Shloka 2.12.37

द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse (Ayodhya Kanda 12)

Devanagari script

इति दुःखाभिसन्तप्तं विलपन्तमचेतनम्।घूर्णमानं महाराजं शोकेन समभिप्लुतम्।।।।पारं शोकार्णवस्याशु प्रार्थयन्तं पुनः पुनः।प्रत्युवाचाथ कैकेयी रौद्रा रौद्रतरं वचः।।।।

Transliteration

iti duḥkhābhisantaptaṃ vilapantam acetanaṃ |

ghūrṇamānaṃ mahārājaṃ śokena samabhiplutam ||

pāraṃ śokārṇavasyāśu prārthayantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ |

pratyuvācātha kaikeyī raudrā raudrataraṃ vacaḥ ||

Translation

Thus the great king, scorched by grief, lamented as one senseless—reeling and submerged in sorrow—again and again begging to be borne swiftly to the far shore of this ocean of anguish. Then Kaikeyī, fierce by nature, replied with words yet more fierce.

Context

Then the fierce Kaikeyi used fiercer words in reply to the king who was tormented with grief and filled with tears, senses switched off, head reeling, overwhelmed with pain, beseeching again and again to ferry him across the ocean of sorrow as quickly as possible:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (mahārāja)
• Kaikeyī
• śoka (grief)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The passage contrasts compassion with cruelty: when a person is overwhelmed by suffering, dharma calls for gentleness, yet Kaikeyī answers with increased harshness.

What is the narrative situation?

After Daśaratha’s repeated pleas and visible collapse into grief, the narration sets up Kaikeyī’s response as stern and unyielding.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but a moral contrast: Kaikeyī’s raudratā (fierceness) is highlighted against Daśaratha’s helpless sorrow.