Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.58: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 58
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma
based persuasion of Kausalyā
गुरुश्च राजा च पिता च वृद्धः क्रोधात्प्रहर्षाद्यदि वाऽपि कामात् ।
यद्व्यादिशेत्कार्यमवेक्ष्य धर्मं कस्तन्न कुर्यादनृशंसवृत्तिः ॥५८॥
guruś ca rājā ca pitā ca vṛddhaḥ krodhāt praharṣād yadi vā 'pi kāmāt |
yad vyādiśet kāryam avekṣya dharmaṁ kas tan na kuryād anṛśaṁsavṛttiḥ ||58||
गुरु, राजा, बाप, या कोई बड़ा आदमी जो भी कहे करो, गुस्से में हो या खुशी में। यह धरम का काम है। कौन नहीं करेगा? जो इंसान के काम ना करे।
Whatever a preceptor, an old man, a king and a father commands whether it is out of anger or pleasure or passion must be carried out as dharma. Who will not do it unless he is heartless?
FAQs
Dharma here is disciplined obedience to legitimate authority figures (guru, king, father, elder), treating their instruction as a binding moral duty rather than a matter of personal preference.
Rāma explains to his mother why he must accept and enact the command that results in his forest exile, grounding his decision in dharma.
Rāma’s steadfast adherence to duty (dharma-niṣṭhā) and refusal to act from resentment, even under painful circumstances.
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