Valmiki Ramayana 1.1.63-64: Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shlokas 63-64
श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis
Narada’s Summary to Valmiki
Addressed to ValmikiSetting: Kiṣkindhā vicinity near Ṛṣyamūka; site where Dundubhi’s body layPlaces named: Kiṣkindhā, ṚṣyamūkaProof-of-prowess episode preceding Vālī confrontation
सुग्रीवश्शङ्कितश्चासीन्नित्यं वीर्येण राघवे ॥६३॥
राघवप्रत्ययार्थं तु दुन्दुभेः कायमुत्तमम् ।
दर्शयामास सुग्रीवो महापर्वतसन्निभम् ॥६४॥
sugrīvaḥ śaṅkitaś cāsīn nityaṃ vīryeṇa rāghave ||63||
rāghava-pratyayārthaṃ tu dundubheḥ kāyam uttamam |
darśayāmāsa sugrīvo mahā-parvata-sannibham ||64||
सुग्रीव को अभी भी शक था कि राम में इतनी ताकत है या नहीं। उसने दिखाया कि दुंदुभी की बॉडी कितनी बड़ी थी, पहाड़ जैसी। ताकि राम को पूरा यकीन हो जाए।
Sandhi Notes
- सुग्रीवश्शङ्कितश्चासीन्नित्यम् = सुग्रीवः + शङ्कितः + च + आसीत् + नित्यम्
- राघवप्रत्ययार्थम् = राघव + प्रत्यय + अर्थम्
Doubtful of the prowess Sugriva of Rama Sugriva inorder to get convinced showed him the huge (dead) body of Dundubhi resembling a big mountain.
The teaching
Doubt is natural, but it should be resolved through clear evidence and honest dialogue, not paralysis.
Duties in tension
- Trust in ally vs prudent verification before risking war
- Loyalty to pact vs fear of stronger adversary
- Ethical theme
- Nīti (prudence) / śraddhā-viveka balance
- How it resolves
- Evidence-based reassurance (showing Dundubhi) leading to strengthened śraddhā and coordinated action
For your practice
Practice of moving from saṃśaya to śraddhā through direct seeing and discernment; supports steadiness in commitments.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Testing, astonished, weighty
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Evidence and confidence
- Alliance
- Itihāsa
Saṃśaya (doubt) obstructs action; pramāṇa removes it, enabling decisive karma.
Śraddhā as prerequisite for effective pursuit; doubt dispelled by direct ‘darśana’ (seeing) parallels epistemic themes.
- Sugriva and Rama
- Ally testing ally; seeking proof of capability (doubtful). Trust-building through demonstration of vīrya (patient)
- Sugriva and Dundubhi
- Dundubhi as fear-symbol; evidence of Vālī’s might (implied) (uneasy)
- Vali and Dundubhi
- Implied slayer/defeater; trophy-like corpse as proof (dominant)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kiṣkindhākāṇḍa: Dundubhi episode where Rāma demonstrates strength (arrow/foot) after seeing the corpse
Itihāsa motif of proving heroism through extraordinary feats (cf. Mahābhārata tests of strength)
Prepares for Rāma’s demonstration (e.g., piercing trees/mountains) and the eventual Vālī-vadha
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative
Measured, with emphasis on mahāparvata-sannibham for grandeur
FAQs
The verse models dharmic discernment: seeking confirmation before decisive action. Trust is strengthened by clarity and truthful demonstration rather than mere assertion.
This reiterates the same episode: Sugrīva presents Dundubhi’s gigantic body as a benchmark to assess whether Rāma can overcome Vāli.
Sugrīva’s carefulness and sense of responsibility toward the pact; he ensures the alliance rests on realistic capability.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
