Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 41, Shloka 7
प्रमदावनविध्वंसः | The Devastation of the Pleasure-Garden
Ashoka Vatika
इहैव तावत्कृतनिश्चयो ह्यहं यदि व्रजेयं प्लवगेश्वरालयम्।परात्मसम्मर्दविशेषतत्त्ववित्ततः कृतं स्यान्मम भर्तृशासनम्।।।।
ihaiva tāvat kṛtaniścayo hy ahaṃ yadi vrajeyaṃ plavageśvarālayam |
parātmasammardaviśeṣatattvavittataḥ kṛtaṃ syān mama bhartṛśāsanam ||
If, having settled my resolve here itself, I were to go back to Kiṣkindhā, the abode of the lord of the monkeys—after understanding the specific difference between the enemy’s strength and our own in battle—then my master’s command would have been duly fulfilled.
'If I ascertain the difference in the strength of enemies and vanaras in war here itself and return to Kishkinda, the abode of vanaras, then I would have executed the orders of my lord properly.
FAQs
Dharma is faithful service: a messenger’s righteousness lies in executing the entrusted command with accurate knowledge, not merely with speed or emotion.
Hanumān considers returning after assessing comparative military strength, so that his report to Rāma and the vānaras is complete and actionable.
Loyalty and accountability: Hanumān measures success by how well he fulfils Rāma’s instruction.