Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 25
अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः
Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct
सोऽहं त्वामागतो द्रष्टुं प्रस्थितो विजनं वनम्।भरतस्य समीपे तु नाहं कथ्यः कदाचन।।2.26.24।।बुद्धियुक्ता हि पुरुषा न सहन्ते परस्तवम्।तस्मान्नते गुणाः कथ्या भरतस्याग्रतो मम।।2.26.25।।
so ’haṃ tvām āgato draṣṭuṃ prasthito vijanaṃ vanam |
bharatasya samīpe tu nāhaṃ kathyaḥ kadācana ||
buddhiyuktā hi puruṣā na sahante parastavam |
tasmān na te guṇāḥ kathyā bharatasyāgrato mama ||
Ich bin gekommen, dich zu sehen, denn ich breche auf in den einsamen Wald. In Bharatas Gegenwart sollst du niemals von mir sprechen; Weise ertragen es nicht, wenn man einen anderen vor ihnen preist. Darum erzähle vor Bharata nicht von meinen Tugenden.
I have come to see you before departing for the desolate Dandaka forest. You should never praise me in the presence of Bharata because intellectuals cannot tolerate others being praised before them. You should never extol my virtues before him.
FAQs
Practicing restraint in speech to preserve harmony and prevent rivalry—an applied dharma suited to delicate political circumstances.
A repeated/renumbered counsel from Rāma to Sītā prior to his departure, preserved in the Southern Recension presentation.
Humility coupled with prudence in interpersonal relations.