Shloka 2.18.7

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

Devanagari script

अचिन्त्यकल्पं हि पितुस्तं शोकमुपधारयन्।बभूव संरब्धतर स्समुद्र इव पर्वणि।।।।

Transliteration

etat kuru narendrasya vacanaṁ raghunandana | satyena mahatā rāma tārayasva nareśvaram ||

Translation

Do this—fulfil the king’s pledged word, O delight of the Raghus. By your great steadfastness to truth, O Rāma, save the lord of men.

Context

The more Rama reflected on the incomprehensible sorrow of the king, the more he became perturbed like an ocean on the new Moon day.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyi
• Rama
• Dasaratha
• Raghu dynasty

FAQs

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

Satya as dharma: the moral imperative to uphold a pledged word, even at personal cost, is presented as a way to ‘save’ the king from the sin of broken promise.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī urges Rāma to comply with Daśaratha’s promise (the boons), positioning Rāma’s obedience as the means to preserve the king’s truth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s truthfulness and obedience to dharma—his willingness to shoulder hardship to protect another’s integrity.