Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 19
अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः
Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent
असमञ्जो गृहीत्वा तु क्रीडतः पथि बालकान्।सरय्वाः प्रक्षिपन्नप्सु रमते तेन दुर्मतिः।।।।
asamañjo gṛhītvā tu krīḍataḥ pathi bālakān | sarayvāḥ prakṣipann apsu ramate tena durmatiḥ ||2.36.19||
Asamañja yang berhati jahat akan menangkap anak-anak yang sedang bermain di jalan, lalu melemparkan mereka ke dalam air Sungai Sarayū, dan ia bersenang-senang karenanya.
That wicked-minded Asamanjasa used to seize the children playing on the street and amuse himself by hurling them in the waters of river Sarayu.
FAQs
Dharma condemns cruelty, especially toward the innocent. Delighting in harm (hiṃsā-rati) is presented as a mark of adharma that demands royal attention and correction.
Siddhārtha recounts the notorious behavior of Asamañja to frame a moral comparison relevant to the present political decision about banishment.
The implied virtue is compassion and protection of the vulnerable—contrasted with Asamañja’s perverse pleasure in violence.