Shloka 2.41.5

अयोध्यायाः शोकप्रकम्पः (Ayodhya’s Tremor of Grief and Omens)

Devanagari script

कैकेय्या क्लिश्यमानेन राज्ञा सञ्चोदितो वनम्।परित्राता जनस्यास्य जगतः क्व नु गच्छति।।2.41.5।।

Transliteration

kaikeyyā kliśyamānena rājñā sañcodito vanam |

paritrātā janasya 'sya jagataḥ kva nu gacchati || 2.41.5 ||

Translation

Pressed by Kaikeyī, the king—tormented—has ordered him to the forest. Where is he going now, he who was the protector of this people, of this whole world?

Context

Tormented by Kaikeyi, the king ordered him to go to the forest. Where is he, who happened to be the protector of the people of this world, going now?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī
• the king (Daśaratha)
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

It underscores rājadharma and loka-hitā: the ruler’s realm depends on a protector who upholds welfare and justice; exile of such a guardian is seen as a moral and civic calamity.

What is the narrative situation?

The queens describe the cause of exile—Kaikeyī’s pressure leading the king to command Rāma to the forest—and grieve its consequences.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s role as paritrātā—an ethical protector of society, not merely a private individual.