Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 34
भरतस्य मातृसदनगमनं कैकेय्या दारुणवृत्तान्तकथनं च
Bharata in Kaikeyi’s apartments: revelation of Daśaratha’s death and Rāma’s exile
धर्मविद्धर्मनित्यश्च सत्यसन्धो दृढव्रतः।
आर्यः किमब्रवीद्राजा पिता मे सत्यविक्रमः।।2.72.34।।
dharma-vid dharma-nityaś ca satya-sandho dṛḍha-vrataḥ |
āryaḥ kim abravīd rājā pitā me satya-vikramaḥ || 2.72.34 ||
ਧਰਮ-ਵਿਦ, ਧਰਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਦਾ ਅਡੋਲ, ਸੱਚੇ ਸੰਕਲਪ ਵਾਲਾ ਤੇ ਦ੍ਰਿੜ੍ਹ ਵਰਤਧਾਰੀ—ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਪਰਾਕ੍ਰਮ ਹੀ ਸੱਚ ਸੀ—ਮੇਰਾ ਪਿਤਾ ਉਹ ਆਰਯ ਰਾਜਾ ਅੰਤ ਵੇਲੇ ਕੀ ਬੋਲਿਆ?
What did my father, the noble king, conversant with righteous conduct, true, to his vows, one who always conducted himself in a righteous manner, whose truth was his prowess (at the time of his death)?
FAQs
Satya as royal dharma: a king’s greatness is measured by fidelity to truth and vows, even when painful.
Bharata asks Kaikeyi to report the king’s final message, framing Daśaratha’s character in terms of dharma and truth.
Daśaratha’s satya-niṣṭhā (commitment to truth) and dṛḍha-vrata (steadfastness to vows).