Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 107
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
विनाशकामामहिताममित्रामावासयं मृत्युमिवात्मनस्त्वाम्।चिरं बताङ्केन धृतासि सर्पी महाविषा तेन हतोऽस्मि मोहात्।।।।
vināśakāmām ahitām amitrām āvāsayaṃ mṛtyum ivātmanaḥ tvām |
ciraṃ batāṅkena dhṛtāsi sarpī mahāviṣā tena hato ’smi mohāt ||
Dich, die du meinen Untergang begehrst — verderblich wie ein Feind —, habe ich beherbergt, als beherbergte ich den Tod selbst. Ach! Lange trug ich auf meinem Schoß eine hochgiftige Schlangenfrau; und durch diese Verblendung bin ich zugrunde gerichtet.
With Rama and Lakshmana withdrawn from me, my kinsmen killed, let Bharata along with you rule the city and the kingdom causing delight to my enemies.
FAQs
It warns against misplaced trust and the ethical catastrophe of betrayal within protected relationships (śaraṇāgata-saṃrakṣaṇa versus treachery).
Daśaratha condemns Kaikeyī’s demand as lethal betrayal, likening her to death and a venomous serpent he mistakenly nurtured.
Daśaratha’s earlier protective, shelter-giving nature is implied—contrasted with Kaikeyī’s perceived treachery.