Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 89
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
मृते मयि गते रामे वनं मनुजपुङ्गवे।।।।इष्टे मम जने शेषे किं पापं प्रतिपत्स्यसे।
mṛte mayi gate rāme vanaṃ manujapuṅgave | iṣṭe mama jane śeṣe kiṃ pāpaṃ pratipatsyase ||
Wenn ich tot bin und Rāma —der Beste der Menschen— in den Wald gegangen ist, welches weitere Unrecht willst du dann noch gegen die Meinen begehen, die mir treu geblieben sind?
With me dead and Rama, the best among men, banished, what harmful acts are you contemplating against my wellwishers?
FAQs
Protection of the innocent and the loyal: dharma condemns extending harm beyond the primary target, especially toward faithful dependents.
Daśaratha, anticipating his death and Rāma’s exile, challenges Kaikeyī about possible further persecution of his supporters.
Daśaratha’s concern for his dependents and loyalists, even while personally collapsing under grief.