Shloka 21
तत् प्रतिश्रुत्य धर्मेण न चेद्दास्यसि मे वरम्।अद्यैव हि प्रहास्यामि जीवितं त्वद्विमानिता।।।।
tat pratiśrutya dharmeṇa na ced dāsyasi me varam | adyaiva hi prahāsyāmi jīvitaṃ tvad-vimānitā ||
Wenn du, nachdem du es gemäß dem Dharma versprochen hast, mir die Gabe nicht gewährst, dann werde ich—von dir entehrt—noch heute mein Leben aufgeben.
The boons you have vowed to give shall rightfully be given to me. If not, disgraced by you I shall give up my life right away.
FAQs
A vow made under dharma is presented as binding; the verse dramatizes how satya can be tested under emotional pressure, raising questions about dharma versus manipulation.
Kaikeyī escalates her demand by threatening suicide if Daśaratha refuses to grant the promised boon.
Daśaratha’s commitment to truth is the targeted virtue; Kaikeyī uses the moral weight of his promise to compel compliance.