Chapter 38 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 38

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 38.6

अजीवनाहेण मया नृशंसा कृता प्रतिज्ञा नियमेन तावत्। त्वया हि बाल्यात् प्रतिपन्नमेतत् तन्मा दहेद् वेणुमिवात्मपुष्पम्॥

ajīvanāheṇa mayā nṛśaṃsā kṛtā pratijñā niyamena tāvat| tvayā hi bālyāt pratipannametat tanmā dahed veṇumivātmapuṣpam||

English Meaning

My sands run out; by me has this cruel promise been made with an oath. But this (exile of Sītä) has been thought of by you through your ignorance. Let it not, however, consume you like a bamboo flower destroying the bamboo.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)