Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 29
रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम्
The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave-Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse
नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि वनवासे विहृत्य ते।पुनःपादौ ग्रहीष्यामि प्रतिज्ञान्ते नराधिप।।।।
nava pañca ca varṣāṇi vanavāse vihṛtya te |
punaḥ pādau grahīṣyāmi pratijñānte narādhipa! ||
“After spending nine and five years—fourteen—in forest-dwelling, and thus fulfilling the vow, I shall return and once again take hold of your feet, O lord of men.”
He saw the lord of the world (Dasaratha) dull like the Sun in eclipse, like the firecovered with ashes, like a tank with its water dried up.
FAQs
Faithfulness to a vow (pratijñā) is treated as dharma; Rāma frames exile as a time-bound duty to be completed without resentment.
Rāma reassures Daśaratha that he will complete the fourteen-year exile and return, restoring the filial relationship through respectful homage.
Steadfastness and reverence—Rāma’s commitment to keep the pledge and honor his father.