Shloka 17
Sāvitrī-Upākhyāna: Dyumatsena’s Restoration and the Return to Kāmyaka
Conclusion
राजेन्द्र! वह सब कुछ पूरा-पूरा सुनकर नम्रतापूर्वक हाथ जोड़े हुए भार्या तथा सेवकोंसहित वानरराज सुग्रीवने नरश्रेष्ठ लक्ष्मणसे सहर्ष निवेदन किया-- ।। नास्मि लक्ष्मण दुर्मेधा नाकृतज्ञो न निर्घण: । श्रूयतां यः प्रयत्नो मे सीतापर्येषणे कृत:,“लक्ष्मण! मैं न तो दुर्बुद्धि हूँ, न अकृतज्ञ हूँ और न निर्दय ही हूँ। मैंने सीताकी खोजके लिये जो प्रयत्न किया है, उसे सुनिये
rājendra! tat sarvaṁ samyak śrutvā namratayā añjaliṁ kṛtvā bhāryā-sevakaiḥ saha vānara-rājaḥ sugrīvo nara-śreṣṭhaṁ lakṣmaṇaṁ harṣa-yuktaḥ pratyuvāca— na asmi lakṣmaṇa durmedhā na akṛtajño na nirghṛṇaḥ | śrūyatāṁ yaḥ prayatno me sītā-paryeṣaṇe kṛtaḥ ||
O hari! Nang marinig niya ang lahat nang buo, si Sugrīva—ang hari ng mga vanara—ay tumindig na magkasalikop ang mga palad sa pagpapakumbaba, kasama ang kanyang asawa at mga tagapaglingkod, at masayang nagsalita kay Lakṣmaṇa, ang pinakadakila sa mga tao: “Lakṣmaṇa, hindi ako hangal, hindi ako walang utang-na-loob, at hindi rin ako malupit. Pakinggan mo ang mga pagsisikap na ginawa ko sa paghahanap kay Sītā.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical self-definition before action: Sugrīva insists he is not foolish, ungrateful, or cruel, implying that right conduct in alliances rests on gratitude (kṛtajñatā), compassion (ghṛṇā), and responsible effort (prayatna) toward a just cause.
Within Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration, Sugrīva respectfully approaches Lakṣmaṇa with folded hands, accompanied by his household and attendants, and prepares to report the concrete measures he has taken to search for Sītā, responding to expectations of help and loyalty.