Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 21
शुनःशेफविक्रयः
The Sale of Śunaḥśepa for the Sacrifice
पिता ज्येष्ठमविक्रेयं माता चाह कनीयसम्।विक्रीतं मध्यमं मन्ये राजन् पुत्रं नयस्व माम्।।।।
pitā jyeṣṭham avikreyaṃ mātā cāha kanīyasam |
vikrītaṃ madhyamaṃ manye rājan putraṃ nayasva mām ||
میرے والد کہتے ہیں کہ بڑا بیٹا فروخت نہیں کیا جا سکتا؛ اور میری ماں کہتی ہے کہ چھوٹا بیٹا چھوڑا نہیں جا سکتا۔ اس لیے، اے راجن! میں درمیانے بیٹے کو گویا فروخت شدہ سمجھتا ہوں—مجھے اپنا پتر بنا کر لے چلیں۔
Most brilliant, illustrious rajarshi Ambarisha mounting Sunasshepha on his chariot instantly went away".ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ēkaṣaṣṭitamassarga:৷৷Thus ends the sixtyfirst sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epiccomposed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
Dharma is expressed as willingness to bear the burden oneself to resolve a moral deadlock; Śunaḥśepa’s logic turns familial partiality into personal responsibility.
Śunaḥśepa interprets his parents’ refusals as implying that he, the middle son, is the only available choice, and offers himself to the king.
Self-offering and clarity of speech—accepting hardship to protect others and to conclude the transaction.