Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 28

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

यदि प्रव्राजितो रामो लोभकारणकारितम्।वरदाननिमित्तं वा सर्वथा दुष्कृतं कृतम्।।।।

Transliteration

yadi pravrājito rāmo lobhakāraṇakāritam | varadānanimittaṃ vā sarvathā duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam ||

Translation

若罗摩被放逐——或因贪恋王国，或借口所赐之愿——无论如何，都是犯下了沉重的过错。

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• pravrājitaḥ: banished
• pravrājitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गः pra+vi; अर्थः 'banished'

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• lobhakāraṇakāritam: caused by greed
• lobhakāraṇakāritam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lobha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kārita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: lobhasya kāraṇena kāritam = 'done/caused for the reason of greed'

• varadānanimittam: as the occasion of the boons
• varadānanimittam: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + nimitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: varadānasya nimittam = 'on account of the boon-giving'

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• sarvathā: in every way
• sarvathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvathā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: in every way)

• duṣkṛtam: a wicked act
• duṣkṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dus (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'evil deed'

• kṛtam: done
• kṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः: 'has been done'

Context

'Whether it was out of greed (for the kingdom) or for (the execution of) the boon bestowed, this act of banishment is by all means wicked'.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• boons (varadāna) (i.e., the promised boons to Kaikeyī, implied)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Condemnation of adharma in governance: greed or manipulation of promises cannot justify injustice toward a virtuous person.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa interprets possible motives behind Rāma’s exile and judges them morally unacceptable.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity and fearless speech—Lakṣmaṇa calls wrongdoing ‘wrong’ regardless of political framing.