Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 21
पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)
Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation
मा स्म सीमन्तिनी काचिज्जनयेत्पुत्रमीदृशम्।सौमित्रे योऽहमम्बाया दद्मि शोकमनन्तकम्।।।।
mā sma sīmantinī kācij janayet putram īdṛśam |
saumitre yo 'ham ambāyā dadmi śokam anantakam ||
Lakshmana, since I am the kind of son who gives my mother endless grief, may no woman ever give birth to a son like me.
O Lakshmana!, I am causing endless sorrow to my mother. May no mother give birth to a son like me!
FAQs
Accountability in dharma: Rama judges himself by the suffering his actions cause to his mother, highlighting that righteousness includes sensitivity to others’ pain.
Rama, overwhelmed by Kausalya’s impending sorrow, condemns himself as an unworthy son while speaking to Lakshmana during the exile departure.
Compassionate conscience: Rama’s moral seriousness and refusal to excuse personal cost to loved ones.