Chapter 40 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 40.44

नाश्रौषमिति राजानमुपालब्धोऽपि वक्ष्यसि । चिरं दुःखस्य पापिष्ठमिति रामस्तमब्रवीत्॥

nāśrauṣamiti rājānamupālabdho'pi vakṣyasi | ciraṃ duḥkhasya pāpiṣṭhamiti rāmastamabravīt||

English Meaning

Rāma said to him, “When taxed by the monarch (on your return), you will say, 'I did not hear you.' But delay will impart me terrible pain."

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)