Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 42
अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः
Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile
अत्यन्तनिगृहीतास्मि भर्तुर्नित्यमतन्त्रिता।परिवारेण कैकेय्या स्समा वाप्यथवाऽवरा।।।।
atyantanigṛhītāsmi bhartur nityam atantritā | parivāreṇa kaikeyyāḥ samā vāpy athavā ’varā ||
Estoy totalmente sometida y siempre sin libertad bajo mi esposo; en la casa, se me trata como igual—o incluso inferior—a las sirvientas de Kaikeyī.
Treating me as an equal or inferior to the attendants of Kaikeyi and making mealways dependent, my husband has greatly suppressed me.
FAQs
It critiques adharmic governance within the household: when power aligns with favoritism, rightful dignity is violated, and dependence becomes a tool of suppression.
Kausalyā describes her diminished status at court due to Kaikeyī’s ascendancy and Daśaratha’s yielding to that influence.
Kausalyā’s truth-telling (satya in speech) is emphasized—she names the injustice plainly rather than disguising it.