Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 15
सुमित्रोपदेशः
Sumitra’s Consolation to Kausalya
सूर्यस्यापि भवेत्सूर्यो ह्यग्नेरग्नि प्रभोः प्रभुः।श्रियः श्रीश्च भवेदग्र्या कीर्तिः कीर्त्याः क्षमाक्षमा।।।।दैवतं दैवतानां च भूतानां भूतसत्तमः।तस्य के ह्यगुणा देवि वने वाप्यथवा पुरे।।।।
sūryasyāpi bhavet sūryo hy agner agni prabhoḥ prabhuḥ | śriyaḥ śrīś ca bhaved agryā kīrtiḥ kīrtyāḥ kṣamā kṣamā || daivataṃ daivatānāṃ ca bhūtānāṃ bhūtasattamaḥ | tasya ke hy aguṇā devi vane vāpy athavā pure ||
हे देवि! सूर्याला तो सूर्यसमान, अग्नीला अग्नीसमान; प्रभूंचा प्रभू; श्रीला परम श्री; कीर्तीला सर्वोच्च कीर्ती; आणि क्षमावंतांना तोच क्षमा। तो देवतांचाही दैवत, भूतांमध्ये श्रेष्ठतम—मग त्याच्यात दोष तरी कोणता, वनात असो वा नगरी?
O Devi! Rama is the Sun (light) of the Sun, fire (splendour) of the fire, master (command) of masters, prosperity of the prosperous, the fame of the famous, forbearance of the forbearing, god of the gods and supreme among all beings. Whether he dwells in the forest or in the city, he has no demerit whatsoever.
FAQs
True virtue is context-independent: a dharmic person remains blameless and beneficent whether in comfort (city) or hardship (forest).
Sumitrā elevates Rāma’s character through a chain of superlative metaphors to calm Kausalyā’s fear about exile.
Rāma’s flawless excellence (nirdoṣatā) and forbearance (kṣamā), presented as universally sustaining qualities.