Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 111, Shloka 28
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः
Sarga 111: Counsel on Gurus, Parental Debt, and Bharata’s Protest
विक्रीतमाहितं क्रीतं यत्पित्रा जीवता मम।न तल्लोपयितुं शक्यं मया वा भरतेन वा।।।।
vikrītam āhitaṃ krītaṃ yat pitrā jīvatā mama |na tal lopayituṃ śakyaṃ mayā vā bharatena vā ||
Apa pun yang ayahku, selagi beliau masih hidup, telah jual, gadaikan, atau beli—tidak dapat dibatalkan olehku maupun oleh Bharata.
Neither Bharata nor I can in any way annul anything which was sold, pledged or bought by my father during his lifetime.
FAQs
Commitment to binding acts and promises: dharma treats the father’s settled actions as morally and socially irreversible, preserving trust in royal word.
Rama argues that Daśaratha’s prior commitments cannot be overturned by successors, even if emotionally painful.
Rama’s steadfastness—he prioritizes institutional and moral continuity over personal interest.