Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 19
त्रिशङ्कुशापः
Trishanku’s Curse and Appeal to Viśvāmitra
अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे न च वक्ष्ये कदाचन।कृच्छ्रेष्वपि गत स्सौम्य क्षत्रधर्मेण ते शपे।।।।
anṛtaṃ noktapūrvaṃ me na ca vakṣye kadācana | kṛcchreṣv api gataḥ saumya kṣatradharmeṇa te śape ||
Ô doux seigneur, jamais je n’ai proféré de mensonge, et jamais je n’en dirai—même accablé d’épreuves. Par le dharma d’un kṣatriya, je te le jure.
O Gentle sage! I have never told a lie in spite of troubled circumstances, I shall never dabble in falsehood. I swear upon it by kshatriya morality .
FAQs
Satya (truthfulness) is affirmed as a non-negotiable duty, upheld even under distress; it is framed as integral to kṣatriya-dharma.
While pleading his case, Triśaṅku strengthens his credibility before Viśvāmitra by swearing that he has never lied and will not lie.
Truthfulness (satya) combined with steadfastness under hardship.