Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 58
रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम्
The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave-Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse
तदद्य नैवानघ राज्यमव्ययंन सर्वकामान्न सुखं न मैथिलीम्।न जीवितं त्वामनृतेन योजयन्वृणीय सत्यं व्रतमस्तु ते तथा।।।।
tad adya naivānagha rājyam avyayaṃ na sarvakāmān na sukhaṃ na maithilīm | na jīvitaṃ tvām anṛtena yojayan vṛṇīya satyaṃ vratam astu te tathā ||
Therefore now, O blameless one, I would choose neither an enduring kingdom, nor all desired objects, nor happiness, nor even Maithilī—nor life itself—if it meant binding you to falsehood. I choose only that your vow stand true as spoken.
O sinless one! by associating you with falsehood I will neither seek this eternal kingdom nor objects of desires nor objects of happiness nor Maithili nor even my life. I only wish that your vow comes true.
FAQs
Satya as supreme: preserving another’s truth-bound vow is valued above power, pleasure, relationships, and even life.
Rāma insists Daśaratha must not be made false to his promise; Rāma will sacrifice everything to uphold that truth.
Truthfulness and radical self-sacrifice in service of dharma.