Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 102
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
धिगस्तु योषितो नाम शठा स्स्वार्थपरास्सदा।न ब्रवीमि स्त्रिय स्सर्वा भरतस्यैव मातरम्।।।।
dhig astu yoṣito nāma śaṭhāḥ svārtha-parāḥ sadā | na bravīmi striyaḥ sarvā bharatasyaiva mātaram ||
धिक्कार है ‘स्त्री’ नाम पर—जो कपटी और सदा स्वार्थपर होती है! पर मैं यह सब स्त्रियों के लिए नहीं कहता—केवल भरत की माता के लिए।
A woman means one who secretly harms others. This is shameful indeed. They always seek selfish interests. I do not say this of all women, only of Bharata's mother.
FAQs
Dharma also governs speech: the verse shows how grief can drive harsh generalizations; it implicitly cautions against unjust, sweeping blame even when condemning a specific wrongful act.
In anger and pain, Daśaratha rebukes Kaikeyī, then partially retracts by limiting the accusation to her alone.
A negative exemplum: loss of restraint in speech; the partial qualification shows a faint return toward discrimination (viveka).