Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 112, Shloka 19
पादुकाप्रदानम्
The Gift of the Sandals and Delegated Kingship
कामाद्वा तात लोभाद्वा मात्रातुभ्यमिदं कृतम्।न तन्मनसि कर्तव्यं वर्तितव्यं च मातृवत्।।2.112.19।।
kāmād vā tāta lobhād vā mātrā tubhyam idaṃ kṛtam | na tan manasi kartavyaṃ vartitavyaṃ ca mātṛvat || 2.112.19 ||
Dear child, whether out of affection or out of greed, your mother acted for your sake; do not let that settle in your mind as bitterness—conduct yourself toward her as toward a mother.
The hosts of sages, siddhas and devarshis watching invisible the two Kakutstha brothers extoled them.
FAQs
Mātṛ-dharma and kṣamā: one should not abandon reverence for one’s mother, even when her actions cause harm; duty is maintained without hatred.
Rāma counsels Bharata not to be disturbed or resentful toward Kaikeyī, despite her role in the exile and succession crisis.
Forbearance and moral clarity: separating wrongful acts from the enduring obligations of familial respect.