Shloka 87
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 ||
“Này bạn hiền, thuở trước thân này bị ném đi khi còn tươi mới, ướt mềm và đầy thịt. Còn nay, hỡi Rāghava, nó đã không còn thịt, nhẹ bẫng như một nắm cỏ. Khi ấy chính anh ta của ta là Vāli—mệt mỏi và say men—đã hất văng nó trong niềm hân hoan; vậy mà nay, hỡi Raghunandana, chính ngài lại ném đi gần như chỉ để vui đùa.”
'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.