Shloka 6
सीताप्रत्याख्यानम् / Rama’s Post-Victory Address to Sītā
Public Opinion and Royal Duty
सम्प्राप्तमवमानंयस्तेजसा न प्रमार्जति ।कस्तस्यपुरुषार्थोमहताप्यल्पचेतसः ।।6.118.6।।
samprāptam avamānaṁ yas tejasā na pramārjati |
kas tasya puruṣārtho mahatāpy alpa-cetasaḥ ||6.118.6||
Wer die ihm widerfahrene Schmach nicht durch eigene Kraft abwäscht—was nützt selbst große Tapferkeit einem Menschen von kleinem Geist?
"Now you see the result of my effort. I am successful and fulfilled my vow. Today I am independent."
FAQs
The verse presents a duty-based ethic of honor: strength and status are meaningful only when used to uphold dignity and counter wrongdoing.
Rāma justifies the necessity of his campaign by arguing that ignoring grave insult would render valor pointless.
Self-respect anchored in duty: using power for principled restoration of order, not for vanity.