Shloka 2.12.68
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse (Ayodhya Kanda 12)
यदा यदा हि कौशल्या दासीवच्च सखीव च।।।।भार्यावद्भगिनीवच्च मातृवच्चोपतिष्ठति।सततं प्रियकामा मे प्रियपुत्रा प्रियंवदा।।।।न मया सत्कृता देवी सत्कारार्हा कृते तव।
yadā yadā hi kauśalyā dāsī-vac ca sakhī-va ca,
bhāryā-vad bhaginī-vac ca mātṛ-vac copatiṣṭhati;
satataṃ priya-kāmā me priya-putrā priyaṃ-vadā,
na mayā sat-kṛtā devī satkārārhā kṛte tava.
Whenever Kauśalyā attended upon me—like a servant and like a friend, like a wife, like a sister, and like a mother—she, ever seeking my good, the mother of my beloved son, sweet of speech, was truly worthy of honor. Yet because of you, that noble queen was never duly respected by me.
Sweetspoken Kausalya who always cherishes my welfare. who has given me my beloved son, who has served me like an attendant, a friend, a wife, a sister and a mother deserved courteous treatment from me, but because of you, she never received due attention from me.
Dharma here is gratitude and fairness: those who serve with loyalty and affection deserve honor, not neglect. Daśaratha admits a lapse in righteous conduct by failing to respect Kauśalyā appropriately.
In the midst of Kaikeyī’s demands, Daśaratha reflects on Kauśalyā’s lifelong devotion and laments how Kaikeyī’s influence led him to neglect Kauśalyā.
Kauśalyā’s selfless service and gentleness (sweet speech, constant goodwill), contrasted with Daśaratha’s remorseful self-critique.