Shloka 2.22.10
अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः (Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana)
तस्याऽपि हि भवेदस्मिन्कर्मण्यप्रतिसंहृते।सत्यं नेति मनस्तापस्तस्य तापस्तपेच्च माम्।।।।
tasyāpi hi bhaved asmin karmaṇy apratisaṃhṛte | satyaṃ neti manastāpas tasya tāpas tapec ca mām ||
For if this act—the preparations for my consecration—is not withdrawn, my father too will be scorched by the anguish, “My truth has not been fulfilled,” and that very torment of his will afflict me as well.
If the preparations for the consecration are not withdrawn, my father will suffer mental agony for the fear that his word has not come true and his agony will torment me.
The verse foregrounds Satya as dharma: Rāma prioritizes the integrity of his father’s pledged word, valuing truthfulness over personal gain.
Rāma explains why the coronation preparations must be stopped: continuing them would intensify Daśaratha’s anguish about keeping his promise.
Rāma’s empathy and filial responsibility—he feels his father’s moral pain as his own.