Chapter 18 — Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 18

Valmiki Ramayana — Kishkindha Kanda

Verse 18.23

सुग्रीवेण च मे सख्यं लक्ष्मणेन यथा तथा। दारराज्यनिमित्तं च निःश्रेयसकरः स मे॥ प्रतिज्ञा च मया दत्ता तदा वानरसंनिधौ। प्रतिज्ञा च कथं शक्या मद्विधेनानवेक्षितुम् ॥

sugrīveṇa ca me sakhyaṃ lakṣmaṇena yathā tathā| dārarājyanimittaṃ ca niḥśreyasakaraḥ sa me|| pratijñā ca mayā dattā tadā vānarasaṃnidhau| pratijñā ca kathaṃ śakyā madvidhenānavekṣitum ||

English Meaning

Like to Laksmana, I have contracted friendship with Sugrīva. And with a view to regain his wife and kingdom, he resolved to engage in my well-being. I too also promised the same before the monkeys. And how can a man of my position neglect to make good his promise?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)