Valmiki Ramayana 2.49.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 4
एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address
राजानं धिग्दशरथं कामस्य वशमागतम्।।।।हा नृशंसाद्य कैकेयी पापा पापानुबन्धिनी।तीक्ष्णा सम्भिन्नमर्यादा तीक्ष्णकर्मणि वर्तते।।।।या पुत्रमीदृशं राज्ञः प्रवासयति धार्मिकम्।वनवासे महाप्राज्ञं सानुक्रोशं जितेन्द्रियम्।।।।
rājānaṃ dhig daśarathaṃ kāmasya vaśam āgatam ||
hā nṛśaṃsā ’dya kaikeyī pāpā pāpānubandhinī |
tīkṣṇā sambhinnamaryādā tīkṣṇakarmaṇi vartate ||
yā putram īdṛśaṃ rājñaḥ pravāsayati dhārmikam |
vanavāse mahāprājñaṃ sānukrośaṃ jitendriyam ||
కామవశుడైన రాజు దశరథునికి ధిక్కారం! హాయ్, ఈ రోజు ఆ నృశంసురాలైన కైకేయి—పాపిని, పాపానుబంధిని—మర్యాదలను ఛేదించి క్రూరకర్మలో నిమగ్నమై ఉంది. ఆమెనే రాజుని ఇలాంటి కుమారుని—ధార్మికుడైన, మహాప్రాజ్ఞుడైన, కరుణాసంపన్నుడైన, జితేంద్రియుడైనవాడిని—వనవాసానికి ప్రవాసింపజేస్తోంది।
(The villagers were speaking among themselves) Fie on the king who is overtaken by passion! Alas, the heartless, sinful Kaikeyi, indulging in evil has banished into the forest this prince who is righteous and sagacious, compassionate and self-restrained. How could this cruel Kaikeyi, by breaking all limits of decorum resort to such atrocious action?
FAQs
The verse highlights rājadharma and maryādā: a king should not be ruled by personal desire, and decisions affecting the righteous must not violate moral boundaries or social propriety.
As Rāma proceeds toward exile, people in villages and hamlets speak in grief and anger, condemning Daśaratha’s weakness and Kaikeyī’s cruelty in sending Rāma to the forest.
Rāma’s dharma and self-mastery are emphasized: he is described as righteous, wise, compassionate, and restrained in his senses (jitendriya).
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.