Shloka 2.61.19

कौसल्याविलापः — Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

न चेमां धर्षणां राम सङ्गच्छेदत्यमर्षणः।दारयेन्मन्दरमपि स हि क्रुद्धश्शितैश्शरैः।।2.61.19।।

Transliteration

tathā hy āttam idaṃ rājyaṃ hṛtasārāṃ surām iva |

nābhimantum alaṃ rāmo naṣṭasomam ivādhvaram || 2.61.18 ||

Translation

So too, this kingdom—already enjoyed by others—would be like liquor whose essence has been drained; Rāma is not fit to accept it, like a sacrifice in which the Soma has been lost.

Context

Rama, highly determined will not suffer this indignity. If enraged, he can split open even mount Mandara with his sharp arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• surā (liquor)
• soma
• adhvara (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Dharma holds that authority without rightful essence—justice, consent, and proper transfer—becomes hollow and unacceptable to the righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

Continuing the ritual analogy, the speaker insists Rāma will not accept a sovereignty whose moral ‘essence’ has been drained by prior wrongful enjoyment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s refusal of compromised gain: he values righteousness over advantage.