Shloka 4.35.3

तारोपदेशः — Tara’s Counsel to Lakshmana (Restraint, Time, and Mobilization)

Devanagari script

नैवाकृतज्ञस्सुग्रीवो न शठो नापि दारुणः।नैवानृतकथो वीर न जिह्मश्च कपीश्वरः।।।।

Transliteration

naivākṛtajñaḥ sugrīvo na śaṭho nāpi dāruṇaḥ | naivānṛta-katho vīra na jihmaś ca kapīśvaraḥ ||

Translation

O hero, Sugrīva, lord of the monkeys, is not ungrateful, not deceitful, nor cruel; he neither speaks falsehood nor is crooked in nature.

Context

'O hero! Sugriva, king of monkeys, is not ungrateful or deceitful, He is neither crooked nor false.

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma includes fairness in judgment: do not condemn a person as immoral (untrue, ungrateful, crooked) without understanding circumstances.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā defends Sugrīva’s character before Lakṣmaṇa, who is angered by Sugrīva’s delay in assisting Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s essential integrity (gratitude and truthfulness), as asserted by Tārā, alongside Tārā’s balanced discernment.