Shloka 4.9.23
वालि–मायावी–बिलप्रवेशः (Vali’s Pursuit of Mayavi and the Cave Episode)
निग्रहेऽपि समर्थस्य तं पापं प्रति राघव।न प्रावर्तत मे बुद्धिर्भ्रातुर्गौरवयन्त्रिता4.9.23।।
nigrahe'pi samarthasya taṃ pāpaṃ prati rāghava | na prāvartata me buddhirbhrāturgauravayantritā ||
O Rāghava, though I was able to restrain and punish that sinner, my mind did not move against him, held back by the reverence due to a brother.
'O Rama! even though I was capable of restraining the sinner, my intellect did not let me do so out of respect for my brother.
Sugriva refrained from retaliating because his intellect was bound by 'Gaurava' (respect) for his elder brother, illustrating the conflict between personal defense and familial Dharma.
It reveals Sugriva's adherence to traditional values and righteousness, showing that he valued the sanctity of brotherhood over vengeance, even when faced with injustice.