Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 81
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
रममाणस्त्वया सार्धं मृत्युं त्वां नाभिलक्षये।बालो रहसि हस्तेन कृष्णसर्पमिवास्पृशम्।।।।
ramamāṇas tvayā sārdhaṁ mṛtyuṁ tvāṁ nābhilakṣaye | bālo rahasi hastena kṛṣṇasarpam ivāspṛśam ||
Während ich mich mit dir vergnügte, erkannte ich dich nicht als den Tod selbst — wie ein Kind, allein und im Verborgenen, das mit der Hand eine schwarze Schlange berührt.
While sporting with you, I did not realize you were death incarnate. Like a child handling a black cobra I caressed you.
FAQs
It cautions that unchecked pleasure and attachment can obscure truth (satya) and lead to ruin; dharma requires awareness and restraint.
Daśaratha compares his indulgent relationship with Kaikeyī to a child’s dangerous ignorance, realizing too late the harm it brings.
Self-control (dama) and vigilance (apramāda) are implied as necessary virtues for a ruler and householder.