Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 24
धर्मावादी शठो भर्ता श्लक्ष्णवादी च दारुणः।शुद्धभावे न जानीषे तेनैव मतिसन्धिता।।।।
dharmāvādī śaṭho bhartā ślakṣṇavādī ca dāruṇaḥ | śuddhabhāve na jānīṣe tenaiva matisandhitā ||
تیرا بھرتا دھرم کی باتیں کرتا ہے مگر فریب کار ہے؛ نرم گفتار ہے مگر سنگ دل۔ تو پاک دل ہے، اسی لیے تیری سمجھ اس کے جال میں بندھ گئی ہے اور تو اسے پہچان نہیں پاتی۔
Your husband speaks morals publicly but in private he is deceitful. He speaks gently but acts cruelly. Because of your innocent nature you are beguiled by him. You do not understand this.
FAQs
It warns against using dharma-language without satya (truth) and integrity; dharma is not merely speech but consistent conduct.
Mantharā maligns Daśaratha’s character to break Kaikeyī’s trust and justify opposition to Rāma’s consecration.
Discernment (viveka) is implicitly demanded: one must judge actions, not be swayed by sweet words.