Shloka 4.46.21

पृथिवीमण्डलपरिज्ञानम् — Sugriva on Surveying the Earth’s Regions

Devanagari script

इदानीं मे स्मृतं राजन्यथा वाली हरीश्वरः।।।।मतङ्गेन तदा शप्तो ह्यस्मिन्नाश्रममण्डले।प्रविशेद्यदि वै वाली मूर्धाऽस्य शतधा भवेत्।।।।तत्र वासस्सुखोऽस्माकं निरुद्विग्नो भविष्यति।

Transliteration

idānīṁ me smṛtaṁ rājan yathā vālī harīśvaraḥ |

mataṅgena tadā śapto hy asminn āśramamaṇḍale |

praviśed yadi vai vālī mūrdhā 'sya śatadhā bhavet |

tatra vāsaḥ sukho 'smākaṁ nirudvigno bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

“Now I remember, O king, how Vālī—the lord of the monkeys—was once cursed by Matanga within this hermitage-ground: ‘If Vālī enters here, his head shall shatter into a hundred pieces.’ There our dwelling will be pleasant, free from anxiety and fear.”

Context

'I remembed Matanga's curse to Vali, king of monkeys. Vali would not enter the site of Matanga's hermitage as his head would break into a hundred pieces if he did'. Therefore we thought it would be safe for us to reside in that place.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sugrīva
• Vālī
• Matanga
• Āśrama-maṇḍala (hermitage precinct)

FAQs

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

Respect for ṛṣi-authority and moral boundaries: a cursed, protected sacred space functions as a dharmic refuge where wrongdoing (trespass by the offender) is restrained.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān recalls Matanga’s curse on Vālī and identifies the hermitage precinct as a safe place where Vālī will not dare to enter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s discernment—remembering sacred constraints and using them to protect the vulnerable.