Shloka 23

द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

अत्यन्तसुकुमारस्य तस्य धर्मे धृतात्मनः।कथं रोचयसे वासमरण्ये भृशदारुणे।।।।

Transliteration

atyantasukumārasya tasya dharme dhṛtātmanaḥ | kathaṃ rocayase vāsam araṇye bhṛśadāruṇe ||

Translation

അത്യന്തം സുകുമാരനും ധർമത്തിൽ ദൃഢചിത്തനും ആയ ആ രാമൻ, അത്യന്തം കഠിനമായ വനത്തിൽ വസിക്കണമെന്നു നീ എങ്ങനെ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു?

Word by Word

अत्यन्तसुकुमारस्यof the exceedingly delicate one

तस्यof him

धर्मेin virtue/dharma

धृतात्मनःof the firm-minded one

कथम्how/why

रोचयसेyou approve/like

वासम्dwelling

अरण्येin the forest

भृशदारुणेin the very dreadful (place)

Context

Why do you want Rama who is so tender and a firm follower of dharma to dwell in the highly dreadful forest?

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Forest (araṇya)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes protecting the deserving and not subjecting the virtuous to disproportionate hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha argues against the cruelty of exile by emphasizing Rāma’s gentleness and disciplined devotion to dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s self-mastery and steadfastness in virtue (dhṛtātman; dharme) are highlighted.