Shloka 2.61.20
कौसल्याविलापः — Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship
त्वां तु नोत्सहते हन्तुं महात्मा पितृगौरवात्।ससोमार्कग्रहगणं नभस्ताराविचित्रितम्।।2.61.20।।पातयेद्योदिवं क्रुद्धस्सत्वां न व्यतिवर्तते।प्रक्षोभयेद्वारये द्वा महीं शैलशताचिताम्।।2.61.21।।
tvāṃ tu notsahate hantuṃ mahātmā pitṛgauravāt |
sasomārkagrahagaṇaṃ nabhas tārāvicitritam || 2.61.20 ||
pātayed yo divaṃ kruddhaḥ sa tvāṃ na vyativartate |
prakṣobhayet vā dārayet vā mahīṃ śailaśatācitām || 2.61.21 ||
But the great-souled Rāma cannot bring himself to strike you, out of reverence for his father. Even one who, in anger, could pull down the star-strewn sky with its Sun, Moon, and planets, does not transgress you; he would rather shake—nay, even rend—the earth ringed with hundreds of mountains than violate filial duty.
Out of respect for his father magnanimous Rama is not inclined to kill you. He has not defied the anger, the Sun, the Moon and the sky looking wonderful with stars can be pulled down. He will not even shake or break the earth surrounded by hundreds of mountains.
Filial reverence and obedience to rightful authority are central to dharma; true strength is shown by restraint in deference to moral duty.
The speaker stresses that Rāma’s non-violence toward his father is not weakness but principled restraint grounded in respect for paternal dharma.
Rāma’s pitṛbhakti (reverence for his father) and self-control, even while possessing world-shaking power.