Shloka 14

हनूमता सुग्रीवस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः

Hanuman’s Counsel on Timely Ally-Duty

Devanagari script

यस्तु कालव्यतीतेषु मित्रकार्येषु वर्तते।।स कृत्वा महतोऽप्यर्थान्न मित्रार्थेन युज्यते।

Transliteration

yas tu kālavyatīteṣu mitrakāryeṣu vartate |

sa kṛtvā mahato 'py arthān na mitrārthena yujyate ||

Translation

Pero quien atiende el asunto del amigo cuando ya pasó el tiempo oportuno, aunque después haga grandes esfuerzos, no cumple de verdad el propósito del aliado.

Word by Word

यःhe who

तुbut

कालव्यतीतेषुafter the time has passed

मित्रकार्येषुin a friend’s tasks

वर्ततेacts/engages

सःhe

कृत्वाhaving done

महतःgreat

अपिeven

अर्थान्benefits/ends

नnot

मित्रार्थेनby/with the friend’s cause

युज्यतेsucceeds/is fitting

Context

'He who exceeds the time limit in accomplishing a friend's task, and puts forth great effort later succeeds not.

Characters & Entities

Sugriva

FAQs

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

Dharma includes timeliness: delayed righteousness can fail its purpose; duty done too late becomes ineffective despite effort.

What is the narrative situation?

This is a direct critique of Sugriva’s postponement of the promised search, emphasizing that late action may not help Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Promptness and responsibility—understanding that right action must meet the right moment.