Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 11
त्रयस्त्रिंशः सर्गः
Civic Lament and Rama’s Dutiful Approach to Daśaratha
निर्गुणस्यापि पुत्रस्य कथं स्याद्विप्रवासनम्।किं पुनर्यस्य लोकोऽयं जितो वृत्तेन केवलम्।।।।
nirguṇasyāpi putrasya kathaṃ syād vipravāsanam | kiṃ punar yasya loko ’yaṃ jito vṛttena kevalam ||
Bagaimana mungkin bahkan seorang putra yang tanpa kebajikan diasingkan? Apalagi Rāma, yang telah menaklukkan seluruh dunia ini semata-mata dengan keluhuran perilakunya.
Even a son who is bereft of virtues cannot be banished, what to say about Rama, who by good conduct alone has conquered the world.
FAQs
Dharma is tied to śīla (upright conduct): society’s legitimacy rests on recognizing virtue, and punishing or exiling the virtuous is seen as a moral inversion.
The public argues that exile is unjust—if it is hard to justify even for an unworthy son, it is unthinkable for Rāma.
Rāma’s exemplary conduct (vṛtta/śīla), which earns universal respect without coercion.