Ramayana — 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 ||
“可耻啊，达沙拉陀王竟落入欲望的支配！唉，今日那残忍的凯凯伊——罪恶而执迷于罪——打破了一切礼法的界限，执意行那酷烈之事：她要把国王之子，那般正法、至智、慈悲且能制御诸根者，放逐去林中居住。”
(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).