Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 26
एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः
यद्यद्यापि ममैवाज्ञा निवर्तयतु राघवम्।न शक्ष्यामि विना रामं मुहूर्तमपि जीवितुम्।।2.59.26।।
yady adyāpi mamaivājñā nivartayatu rāghavam | na śakṣyāmi vinā rāmaṃ muhūrtam api jīvitum || 2.59.26 ||
Nếu ngay lúc này mệnh lệnh của ta còn có thể khiến Rāghava quay lại, thì hãy làm như vậy—vì không có Rāma, ta không thể sống dù chỉ trong khoảnh khắc.
If my command prevails today, Rama may be brought back. Without Rama I cannot live for a moment even.
FAQs
It points to the limits of worldly authority: even a king’s command may fail against prior vows and dharmic commitments, underscoring that dharma can supersede personal will.
Daśaratha laments that if his order still had force, it should recall Rāma; he confesses he cannot survive separated from him.
Rāma’s steadfastness to duty (implied)—his return is not simply a matter of royal command, reflecting integrity to dharma.