Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 56
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
दीनया तु गिरा राजा इति होवाच कैकयीम्।अनर्थमिममर्थाभं केन त्वमुपदर्शिता।।।।भूतोपहतचित्तेव ब्रुवन्ती मां न लज्जसे।
dīnayā tu girā rājā iti hovāca kaikayīm |
anartham imam arthābhaṃ kena tvam upadarśitā ||
bhūtopahatacitteva bruvantī māṃ na lajjase ||
Da sprach der König mit gebrochener, demütiger Stimme zu Kaikeyī: „Wer hat dich dazu gebracht, dieses Unheil zu fordern, das dir wie ein Nutzen erscheint? Du redest mit mir, als wäre dein Geist von einem Wesen ergriffen—schämst du dich nicht?“
The lord of the earth (Dasaratha) became like a man with the mind deranged, like a sick man behaving to the contrary, like a serpent with its energy drained (through mantra).
FAQs
Dharma demands discernment (viveka): actions that look advantageous (artha-ābha) can still be ruinous (anartha). Moral clarity must guide desire and political gain.
Daśaratha, devastated, challenges Kaikeyī’s demand and suspects she has been influenced or misled into harmful counsel.
Daśaratha appeals to lajjā (moral shame/modesty) as a guardian of dharma—an inner check that should prevent cruel or unrighteous speech.