HomeRamayanaAranya KandaSarga 2Shloka 3.2.21
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Shloka 3.2.21

Virādha-saṃvādaḥ — Encounter with Virādha in the Daṇḍakāraṇya (Aranya Kanda, Sarga 2)

परस्पर्शात्तु वैदेह्याः न दुःखतरमस्तिमे।पितुर्विनाशात्सौमित्रे स्वराज्यहरणात्तथा।।।।

parasparśāt tu vaidehyāḥ na duḥkhataram asti me |

pitur vināśāt saumitre svarājyaharaṇāt tathā ||3.2.21||

Saumitri, for me there is no grief more painful than Vaidehī being touched by another man—more painful than my father’s death, and even than the loss of my own kingdom.

O Lakshmana! nothing is more sorrowful to me than the touch of Vaidehi by another. It is more painful to me than the death of my father or loss of my kingdom.

L
Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)
V
Vaidehī (Sītā)
R
Rāma’s father (Daśaratha, implied)

Maryādā (moral boundary) in marriage: the protection of a spouse’s bodily dignity is treated as a supreme duty, outweighing even political loss.

Rama articulates to Lakshmana the depth of his anguish at Sita’s violation and abduction by Virādha.

Conjugal loyalty and protective righteousness: Rama’s priority is Sita’s safety and honor above personal power.