Shloka 4.65.16

पञ्चषष्टितमः सर्गः — वानराणां प्लवन-पराक्रम-निरूपणम् (Assessment of the Vanaras’ Leaping Capacity; Jambavan Motivates Hanuman)

Devanagari script

स इदानीमहं वृद्धः प्लवने मन्दविक्रमः।यौवने च तदाऽसीन्मे बलमप्रतिमं परैः।।।।

Transliteration

sa idānīm ahaṃ vṛddhaḥ plavane manda-vikramaḥ |

yauvane ca tadā āsīn me balam apratimaṃ paraiḥ ||

Translation

But now I am old, and my leaping strength is diminished; in my youth, my power then was unequalled by others.

Context

'Having grown old I do not have the same courage. In my youth my prowess was incomparable and none could excel me.

Characters & Entities

• Jāmbavān

FAQs

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

Satya with self-restraint: dharma requires acknowledging decline and not letting past glory distort present duty-planning.

What is the narrative situation?

He contrasts his reduced present capacity with his unmatched youthful power.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility grounded in truth: recognition of time’s effect without bitterness or denial.