Shloka 2
एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency
एवमस्तु गमिष्यामि वनं वस्तुमहं त्वितः। जटाजिनधरो राज्ञः प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन्।।2.19.2।।
evam astu gamiṣyāmi vanaṃ vastum ahaṃ tv itaḥ | jaṭājinadharo rājñaḥ pratijñām anupālayan ||2.19.2||
“എവമസ്തു; ഇവിടെ നിന്ന് ഞാൻ വനത്തിലേക്കു പോയി അവിടെ വസിക്കും; ജടയും മൃഗചർമവും ധരിച്ചു, രാജാവിന്റെ പ്രതിജ്ഞ പാലിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്.”
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.