मैत्रीप्रतिज्ञा-वैरकारणप्रश्नः
Friendship Vow and Inquiry into the Cause of Enmity
हृष्टः कथय विस्रब्धो यावदारोप्यते धनुः।सृष्टश्च हि मया बाणो निरस्तश्च रिपुस्तव।।
hṛṣṭaḥ kathaya visrabdho yāvad āropyate dhanuḥ |
sṛṣṭaś ca hi mayā bāṇo nirastaś ca ripus tava ||
Sprich frei und voller Vertrauen, ja mit Freude, während ich meinen Bogen spanne; denn sobald ich den Pfeil entsende, wird dein Feind gewiss niedergeworfen.
When the great Rama said this, Sugriva with all the four monkeys felt immeasurably glad.
Dharma here is the duty to protect an ally: Rāma’s assurance ties righteous force to truthful counsel—first speak openly, then action follows.
Rāma urges Sugrīva to narrate events without fear, promising swift martial support.
Courage and reliability—Rāma presents himself as a dependable protector once truth is known.