अग्राक्ष्णा वीक्षमाणस्तु तिर्यग्भ्रातरमब्रवीत्। अस्थाने सम्भ्रमो यस्य जातो वै सुमहानयम्॥ धर्मदोषप्रसङ्गेन लोकस्यानतिशङ्कया। कथं ह्येतदसम्भ्रान्तस्त्वद्विधो वक्तुमर्हति ॥ यथा ह्येवमशौण्डीरं शौण्डीरः क्षत्रियर्षभः। किं नाम कृपणं दैवमशक्तमभिशंससि।७।। पापयोस्ते कथं नाम तयोः शङ्का न विद्यते। सन्ति धर्मोपधासक्ता धर्मात्मन् किं न बुध्यसे।८।।
agrākṣṇā vīkṣamāṇastu tiryagbhrātaramabravīt| asthāne sambhramo yasya jāto vai sumahānayam|| dharmadoṣaprasaṅgena lokasyānatiśaṅkayā| kathaṃ hyetadasambhrāntastvadvidho vaktumarhati || yathā hyevamaśauṇḍīraṃ śauṇḍīraḥ kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ| kiṃ nāma kṛpaṇaṃ daivamaśaktamabhiśaṃsasi|7|| pāpayoste kathaṃ nāma tayoḥ śaṅkā na vidyate| santi dharmopadhāsaktā dharmātman kiṃ na budhyase|8||
English Meaning
To avoid the transgression of righteousness, and the degradation of the people (consequent upon a bad example), you are eager to repair to the forest. This your eagerness is certainly misplaced. Was not you under error, how could one like yourself, being heroic among the Ks atriyas, and capable of overcoming destiny, speak in such a strain as behoves one that is impotent. Why do you extol destiny which is powerless and weak. For what reason do you not apprehend (unrighteousness) in those two (Dasaratha and Kaikeyi), addicted to vice. Do you not understand that there are many people who feign piety outwardly (to deceive the simple.)
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)