Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 11
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
कौसल्यां वा सुमित्रां वा त्यजेयमपि वा श्रियम्।।।।जीवितं वाऽत्मनो रामं न त्वेव पितृवत्सलम्।
kausalyāṃ vā sumitrāṃ vā tyajeyam api vā śriyam |
jīvitaṃ vā ’tmano rāmaṃ na tv eva pitṛvatsalam ||
我可以舍弃憍萨利耶或苏蜜特罗，甚至舍弃荣华；是的，连我自己的生命也可舍弃；但我不能舍弃罗摩——那位敬爱父亲、至孝的儿子。
Nature's activity will continue even without the Sun or even if Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, sends no rain but none will live to see Rama departing to the forest. This is my conviction.
FAQs
The verse elevates filial duty (pitr̥dharma) as a defining virtue: Rāma’s steadfast devotion to his father is presented as morally non-negotiable and worthy of unwavering support.
Daśaratha is confronting Kaikeyī after her harsh demands; he declares that he cannot bear separation from Rāma, especially because Rāma is exemplary in obedience to paternal duty.
Rāma’s pitr̥bhakti—devotion and obedience to his father—is emphasized as an ideal virtue.