Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 8
सत्यपाशः
Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise
सत्यं समनुवर्तस्व यदि धर्मे धृता मतिः।सफलस्स वरो मेऽस्तु वरदो ह्यसि सत्तम।।।।
satyaṃ samanuvartasva yadi dharme dhṛtā matiḥ | saphalaḥ sa varo me ’stu varado hy asi sattama ||
உன் மனம் தர்மத்தில் உறுதியாக இருந்தால், சத்தியத்தைப் பின்பற்று. எனக்குக் கொடுத்த வரம் நிறைவேறட்டும்; ஏனெனில், ஹே சத்தமா, நீ வரதன்.
O excellent one, if your mind is firmly fixed in righteousness, then by following it fulfil the boon granted to me.You are the bestower of boons indeed
FAQs
Dharma is framed as fidelity to satya and to one’s pledged word: if the king claims righteousness, he must make his promise effective by fulfilling the boon.
Kaikeyī presses Daśaratha to honor his earlier promise of granting her boons, using dharma and truth as moral leverage.
The kingly virtue of keeping one’s word (satya and pratijñā-pālana), even under personal distress.