Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.88 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 88
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
राघवे हि वनं प्राप्ते सर्वलोकस्य धिक्कृतम्।।।।मृत्युरक्षमणीयं मां नयिष्यति यमक्षयम्।
rāghave hi vanaṃ prāpte sarvalokasya dhikkṛtam | mṛtyur akṣamaṇīyaṃ māṃ nayiṣyati yamakṣayam ||
రాఘవుడు అరణ్యానికి చేరితే నేను సమస్త లోకముచే ధిక్కరింపబడి క్షమార్హుడను కాను; అప్పుడు మృత్యువు నన్ను యమలోకానికి తీసుకుపోతుంది।
If Rama goes to the forest, the god of death will conduct me to his abode, for condemned by the entire world, I shall not be forgiven (even by Yama).
FAQs
A king’s moral accountability: Daśaratha fears public condemnation and karmic consequence if he becomes the cause of the righteous heir’s exile.
Daśaratha foresees that sending Rāma away will bring him unbearable shame and grief, culminating in death.
Daśaratha’s awareness of moral consequence (loka-nindā and inner guilt), even amid weakness and compulsion.
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