Shloka 4.10.4

सुग्रीवस्य वैरानुकथनम् (Sugriva’s Account of Enmity and Appeal to Rama)

Devanagari script

आर्तश्चाथ बिलद्वारि स्थितस्संवत्सरं नृप।दृष्ट्वाऽहं शोणितं द्वारि बिलाच्चापि समुत्थितम्।।शोकसंविग्नहृदयो भृशं व्याकुलितेन्द्रियः।अपिधाय बिलद्वारं शैलशृङ्गेण तत्तथा।।तस्माद्देशादपाक्रम्य किष्किन्धां प्राविशं पुनः।

Transliteration

ārtaś cātha biladvāri sthitaḥ saṃvatsaraṃ nṛpa | dṛṣṭvā'haṃ śoṇitaṃ dvāri bilāc cāpi samutthitam || śokasaṃvignahṛdayo bhṛśaṃ vyākulitendriyaḥ | apidhāya biladvāraṃ śailaśṛṅgeṇa tattathā || tasmād deśād apākramya kiṣkindhāṃ prāviśaṃ punaḥ |

Translation

“O King, distressed, I waited at the cave’s entrance for a full year. Then, seeing blood welling out from the cave and spreading at the doorway, my heart sank in grief and my senses were thrown into confusion. I sealed the cave-mouth with a mountain-peak-like rock and, withdrawing from that place, returned again to Kiṣkindhā.”

Context

'O king! I waited at the entrance of the cave for a year. As you did not come out, I felt distressed and my heart sank in great sorrow seeing blood flowing out of the cave. With my senses fused I returned to Kishkinda, closing the entrance with a rock(lest the demon should come out).

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Sugrīva
• Kiṣkindhā
• cave (bila)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is shown as acting under fear and uncertainty while still trying to protect the kingdom—Sugrīva portrays his return as a duty-driven decision, not betrayal.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva explains that he waited a year at a cave entrance, saw blood emerge, sealed the cave, and returned to Kiṣkindhā—events that later fuel Vāli’s suspicion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical responsibility under crisis—choosing protective action when direct knowledge is unavailable.