed anyone else. But I
spare you. You’ve committed a grievous error of judgement
and speech. I know about Rama—more than you do. I have
my own sources of knowledge about what goes on in the
world outside. I have heard of Rama as being one
possessing integrity and a sense of justice; one who could
never take a wrong step. How could you ever imagine that
such a person would ever take sides in a quarrel between
brothers? Do you know that he renounced his right to the
throne and undertook the penance of a forest life, all
because he wished to see his father’s ancient promises
fulfilled? Instead of uttering his name reverently, how can you
slander him? Even if all the worlds oppose him, he needs no
strength other than his own “Kodanda,” his great bow. Would
he count on the support of a miserable monkey like
Sugreeva—even if you assume that he expects to rescue his
wife through Sugreeva’s help? One who has gifted away his
birthright to a younger brother, would he ever employ his
prowess to take sides in a family quarrel among strangers?
Stay here, my beloved, and don’t move; within the twinkling