Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 4
कौशल्याविलापः
Kausalya’s Lament and the Vision of Rama’s Return
अथ स्म नगरे रामश्चरन् भैक्षं गृहे वसेत्।कामकारो वरं दातुमपि दासं ममात्मजम्।।।।
atha sma nagare rāmaś caran bhaikṣaṃ gṛhe vaset |
kāmakāro varaṃ dātum api dāsaṃ mamātmajam ||
Better it would have been to give my son even as a slave to her will—then Rama might at least have remained at home, living in the city and sustaining himself by begging while performing his duties.
I cannot live without my only son who is adept in all scriptures and endowed with all virtues.
FAQs
The verse highlights the human cost when dharma is violated by coercion: even humiliating compromise seems preferable to unjust banishment. It implicitly critiques decisions driven by desire rather than righteousness.
Kausalya imagines alternative outcomes—anything that would keep Rama within reach—after learning he must leave for the forest.
Rama’s dutifulness is assumed: even in hardship (begging), he would still ‘do what must be done’ (duty), reflecting steadfast adherence to dharma.