Valmiki Ramayana 1.21.3: Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 3
बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon
Lore
यदीदं ते क्षमं राजन् गमिष्यामि यथाऽगतम् ।
मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञः काकुत्स्थ सुखीभव सबान्धवः ॥३॥
yad idaṃ te kṣamaṃ rājan gamiṣyāmi yathāgatam |
mithyā-pratijñaḥ kākutstha sukhī bhava sabāndhavaḥ ||3||
If this seems acceptable to you, O King, then I shall depart as I came. O scion of Kakutstha, having made your pledge false, remain happy—along with your kinsmen.
O king, if this act of yours is appropriate to you, I will go back (to the places) where from I came. O scion of the race of kakutstha, you have proved false to your promise. Live happily with your relatives".
FAQs
A vow must not be emptied of truth. The verse underscores that social and royal dharma collapse when a spoken commitment is treated as optional.
Viśvāmitra, offended by Daśaratha’s wavering, declares he will leave, explicitly calling the king ‘false to his promise.’
Accountability to one’s word—especially for rulers whose promises function as public guarantees.
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