Born from the radiance of Surya (the Sun), Sugreev was the younger brother of Baali- the great simian king of Kishkindha. Both the brothers had deep love for each other. Being elder, Baali was the king of simian kingdom. Once, a demon came at night and dared Baali to have a fight with him. Baali ran after him. Sugreev too followed them. After running a long way, the elusive demon entered a cave. Telling Sugreev to wait at the mouth of the cave, Baali entered the cave. Sugreev waited there for one month, but Baali did not return. Suddenly, Sgreev saw the blood flowing out of the cave. Thinking that the demon had killed Baali, the afraid Sugreev closed the cave's mouth with a huge boulder and returned to the palace. There the ministers crowned him as King to fill the empty throne. A few days later, Baali killed the demon and returned to Kishkindha. Seeing Sugreev sitting on the throne as king, Baali got infuriated and without stopping even a moment to think, he ran to kill him. To save his life, Sugreev fled from Kishkindha and came to stay at the hermitage of sage Matang, on mount Rishyamook. Because of an earlier curse, Baali could not go there, so he returned to Kishkindha and captured all the wealth and even the wife of Sugreev. Feeling sorry of his ordeals, Sugreev began to live on Mount Rishyamook along with Hanumanaa and four other fellows.

After the demon king Ravana abducted Sita, Lord Rama and his younger brother Lakshmana began to search for her. They met a tribal woman Shabari who offered them berries and directed them to reach Rishyamook mountain. When Rama and Lakshmana reached near Rishyamook, Sugreev saw them from a distance and sent Hanumana to enquire about them. Knowing their identity, Hanumana respectfully escorted them to Sugreev. Thus Lord Rama and Sugreev became friends. Sugreev intimated Lord Rama about his ordeals. At that Lord Rama assured him that He would kill Baali with just one arrow. To demonstrate his might, Lord Rama cut a row of seven palm trees with just one arrow, seeing which Sugreev got assured that Shri Rama would kill Baali and that his ordeals would soon end. Then accompanied by Shri Rama, Sugreev came to Kishkindha and dared Baali to come for a fight. Both the brothers had a fierce battle. Ultimately, Lord Rama shot such an arrow at Baali that killed him in just one blow.

After Baali's death, Sugreev became the king of kishkindha. He made Baali's son Angad the heir to the throne. After the monsoon, Sugreev sent a teams of monkeys in different directions in search of Sita. On their return they informed that she was in Lanka. Sugreev along with his army attacked Lanka under the leadership of Shri Rama. The monkeys showed great bravery in the battle, Sugreev dodged even Ravana to such an extent that he too began to fear Sugreev.

After conquering Lanka, Shri Rama returned to Ayodhya. Sugreev too accompanied Him. There introducing Sugreev to guru Vashishtha, Shri Rama said:
AE SABA SAKHA SUNHU MUNI MORE|
BHAYE SAMARA SAGAR KAHUN BERE||
MAMAIHITE LAGI JANAM INE HARE |
BHARATHU TE MOHI ADHIKA PYARE||

Thus Lord Rama repeatedly addressed Sugreev as his friend and clearly says: "No one would ever be perhaps as idealistic, selfless friend as you are". Treating him for many days in Ayodhya, Lord Rama saw Sugreev off. Thereafter remembering the plays of God, Sugreev ruled over Kishkindha for many years. At last when God returned to His abode, Sugreev too followed Him.

Friends like Sugreev are indeed rare in this world. His whole life passed in the service of Rama and remembering His name. Only such a life is success. Praying to God Ravinandana, Sugreev says: "O treasure of kindness! May my mind always be concentrated at your feet, may my voice constantly recite your name; may my hands always serve your devotees; may my body always lie near your feet; may my eyes always have a glimpse of your grand appearance, your devotees and your teacher; may my ears listen constantly to the tales of your plays and incarnations; may my feet walk to your temples. O Ocean of pity! May my body bear the dust of your feet and may my head constantly bow before those feet which are served and prayed even by Brahma and other gods.