Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 13
कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना
Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons
यथा क्रमे शपसि वरं मम ददासि च।तच्छृण्वन्तु त्रयस्त्रिंशद्देवास्साग्निपुरोगमाः।।।।
yathā krameṇa śapasi varaṃ mama dadāsi ca | tac chṛṇvantu trayastriṃśad-devāḥ sāgni-purogamāḥ || 2.11.13 ||
जैसे तुम क्रमशः शपथ लेकर मुझे वर दे रहे हो, वैसे ही अग्नि-पुरोगामी त्रयस्त्रिंश देवगण साक्षी होकर इसे सुनें।
You are repeatedly swearing to grant me boons. Let the thirtythree crore gods headed by the fire-god, listen.
FAQs
Satya is treated as publicly accountable; invoking divine witnesses frames a promise as morally and cosmically binding.
Kaikeyī formalizes Daśaratha’s pledge by summoning the gods as witnesses before stating what she wants.
Accountability to one’s word—especially for a king—since vows are not merely private but upheld before higher principles.