Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 10
पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)
Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation
को ह्यविद्वानपि पुमान् प्रमदायाः कृते त्यजेत्।छन्दानुवर्तिनं पुत्रं तातो मामिव लक्ष्मण।।।।
ko hy avidvān api pumān pramadāyāḥ kṛte tyajet | chandānuvartinaṃ putraṃ tāto mām iva lakṣmaṇa ||2.53.10||
Wahai Laksmana, lelaki mana—meski tak berilmu—yang demi seorang perempuan akan meninggalkan putra yang patuh seperti aku, sebagaimana ayahku telah meninggalkanku?
O Lakshmana, will even an illiterate man for the sake of a woman ever abandon his son like me who is faithful and obedient, as did my father?
FAQs
The verse questions a lapse in discernment: dharma requires reasoned judgment not to sacrifice rightful duty and familial responsibility under overpowering attachment.
Rāma, pained by exile, speaks candidly to Lakṣmaṇa about being forsaken by his father under Kaikeyī’s influence.
Rāma’s frankness and moral clarity—he articulates the ethical problem even while personally suffering.