Shloka 23
हनूमत्सीतासंवादः
Hanumān–Sītā Dialogue and Identity Verification
ततस्तु स्थविरो राजा सत्ये धर्मे व्यवस्थितः।।।।ज्येष्ठं यशस्विनं पुत्रं रुदन्राज्यमयाचत।
tatas tu sthaviro rājā satye dharme vyavasthitaḥ |
jyeṣṭhaṃ yaśasvinaṃ putraṃ rudan rājyam ayācata ||
ततस्तु स्थविरो राजा सत्ये धर्मे व्यवस्थितः। ज्येष्ठं यशस्विनं पुत्रं रुदन् राज्यं अयाचत॥
"The aged king who held on to truthfulness and righteousness begged his famed eldest son Rama to return the kingdom.
FAQs
The tension between personal desire and pledged truth: even a dharmic king can be torn when truth-bound obligations conflict with what he believes is right for the realm.
After Kaikeyī’s demand, Daśaratha pleads with Rama, hoping to avert exile and restore the coronation.
Daśaratha’s attachment to dharma and his paternal love, expressed through humble supplication.