Valmiki Ramayana · Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 2
मयाप्याचरितं पूर्वैः पन्थानमनुगच्छता। प्रजा नित्यमनिद्रेण यथाशक्त्यभिरक्षिताः
mayāpyācaritaṃ pūrvaiḥ panthānamanugacchatā| prajā nityamanidreṇa yathāśaktyabhirakṣitāḥ
Following the path of my forefathers I protected the people to the best of my ability by being ever vigilant.
— M.N. Dutt (1891)
Commentary
The king speaks of his ageing body after thousands of years of rule. The mythical lifespan of the Ikshvaku kings gives the verse a timeless quality. Dasharatha has ruled for eons, and now his body is worn. The transfer of power is not premature — it is long overdue.
वृद्धश्रम