Chapter 74 — Uttara Kanda, Sarga 74

Valmiki Ramayana — Uttara Kanda

Verse 74.22

अधर्मः परमो राजन्द्वापरे शूद्रजन्मनः। स वै विषयपर्यन्ते तव राजन्महातपाः॥ अद्य तप्यति दुर्बुद्धिस्तेन बालवधो ह्ययम्। यो ह्यधर्ममकार्य वा विषये पार्थिवस्य तु॥

adharmaḥ paramo rājandvāpare śūdrajanmanaḥ| sa vai viṣayaparyante tava rājanmahātapāḥ|| adya tapyati durbuddhistena bālavadho hyayam| yo hyadharmamakārya vā viṣaye pārthivasya tu||

English Meaning

O king, even in Davāpara, devout penances for Śūdras were considered as impiety, what to speak of the Tretāage. O king, one Śūdras, under the influence of vicious understanding, has begun devout penances within your kingdom. And for that reason this boy has met with death.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)