Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 11
सत्यपाशः
Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise
एवं प्रचोदितो राजा कैकेय्या निर्विशङ्कया।नाशकत्पाशमुन्मोक्तुं बलिरिन्द्रकृतं यथा।।।।
evaṃ pracodito rājā kaikeyyā nirviśaṅkayā | nāśakat pāśam unmoktuṃ balir indrākṛtaṃ yathā ||
Ainsi pressé par Kaikeyī, sans la moindre hésitation, le roi ne put se défaire du nœud de sa promesse, tel Bali pris au piège tendu par Indra.
In this way urged by Kaikeyi without fear or hesitation, he (Dasaratha), like Bali unable to release himself from the noose cast by Indra (through Vamana), could not get out of the noose of promise.
FAQs
Satya as binding force: once a promise is given, it becomes a moral bond; the verse also warns how dharma can be exploited when vows are extracted or used strategically.
Daśaratha realizes he cannot escape the obligation created by his earlier boon to Kaikeyī.
Daśaratha’s truthfulness and vow-keeping, portrayed as an unbreakable ‘noose’ even when personally devastating.