Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 9
अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः — Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint
Mantharā Episode
यस्याः कृते वने रामो न्यस्तदेहश्च वः पिता।सेयं पापा नृशंसा च तस्याः कुरु यथामति।।।।
yasyāḥ kṛte vane rāmo nyastadehaś ca vaḥ pitā |
seyaṃ pāpā nṛśaṃsā ca tasyāḥ kuru yathāmati ||
"Dahil sa kanya, nasa kagubatan si Rama at ang iyong ama ay pumanaw na. Ito ang makasalanan at malupit na babae; gawin mo sa kanya ang sa tingin mo ay nararapat."
Here is that sinful, cruel woman on whose account Rama is in the forest and your father has forsaken his body. Do with her as it pleases you.
FAQs
It raises the dharmic tension between righteous justice and uncontrolled vengeance: wrongs are acknowledged, but dharma ultimately requires measured response under authority, not rage.
The guards present Mantharā to Śatrughna and accuse her of causing Rāma’s exile and Daśaratha’s death, urging Śatrughna to decide her fate.
Responsibility in judgment: Śatrughna is positioned as one who must choose restraint and lawful action over impulsive punishment.