Shloka 4.64.3
अङ्गदोपदेशः समुद्रदर्शन-विषादश्च (Angada’s Counsel and the Vanaras’ Despondency at the Ocean)
अभिक्रम्य तु तं देशं ददृशुर्भीमविक्रमाः।कृत्स्नं लोकस्य महतः प्रतिबिम्बमिव स्थितम्।।।।
ākāśam iva duṣpāraṃ sāgaraṃ prekṣya vānarāḥ |
viṣeduḥ sahasā sarve kathaṃ kāryam iti bruvan ||
Beholding the ocean—hard to cross, like the very sky—all the vānaras at once sank into dejection, saying, “How can this task be accomplished?”
Having reached the ocean, the monkeys, endowed with frightening courage, stood looking at the vast ocean which appeared like an image of the whole world.
Dharma includes honest self-assessment: recognizing difficulty is not adharma; it becomes dharmic when it leads to seeking rightful leadership and a true means to fulfill the mission.
The search-party confronts the ocean and doubts whether they can cross to continue the search for Sītā.
Truthfulness (satya) about one’s present capacity—an essential step before courage and strategy can arise.