Shloka 4.53.39
स्वयम्प्रभा-विमोचनम् — Svayamprabha Leads the Vanaras Out (Time-Limit Crisis and Counsel)
श्रुत्वाऽङ्गदस्यापि वचोऽनुकूलमूचुश्च सर्वे हरयः प्रतीताः।यथा न हिंस्येम तथा विधानमसक्तमद्यैव विधीयतां नः।।।।
śrutvā 'ṅgadasyāpi vaco 'nukūlam ūcuś ca sarve harayaḥ pratītāḥ |
yathā na hiṃsyema tathā vidhānam asaktam adyaiva vidhīyatāṃ naḥ ||
Having heard Angada’s agreeable words, all the monkeys assented and said: “Let a plan be devised at once so that we are not harmed; let our course be arranged without being bound by the king’s strict conditions.”
All the monkeys agreed to the favourable suggestion of Tara which was acceptable to Angada. 'A plan may be made in such a way by which we will not be killed by the king. Our strategy should be delinked from the conditions laid down by the king. Let us not face punishment' said the monkeys.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē tripañcāśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fifty-third sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.
It shows how collective decision-making can drift toward adharma when the primary goal becomes avoiding consequences rather than pursuing truth and duty. Dharma requires aligning strategy with rightful purpose, not merely with safety.
After discussing refuge and fear of Sugrīva’s displeasure, the vānaras agree to formulate a plan immediately to avoid punishment—reflecting the crisis of morale in the search mission.
Pragmatic caution and unanimity are present, but the episode implicitly critiques a deficiency in fortitude (dhairya) and commitment to the assigned task.