Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 5
एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address
राजानं धिग्दशरथं कामस्य वशमागतम्।।2.49.4।।हा नृशंसाद्य कैकेयी पापा पापानुबन्धिनी।तीक्ष्णा सम्भिन्नमर्यादा तीक्ष्णकर्मणि वर्तते।।2.49.5।।या पुत्रमीदृशं राज्ञः प्रवासयति धार्मिकम्।वनवासे महाप्राज्ञं सानुक्रोशं जितेन्द्रियम्।।2.49.6।।
hā nṛśaṃsā ’dya kaikeyī pāpā pāpānubandhinī |
tīkṣṇā sambhinnamaryādā tīkṣṇakarmaṇi vartate ||
“唉，今日那无情的凯凯伊——罪恶而执迷于罪——已打破一切礼法的界限，执意行那残酷之事。”
(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 selfrestrained. How could this cruel Kaikeyi, by breaking all limits of decorum resort to such atrocious action?
FAQs
Maryādā (moral and social limits) must restrain power and desire; cruelty that violates decorum is portrayed as adharma.
Ordinary people react to the decision to exile Rāma, focusing their condemnation on Kaikeyī’s harshness and breach of propriety.
By contrast, the verse implicitly values compassion and restraint—qualities Kaikeyī is accused of lacking.