Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 4
एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address
राजानं धिग्दशरथं कामस्य वशमागतम्।।।।हा नृशंसाद्य कैकेयी पापा पापानुबन्धिनी।तीक्ष्णा सम्भिन्नमर्यादा तीक्ष्णकर्मणि वर्तते।।।।या पुत्रमीदृशं राज्ञः प्रवासयति धार्मिकम्।वनवासे महाप्राज्ञं सानुक्रोशं जितेन्द्रियम्।।।।
rājānaṃ dhig daśarathaṃ kāmasya vaśam āgatam ||
hā nṛśaṃsā ’dya kaikeyī pāpā pāpānubandhinī |
tīkṣṇā sambhinnamaryādā tīkṣṇakarmaṇi vartate ||
yā putram īdṛśaṃ rājñaḥ pravāsayati dhārmikam |
vanavāse mahāprājñaṃ sānukrośaṃ jitendriyam ||
“Shame on King Daśaratha, who has fallen under the sway of desire! Alas—today that ruthless Kaikeyī, sinful and bound to sin, has shattered every boundary of propriety and is set upon a cruel deed: she is sending the king’s son—righteous, profoundly wise, compassionate, and self-restrained—away to dwell in the forest.”
(The villagers were speaking among themselves) Fie on the king who is overtaken by passion! Alas, the heartless, sinful Kaikeyi, indulging in evil has banished into the forest this prince who is righteous and sagacious, compassionate and self-restrained. How could this cruel Kaikeyi, by breaking all limits of decorum resort to such atrocious action?
FAQs
The verse highlights rājadharma and maryādā: a king should not be ruled by personal desire, and decisions affecting the righteous must not violate moral boundaries or social propriety.
As Rāma proceeds toward exile, people in villages and hamlets speak in grief and anger, condemning Daśaratha’s weakness and Kaikeyī’s cruelty in sending Rāma to the forest.
Rāma’s dharma and self-mastery are emphasized: he is described as righteous, wise, compassionate, and restrained in his senses (jitendriya).