Shloka 9

अयोध्याकाण्डे द्विषष्टितमः सर्गः

Kausalyā consoles Daśaratha; grief, remorse, and nightfall

Devanagari script

सा त्वं धर्मपरा नित्यं दृष्टलोक परावरा।नार्हसे विप्रियं वक्तुं दुखिःताऽपि सुदुःखितम्।।।।

Transliteration

sā tvaṃ dharmaparā nityaṃ dṛṣṭaloka-parāvarā |

nārhase vipriyaṃ vaktuṃ duḥkhitā ’pi suduḥkhitam ||

Translation

Engkau sentiasa berpegang pada Dharma dan telah melihat tinggi-rendahnya dunia; maka walaupun engkau sendiri berdukacita, tidaklah wajar berkata yang menyakitkan kepada yang lebih dihancurkan oleh duka.

Word by Word

साshe/that (you)

त्वम्you

धर्मपराdevoted to dharma

नित्यम्always

दृष्टलोकपरावराone who has seen/known the higher and lower (ends) of the world

नnot

अर्हसेyou ought/it befits you

विप्रियम्unpleasant (word/thing)

वक्तुम्to speak

दुःखिताgrieved

अपिeven though

सुदुःखितम्very painful/very grievous (speech)

Context

You always adhere to righteousness. You have seen both the extremes (good and bad) of this world. Athough you yourself are in grief it does not behove you to speak unpleasant words to one who is suffering from a greater grief.

Characters & Entities

Daśaratha

Kausalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as vāg-dharma (ethical speech): even justified anger should not become cruel speech, especially toward someone already suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha anticipates or responds to Kausalyā’s painful reproach and asks her to restrain harsh words, citing her lifelong dharmic disposition.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint and compassion in speech—responding to grief with measured words rather than further injury.