Shloka 6.83.14
त्र्यशीतितमः सर्गः (Sarga 83) — Hanumān Reports Sītā’s ‘Slaying’; Rāma Collapses; Lakṣmaṇa’s Counter-Discourse on Dharma and Artha
शुभेवर्त्मनितिष्ठन्तंत्वामार्यविजितेन्द्रियम् ।अनर्थेभ्यो न शक्नोतित्रातुंधर्मोनिरर्थकः ।।6.83.14।।
śubhe vartmani tiṣṭhantaṃ tvām ārya vijitendriyam | anarthebhyo na śaknoti trātuṃ dharmo nirarthakaḥ ||
O noble one, self-restrained and steadfast upon the auspicious path—if Dharma cannot shield you from calamity, then Dharma itself becomes meaningless.
"O Noble Rama! If You, who have gained over senses and sticking to a virtuous path are not protected, from this calamity by righteousness, then righteousness is useless."
Lakṣmaṇa frames a moral challenge: Dharma must be efficacious in protecting the righteous; the verse dramatizes a crisis that ultimately pushes Rāma back toward purposeful action grounded in dharma and satya.
After Rāma collapses in grief, Lakṣmaṇa argues forcefully to restore his brother’s resolve by questioning the value of dharma if it fails to safeguard the virtuous.
Moral courage in counsel—Lakṣmaṇa speaks boldly and logically, prioritizing Rāma’s return to duty over polite restraint.