Shloka 31
अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः
Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge
स्वथधर्म पुरुषव्याप्र राजपुत्री लभत्वियम् | न युक्तस्त्ववमानो<यं राज्ञां कर्तु त्वयानघ
svadharmo puruṣavyāghra rājaputrī labhatv iyam | na yuktas tv avamāno ’yaṃ rājñāṃ kartuṃ tvayānagha ||
Rāma dit : «Ô tigre parmi les hommes, agis de sorte que cette princesse puisse obtenir l’occasion de suivre son propre svadharma. Ô irréprochable, il ne te sied pas d’infliger aux rois une humiliation de cette nature.»
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dharma as context-sensitive duty: a noble person should enable others—here, a princess—to act according to their rightful obligations, and should avoid actions that dishonour kings, since public humiliation violates ethical and royal norms.
Rāma addresses a heroic man, urging him to behave in a way that preserves the princess’s ability to follow her proper course of duty, while also warning that the current conduct amounts to an improper insult to kings.