Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 9
अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse
शूरश्च कृतविद्यश्च जितक्रोधो क्षमापरः।कथं कमलपत्राक्षो मया रामो विवास्यते।।।।
śūraś ca kṛtavidyaś ca jitakrodho kṣamāparaḥ | kathaṃ kamalapatrākṣo mayā rāmo vivāsyate ||
शूरः कृतविद्यः जितक्रोधः क्षमापरः कमलपत्राक्षो रामः। तं रामं कथं मया विवासयितुं शक्यते॥
How can I exile Rama, whose eyes resemble lotus petals, who is learned, who has subdued his anger and who is always full of forgiveness?
FAQs
Recognition of virtue as a basis for rightful protection: a ruler/father should uphold and honor the dharmic qualities of the worthy, not punish them without cause.
Daśaratha argues that exiling Rāma is morally unbearable because Rāma embodies ideal qualities of self-mastery, learning, and compassion.
Rāma’s virtues—courage, learning, angerlessness (jitakrodha), and forgiveness (kṣamā).