Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 83, Shloka 21
त्र्यशीतितमः सर्गः (Sarga 83)
Hanumān Reports Sītā’s ‘Slaying’; Rāma Collapses; Lakṣmaṇa’s Counter-Discourse on Dharma and Artha
यस्मादर्थाविवर्धन्तेयेष्वधर्मःप्रतिष्ठितः ।क्लिश्यन्तेधर्मशीलाश्चतस्मादेतौनिरर्थकौ ।।6.83.21।।
yasmād arthā vivardhante yeṣv adharmaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ |
kliśyante dharma-śīlāś ca tasmād etau nirarthakau ||6.83.21||
Denn wir sehen, dass Reichtum und Vorteil bei denen wachsen, in denen Adharma feststeht, während die Dharma-Treuen leiden; darum erscheinen diese beiden Behauptungen unerquicklich und ohne Zweck.
"Since those rooted in unrighteous develop and are wealthy, and those who follow dharma suffer both these are meaningless."
FAQs
It articulates the classic ethical challenge: empirical life seems to reward adharma and burden dharma, tempting one to dismiss moral law as ineffective.
A philosophical objection is raised during wartime stress, using social observation (wicked prosper, righteous suffer) to undermine dharma.
The needed virtue is steadfastness in dharma despite discouraging appearances—an implicit call for moral resilience.