Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 46
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः
Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma-based persuasion of Kausalyā
तीर्णप्रतिज्ञश्च वनात्पुनरेष्याम्यहं पुरीम्।ययातिरिव राजर्षिःपुरा हित्वा पुनर्दिवम्।।2.21.46।।
tīrṇapratijñaś ca vanāt punar eṣyāmy ahaṃ purīm |
yayātir iva rājarṣiḥ purā hitvā punar divam ||2.21.46||
ਪ੍ਰਤਿਗਿਆ ਪੂਰੀ ਕਰਕੇ ਮੈਂ ਜੰਗਲ ਤੋਂ ਮੁੜ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਵਾਂਗਾ—ਜਿਵੇਂ ਪੁਰਾਤਨ ਰਾਜਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਯਯਾਤੀ, ਜੋ ਸੁਰਗ ਤੋਂ ਡਿੱਗ ਕੇ ਵੀ ਫਿਰ ਸੁਰਗ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ।
Like rajarshi Yayati of yore who lost heaven and rejained it, I shall return from theforest to the city (of Ayodhya) after the vow is fulfilled.
FAQs
Dharma is framed as a vow to be completed: hardship is temporary when endured for righteousness. The return is conditioned on faithful completion of duty.
To console Kausalyā, Rāma promises that after completing the exile-vow he will return, invoking Yayāti as an illustrative precedent.
Resolve and reassurance: Rāma combines steadfastness in duty with compassionate encouragement to his grieving mother.