Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 2
सत्यपाशः
Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise
पापं कृत्वैव किमिदं मम संश्रुत्य संश्रवम्।शेषे क्षितितले सन्नः स्थित्यां स्थातुं त्वमर्हसि।।।।
pāpaṃ kṛtvaiva kim idaṃ mama saṃśrutya saṃśravam |
śeṣe kṣiti-tale sannaḥ sthityāṃ sthātuṃ tvam arhasi ||
Qu’est-ce donc, comme si tu avais commis un péché ? Après avoir entendu ma réponse au don que tu as promis, pourquoi gis-tu, accablée, sur le sol ? Il te sied de demeurer ferme dans ta condition royale.
(Kaikeyi said) What is this? After hearing my response to the promised boon, why are you lying down on the floor dejected as if you had committed a sin? It behovesyou to maintain your status.
FAQs
Kaikeyī appeals to satya as binding: a pledged boon must be upheld, and a king should not collapse from remorse once his word is invoked.
Kaikeyī confronts Daśaratha, questioning his despair and pressing him to act according to the promised boons.
From Kaikeyī’s framing, the emphasized trait is steadfastness to one’s declared word; however, her use of it is coercive within the episode.