Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 84
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
व्रतैश्च ब्रह्मचर्यैश्च गुरुभिश्चोपकर्शितः।भोगकाले महत्कृच्छ्रं पुनरेव प्रपत्स्यते।।।।
vrataiś ca brahmacaryaiś ca gurubhiś copakarśitaḥ | bhogakāle mahatkṛcchraṁ punar eva prapatsyate ||
Already worn down by vows, by the discipline of brahmacarya, and by the stern training of his teachers, he will again fall into great hardship—at the very time when he should be enjoying life’s rightful comforts.
'(Rama) already emaciated by observing vows related to ritual and celibacy in compliance with the orders of the preceptors has to undergo hardships again at a time when he should enjoy pleasures (of life)'.
FAQs
It frames injustice as forcing undeserved suffering upon the virtuous; dharma requires that merit and right timing (appropriate life-stage duties) be respected.
Daśaratha argues that Rāma, trained in discipline and already austere, is being wrongfully pushed into further hardship through exile.
Rāma’s disciplined character (vrata, brahmacarya, guru-śāsana) is emphasized, portraying him as deserving protection and rightful honor.