Valmiki Ramayana 2.11.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 8
कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना · Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons
आत्मना वात्मजैश्चान्यैर्वृणेयं मनुजर्षभम् ।
तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम् ॥८॥
ātmanā vātmajaiś cānyair vṛṇeyaṁ manujarṣabham |
tena rāmeṇa kaikeyi śape te vacanakriyām ||8||
कैकेयी, मैं राम को अपने से, अपने बेटों से, और दुनिया के सब से बड़ा आदमी मानता हूँ। उसी राम की कसम, तुम्हारी जो इच्छा है वह पूरी होगी।
O Kaikeyi! I wish the best among men Rama well.Even at the expense of my life or the lives of the rest of my sons I swear in his name I shall fulfil your wish.
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.
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