Chapter 21 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 21.55

यस्मिंस्तु सर्वे स्युरसंनिविष्टा धर्मो यतः स्यात् तदुपक्रमेत। धर्मार्थकामाः खलु द्वेष्यो भवत्यर्थपरो हि लोके कामात्मता खल्वपि न प्रशस्ता॥

yasmiṃstu sarve syurasaṃniviṣṭā dharmo yataḥ syāt tadupakrameta| dharmārthakāmāḥ khalu dveṣyo bhavatyarthaparo hi loke kāmātmatā khalvapi na praśastā||

English Meaning

It is not becoming for us to perform all those things where these three do not combine, whence results righteousness that we should resort to. A man seeking wealth become despicable, and one subject to desires is not admired by any (why bereft of righteousness).

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)