Shloka 17
किष्किन्धाकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः — सुग्रीवस्य भय-त्यागः, कृतज्ञता, तथा लक्ष्मणेन सान्त्वन-प्रेरणा
Sugriva’s Reassurance and Lakshmana’s Counsel
दोषज्ञस्सति सामर्थ्ये कोऽन्यो भाषितुमर्हति।वर्जयित्वा मम ज्येष्ठं त्वां च वानरसत्तम।।।।
doṣajñaḥ sati sāmarthye ko 'nyo bhāṣitum arhati | varjayitvā mama jyeṣṭhaṃ tvāṃ ca vānarasattama ||
O Bester der Affen, wenn man die Kraft besitzt, Fehler zu erkennen, wer sonst wäre würdig, so zu sprechen—außer meinem älteren Bruder und dir?
'You who are equal to Rama in valour and strength, will continue to be the gift of gods to us for long.
FAQs
Dharma includes restraint in judgment: even if one can see others’ faults, the righteous speak with humility and fairness rather than arrogance.
Lakṣmaṇa commends Sugrīva’s manner of speaking, elevating him alongside Rāma as uniquely fit to speak self-reflectively and responsibly.
Sugrīva’s humility and ethical speech—capacity for criticism tempered by self-awareness.