Shloka 2
दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka
Dharma of Refuge
हितमुक्तं त्वया देवि स्निग्धया सदृशं वचः।कुलं व्यपदिशन्त्या च धर्मज्ञे जनकात्मजे।।।।
hitam uktaṁ tvayā devi snigdhayā sadṛśaṁ vacaḥ |
kulaṁ vyapadiśantyā ca dharmajñe janakātmaje ||
ഹേ ദേവി, ധർമ്മജ്ഞയായ ജനകാത്മജേ, സ്നേഹത്തോടെയും നിന്റെ കുലത്തെ സ്മരിപ്പിച്ചും നീ പറഞ്ഞ വാക്കുകൾ ഹിതകരവും യുക്തിയുക്തവുമാണ്.
O daughter of Janaka, on hearing the words of the sages I promised to undertake the entire protection of sages of the Dandaka forest.
FAQs
Dharma is presented as guidance that is both affectionate and principled—good counsel should be ‘hita’ (beneficial) and ‘sadṛśa’ (appropriate) to one’s character and lineage.
In the Dandaka region, Sita has advised Rama with loving concern; Rama acknowledges her counsel as proper and dharmic.
Sita’s discernment and propriety (dharma-jñāna) in offering timely, fitting advice.