रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम्
The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave-Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse
न चैतन्मे प्रियं पुत्र शपे सत्येन राघव।छन्नया चलितस्त्वस्मि स्त्रिया छन्नाग्निकल्पया।।।।
na caitad me priyaṃ putra śape satyena rāghava |
channayā calitas tv asmi striyā channāgnikalpayā ||
కుమారా! ఓ రాఘవా, ఇది నాకు ప్రియము కాదు—సత్యమునకు శపథము చేస్తున్నాను. బూడిదలో దాగిన అగ్నివలె గూఢహేతువున్న స్త్రీ నన్ను మోసగించింది.
I swear by truth, O my beloved son, that your departure to the forest is in no way a pleasure to me. With a hidden motive, this woman who is like fire concealed by ashes has duped me.
Satya (truth) is invoked as the highest witness: even in suffering and manipulation, the moral order depends on truthfulness and accountability to one’s word.
Daśaratha tells Rāma that the exile is not his desire; he claims he was trapped by Kaikeyī’s concealed scheme, swearing by truth.
Daśaratha’s commitment to truth as a moral anchor, even while confessing weakness and deception.