Valmiki Ramayana 2.36.22 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 22
अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः
Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent
डक्रीडतस्त्वेष नः पुत्रान् बालानुद्भ्रान्तचेतनः।सरय्वां प्रक्षिपन्मौर्ख्यादतुलां प्रीतिमश्नुते।।।।
ḍakrīḍatas tv eṣa naḥ putrān bālān udbhrānta-cetanaḥ | sarayvāṃ prakṣipan maurkhyād atulāṃ prītim aśnute ||2.36.22||
“ఈ ఉన్మత్తచిత్తుడు మా ఆడుకొనుచున్న చిన్న పిల్లలను మూర్ఖత్వముచేత సరయూలో పడవేసి, అందులోనే అపారమైన ఆనందము పొందుచున్నాడు.”
That insane (Asamanjasa) while throwing our children who were playing around into Sarayu river in his insanity derived incomparable pleasure'.
FAQs
Dharma requires safeguarding children and punishing cruelty. Pleasure taken in others’ suffering is identified as a grave moral disorder that society must not normalize.
The citizens explain the specific crime causing fear: their children are being thrown into the river by the king’s son.
The virtue highlighted by contrast is parental and civic protection—standing up to power to defend the helpless.
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