Sugriva observed Rama and Lakshmana from a distance. He was concerned that they are agents of Vali. Although they looked like mendicants. they are carrying bows and arrows. He asked Hanuman to approach them. He asked Hanuman to warn him if they are enemies.

Picture Credit: Mewar Ramayana

Hanuman took the guise of a Brahmachari and approached Rama and Lakshmana and prostrated before them with great reverence. He praises their handsomeness, says they are like Sun and Moon. Hanumanji also asks them if they are incarnations of Bhagwan, in human form, to re-establish Dharma. He says that they are indeed Nara and Narayana.

Picture Credit: Dr K.U. Krishnakumar and Guruvayoor Devaswom

Dundubhi, a Rakshasa challenged Vali for a duel, Vali plucked off Dundhubhi’s head and threw it away. The severed head, still oozing with blood fell in the Matanga Ashram. This dirtied the ashram. The sage cursed Bali that if ever set foot on Rishyamooka mountain. his head will explode. Thus, Sugriva could stay safe in Rishyamooka mountain.

Picture Credit: Balasaheb Pant, Chitra Ramayana

Sugriva recollects that he saw a Rakshasa forcefully taking a royal lady in his chariot. He also recollected that she was chanting the name of Rama. She had thrown her ornaments towards them which they had kept for safekeeping thinking someone will come looking for them. He asked Rama to identify if they were Sita’s ornaments.

Picture Credit: Balasaheb Pant, Chitra Ramayana

Sugriva retrieves the jewels he had carefully stored and shows them to Rama who immediately recognizes them. Rama tells Lakshmana that these are indeed Sita’s. Lakshmana then tells Rama, in iconic words.

“Naham jaanami keyure, naham janaami kundale,
Nupure tvabhijanami nityam paadaabhivandanaat”

It translates as

“Bracelets I have not seen, earrings I have not seen,
I recognize the anklets, as I bowed down to her feet everyday”

This is a wonderful verse expressing Lakshmana’s respect for Sita. While this is considered as part of Valmiki Ramayana, it is not included in the critical edition published by the Oriental Institute, Baroda. The incidents upto Rama recognizing the jewelry are part of the critical edition.

Picture: Sketches and Songs, Instagram

Sugriva warned Rama that it is not easy to defeat Bali. He told Rama that anyone capable of lifting the head and throwing it away should be able to kill Bali. Rama used his big toe to lift and throw the gigantic head which fell ten yojanas away.

Sugriva then asked Rama to fell seven mighty trees with one arrow. Vali used to shake the leaves off the trees as an exercise. Rama took his bow and shot the arrow that hit all the seven trees standing on the circle.

Picture Credit: Shangri Ramayana

After watching Rama hit all seven trees with a single arrow, Sugriva realized Rama’s prowess and extolled Rama’s. He started chanting a hymn in praise of Lord Rama who is the witness consciousness. He said that he does not long for wealth or pleasure from having a family. Just by meeting Rama, he lost all concepts of separateness between man, animal, friend, and foe, etc. He said all his wealth and pleasure are all Maya which have been torn away after seeing Rama. A repeating theme in Adhyatma Ramayana is how avidya makes us perceive the world as different from Bhagwan.

Sugriva prayed to be always thinking of Rama, chanting Rama’s name, doing Pooja to Rama, to see Rama in everything, to listen to Rama’s stories, visit pilgrim centres filled with Rama’s energy and prostrate at Rama’s feet every day.

You may recollect the nine steps of devotion that Rama had mentioned to Sabari and Sugriva’s wishes are almost the same.

Adhyatma Ramayana heavily conveys Upanishadic philosophy, teaching that the individual soul (Jiva) and the Supreme Reality (Brahman) are fundamentally non-different. Through spiritual knowledge (Jnana), the illusion of separation is dissolved.

Unlike strict, purely intellectual non-dualism, the Adhyatma Ramayana champions supreme devotion to Rama as the primary and most accessible path to liberation (Moksha). Knowledge and devotion are shown to be mutually reinforcing.

Rama is not merely depicted as an ideal king, but is explicitly revealed from the outset as the Supreme Brahman—the formless, infinite, and eternal absolute consciousness incarnated in human form for the welfare of the world.