Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 59
सत्यपाशः
Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise
तत स्सराजा तं सूतं सन्नहर्ष स्सुतं प्रति।शोकरक्तेक्षण श्श्रीमानुद्वीक्ष्योवाच धार्मिकः।।।।वाक्यैस्तु खलु मर्माणि मम भूयो निकृन्तसि।
tataḥ sa rājā taṃ sūtaṃ sannaharṣaḥ sutaṃ prati | śokaraktīkṣaṇaḥ śrīmān udvīkṣyovāca dhārmikaḥ || vākyaistu khalu marmāṇi mama bhūyo nikṛntasi |
Bấy giờ vị vua công chính, lòng chẳng chút vui khi nghĩ đến con, đôi mắt đỏ hoe vì sầu, ngước nhìn người đánh xe mà nói: “Quả thật, bằng lời ngươi, ngươi lại khoét sâu, đâm thấu tận ruột gan ta.”
The virtuous and glorious king thinking of his son without cheer looked upward with eyes red with tears and said to the charioteer, You are causing my heart excruciating pain with your words.
FAQs
It shows the tension between dharma and emotion: truth-telling counsel may be necessary, yet it can feel cruel to one overwhelmed by grief.
Daśaratha responds to Sumantra’s urging about the coronation, confessing that the minister’s words intensify his pain.
Daśaratha’s honesty and emotional openness—he does not disguise the wound his circumstances have created.