Thereupon Räma incidentally addressed them saying, “O Bhadra, how do the inhabitants of the city and provinces talk about Sītā, Bharata, Laksmana, Satrughna and the mother Kaikeyi? The kings, when they deviate from the paths of justice, become objects of censure in the houses of men and even in the forests as well.”
ततः कथायां कस्यांचिद्राघवः समभाषत। काः कथा नगरे भद्र वर्तन्ते विषयेषु च॥ मामाश्रितानि कान्याहुः पौरजानपदा जनाः। किं च सीतां समाश्रित्य भरतं किं च लक्ष्मणम्॥५ किं नु शत्रुघ्नमुद्दिश्य कैकेयीं किं नु मातरम्। वक्तव्यतां च राजानो वने राज्ये व्रजन्ति च॥