Valmiki Ramayana 1.39.25 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 25
सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम्
The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara
अयं यज्ञहरोऽस्माकमनेनाश्वोऽपनीयते।इति ते सर्वभूतानि निघ्नन्ति सगरात्मजा:।।1.39.25।।
ayaṁ yajñaharo 'smākam anenāśvo 'panīyate |
iti te sarvabhūtāni nighnanti sagarātmajāḥ || 1.39.25 ||
‘இவனே எங்கள் யாகத்தை அழிப்பவன்; இவனாலேயே குதிரை அபகரிக்கப்பட்டது’ என்று எண்ணி சகரன் புதல்வர்கள் எல்லா உயிர்களையும் தாக்கி கொல்கின்றனர்.
"O child, O son of the Kakutsthas, the great charioteer Anshuman (who can fight with eleven thousand charioteers), wielding a strong bow followed the sacrificial horse (in order to protect it) in compliance with Sagara's wish.
FAQs
Dharma demands truth and restraint: acting on suspicion and anger—without certainty—leads to adharma, especially when it results in harm to the innocent.
The petitioners report the sons of Sagara’s rationale: believing someone stole the sacrificial horse, they indiscriminately kill beings during the search.
The verse highlights the absence of discernment (viveka); it implicitly upholds the virtue of careful judgment before punishment.
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