Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 2
अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः — Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint
Mantharā Episode
गतिर्य स्सर्वभूतानां दुःखे किं पुनरात्मनः।स राम स्सत्त्वसम्पन्नः स्त्रिया प्रव्राजितो वनम्।।।।
gatir yaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ duḥkhe kiṁ punar ātmanaḥ |
sa rāmaḥ sattvasampannaḥ striyā pravrājito vanam ||
गतिर्यः सर्वभूतानां दुःखे किं पुनरात्मनः। स रामः सत्त्वसम्पन्नः स्त्रिया प्रव्राजितो वनम्॥
Couldn't the mighty Rama who is the ultimate refuge of all beings protect himself in his own distress? That Rama has been exiled to the forest by a woman.
FAQs
The verse highlights the tension between moral authority and personal suffering: even the one who shelters others (Rāma) endures hardship without abandoning dharma, implying that righteousness is proven under adversity.
After Rāma’s exile, emotions flare in the royal household; Śatrughna expresses shock and indignation that Rāma has been sent to the forest due to Kaikeyī’s influence.
Rāma’s sattva (steadfast moral strength): he remains the ‘refuge of beings’ even while personally afflicted, suggesting inner integrity rather than mere power.