Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 28
कौसल्याविलापः
Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship
न हि मेऽस्ति त्वया कार्यं वनं रामो गतोऽश्रयत् । न चाहं गन्तुमिच्छामि हतास्मि सर्वथा त्वया ॥
na hi me'sti tvayā kāryaṃ vanaṃ rāmo gato'śrayat | na cāhaṃ gantumicchāmi hatāsmi sarvathā tvayā ||
न हि मे त्वया किञ्चित् कार्यम्; रामो वनम् आश्रितः। अहं च तत्र गन्तुम् न इच्छामि; त्वया सर्वथा हतास्मि॥
You are non-existent for my purpose. Rama has taken refuge in the forest and I do not like to go there. You have destroyed me in all possible ways.
FAQs
Overwhelmed by the grief of Rama's exile, Kausalya feels betrayed by Dasharatha's decision to uphold his boon to Kaikeyi over the welfare of their son, leading her to feel emotionally severed from her husband.
This verse highlights the conflict between 'Raja Dharma' (king's duty to keep his word) and the familial duty towards a son and wife, resulting in immense personal suffering and the breakdown of family relationships.