Shloka 2.36.32

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः — Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Devanagari script

एतद्वचो नेच्छसि पापवृत्ते हितं न जानासि ममात्मनो वा।आस्थाय मार्गं कृपणं कुचेष्टा चेष्टा हि ते साधुपथादपेता।।।।

Transliteration

etad vaco necchasi pāpavṛtte hitaṃ na jānāsi mamātmano vā | āsthāya mārgaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ kuceṣṭā ceṣṭā hi te sādhupathād apetā ||

Translation

O woman of sinful conduct, these words do not please you; you do not know what is truly beneficial—either for me or for yourself. Having taken up a base path, your actions, born of wicked intent, have indeed strayed from the way of the good.

Context

O Kaikeyi of vicious behaviour, you do not aceept even the words of Siddhartha. You woman of wicked acts, having adopted vile ways, and abjured the right path cannot know what is good either for you or for me.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Dharma (implied as sādhupatha)

FAQs

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

Dharma is knowing true welfare (hita) and staying on the sādhupatha (path of the good). Desire-driven schemes are portrayed as adharma that harms both self and others.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, shattered by events, openly condemns Kaikeyī’s stance as a deviation from righteous conduct.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity in naming wrongdoing—Daśaratha asserts that real ‘benefit’ must align with righteousness, not manipulation.