Shloka 5.26.36

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

Devanagari script

अकार्यं ये न जानन्ति नैर्ऋताः पापकारिणः।।5.26.35।।

अधर्मात्तु महोत्पातो भविष्यति हि सांप्रतम्।

नैते धर्मं विजानन्ति राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः।।5.26.36।।

Transliteration

adharmāt tu mahotpāto bhaviṣyati hi sāṃpratam |

naite dharmaṃ vijānanti rākṣasāḥ piśitāśanāḥ ||

Translation

From adharma a great calamity will arise—indeed, even now. These flesh-eating Rākṣasas do not understand dharma at all.

Context

Nothing is forbidden for sinful demons. A calamity will befall now due to this adharma. The flesheating ogres are aware of neither dharma nor adharma.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Adharma
• Mahotpāta (calamity)

FAQs

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

Adharma is self-destructive: wrongdoing does not merely harm victims; it generates wider social and cosmic disorder, culminating in calamity.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā interprets her unlawful captivity as a sign that disaster is imminent for Laṅkā’s unrighteous rulers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral foresight grounded in satya: Sītā speaks with conviction that truth and dharma will assert themselves through consequences.