Shloka 20
वने वा चीरवसनं सौम्य कृष्णाजिनाम्बरम्।राज्ये वाऽपि महाराजो मां वासयितुमीश्वरः।।।।
vane vā cīravasanaṃ saumya kṛṣṇājināmbaram | rājye vā ’pi mahārājo māṃ vāsayitum īśvaraḥ ||
O Sanftmütiger, ob ich im Wald wohnen soll, in Rindenkleid und Antilopenfell, oder im Königreich selbst — allein der große König ist befugt, mich so zu bestimmen.
O handsome one, king Dasaratha is alone competent to accommodate me in the forest wearing bark robes and antelope skin as garment or install me in the kingdom.
FAQs
Fidelity to paternal authority and truth: Rama frames his life-placement (forest or throne) as determined by the rightful king/father’s command, not personal desire.
Rama clarifies to Bharata that his residence—ascetic exile or royal life—depends on the sovereign authority of the great king (Daśaratha), i.e., the binding nature of the father’s word.
Rama’s unwavering adherence to satya and duty—he accepts hardship as legitimate when grounded in rightful command.