Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 20
अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः
Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana
यदचिन्त्यन्तु तद्दैवं भूतेष्वपि न विहन्यते।व्यक्तं मयि च तस्यां च पतितो हि विपर्ययः।।।।
yad acintyaṁ tu tad daivaṁ bhūteṣv api na vihanyate |
vyaktaṁ mayi ca tasyāṁ ca patito hi viparyayaḥ ||
Destiny is indeed inconceivable, and its force cannot be warded off in any being. It is plain that adversity has fallen—upon me, and upon her as well.
Inconceivable is the power of destiny. Its impact on all beings cannot be averted. That an adversity has befallen me and Kaikeyi is (therefore) evident.
FAQs
Rama interprets suffering without hatred: he recognizes adversity as shared and avoids demonizing Kaikeyī, aligning with dharma as compassion and truthful appraisal of circumstances.
Rama explains to Lakshmana that the sudden reversal is an unavoidable working of destiny affecting multiple people.
Equanimity and empathy—Rama acknowledges his own loss while also seeing Kaikeyī as caught in the same adverse turn.