Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.84: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 84
द्वादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
Spoken by Dasharatha to KaikeyiSetting: अयोध्या
व्रतैश्च ब्रह्मचर्यैश्च गुरुभिश्चोपकर्शितः ।
भोगकाले महत्कृच्छ्रं पुनरेव प्रपत्स्यते ॥८४॥
vrataiś ca brahmacaryaiś ca gurubhiś copakarśitaḥ |
bhogakāle mahatkṛcchraṁ punar eva prapatsyate ||84||
Schon zermürbt von Gelübden, von der Zucht des Brahmacarya und von der strengen Unterweisung seiner Lehrer, wird er abermals in große Not geraten – gerade zu der Zeit, da er die rechtmäßigen Annehmlichkeiten des Lebens genießen sollte.
Sandhi Notes
- व्रतैश्च→व्रतैः च
- ब्रह्मचर्यैश्च→ब्रह्मचर्यैः च
- गुरुभिश्चोपकर्शितः→गुरुभिः च उपकर्शितः
- पुनरेव→पुनः एव
'(Rama) already emaciated by observing vows related to ritual and celibacy in compliance with the orders of the preceptors has to undergo hardships again at a time when he should enjoy pleasures (of life)'.
The teaching
धर्मपालनं कष्टकरं भवति, विशेषतः यदा प्रियजनस्य सुख-कालः अपह्रियते; तथापि कर्तव्य-निष्ठा एव राजवंशस्य आधारः।
Duties in tension
- राजधर्मः (keeping promises/kingly obligations)
- पितृधर्मः (protecting son’s welfare)
- पुत्रधर्मः (obedience and self-restraint)
- Ethical theme
- कर्तव्य बनाम करुणा
For your practice
व्रत-ब्रह्मचर्य-गुरुशासनस्य मूल्यं, तथा करुणा-संयमः—दुःखकाले धैर्य-भावना।
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Foreboding, paternal-grief, austere
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Ethics
- Compassion
- Ascetic discipline
- Injustice
भोग-तपस्-द्वन्द्वः—विषय-सुखस्य अनित्यत्वं, कर्तव्य-निष्ठा च; कर्मयोगे फलत्याग-भावः।
कठोपनिषद्—श्रेयस्/प्रेयस्-विवेकः (pleasant vs good) का छाया।
अयोध्याकाण्ड—दशरथ-विलाप-प्रकरण (2.12 के आस-पास); अयोध्याकाण्ड—रामस्य वनगमन-प्रसङ्ग (2.18–2.20)
धर्मशास्त्रीय ब्रह्मचर्य-आश्रम-धर्म; कठोपनिषद् 1.2 (श्रेयः-प्रेयः)
बालकाण्ड—रामस्य गुरुकुल-शिक्षा/दीक्षा-सूचनाः (प्रसङ्गतः)
अनुष्टुप् (śloka)
Grieving
मन्द्र-प्रधान, करुण-गति
FAQs
It frames injustice as forcing undeserved suffering upon the virtuous; dharma requires that merit and right timing (appropriate life-stage duties) be respected.
Daśaratha argues that Rāma, trained in discipline and already austere, is being wrongfully pushed into further hardship through exile.
Rāma’s disciplined character (vrata, brahmacarya, guru-śāsana) is emphasized, portraying him as deserving protection and rightful honor.
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