Shloka 5.47.29
अक्षवधः (The Slaying of Prince Aksha) — Sundarakāṇḍa Sarga 47
न खल्वयं नाभिभवेदुपेक्षितः पराक्रमो ह्यस्य रणे विवर्धते।प्रमापणं त्वेव ममाद्य रोचते न वर्धमानोऽग्निरुपेक्षितुं क्षमः।।5.47.29।।
na khalv ayaṃ nābhibhaved upekṣitaḥ parākramo hy asya raṇe vivardhate |
pramāpaṇaṃ tv eva mamādya rocate na vardhamāno ’gnir upekṣituṃ kṣamaḥ ||5.47.29||
“Truly, if he is ignored, he will surely overpower me—his prowess grows in battle. Therefore it seems right to strike him down today; a spreading fire cannot be left unattended.”
If I ignore him now, he would get the better of me (I have to consider his challenge seriously). His valour in the battle is growing. It is proper to subdue him now. A spreading fire cannot be neglected.
Dharma here is prudent responsibility: when a threat is escalating, timely action prevents wider harm—like containing a spreading fire.
Akṣa decides he must decisively subdue Hanumān immediately, reasoning that Hanumān’s power increases as the battle continues.
Strategic discernment and urgency—recognizing when delay becomes dangerous.