Shloka 2.14.11
सत्यपाशः — Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise
एवं प्रचोदितो राजा कैकेय्या निर्विशङ्कया।नाशकत्पाशमुन्मोक्तुं बलिरिन्द्रकृतं यथा।।।।
evaṃ pracodito rājā kaikeyyā nirviśaṅkayā | nāśakat pāśam unmoktuṃ balir indrākṛtaṃ yathā ||
Thus pressed by Kaikeyī, who showed no hesitation, the king could not free himself from the noose of his promise—like Bali, bound by the snare contrived by Indra.
In this way urged by Kaikeyi without fear or hesitation, he (Dasaratha), like Bali unable to release himself from the noose cast by Indra (through Vamana), could not get out of the noose of promise.
Satya as binding force: once a promise is given, it becomes a moral bond; the verse also warns how dharma can be exploited when vows are extracted or used strategically.
Daśaratha realizes he cannot escape the obligation created by his earlier boon to Kaikeyī.
Daśaratha’s truthfulness and vow-keeping, portrayed as an unbreakable ‘noose’ even when personally devastating.