Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.41 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 41
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
यस्याः प्रसादे जीवामि या च मामभ्यपालयत्।तस्याः कृतम् मया मिथ्या कैकेय्या इति वक्षयसि।।।।
yasyāḥ prasāde jīvāmi yā ca mām abhyapālayat |
tasyāḥ kṛtaṃ mayā mithyā kaikeyyā iti vakṣyasi || 2.12.41 ||
જેના પ્રસાદથી હું જીવું છું અને જેણે મને રક્ષ્યો હતો—એ કૈકેયીને મેં આપેલું વચન મિથ્યા કર્યું, એમ તું કહેશ?
Will you say, 'To such a Kaikeyi by whose mercy I am alive and by whom I was protected, I have broken the promise given'?
FAQs
Satya (truthfulness) and kṛtajñatā (gratitude) are invoked: breaking a pledged word—especially to one who rendered protection—is framed as morally indefensible.
Kaikeyī intensifies her demand by reminding Daśaratha of past support and implying that reneging would be shameful.
The virtue demanded is fidelity to one’s word; the verse also foregrounds the social-moral weight of gratitude.
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