Shloka 2.53.13

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53) — Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

अर्थधर्मौ परित्यज्य य काममनुवर्तते।एवमापद्यते क्षिप्रं राजा दशरथो यथा।।।।

Transliteration

artha-dharmau parityajya yaḥ kāmam anuvartate | evam āpadyate kṣipraṃ rājā daśaratho yathā ||2.53.13||

Translation

A king who casts aside artha and dharma and follows desire soon falls into calamity—just as King Daśaratha has done.

Context

Any king who abandons dharma and artha and adopts a life of pleasure will very soon reach this state as Dasaratha has attained.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• dharma
• artha
• kāma

FAQs

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

Rajadharma: a ruler must balance artha and dharma; when kāma dominates decision-making, the polity and family order collapse into suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma generalizes Daśaratha’s predicament into a moral warning about kingship and the dangers of desire-driven governance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s moral reasoning—he interprets events through ethical categories (artha/dharma/kāma), not merely personal grievance.