Shloka 20
दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka
Dharma of Refuge
तदवश्यं मया कार्यमृषीणां परिपालनम्।अनुक्तेनापि वैदेहि प्रतिज्ञाय तु किं पुनः।।।।
tad avaśyaṁ mayā kāryam ṛṣīṇāṁ paripālanam |
anuktenāpi vaidehi pratijñāya tu kiṁ punaḥ ||
پس اے ویدیہی! رِشیوں کی حفاظت کرنا میرے لیے لازماً واجب ہے؛ اگر انہوں نے کہا بھی نہ ہوتا تو بھی، پھر جب میں نے وعدہ کر لیا ہے تو کیا ہی کہنا۔
Your auspicious words are quite befitting your lineage. You are the follower of my dharma and so dearer to me than my life.
FAQs
Dharma can be intrinsic duty, not merely a response to request: the righteous should be protected as a matter of obligation; a vow only strengthens that obligation.
Rama argues that he was duty-bound to protect the sages regardless; since he has vowed, the duty becomes even more binding.
Proactive righteousness—Rama frames protection as a natural responsibility, not a favor.