Shloka 2.14.1
सत्यपाशः — Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise
पुत्रशोकार्दितं पापा विसंज्ञं पतितं भुवि।विवेष्टमानमुद्वीक्ष्य सैक्ष्वाकमिदमब्रवीत्।।।।
putraśokārditaṃ pāpā visaṃjñaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi | viveṣṭamānam udvīkṣya saikṣvākaṃ idam abravīt ||
Seeing the Ikṣvāku king fallen senseless upon the ground, writhing and tormented by grief for his son, the sinful woman spoke these words.
The evil woman (Kaikeyi) said to the king of the Ikshvaku race who lay unconscious on the floor writhing and tormented with grief on account of his son.
Dharma highlights compassion toward the suffering; the verse frames Kaikeyī’s lack of empathy as adharma against a grieving husband and king.
Daśaratha collapses from sorrow upon hearing the demands; Kaikeyī, unmoved, prepares to press him further.
By contrast: the absence of compassion in Kaikeyī is foregrounded, serving as a moral warning.