Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.85: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 85
द्वादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
Spoken by Dasharatha to KaikeyiSetting: अयोध्याPlaces named: वनImpending departure to forest (not yet begun)
नालं द्वितीयं वचनं पुत्रो मां प्रतिभाषितुम् ।
स वनं प्रव्रजेत्युक्तो बाढमित्येव वक्ष्यति ॥८५॥
nālaṃ dvitīyaṃ vacanaṃ putro māṃ pratibhāṣitum |
sa vanaṃ pravrajety ukto bāḍham ity eva vakṣyati ||85||
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Sandhi Notes
- नालं→न अलम्
- प्रव्रजेत्युक्तः→प्रव्रज इति उक्तः
- बाढमित्येव→बाढम् इति एव
My son Rama will not say a second word to me, if I tell him 'Go to the forest'.He will say, 'Certainly so'.
The teaching
धर्मनिष्ठः पुत्रः पितृवाक्यं द्वितीयं न प्रतिवदति; आज्ञा-पालनं स्वधर्मत्वेन स्वीकरोति।
Duties in tension
- पितृस्नेहः (not wanting to send son away)
- राजधर्म/प्रतिज्ञा-पालन (compulsion to command exile)
- रामस्य पुत्रधर्मः (unquestioning obedience)
- Ethical theme
- आज्ञापालन-धर्म
- How it resolves
- Obedience to command (anticipated)
For your practice
गुरु/पितृ-आज्ञा-पालन, वाणी-संयम, तत्क्षण-स्वीकृति—अहंकार-क्षय साधना।
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Resigned, heartbreaking, dutiful
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Obedience
- Royal duty
- Itihasa
- Ethics
अहंकार-त्यागः—आज्ञा-पालने स्वेच्छा-निवृत्तिः; कर्मयोगस्य ‘कर्तव्यं’ प्रधानत्वम्।
तैत्तिरीयोपनिषद्—‘सत्यं वद, धर्मं चर’ इत्यादि शिक्षावाक्य-प्रतिध्वनि (धर्मपालन-निष्ठा)।
अयोध्याकाण्ड—रामस्य ‘तथेति’/‘एवम्’ प्रकारेण पितृवाक्य-स्वीकार (2.18–2.20); उत्तरकाण्ड/लोकपरम्परा—रामस्य आज्ञापालन-आदर्शः
धर्मशास्त्र—पितृशुश्रूषा; रामचरितमानस—‘रघुकुल रीति सदा चली आई, प्राण जाए पर वचन न जाई’ (भाव-साम्य)
बालकाण्ड—रामस्य विनय-शीलता, गुरु-आज्ञापालन (प्रसङ्गतः)
अनुष्टुप् (śloka)
Solemn/commanding-turned-grieving
मध्य-स्वर, स्पष्ट-उच्चारण, अन्ते करुण-न्यास
FAQs
The dharma of filial obedience and truthfulness: Rāma is portrayed as one who accepts the father’s command without argument, upholding maryādā (propriety) and satya (integrity).
Daśaratha, pressured by Kaikeyī, anticipates that if he orders Rāma into forest-exile, Rāma will comply immediately without debate.
Rāma’s unwavering obedience and self-discipline—his readiness to accept hardship to preserve righteousness and the father’s word.
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