Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.5-6: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shlokas 5-6
एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः · Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma
न त्वेवानागते काले देहाच्च्यवति जीवितम् ।
कैकेय्या क्लिश्यमानस्य मृत्युर्मम न विद्यते ॥५॥
योऽहं पावकसङ्काशं पश्यामि पुरतः स्थितम् ।
विहाय वसने सूक्ष्मे तापसाच्छादमात्मजम् ॥६॥
na tvevānāgate kāle dehāccyavati jīvitam |
kaikeyyā kliśyamānasya mṛtyurmama na vidyate ||5||
yo'haṃ pāvakasaṅkāśaṃ paśyāmi purataḥ sthitam |
vihāya vasane sūkṣme tāpasācchādamātmajam ||6||
เว้นแต่กาลเวลาอันกำหนดไว้จะมาถึง ชีวิตย่อมไม่จากร่างไป ดังนั้น แม้ข้าถูกนางไกยเกยีบีบคั้น และแม้ได้เห็นบุตรของข้ายืนอยู่เบื้องหน้า ทรงรัศมีดั่งไฟ ทรงละทิ้งเครื่องทรงอันประณีตและทรงผ้านักบวช กาลสุดท้ายของข้าก็มิได้มาถึง
Unless the destined hour arrives, life does not leave the body. Therefore, even though I am tormented by Kaikeyi and even after seeing my son, standing before me, (bright) like fire, taking off his fine clothes and wearing the robes of an ascetic my end does not come.
FAQs
The verse reflects on Kala (time/destiny) and the limits of human agency. Dasaratha recognizes that life and death operate according to cosmic timing beyond human control. This acknowledgment of fate's power is a key aspect of understanding one's Dharma, accepting what cannot be changed while fulfilling one's duties within those constraints.
Dasaratha, having just seen Rama dressed as an ascetic ready for forest exile, falls into deep despair. He laments that despite his overwhelming grief and torment caused by Kaikeyi's actions, he cannot even die because his destined time has not arrived. He must endure the unbearable sight of his noble son in ascetic garb.
The verse emphasizes the tragic dimension of Sahana (endurance) and the virtue of accepting divine will. Dasaratha's inability to escape his suffering through death forces him to confront the consequences of his past actions (his promise to Kaikeyi), illustrating how Karma and Dharma intersect in human life.
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