Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 4
एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः
Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma
मन्ये खलु मया पूर्वं विवत्सा बहवःकृताः।प्राणिनो हिंसिता वापि तस्मादिदमुपस्थितम्।।2.39.4।।
manye khalu mayā pūrvaṃ vivatsā bahavaḥ kṛtāḥ | prāṇino hiṃsitā vāpi tasmād idam upasthitam || 2.39.4 ||
«Assurément, jadis j’ai dû rendre beaucoup d’êtres privés de leurs enfants, ou bien j’ai fait du tort à des créatures vivantes ; c’est pourquoi je pense que ce malheur s’est abattu sur moi.»
If I have been harsh towards you, on account of our living together or through ignorance may you forgive me. I (now) seek leave of you all.
FAQs
Moral causality: suffering is contemplated as a consequence of past harm (hiṃsā) done to others, urging accountability and repentance rather than self-justification.
Daśaratha, devastated by the impending exile of Rāma, interprets his present calamity as the fruit of earlier wrongdoing.
Self-scrutiny and remorse—Daśaratha turns inward, acknowledging possible past violence and its ethical repercussions.