अष्टादशः सर्गः
Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration
तत्र मे याचितो राजा भरतस्याभिषेचनम्।गमनं दण्डकारण्ये तव चाद्यैव राघव।।।।
tatra me yācito rājā bharatasyābhiṣecanam |
gamanaṃ daṇḍakāraṇye tava cādyaiva rāghava ||2.18.33||
সেই কারণে আমি রাজার কাছে ভরত-এর অভিষেক এবং, হে রাঘব, তোমার আজই দণ্ডকারণ্যে গমনের বর প্রার্থনা করেছি।
O scion of the Raghus, hence I have asked the king for consecration of Bharata and your departure to Dandaka forest today itself.
The verse foregrounds a conflict of dharmas: the sanctity of a promise versus justice in succession; it sets the ethical dilemma Rāma resolves through adherence to satya and obedience.
Kaikeyī states her two demands derived from the boons: Bharata’s installation and Rāma’s immediate exile to Daṇḍaka.
Rāma’s impending virtue is steadfastness to dharma despite personal loss; Kaikeyī’s action highlights manipulation rather than virtue.