Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 3
सत्यपाशः
Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise
आहु स्सत्यं हि परमं धर्मं धर्मविदो जनाः।सत्यमाश्रित्य हि मया त्वं च धर्मं प्रबोधितः।।।।
āhuḥ satyaṃ hi paramaṃ dharmaṃ dharmavido janāḥ | satyam āśritya hi mayā tvaṃ ca dharmaṃ prabodhitaḥ ||
ധർമ്മത്തെ അറിയുന്നവർ പറയുന്നു—സത്യം തന്നെയാണ് പരമധർമ്മം; സത്യത്തെ ആശ്രയിച്ചുകൊണ്ടാണ് ഞാൻ നിന്നെയും നിന്റെ ധർമ്മത്തിൽ ഉപദേശിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്.
Those conversant with righteousness say that truth is a great virtue. By following the truth, I have enlightened you about your duty.
FAQs
Satya is presented as the supreme dharma: moral life and right governance are grounded in truth as the highest norm.
A teacherly voice frames the events by asserting truth’s primacy and recalling that duty has been taught on the basis of truth.
Commitment to truth as a guiding virtue—especially crucial for rulers and those who advise them.