Shloka 3.59.21

अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः — Maricha’s Mimic Cry and the Rama–Lakshmana–Sita Confrontation

Devanagari script

एवं ब्रुवाणं सौमित्रिं रामस्सन्तापमोहितः।अब्रवीद्दुष्कृतं सौम्य तां विना यत्त्वमागतः।।।।

Transliteration

evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ saumitriṃ rāmaḥ santāpa-mohitaḥ | abravīd duṣkṛtaṃ saumya tāṃ vinā yat tvam āgataḥ ||

Translation

As Saumitri spoke thus, Rāma—bewildered by grief—said: “O gentle one, it was a wrongful act that you came here leaving her behind.”

Context

To Lakshmana thus reporting, Rama, overcome with grief, said,(Even then) O noble brother! your coming here, leaving her behind, is a wrong step taken.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)
• Sītā (implied as 'her')

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is accountability to one’s assigned duty: even under pressure, abandoning the person entrusted to one’s care is treated as a serious lapse.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa reaches Rāma; Rāma, distressed, responds that Lakṣmaṇa should not have left Sītā alone.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s seriousness about duty and protection—he evaluates actions by responsibility, even while overwhelmed by grief.