Shloka 2.43.19
कौशल्याविलापः — Kausalya’s Lament and the Vision of Rama’s Return
न हि तावद्गुणैर्जुष्टं सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम्।एकपुत्रा विना पुत्रमहं जीवितुमुत्सहे।।।।
atha sma nagare rāmaś caran bhaikṣaṃ gṛhe vaset |
kāmakāro varaṃ dātum api dāsaṃ mamātmajam ||
Better it would have been to give my son even as a slave to her whim; then at least Rāma might have remained in the city, dwelling at home and sustaining himself by alms while fulfilling his duty.
I cannot live without my only son who is adept in all scriptures and endowed with all virtues.
The verse highlights the human cost when dharma is violated by coercion: even humiliating compromise seems preferable to unjust banishment. It implicitly critiques decisions driven by desire rather than righteousness.
Kausalya imagines alternative outcomes—anything that would keep Rama within reach—after learning he must leave for the forest.
Rama’s dutifulness is assumed: even in hardship (begging), he would still ‘do what must be done’ (duty), reflecting steadfast adherence to dharma.