Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 103
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
अनर्थभावेऽर्थपरे नृशंसे ममानुतापाय निविष्टभावे।किमप्रियं पश्यसि मन्निमित्तं हितानुकारिण्यथवाऽपि रामे।।।।
anarthabhāve ’rthapare nṛśaṃse mamānutāpāya niviṣṭabhāve | kim apriyaṃ paśyasi mannimittaṃ hitānukāriṇy athavā ’pi rāme ||
O you whose nature tends to harm, who are greedy and cruel, fixed on tormenting me—what fault, for my sake, do you see in Rama, who acts for the good of others?
O malicious one, O covetous one, O cruel one, O woman determined to tormentme, what fault have you seen in Rama who is always devoted to the welfare of others?
FAQs
Dharma demands truth-based judgment: Daśaratha insists that action against Rama must rest on a real fault, yet Rama is characterized as ‘hitānukārin’—one who works for others’ welfare.
Daśaratha challenges Kaikeyī to name any genuine wrongdoing in Rama that could justify exile.
Rama’s benevolence and public-spirited conduct (working for the welfare of others).