Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 8
कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना
Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons
आत्मना वात्मजैश्चान्यैर्वृणेयं मनुजर्षभम्।तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम्।।।।
ātmanā vātmajaiś cānyair vṛṇeyaṁ manujarṣabham | tena rāmeṇa kaikeyi śape te vacanakriyām ||
Aun eligiendo a Rāma, el mejor de los hombres, por encima de mí mismo, de mis hijos y de todos los demás—oh Kaikeyī—por ese mismo Rāma juro cumplir tu petición.
O proud lady, don't you know there exists for me no woman dearer than you and no man other than Rama who is the best among men.
FAQs
The verse dramatizes the absolute nature of a king’s pledged word: once sworn, it is treated as overriding personal preference—though later events question how vows should align with righteousness.
Daśaratha reinforces his oath by declaring Rāma’s supreme value to him and still pledges to execute Kaikeyī’s demand.
Rāma’s preeminence (manujarṣabha) is emphasized, functioning as the moral ‘seal’ upon the king’s promise.