Shloka 4.53.38
स्वयम्प्रभा-विमोचनम् — Svayamprabha Leads the Vanaras Out (Time-Limit Crisis and Counsel)
इदं हि मायाविहितं सुदुर्गमंप्रभूतवृक्षोदकभोज्यपेयकम्।इहास्ति नो नैव भयं पुरन्दरान्न राघवाद्वानरराजतोऽपि वा।।।।
idaṃ hi māyāvihitaṃ sudurgamaṃ prabhūtavṛkṣodakabhojyapeyakam |
ihāsti no naiva bhayaṃ purandarān na rāghavād vānararājato 'pi vā ||
This place, fashioned by magic, is exceedingly hard to access, and it is supplied with abundant trees, water, food, and drink. If we remain here, there will be no fear for us—not even from Indra the fortress-breaker, nor from Rāghava (Rāma), nor even from the king of monkeys.
'This cave built by magic is inaccessible. It has a number of trees, water, eatables and drinks. (If we live here) we need not be afraid of even Indra, the breaker of enemy citadels or even of Rama or also of the king of monkeys'.
The verse highlights a temptation to abandon dharma through escapism—seeking safety and comfort rather than fulfilling the entrusted mission. In the Ramayana’s ethical frame, fear-driven withdrawal from duty is a lapse in responsibility.
The vānaras, anxious about punishment for failing the search, consider hiding in a magically protected, well-provisioned place instead of returning to Sugrīva with results.
Negatively, it foregrounds the absence of courage and accountability; by contrast, the larger episode sets up the need for steadfastness (dhṛti) and loyalty to one’s commission.