Shloka 5.58.138
सुन्दरकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः — हनुमद्वृत्तान्तकथनम्, सीताभिज्ञान-प्रदानम्, लङ्कादाह-वर्णनम्
वालिना हृतराज्येन सुग्रीवेण महाप्रभुः।चक्रेऽग्निसाक्षिकं सख्यं राघवस्सह लक्ष्मणः।।।।
vālinā hṛtarājyena sugrīveṇa mahāprabhuḥ | cakre ’gnisākṣikaṃ sakhyaṃ rāghavaḥ saha lakṣmaṇaḥ ||
With Sugrīva—whose kingdom had been taken by Vālin—the great lord Rāghava, together with Lakṣmaṇa, made a friendship sworn with Fire as witness.
With fire as witness the great lord, Rama along with Lakshmana made friendship with Sugriva whose kingdom had been usurped.
Sacred witnessing of vows: making alliances under a solemn witness (Agni) underscores truthfulness, accountability, and dharmic commitment.
Hanumān recounts the formalization of the Rāma–Sugrīva alliance, ritually affirmed with fire as witness.
Reliability and sanctity of promise: Rāma’s alliance is portrayed as principled and publicly accountable.