Chapter 52 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 52.39

अहं किं चापि वक्ष्यामि देवीं तव सुतो मया। नीतोऽसौ मातुलकुलं संतापं मा कृथा इति॥ असत्यमपि नैवाहं ब्रूयां वचनमीदृशम्। कथमप्रियमेवाहं ब्रूयां सत्यमिदं वचः॥

ahaṃ kiṃ cāpi vakṣyāmi devīṃ tava suto mayā| nīto'sau mātulakulaṃ saṃtāpaṃ mā kṛthā iti|| asatyamapi naivāhaṃ brūyāṃ vacanamīdṛśam| kathamapriyamevāhaṃ brūyāṃ satyamidaṃ vacaḥ||

English Meaning

Shall I say to the worshipful one, 'I have conveyed your son to the home of his maternal uncle. Do you not grieve.' I will never tell such a lie. Yet how can I speak this truth which is so very unpleasant?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)