HomeRamayanaAyodhya KandaSarga 103Shloka 2.103.6
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Shloka 2.103.6

पिण्डदानदर्शनम् — The Queens Behold Rama’s Śrāddha Offering

जघन्यमपि ते पुत्रः कृतवान् न तु गर्हितः।भ्रातुर्यदर्थरहितं सर्वं तद् गर्हितंं गुणैः।।2.103.6।।

jaghanyam api te putraḥ kṛtavān na tu garhitaḥ |

bhrātur yad arthasahitaṁ sarvaṁ tad vihitaṁ guṇaiḥ ||2.103.6||

Even if your son has done what seems menial, he is not blameworthy; for whatever he does for his brother’s good is, in truth, ennobled by virtue.

Your son, though engaged in servile tasks (like bringing water), is not to be held contemptible because all the services intended for the benefit of his brother areprompted by virtue.

S
Sumitrā
L
Lakṣmaṇa
B
brother (Rāma, implied)

Dharma judges actions by intention and benefit: service done for a righteous end (a brother’s welfare) is not “low,” but virtuous.

Kausalyā reframes Lakṣmaṇa’s humble forest duties as honorable because they support Rāma.

Humility joined with devotion—performing any necessary task when it serves dharma.