Shloka 21
पञ्चषष्टितमः सर्गः — वानराणां प्लवन-पराक्रम-निरूपणम्
Assessment of the Vanaras’ Leaping Capacity; Jambavan Motivates Hanuman
कामं शतं सहस्रं वा न ह्येष विधिरुच्यते।योजनानां भवान् शक्तो गन्तुं प्रतिनिवर्तितुम्।।।।
kāmaṃ śataṃ sahasraṃ vā na hy eṣa vidhir ucyate |
yojanānāṃ bhavān śakto gantuṃ pratinivartitum ||
Und wären es hundert oder tausend Yojanas: Du vermagst hinzugehen und zurückzukehren; doch ist es nicht der rechte Brauch, dich selbst für diese Sendung zu bestimmen.
'You can go upto even a hundred thousand yojanas and have the required energy to return also. But it is not proper to send you (because you are the heir apparent).
FAQs
Dharma of prudent governance: even the most capable person may be unsuited for a risky assignment if his role is structurally essential to the community’s continuity.
Jāmbavān affirms Angada’s strength but argues that sending him is improper in terms of duty and political order.
Viveka (discernment): separating sheer ability from what is dharmically appropriate.