Shloka 2.18.27

अष्टादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration

Devanagari script

एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा कैकेय्या समुदाहृतम्।उवाच व्यथितो रामस्तां देवीं नृपसन्निधौ।।।।

Transliteration

etat tu vacanaṃ śrutvā kaikeyyā samudāhṛtam | uvāca vyathito rāmas tāṃ devīṃ nṛpa-sannidhau ||

Translation

Hearing these words spoken by Kaikeyī, Rāma, distressed, addressed that queen in the king’s presence.

Context

Very much depressed on hearing the words of Kaikeyi, Rama thus said to her in the presence of the king:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha (king)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse frames a dharmic crisis: Rāma’s distress signals the weight of conflicting duties—obedience to the king’s word versus the moral shock of the demand’s implications.

What is the narrative situation?

This is a transition marker: after Kaikeyī’s pressure, Rāma responds directly to her while Daśaratha is present.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s emotional honesty coupled with restraint: even distressed, he speaks formally and within courtly decorum.