Shloka 35
सावित्री-यमसंवादः
Sāvitrī’s Dialogue with Yama and the Restoration of Satyavān
कृतचिह्न तु सुग्रीवं रामो दृष्टवा महाधनु: । विचकर्ष धनु: श्रेष्ठ वालिमुद्दिश्य लक्ष्यवत्,महाधनुर्धर श्रीरामचन्द्रजीने सुग्रीवको चिह्न धारण किये देख वालीको लक्ष्य बनाकर अपना महान् धनुष खींचा। उस धनुषकी टंकार मशीनकी भयंकर आवाजके समान जान पड़ती थी। उसे सुनकर वाली भयभीत हो उठा। इतनेमें ही श्रीरामके बाणने उसकी छातीपर भारी चोट की
kṛtacihnaṃ tu sugrīvaṃ rāmo dṛṣṭvā mahādhanuḥ | vicakarṣa dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ vālim uddiśya lakṣyavat ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Seeing Sugrīva bearing the agreed identifying mark, Rāma—mighty wielder of the great bow—drew back his excellent bow, taking Vāli as his target, as one who aims unerringly. The scene underscores a grave ethical tension: Rāma acts to uphold his pledged protection of Sugrīva and to end Vāli’s wrongdoing, yet he does so through a concealed shot, raising questions about the proper means of enforcing dharma when direct confrontation is constrained by circumstance.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic weight of keeping one’s pledged protection and alliance (Rāma acting after confirming Sugrīva’s identifying mark), while also inviting reflection on whether the chosen means—striking from concealment—can be ethically justified when confronting wrongdoing and restoring order.
After Sugrīva is marked for identification amid combat, Rāma recognizes him, fixes Vāli as the target, and draws his great bow with decisive aim, preparing the shot that will determine the outcome of the Vāli–Sugrīva conflict.