Valmiki Ramayana 2.19.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 2
एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency
एवमस्तु गमिष्यामि वनं वस्तुमहं त्वितः ।
जटाजिनधरो राज्ञः प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन् ॥२॥
evam astu gamiṣyāmi vanaṃ vastum ahaṃ tv itaḥ |
jaṭājinadharo rājñaḥ pratijñām anupālayan ||2||
Rama bola, 'Theek hai, main jungle chala jata hoon. Wahan rahunga, jaata pehen ke, sir par baal ujad ke. Raja ne jo vaada kiya hai, main use poora karunga.'
Be it so; I shall go from here to the forest and live there with matted hair and deer-skin to keep the promise of the king.
FAQs
Keeping one’s pledged word (satya) and protecting the integrity of a ruler’s vow are presented as higher dharma than personal comfort.
Rāma accepts exile to the forest to ensure that Daśaratha’s promise—exacted by Kaikeyī—is not broken.
Rāma’s steadfast truthfulness and self-sacrificing obedience to dharma.
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