Valmiki Ramayana 2.42.15 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 15
द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः — दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः
Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments
यः सुखेषूपधानेषु शेते चन्दनरूषितः।वीज्यमानो महार्हाभिः स्त्रीभिर्मम सुतोत्तमः।।।।स नूनं क्वचिदेवाद्य वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितः।काष्ठं वा यदि वाश्मानमुपधाय शयिष्यते।।।।
yaḥ sukheṣūpadhāneṣu śete candanarūṣitaḥ | vījyamāno mahārhābhiḥ strībhir mama sutottamaḥ || sa nūnaṃ kvacid evādya vṛkṣamūlam upāśritaḥ | kāṣṭhaṃ vā yadi vāśmānam upadhāya śayiṣyate ||
โอรสผู้ประเสริฐของเรา—ผู้เคยนอนบนหมอนอ่อนนุ่ม ชโลมด้วยจันทน์หอม และมีสตรีผู้สูงศักดิ์พัดวี—บัดนี้แน่แท้จักนอน ณ ที่ใดที่หนึ่ง อาศัยโคนไม้ และวางท่อนไม้หรือแม้ก้อนศิลาเป็นหมอนหนุนศีรษะ
Rama, the best of all my sons who, smeared with sandalpaste and fanned by graceful women used to sleep (with his head) on comfortable cushions will surely, from now on, lie down somewhere at the foot of a tree, (his head) pillowed upon a piece of wood or stone.
FAQs
Dharma is portrayed as renunciation for truth and duty: Rāma accepts hardship in place of royal comfort, embodying steadfastness to a higher obligation.
Daśaratha imagines the contrast between Rāma’s former palace life and his imminent forest life—sleeping under trees with crude supports.
Rāma’s endurance and willingness to sacrifice comfort to uphold satya (truthfulness) and dharma.
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