Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 13
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
तिष्ठेल्लोको विना सूर्यं शस्यं वा सलिलं विना।।।।न तु रामं विना देहे तिष्ठेत्तु मम जीवितम्।
tiṣṭhel loko vinā sūryaṃ śasyaṃ vā salilaṃ vinā | na tu rāmaṃ vinā dehe tiṣṭhet tu mama jīvitam ||
सूर्यं विना लोकोऽपि तिष्ठेत्, सलिलं विना शस्यं वा; किन्तु रामं विना मम देहे जीवितं न तिष्ठेत्॥
O lady of evil intentions, enough of this. Give up your resolve. Here I touch your feet with my head. Be pleased with me.
FAQs
The verse underscores how dharmic bonds (father–son, king–heir) are treated as life-sustaining. It also foreshadows the ethical cost of separating the righteous heir from the king through adharma-driven manipulation.
Daśaratha intensifies his plea, expressing that Rāma’s absence would be fatal to him.
Daśaratha’s transparent love and emotional truthfulness, even when it exposes weakness.
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