Shloka 21
षष्टितमः सर्गः — Kausalyā’s Lament and Sumantra’s Consolation
Sītā’s Fearless Forest-Life
न शोच्यास्ते न चात्मनश्शोच्यो नापि जनाधिपः।इदं हि चरितं लोके प्रतिष्ठास्यति शाश्वतम्।।।।
na śocyās te na cātmanaḥ śocyo nāpi janādhipaḥ |
idaṃ hi caritaṃ loke pratiṣṭhāsyati śāśvatam ||
അവർ കരുണാർഹരല്ല; നിങ്ങളും കരുണാർഹനല്ല, രാജാവും അല്ല. കാരണം ഈ ധർമ്മാചരണകഥ ലോകത്തിൽ ശാശ്വതമായി സ്ഥാപിതമാകും।
With folded hands and faltering words choked by his fastflowing tears the charioteer tried to console Kausalya:
FAQs
Dharma is framed as exemplary conduct that becomes a lasting moral reference for society. The suffering is reinterpreted through the lens of enduring righteousness and truthful fame.
Sumantra argues against despair by stating that Rama’s conduct will become an everlasting model in the world, so lamentation is not fitting.
Rama’s ideal conduct (ācāra) as a timeless standard—virtue that outlives immediate pain.