Shloka 6.83.24

त्र्यशीतितमः सर्गः (Sarga 83) — Hanumān Reports Sītā’s ‘Slaying’; Rāma Collapses; Lakṣmaṇa’s Counter-Discourse on Dharma and Artha

Devanagari script

अदृष्टप्रतिकारेणत्वव्यक्तेनासतासता ।कथंशक्यंपरंप्राप्तुंधर्मेणारिविकर्षण ।।6.83.24।।

Transliteration

adṛṣṭa-pratikāreṇa tv-avyaktena asatā satā | kathaṃ śakyaṃ paraṃ prāptuṃ dharmeṇārivikarṣaṇa ||6.83.24||

Translation

O crusher of enemies! When the recompense of dharma is not visibly seen and its reality is uncertain—whether it is real or unreal—how can one possibly attain the highest good through righteousness?

Context

"O Crusher of enemies! How does righteousness get encountered? It is not seen. How to know whether it is real or unreal? Is it possible to know that the best result is attained by righteousness."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (implied by vocative arivikarṣaṇa)

FAQs

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

The verse raises a skeptical challenge: if dharma’s results are not immediately visible and its truth-status seems uncertain, how can it be reliably pursued as a path to the highest good?

What is the narrative situation?

In the war setting of Yuddhakāṇḍa, a close companion of Rāma voices frustration and philosophical doubt, questioning whether dharma truly yields its promised outcomes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral honesty and critical inquiry—speaking openly about doubt when righteousness appears unrewarded.