Shloka 3.47.7
सीतारावणसंवादः — Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma
प्रतिगृह्य तु कैकेयी श्वशुरं सुकृतेन मे।मम प्रव्राजनं भर्तुर्भरतस्याभिषेचनम्।।3.47.7।।द्वावयाचत भर्तारं सत्यसन्धं नृपोत्तमम्।
pratigṛhya tu kaikeyī śvaśuraṃ sukṛtena me | mama pravrājanaṃ bhartur bharatasyābhiṣecanam || 3.47.7 || dvāv ayācata bhartāraṃ satya-sandhaṃ nṛpottamam |
Having secured, by my good fortune, a prior promise from my father-in-law, Kaikeyī asked that best of kings—true to his word—for two boons: my husband’s banishment and Bharata’s consecration.
For the fulfilment of the promise made to Kaikeyi earlier by my truthful father-in- law, who, to my good luck, was the best of kings, she asked for two boons. One was banishment of my husband and second, consecration of Bharata.
Satya (truthfulness) is invoked as binding on rulers; yet the verse also exposes how vows can be weaponized against dharma-oriented welfare.
Kaikeyī demands two boons—Rāma’s exile and Bharata’s coronation—leveraging an earlier pledge by the king.
Daśaratha’s satya-sandhatva (fidelity to truth/promise), even when it leads to personal and political ruin.