Shloka 6.80.38

इन्द्रजितो यज्ञानुष्ठानं अन्तर्धानं च (Indrajit’s Rite and the Invisible Assault)

Devanagari script

तमुवाचततोरामोलक्ष्मणंशुभलक्षणम् ।नैकस्यहेतोरक्षांसिपृथिव्यांहन्तुमर्हसि ।।।।

Transliteration

tam uvāca tato rāmo lakṣmaṇaṃ śubhalakṣaṇam | naikasyā heto rakṣāṃsi pṛthivyāṃ hantum arhasi ||

Translation

Then Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa of auspicious marks: “For the sake of a single one, you should not slay the Rākṣasas across the earth.”

Context

To Lakshmana, gifted with auspicious signs, Rama said" for the sake of killing one Rakshasa, you are not to kill all the Rakshasas on the earth."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• pṛthivī (earth)

FAQs

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

Proportionality and restraint: dharma forbids indiscriminate violence. Even when wronged, one must not punish the many for the fault of one.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa proposes using the Brahmāstra broadly; Rāma restrains him, insisting on measured action rather than mass destruction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s maryādā (ethical boundaries) and self-control—he upholds righteous limits even under extreme provocation.