Shloka 30

सीताया धर्मोपदेशः—शस्त्रसंयोगदोषकथा

Sita’s Counsel on Dharma and the Peril of Weapon-Association

Devanagari script

अक्षया तु भवेत्प्रीतिश्श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोर्मम।।3.9.30।।यदि राज्यं परित्यज्य भवेस्त्वं निरतो मुनिः।

Transliteration

akṣayā tu bhavet prītiḥ śvaśrūśvaśurayor mama |

yadi rājyaṃ parityajya bhaves tvaṃ nirato muniḥ ||

Translation

രാജ്യം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് നീ സ്ഥിരചിത്തനായ മുനിയായി തപസ്സിൽ നിരതനായിരുന്നെങ്കിൽ, എന്റെ ശ്വശ്രൂ-ശ്വശുരന്മാർക്ക് അക്ഷയമായ സന്തോഷം ഉദിച്ചേനേ.

Word by Word

akṣayāimperishable / unlimited

tuindeed

bhavetwould be

prītiḥjoy / satisfaction

śvaśrūśvaśurayoḥof (my) mother-in-law and father-in-law

mamaof me / my

yadiif

rājyamkingdom

parityajyahaving abandoned

bhaveḥyou would become

tvamyou

nirataḥdevoted / engaged

muniḥsage/ascetic

Context

The wise earn dharma through getting their bodies emaciated by carefully adoptingdifferent means of discipline (self-torture). Happiness does not beget happiness.

Characters & Entities

Sītā

Rāma

Daśaratha (implied as father-in-law)

Kauśalyā (implied as mother-in-law)

rājya (kingdom)

muni (ascetic)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as balancing renunciation and familial expectations; Sītā frames lasting contentment for elders as linked to a consistent life-choice (full renunciation).

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā reflects on the implications of Rāma’s life-path: if he had truly chosen asceticism, his parents would have had a stable form of consolation, unlike the tension of mixed roles.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Consideration for elders and clarity of life-purpose (steadfastness rather than wavering between roles).