Valmiki Ramayana 2.91.58 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 58
भरद्वाजाश्रमे भरतसैन्यस्य दिव्यात्मिथ्यम् / Divine Hospitality to Bharata’s Army at Bharadvaja’s Hermitage
नाश्वबन्धोऽश्वमाजानान्नगजं कुञ्जरग्रहः।मत्तप्रमत्तमुदिता चमूः सा तत्र संबभौ।।।।
nāśvabandho ’śvam ājānān na gajaṃ kuñjaragrahaḥ |
matta-pramatta-muditā camūḥ sā tatra saṃbabhau ||
तत्र सा चमूः मत्तप्रमत्तमुदिता दीप्तिमती संबभौ; अश्वबन्धः अश्वं न आजानात्, कुञ्जरग्रहः गजं न आजानात्।
The horserider no longer recognised the horse or the mahout the elephant and the whole army was inebriated with drinking and pleasure.
FAQs
It serves as an ethical caution: indulgence that destroys awareness leads to negligence of duty (pramāda), which dharma repeatedly warns against.
After lavish hospitality, the army becomes intoxicated and disorderly, forgetting even their own animals and roles.
By contrast (through negative example), the virtue emphasized is self-restraint and mindfulness—needed to preserve responsibility.
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