Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 38
रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम्
The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave-Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse
न चैतदाश्चर्यतमं यत्तज्येष्ठस्सुतो मम।अपानृतकथं पुत्र पितरं कर्तुमिच्छसि।।।।
na caitad āścaryatamaṃ yat tvajyeṣṭhaḥ suto mama |
apānṛtakathaṃ putra pitaraṃ kartum icchasi ||
And this is not at all the most surprising thing—that you, my eldest son, wish to make your father one whose word is not false, O son.
It is not a great surprise that you, O my son, being the eldest, want to make your father free from a false promise.
FAQs
Satya is treated as royal dharma: the father’s integrity must remain unbroken, and the son’s duty includes protecting the truthfulness of the father’s pledged word.
Daśaratha recognizes that Rāma, as the eldest, is naturally committed to ensuring that his father does not become false to his promise.
Rāma’s commitment to truth and filial responsibility—placing the father’s moral standing above personal comfort.