Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.46 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 46
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
भवत्वधर्मो धर्मो वा सत्यं वा यदि वाऽनृतम्।यत्त्वया संश्रुतं मह्यं तस्य नास्ति व्यतिक्रमः।।।।
bhavatv adharmo dharmo vā satyaṃ vā yadi vā anṛtam |
yat tvayā saṃśrutaṃ mahyaṃ tasya nāsti vyatikramaḥ || 2.12.46 ||
จะเป็นธรรมหรืออธรรม จะเป็นจริงหรือเท็จก็ตาม วาจาใดที่ท่านได้รับปากไว้แก่ข้าพเจ้าแล้ว วาจานั้นย่อมไม่อาจคืนคำได้
Whether righteous or unrighteous, true or false, there is no deviation from what you have promised to me.
FAQs
It asserts the inviolability of a pledged word (satya-saṃśruti): once given, a promise binds action—though the verse also problematizes ethics by separating promise-keeping from moral evaluation.
Kaikeyī refuses any reconsideration and insists Daśaratha must fulfill the boon exactly as promised.
Promise-keeping (satya) is foregrounded—presented here as absolute, even when it conflicts with other moral goods.
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