Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 8
सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्
Rama’s Defense of Truth and Dharma in Reply to Jabali
कस्य दास्याम्यहं वृत्तं केन वा स्वर्गमाप्नुयाम्।आनया वर्तमानो हि वृत्त्या हीनप्रतिज्ञया।।2.109.8।।
kasya dāsyāmy ahaṃ vṛttaṃ kena vā svargam āpnuyām |
ānayā vartamāno hi vṛttyā hīnapratijñayā || 2.109.8 ||
আমি যদি এই জীবনাচরণে থেকেও প্রতিজ্ঞাভঙ্গ করি, তবে কাকে আমি সদাচারের দৃষ্টান্ত দেব—আর কোন উপায়ে স্বর্গ লাভ করব?
O Rama, since the appropriate time has slowly come, I have uttered this. In order to persuade you to return and to propitiate you I have said these words.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē navōttaraśatatamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the one hundredninth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
Satya and dharma require fidelity to one’s vow; breaking it destroys moral authority and undermines spiritual aims.
Rāma defends his commitment to exile as vow-bound dharma: if he violates it, he cannot guide others or claim higher religious merit.
Vow-steadfastness (pratijñā-pālana)—holding to a promise despite hardship.