Shloka 5.26.35

सीताविलापः — Sita’s Lament and Prophecy of Lanka’s Ruin

Devanagari script

अकार्यं ये न जानन्ति नैर्ऋताः पापकारिणः।।।।अधर्मात्तु महोत्पातो भविष्यति हि सांप्रतम्।नैते धर्मं विजानन्ति राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः।।।।

Transliteration

akāryaṃ ye na jānanti nairṛtāḥ pāpakāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

These sinful Naiṛtas—rākṣasas who do evil—do not even recognize what must not be done, what is forbidden.

Context

"Nothing is forbidden for sinful demons. A calamity will befall now due to thisadharma. The flesh-eating ogres are aware of neither dharma nor adharma

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas (nairṛtāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma begins with discernment—knowing the boundary of the forbidden. The verse criticizes adharma as a loss of moral discrimination.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, surrounded by hostile demonesses and under threat, reflects on the Rākṣasas’ inability to understand moral limits.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s dharma-jñāna (knowledge of right conduct) and unwavering ethical judgment even under coercion.