Shloka 18
दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka
Dharma of Refuge
संश्रुत्य च न शक्ष्यामि जीवमानः प्रतिश्रवम्।मुनीनामन्यथा कर्तुं सत्यमिष्टं हि मे सदा।।।।
saṁśrutya ca na śakṣyāmi jīvamānaḥ pratiśravam |
munīnām anyathā kartuṁ satyam iṣṭaṁ hi me sadā ||
Et ayant donné ma parole, tant que je vivrai je ne pourrai agir autrement envers la promesse faite aux munis ; car la vérité m’est toujours chère.
Even before the sages requested me I should have protected them. What to speak of the promise I have already made ?
FAQs
Satya as dharma: once a pledge is made, moral integrity requires unwavering fulfillment for as long as one lives.
Rama explains to Sita that his promise to the sages cannot be reversed or diluted.
Truthfulness and steadfastness—Rama treats a pledged word as binding.