Shloka 2.12.58
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse (Ayodhya Kanda 12)
कुतो वा ते भयं जातं या त्वमेवंविधं वरम्।।।।राष्ट्रे भरतमासीनं वृणीषे राघवं वने।
kuto vā te bhayaṃ jātaṃ yā tvam evaṃvidhaṃ varam |
rāṣṭre bharatam āsīnaṃ vṛṇīṣe rāghavaṃ vane ||
From where has this fear arisen in you, that you ask for such a boon—Bharata enthroned in the kingdom, and Rāghava (Rāma) sent to dwell in the forest?
You are asking for a boon that Bharata should be enthroned in the kingdom while Rama should live in the forest. From where did you get this apprehension?
Daśaratha frames Kaikeyī’s demand as arising from fear rather than dharma; righteous action should be grounded in justice and truth, not anxiety-driven manipulation of succession.
After being pressed for boons, Daśaratha challenges Kaikeyī’s request that Bharata be made king and Rāma be exiled to the forest.
Daśaratha’s concern for rightful order (rājadharma) and his attempt—however strained—to reason morally against an unjust demand.