Shloka 17
Sāvitrī-Upākhyāna: Dyumatsena’s Restoration and the Return to Kāmyaka
Conclusion
राजेन्द्र! वह सब कुछ पूरा-पूरा सुनकर नम्रतापूर्वक हाथ जोड़े हुए भार्या तथा सेवकोंसहित वानरराज सुग्रीवने नरश्रेष्ठ लक्ष्मणसे सहर्ष निवेदन किया-- ।। नास्मि लक्ष्मण दुर्मेधा नाकृतज्ञो न निर्घण: । श्रूयतां यः प्रयत्नो मे सीतापर्येषणे कृत:,“लक्ष्मण! मैं न तो दुर्बुद्धि हूँ, न अकृतज्ञ हूँ और न निर्दय ही हूँ। मैंने सीताकी खोजके लिये जो प्रयत्न किया है, उसे सुनिये
rājendra! tat sarvaṁ samyak śrutvā namratayā añjaliṁ kṛtvā bhāryā-sevakaiḥ saha vānara-rājaḥ sugrīvo nara-śreṣṭhaṁ lakṣmaṇaṁ harṣa-yuktaḥ pratyuvāca— na asmi lakṣmaṇa durmedhā na akṛtajño na nirghṛṇaḥ | śrūyatāṁ yaḥ prayatno me sītā-paryeṣaṇe kṛtaḥ ||
O king! Having heard everything in full, Sugrīva—the lord of the monkeys—stood with joined palms in humility, accompanied by his wife and attendants, and joyfully addressed Lakṣmaṇa, the best of men: “Lakṣmaṇa, I am neither foolish, nor ungrateful, nor cruel. Hear now what efforts I have undertaken in the search for Sītā.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical self-definition before action: Sugrīva insists he is not foolish, ungrateful, or cruel, implying that right conduct in alliances rests on gratitude (kṛtajñatā), compassion (ghṛṇā), and responsible effort (prayatna) toward a just cause.
Within Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration, Sugrīva respectfully approaches Lakṣmaṇa with folded hands, accompanied by his household and attendants, and prepares to report the concrete measures he has taken to search for Sītā, responding to expectations of help and loyalty.