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 ||
若此刻我的命令尚能使罗伽婆归来，就让它如此；因为没有罗摩，我连片刻也无法活下去。
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.