Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 28
अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः
Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent
अथवा देवि दोषं त्वं कञ्चित्पश्यसि राघवे।तमद्य ब्रूहि तत्वेन तदा रामो विवास्यताम्।।।।
athavā devi doṣaṃ tvaṃ kañcit paśyasi rāghave | tam adya brūhi tattvena tadā rāmo vivāsyatām ||
Or else, O Queen—if you truly see any fault at all in Rāghava—say it plainly today; only then may Rāma be sent into exile.
O Kaikeyi! speak truly if you find any fault in this scion of the Raghu race (Rama). Then he will be exiled.
FAQs
Satya (truthfulness) and procedural justice: a grave act like exile must be justified by a clearly stated, truthful fault—not by desire or intrigue.
As Kaikeyī insists on Rāma’s exile, the speaker challenges her to provide a real reason—if none exists, the demand is ethically illegitimate.
Commitment to truth and fairness in governance—decisions affecting lives must be accountable and transparent.