Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 11
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Guha’s Vigil and Lakṣmaṇa’s Lament
Night on the riverbank
यो मन्त्रतपसा लब्धो विविधैश्च पराश्रमैः।एको दशरथस्येष्टः पुत्रः सदृशलक्षणः।।।।अस्मिन् प्रव्राजिते राजा न चिरं वर्तयिष्यति।विधवा मेदिनी नूनं क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति।।।।
yo mantratapasā labdho vividhaiś ca parāśramaiḥ |
eko daśarathasyeṣṭaḥ putraḥ sadṛśalakṣaṇaḥ ||
asmin pravrājite rājā na ciraṃ vartayiṣyati |
vidhavā medinī nūnaṃ kṣipram eva bhaviṣyati ||
Jener Sohn—Daśarathas einziger Geliebter, mit Merkmalen, die denen des Vaters gleichen—wurde durch mantra-gestützte Askese und vielfältige schwere Mühen erlangt. Ist er verbannt, wird der König nicht lange leben; gewiss wird die Erde selbst bald zur Witwe werden.
This favourite son of Dasaratha who has similar traits like his father was born after he rigorously practised austerities accompanied by (Vedic) mantras. When he is banished, the king will not live long. Surely this land will soon be widowed.
FAQs
It highlights the dharmic bond between a righteous king and a righteous heir: when Dharma is disrupted (Rāma’s unjust exile), the stability of the realm and the king’s life-force are endangered.
Bharata senses calamity in Ayodhyā and reasons that Rāma’s exile will break Daśaratha, leading to the kingdom’s bereavement.
Bharata’s compassion and moral clarity—he recognizes Rāma’s worth and foresees the adharma-driven consequences for family and state.