Shloka 88
दुन्दुभिवधप्रसङ्गः
The Dundubhi Episode and the Proof of Rama’s Prowess
आर्द्रस्समांसः प्रत्यग्रः क्षिप्तः कायः पुरा सखे4.11.87।।लघुस्सम्प्रति निर्मांस स्तृणभूतश्च राघव।परिश्रान्तेन मत्तेन भ्रात्रा मे वालिना तदा4.11.88।।क्षिप्तमेवं प्रहर्षेण भवता रघुनन्दन।
ārdras samāṁsaḥ pratyagraḥ kṣiptaḥ kāyaḥ purā sakhe |
laghuḥ samprati nirmāṁsaḥ tṛṇa-bhūtaś ca rāghava |
pariśrāntena mattena bhrātrā me vālinā tadā |
kṣiptam evaṁ praharṣeṇa bhavatā raghu-nandana ||
“Wahai sahabat, dahulu tubuh ini dilontar ketika masih segar, lembap, dan penuh daging. Tetapi kini, wahai Rāghava, ia sudah tanpa daging, ringan seperti segenggam rumput. Pada waktu itu saudaraku Vāli—letih dan mabuk—melontarnya dengan girang; namun engkau, wahai Raghunandana, melemparkannya sekarang seakan-akan hanya bermain.”
'O friend, when Vali my brother flung the body, he was tired and intoxicated and the body was fresh with flesh (meaning heavy), but now, O Delight of the Raghu race, it is fleshless and light like a bunch of (dry) grass (for) which you could throw it playfully.
FAQs
Dharma as truthfulness in assessment: Sugrīva insists on honest standards of evidence, refusing to draw a misleading conclusion from an unequal comparison.
Sugrīva explains that Rama’s throw, though impressive, is not directly comparable to Vali’s earlier feat because the corpse is now dried and far lighter.
Sugrīva’s satya (candour) and nīti (strategic prudence): he speaks plainly even when praising Rama, prioritizing accurate judgment over flattery.