Shloka 2.75.45

अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 75: Bharata and Kausalya—Reproach, Oaths, and Reconciliation)

Devanagari script

यदग्निदायके पापं यत्पापं गुरतल्पगे।मित्रद्रोहे च यत्पापं तत्पापं प्रतिपद्यताम्।।।।

Transliteration

yad agnidāyake pāpaṃ yat pāpaṃ guru-talpage | mitra-drohe ca yat pāpaṃ tat pāpaṃ pratipadyatām ||

Translation

May that man incur the same sin as one who commits arson, violates the teacher’s bed, or betrays a friend.

Context

May that one who counselled the exile of my esteemed brother acquire the sin in the same way as a person who sets fire to human settlements, violates the preceptors's bed and betrays his friend!

Characters & Entities

• Bharata (speaker, implied)
• Rama (implied as ‘āryaḥ’ in surrounding refrain)

FAQs

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

The verse equates enabling grave injustice with paradigmatic ‘great sins,’ stressing that betrayal of trust and duty is ethically catastrophic.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata’s lament peaks into a formalized curse by comparing the wrongdoing to notorious transgressions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty (mitratva) and fidelity to rightful order—Bharata treats betrayal as a fundamental rupture of dharma.