Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 62, Shloka 11
शुनश्शेफरक्षा–विश्वामित्रशापः
Sunassepha’s Rescue and Visvamitra’s Curse
सर्वे सुकृतकर्माणस्सर्वे धर्मपरायणा: ।पशुभूता नरेन्द्रस्य तृप्तिमग्ने: प्रयच्छत ।।।।
sarve sukṛtakarmāṇaḥ sarve dharmaparāyaṇāḥ | paśubhūtā narendrasya tṛptim agneḥ prayacchata ||
Tất thảy các ngươi đều là bậc tạo công đức, đều nương tựa nơi Dharma. Hãy trở thành vật hiến tế của đức vua, để ban sự thỏa mãn cho thần Agni.
Engaged in the observance of righteousness, all of you have done virtuous deeds. By becoming sacrificial animals for the king, you may satisfy Agni.
FAQs
It frames dharma as self-offering for a perceived higher order (yajña), yet invites ethical scrutiny about coercion and the legitimacy of substituting persons as victims.
The speaker exhorts his sons to become sacrificial substitutes to satisfy Agni and enable the king’s rite.
Self-sacrifice (tyāga) is praised rhetorically, though the narrative context problematizes it as an imposed demand rather than voluntary compassion.