Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 21
कौसल्याविलापः
Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship
त्वां तु नोत्सहते हन्तुं महात्मा पितृगौरवात्।ससोमार्कग्रहगणं नभस्ताराविचित्रितम्।।2.61.20।।पातयेद्योदिवं क्रुद्धस्सत्वां न व्यतिवर्तते।प्रक्षोभयेद्वारये द्वा महीं शैलशताचिताम्।।2.61.21।।
tvāṃ tu notsahate hantuṃ mahātmā pitṛgauravāt |
sasomārkagrahagaṇaṃ nabhas tārāvicitritam || 2.61.20 ||
pātayed yo divaṃ kruddhaḥ sa tvāṃ na vyativartate |
prakṣobhayet vā dārayet vā mahīṃ śailaśatācitām || 2.61.21 ||
Doch der Großherzige vermag dich nicht zu schlagen, aus Ehrfurcht vor seinem Vater. Er, der im Zorn den sternbesäten Himmel mit Sonne, Mond und Planeten herabstürzen lassen könnte, überschreitet dich nicht; eher würde er die Erde, von Hunderten Bergen umgürtet, erschüttern oder gar zerreißen, als die kindliche Pflicht zu verletzen.
Out of respect for his father magnanimous Rama is not inclined to kill you. He has not defied the anger, the Sun, the Moon and the sky looking wonderful with stars can be pulled down. He will not even shake or break the earth surrounded by hundreds of mountains.
FAQs
Filial reverence and obedience to rightful authority are central to dharma; true strength is shown by restraint in deference to moral duty.
The speaker stresses that Rāma’s non-violence toward his father is not weakness but principled restraint grounded in respect for paternal dharma.
Rāma’s pitṛbhakti (reverence for his father) and self-control, even while possessing world-shaking power.