Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 12
सत्यपाशः
Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise
उद्भ्रान्तहृदयश्चापि विवर्णवदनोऽभवत्।स धुर्योवैपरिस्पन्दन्युगचक्रान्तरं यथा।।।।
udbhrāntahṛdayaś cāpi vivarṇavadano ’bhavat | sa dhuryo vaiparispandan yugacakrāntaraṃ yathā ||
ਉਸ ਦਾ ਹਿਰਦਾ ਘਬਰਾਹਟ ਨਾਲ ਧੜਕਣ ਲੱਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਚਿਹਰਾ ਫਿੱਕਾ ਪੈ ਗਿਆ; ਜਿਵੇਂ ਜੂਏ ਨਾਲ ਜੋਤਿਆ ਧੁਰਾ ਪਸ਼ੂ ਜੂਏ ਤੇ ਪਹੀਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਬੇਚੈਨ ਕੰਬਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਉਹ ਵੀ ਕੰਬ ਕੇ ਅਸਥਿਰ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ।
Like a bullock, restlessly moving between the wheels and the yoke, Dasaratha'sheart started beating wildly and his face turned pale.
FAQs
Dharma can impose painful inner conflict: the verse depicts the human cost of maintaining truth and duty under unbearable emotional strain.
Daśaratha physically and mentally reels after being cornered by Kaikeyī’s demand tied to his promise.
Endurance under moral pressure—Daśaratha remains bound to duty even as his body shows collapse.