Shloka 16
पञ्चषष्टितमः सर्गः — वानराणां प्लवन-पराक्रम-निरूपणम्
Assessment of the Vanaras’ Leaping Capacity; Jambavan Motivates Hanuman
स इदानीमहं वृद्धः प्लवने मन्दविक्रमः।यौवने च तदाऽसीन्मे बलमप्रतिमं परैः।।।।
sa idānīm ahaṃ vṛddhaḥ plavane manda-vikramaḥ |
yauvane ca tadā āsīn me balam apratimaṃ paraiḥ ||
पर अब मैं वृद्ध हो गया हूँ; छलाँग लगाने में मेरा पराक्रम मंद पड़ गया है। युवावस्था में तो मेरा बल दूसरों के लिए अप्रतिम था।
'Having grown old I do not have the same courage. In my youth my prowess was incomparable and none could excel me.
FAQs
Satya with self-restraint: dharma requires acknowledging decline and not letting past glory distort present duty-planning.
He contrasts his reduced present capacity with his unmatched youthful power.
Humility grounded in truth: recognition of time’s effect without bitterness or denial.