Shloka 2.12.8
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse (Ayodhya Kanda 12)
यदा ते जननीतुल्यां वृत्तिं वहति राघव: ।।।।तस्यैव त्वमनर्थाय किंनिमित्तमिहोद्यता ।
yadā te jananītulyāṁ vṛttiṁ vahati rāghavaḥ | tasyaiva tvam anarthāya kiṁnimittam ihodyatā ||
When Rāghava treats you with the reverence due to a mother, for what reason are you here, intent on bringing harm to such a one?
Then Rama was conducting himself in relation to you as his own mother, for what purpose are you seeking injustice to such a person?
It upholds maryādā and gratitude: harming one who behaves with filial reverence is adharma and a violation of truth-based moral reciprocity.
Daśaratha argues that Rāma has treated Kaikeyī like a mother, so her hostility toward him is unjustified.
Rāma’s virtue of respectful conduct (mātṛvat-vṛtti) is highlighted as the standard of dharmic behavior.