Chapter 55 — Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 55

Valmiki Ramayana — Kishkindha Kanda

Verse 55.3

भ्रातुज्येष्ठस्य यो भार्यां जीवतो महिषीं प्रियाम्। धर्मेण मातरं यस्तु स्वीकरोति जुगुप्सितः॥ कथं स धर्मं जानीते येन भ्रात्रा दुरात्मना। युद्धायाभिनियुक्तेन बिलस्य पिहितं मुखम्॥

bhrātujyeṣṭhasya yo bhāryāṃ jīvato mahiṣīṃ priyām| dharmeṇa mātaraṃ yastu svīkaroti jugupsitaḥ|| kathaṃ sa dharmaṃ jānīte yena bhrātrā durātmanā| yuddhāyābhiniyuktena bilasya pihitaṃ mukham||

English Meaning

He that, while her son is living, appropriateth the beloved queen of his elder brother, mother to him by morality, is hated (of all beings). How can he that could cover up the mouth of the cave, when he had been desired by his brother gone on martial mission, to guard the same,—(how can he) know morality?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)