Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 18
रावणभवनपरिक्रमणं हनूमतः शोकविचारश्च
Hanuman’s Circuit of Ravana’s Palace and the Crisis of Deliberation
निवेद्यमाने दोषस्स्याद्दोषस्स्यादनिवेदने।।।।कथं नु खलु कर्तव्यं विषमं प्रतिभाति मे।
nivedyamāne doṣaḥ syād doṣaḥ syād anivedane | kathaṃ nu khalu kartavyaṃ viṣamaṃ pratibhāti me ||
Jika aku melaporkannya, mungkin ada kesalahan; jika aku tidak melaporkannya, juga mungkin ada kesalahan. Maka apakah yang harus dilakukan? Keadaan ini tampak amat gawat dan sukar bagiku.
"I wonder what the right course of action is when things have taken such a turn? What is proper for me to do? Hanuman once again deliberated.
FAQs
Dharma involves discerning right action when duties conflict: satya (truth-telling) must be balanced with ahimsā (non-harm) and responsibility, especially under uncertainty.
Hanumān is torn between informing Rāma of failure (or grim possibilities) and withholding it, fearing wrongdoing in either choice.
Moral discernment—Hanumān actively evaluates consequences rather than acting impulsively.