Shloka 17
सुग्रीवस्य वैरानुकथनम्
Sugriva’s Account of Enmity and Appeal to Rama
तं प्रविष्टं विदित्वा सुघोरं सुमहद्बिलम्।अयमुक्तोऽथ मे भ्राता मया तु क्रूरदर्शनः।।
taṃ praviṣṭaṃ viditvā sughoraṃ sumahad-bilam | ayam ukto ’tha me bhrātā mayā tu krūra-darśanaḥ ||
Als ich erkannte, dass der schreckliche Feind in die ungeheure, furchterregende Höhle eingedrungen war, wandte ich mich an meinen Bruder, von grimmigem Antlitz, mit diesen Worten.
'When I saw the dreadful demon entering the great cave, I instructed this cruel brother of mine:
FAQs
The verse frames a kṣatriya-like duty of confronting danger directly: recognizing a threat and taking responsibility rather than withdrawing, while also communicating clearly to one’s kin.
Vāli sees the dreadful being enter a huge cave and prepares to go in; before entering, he begins instructing Sugrīva.
Courage and decisiveness—Vāli does not hesitate after identifying the danger, and he takes charge of the response.