Shloka 4.53.2

स्वयम्प्रभा-विमोचनम् — Svayamprabha Leads the Vanaras Out (Time-Limit Crisis and Counsel)

Devanagari script

शरणं त्वां प्रपन्ना स्म सर्वे वै धर्मचारिणीं।यः कृतस्समयोऽस्माकं सुग्रीवेण महात्मना।।।।स च कालो ह्यतिक्रान्तो बिले च परिवर्तताम्।

Transliteration

śaraṇaṃ tvāṃ prapannā sma sarve vai dharmacāriṇīm | yaḥ kṛtaḥ samayo 'smākaṃ sugrīveṇa mahātmanā || sa ca kālo hy atikrānto bile ca parivartatām |

Translation

O righteous lady, we have all taken refuge in you. Yet the time-limit set for us by the great Sugriva has been exceeded, as we have been wandering within this cave.

Context

'You are a righteous lady. You have given us refuge. Now in moving about the cave we have exceeded the time limit given by Sugriva.'

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• cave (bila)
• Swayamprabhā (implied by 'dharmacāriṇīm' in context)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is accountability to a rightful command and honesty about failure: the Vanaras admit that the agreed time-limit has been exceeded, even while seeking refuge.

What is the narrative situation?

The search-party, delayed inside a mysterious cave, informs the righteous lady who shelters them that Sugriva’s deadline for the mission has passed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness and responsibility—openly acknowledging the lapse in duty rather than concealing it.