Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 36

अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः

Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct

Devanagari script

औरसानपि पुत्रान्हि त्यजन्त्यहितकारिणः।समर्थान्सम्प्रगृह्णन्ति जनानपि नराधिपाः।।।।

Transliteration

aurasān api putrān hi tyajanty ahitakāriṇaḥ |

samarthān sampragṛhṇanti janān api narādhipāḥ ||

Translation

ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ನರಾಧಿಪರು ಹಿತಕ್ಕೆ ವಿರೋಧವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಯುವ ತಮ್ಮದೇ ಔರಸ ಪುತ್ರರನ್ನೂ ತ್ಯಜಿಸಬಹುದು; ಮತ್ತು ಸಮರ್ಥರಾದವರನ್ನು ಕುಲದವರಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ ಸಹ ಅಂಗೀಕರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.

Word by Word

• aurasān: own (born of oneself)
• aurasān: Karma (कर्म; with putrān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aurasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; adjective qualifying putrān

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Sambhāvanā/samuccaya-nipāta (particle: 'even/also')

• putrān: sons
• putrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (emphasis)

• tyajanti: abandon
• tyajanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (त्यज् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• ahitakāriṇaḥ: harmful persons
• ahitakāriṇaḥ: Karma (कर्म; understood object of tyajanti)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahita-kārin (प्रातिपदिक); components: ahita (अहित) + kārin (कारिन्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; object complement: 'harm-doers'

• samarthān: capable
• samarthān: Karma (कर्म; with janān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; adjective qualifying janān

• sampragṛhṇanti: accept/receive
• sampragṛhṇanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra-grah (सम्-प्र-ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• janān: people
• janān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle 'even/also'

• narādhipāḥ: kings (lords of men)
• narādhipāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara-adhipa (प्रातिपदिक); components: nara (नर) + adhipa (अधिप)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana

Context

O my beloved Sita! I am going to the wild forest. Stay here and never cause displeasure to any one in any way. Could you carry out these words of mine?ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ṣaḍviṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the twentysixth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Bharata

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Rājadharma prioritizes the welfare of the kingdom: merit and harmlessness outweigh mere blood ties when decisions affect public good.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma cautions Sītā about the realities of kingship—how rulers judge by benefit and harm, not only by family relation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Realism aligned with dharma: understanding that authority must act firmly for societal stability.