अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः
Sita in Bark Garments; Public Outcry and Dasaratha’s Lament
अजीवनार्हेण मया नृशंसाकृता प्रतिज्ञा नियमेन तावत्।तवया हि बाल्यात् प्रतिपन्नमेतत्तन्मां दहेद्वेणुमिवात्मपुष्पम्।।।।
ajīvanārheṇa mayā nṛśaṃsākṛtā pratijñā niyamena tāvat | tvayā hi bālyāt pratipannam etat tan māṃ dahed veṇum ivātmapuṣpam ||
ବ୍ରତନିୟମରେ ବନ୍ଧିତ ଏହି ନିର୍ଦୟ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞାଦ୍ୱାରା ମୁଁ ନିଜକୁ ଜୀବନାର୍ହ ନୁହେଁ ବୋଲି କରିଦେଲି। ତୁମେ ଶିଶୁହଠରେ ଯାହା ଗ୍ରହଣ କରାଇଥିଲ, ସେହି ଏବେ ମୋତେ ଦହୁଛି—ନିଜ ପୁଷ୍ପରେ ବାଁଶ ଯେପରି ଭସ୍ମ ହୁଏ।
By giving this cruel promise through importunity, I have rendered myself unfit to live. This promise was made as a child's play and it (now) destroys me like a bamboo destroyed by its own flowers.
Dharma highlights the danger of vows made without wisdom: truth-binding promises must be guided by discernment (viveka), or they become instruments of harm.
Daśaratha laments that the boon-promise extracted by Kaikeyī now destroys him inwardly, even though he remains bound to keep it.
A painful commitment to satya (truth-keeping) is implied, alongside Daśaratha’s recognition of his own failure of judgment.