Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 17
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Guha’s Vigil and Lakṣmaṇa’s Lament
Night on the riverbank
कथं पुत्रं महात्मानं ज्येष्ठं प्रियमपश्यतः।शरीरं धारयिष्यन्ति प्राणा राज्ञो महात्मनः।।।।
kathaṃ putraṃ mahātmānaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ priyam apaśyataḥ | śarīraṃ dhārayiṣyanti prāṇā rājño mahātmanaḥ ||
How will the life-breaths of that noble king sustain his body, when he cannot behold his great-souled, beloved eldest son?
Subsequent to the death of the king, Kausalya will die and my mother will follow her.
FAQs
Filial duty and the dharmic bond between father and son: separation caused by unjust circumstances can become a moral and emotional catastrophe.
The speaker fears that Daśaratha may not survive the anguish of being deprived of Rāma’s presence.
Empathy and gratitude—recognizing the father’s love and the cost of political wrongdoing.