Shloka 4.29.33

हनूमता सुग्रीवस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः — Hanuman’s Counsel on Timely Ally-Duty

Devanagari script

त्रिपञ्चरात्रादूर्ध्वं यः प्राप्नुयान्नेह वानरः।तस्य प्राणान्तिको दण्डो नात्र कार्या विचारणा4.29.33।।

Transliteration

tripañcarātrād ūrdhvaṃ yaḥ prāpnuyān neha vānaraḥ | tasya prāṇāntiko daṇḍo nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 4.29.33 ||

Translation

Any monkey who arrives here after three or five nights have passed shall face punishment up to death—there is no room for debate in this matter.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vānara (monkey troops)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Kāla-dharma: duty must be performed within time. The verse frames timeliness as a moral and strategic necessity, enforced through strict discipline.

What is the narrative situation?

To ensure rapid mobilization for Rāma’s mission, Sugrīva sets a hard deadline and prescribes severe penalties for delay.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s decisiveness and prioritization of mission over comfort; a ruler’s firmness in enforcing collective duty.