Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 6
अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse
स्वर्गेऽपि खलु रामस्य कुशलं दैवतैरहम्।प्रत्यादेशादभिहितं धारयिष्ये कथं बत।।।।
svarge 'pi khalu rāmasya kuśalaṃ daivatair aham | pratyādeśād abhihitaṃ dhārayiṣye kathaṃ bata ||
स्वर्ग में भी यदि देवता मुझसे राम के कुशल का पूछें, तो मैंने जो नकारते हुए कहा है, उसे कैसे निभाऊँ? हाय, यह कैसी विपत्ति!
Even in heaven when the gods enquire about the welfare of Rama how will I convince them about his banishment repudiating the fact? What a catastrophe!
FAQs
Satya is shown as accountability before higher witnesses: the king fears moral scrutiny even beyond life, revealing truth as a cosmic, not merely social, obligation.
Daśaratha imagines the afterlife and the gods questioning him about Rāma, and he dreads having to justify the exile.
A tender conscience: Daśaratha’s inner commitment to truth and moral reputation before divine judgment.