Shloka 5.12.8
द्वादशः सर्गः — हनूमतः अन्तःपुरविचयः (Hanuman’s Search Through Ravana’s Inner Apartments)
अदृष्ट्वा किं प्रवक्ष्यामि तामहं जनकात्मजाम्।ध्रुवं प्रायमुपैष्यन्ति कालस्य व्यतिवर्तने।।।।
adṛṣṭvā kiṃ pravakṣyāmi tām ahaṃ janakātmajām |
dhruvaṃ prāyam upaiṣyanti kālasya vyativartane ||
Without seeing Janaka’s daughter, what can I say? When the allotted time has been exceeded, they will surely resolve to fast unto death.
'Since the time limit has exceeded and Janaki is not spotted, surely the vanaras would sit and wait unto death. What am I going to say'?
Dharma is commitment to a vowed mission; however, the verse also warns how despair can distort duty into self-destruction when hope and truthful progress are absent.
Hanuman fears that because the time limit is exceeded and Sītā remains unfound, the vānaras may choose prāya (fasting to death).
Concern for others’ welfare—Hanuman’s anxiety is not only personal but also for the morale and survival of the team.