Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 82
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
मया ह्यपितृकः पुत्र स्समहात्मा दुरात्मना।तं तु मां जीवलोकोऽयं नूनमाक्रोष्टुमर्हति।।।।
mayā hy apitṛkaḥ putraḥ sa mahātmā durātmanā | taṁ tu māṁ jīvaloko ’yaṁ nūnam ākroṣṭum arhati ||
因我这心怀邪恶之人，那位大心之子竟成了无父之人；因此这众生之世确实有理由责骂我。
Wicked I am, I have made that magnanimous Rama fatherless. This world of living beings is certainly entitled to condemn me.
FAQs
It underscores accountability: violating paternal and royal duty leads to rightful social reproach; dharma is upheld through responsibility and truth.
Daśaratha anticipates his own moral blame for making Rāma effectively fatherless by exile and separation.
Acceptance of moral responsibility is emphasized—he does not deny culpability, even while in anguish.