Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 42
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः
Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma-based persuasion of Kausalyā
सोऽहं न शक्ष्यामि पितुर्नियोगमतिवर्तितुम्।पितुर्हिवचनाद्वीर कैकेय्याऽहं प्रचोदितः।।2.21.42।।
so ’haṃ na śakṣyāmi pitur niyogam ativartitum |
pitur hi vacanād vīra kaikeyyā ’haṃ pracoditaḥ ||2.21.42||
सोऽहं न शक्ष्यामि पितुर्नियोगमतिक्रमितुम्। पितुर्वचनहेतोर्हि वीर कैकेय्या प्रचोदितः॥
O hero! I cannot transgress the command of my father since at his instance only Kaikeyi urged me (to go to the forest).
FAQs
Dharma here is obedience to a legitimate parental command, even when the immediate cause (Kaikeyī’s urging) is painful. The father’s word is treated as morally binding.
Lakṣmaṇa is agitated; Rāma explains that he will not violate Daśaratha’s command, and that Kaikeyī’s role operates through the father’s pledged word.
Rāma’s self-restraint and fidelity to duty: he refuses to justify disobedience even under provocation.