Valmiki Ramayana · Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 4
अनुभूतानि चेष्टानि मया वीर सुखान्यपि। देवर्षिपितृविप्राणामनृणोऽस्मि तथाऽत्मनः
anubhūtāni ceṣṭāni mayā vīra sukhānyapi| devarṣipitṛviprāṇāmanṛṇo'smi tathā'tmanaḥ
O mighty son I have experienced all the pleasures I longed for. I redeemed my debt to the gods, the sages, my ancestors, brahmins and to myself.
— M.N. Dutt (1891)
Commentary
The king declares he has repaid his debts to the gods, sages, ancestors, and all beings. In Hindu tradition, every person is born with three debts. Dasharatha has discharged them all — except the debt to his own lineage, which requires Rama to succeed him.
ऋणदेवपितृ