Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 5
द्वादशः सर्गः — हनूमतः अन्तःपुरविचयः
Hanuman’s Search Through Ravana’s Inner Apartments
सीतामदृष्ट्वा ह्यनवाप्य पौरुषंविहृत्य कालं सह वानरैश्चिरम्।न मेऽस्ति सुग्रीवसमीपगा गतिःसुतीक्ष्णदण्डो बलवांश्च वानरः।।।।
sītām adṛṣṭvā hy anavāpya pauruṣaṃ vihṛtya kālaṃ saha vānaraiś ciram |
na me 'sti sugrīvasamīpagā gatiḥ sutīkṣṇadaṇḍo balavāṃś ca vānaraḥ ||
Nếu ta trở về mà chưa thấy Sītā—chẳng lập được chứng tích dũng mãnh, lại đã tiêu phí thời gian lâu ngày cùng bầy vānara—thì ta nào còn đường đến gần Sugrīva; vị vānara hùng mạnh ấy sẽ trừng phạt ta bằng hình phạt nghiêm khắc.
'I have spent a long time with vanaras. I have not succeded in my efforts to find Sita. I dare not see Sugriva now without finding Sita and without fulfilling my task. Sugriva will punish me severely. There is no way out.'
FAQs
Dharma is accountability in service: a messenger must complete the entrusted task truthfully (satya) and effectively, and must accept responsibility for failure rather than offer excuses.
Hanuman fears returning to Sugrīva empty-handed after a long search, anticipating strict consequences for failing the mission.
Sense of duty and responsibility—Hanuman measures himself by results, not by time spent.