Shloka 4.50.40

ऋक्षबिलप्रवेशः — Entry into the Rikshabilam Cave

Devanagari script

विस्मिता हरयस्तत्र व्यवतिष्ठन्त सर्वशः।।।।पप्रच्छ हनुमांस्तत्र काऽसि त्वं कस्य वा बिलम्।

Transliteration

tatra tatra vicinvanto bile tasmin mahābalāḥ | dadṛśur vānarāḥ śūrāḥ striyaṃ kāñcid adūrataḥ ||

Translation

As those mighty, valiant monkeys searched within that cave, they saw, not far away, a certain woman.

Context

The amazed monkeys stopped there. Hanuman enquired, 'Who are you? Whose cave is this'?

Characters & Entities

• vānaras (search party)
• a woman (later identified as an ascetic)

FAQs

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

Dharma involves respectful discernment: encountering an unknown person in a liminal, dangerous space calls for caution and proper conduct rather than impulsive action.

What is the narrative situation?

During the cave search, the vānaras unexpectedly spot a woman nearby.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness joined with restraint—maintaining composure when something unexpected appears.