Shloka 4.24.15
वालिवधोत्तरशोकः — Sugriva’s Remorse and Tara’s Lament after Vali’s Death
नार्हामि सम्मानमिमं प्रजानांन यौवराज्यं कुत एव राज्यम्।अधर्मयुक्तं कुलनाशयुक्तमेवंविधं राघव कर्म कृत्वा।।
pāpmānam indrasya mahī jalaṃ ca vṛkṣāś ca kāmaṃ jagṛhuḥ striyaś ca |
ko nāma pāpmānam imaṃ kṣameta śākhāmṛgasya pratipattum icchet ||
The earth, the waters, the trees, and the women willingly took upon themselves a share of Indra’s sin; but who would pardon this sin of a mere monkey, and who would even wish to accept it?
'O Rama! having acted in an unrighteous manner, which destroys the clan, I am not fit to accept the respect of people nor the status of a prince regent, what to speak of kingship?
Dharma recognizes that wrongdoing seeks expiation and forgiveness, yet forgiveness is not automatic; one must not presume pardon, especially when one lacks status or merit.
Sugrīva compares his guilt to Indra’s famous sin and laments that, unlike Indra, he has no cosmic agents to absorb or mitigate his wrongdoing.
Humility—Sugrīva refuses self-justification and underscores his lowliness (“a mere monkey”).