Shloka 4.8.4
मैत्रीप्रतिज्ञा-वैरकारणप्रश्नः (Friendship Vow and Inquiry into the Cause of Enmity)
सोऽहं सभाज्यो बन्धूनां सुहृदां चैव राघव।यस्याग्निसाक्षिकं मित्रं लब्धं राघववंशजम्।।
aham apy anurūpas te vayasyō jñāsyase śanaiḥ |
na tu vaktuṁ samartho ’haṁ svayam ātma-gatān guṇān ||
In time you will come to know that I too am a friend worthy of you; yet I am not fit to speak myself of the virtues that belong to me.
'O Rama, since you, born in Raghava dynasty, have become my friend with fire as witness, I have become equally honourable among my relatives and friends.
Dharma is expressed as humility aligned with truth (satya): one’s worth should be known through conduct over time, not self-praise.
Sugrīva reassures Rāma of his reliability while refusing to boast, letting his actions establish trust.
Humility and restraint in speech—avoiding self-glorification while committing to proven friendship.