Shloka 3.61.7
सीतान्वेषणारम्भः — The Search for Sita Begins
कथं प्रतिज्ञां संश्रुत्य मया त्वमभियोजितः।।।।अपूरयित्वा तं कालं मत्सकाशमिहागतः।कामवृत्तमनार्यं मां मृषावादिनमेव च।।।।धिक्त्वामिति परे लोके व्यक्तं वक्ष्यति मे पिता।
kathaṃ pratijñāṃ saṃśrutya mayā tvam abhiyojitaḥ | apūrayitvā taṃ kālaṃ matsakāśam ihāgataḥ | kāmavṛttam anāryaṃ māṃ mṛṣāvādinam eva ca | dhik tvām iti pare loke vyaktaṃ vakṣyati me pitā ||
“How, after being charged by me upon your pledged promise, did you come back to me here without completing that appointed time? In the next world my father will surely say to you plainly: ‘Fie on you! You have made me a man of whim, ignoble, and indeed a liar.’”
My father say will surely in the other world: Without completing the appointed period of the vow taken, how could you come here ? Fie upon you ! You are irresponsible. You are ignoble. You are a liar.
The primacy of satya and vow-keeping: Rāma frames moral integrity around completing a pledged duty within its specified term, and fears moral blame if that discipline is broken.
In grief, Rāma reproaches Lakṣmaṇa for returning early (before the agreed duration), interpreting it as a breach that would stain his own truthfulness and honor.
Rāma’s rigorous commitment to promises and reputation for truth, even amid intense personal suffering.