Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 1
द्वादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
Setting: अयोध्या-राजप्रासादः (अन्तःपुर/राजगृह)Places named: अयोध्या (अन्तर्निहिता)
ततश्शृत्वा महाराजः कैकेय्या दारुणं वचः ।
चिन्तामभिसमापेदे मुहूर्तं प्रतताप च ॥१॥
tataḥ śrutvā mahārājaḥ kaikeyyā dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ |
cintām abhisamāpede muhūrtaṃ pratatāpa ca ||1||
महाराज दशरथ ने कैकेयी की बात सुनी। वो बात बहुत बुरी थी। राजा बहुत दुखी हो गए और कुछ देर तक चिंता में पड़ गए।
Sandhi Notes
- cittamoho 'pi = cittamohaḥ + api (visarga sandhi)
- anubhūtopasargaḥ = anubhūta + upasargaḥ
- vāpyupadravaḥ = vā api upadravaḥ
After hearing the dreadful words of Kaikeyi, the maharaja (Dasaratha), engulfed in grief, was extremely distressed for a moment.
The teaching
प्रतिज्ञा-बंधनं राज्ञः अपि शोक-हेतुः; वचनं कृतं चेत् तस्य फलम् अनिवार्यमिव—अतः प्रतिज्ञा विवेकपूर्वकं कर्तव्या।
Duties in tension
- राजधर्मः/सत्यवचन-पालन (वरदान-प्रतिज्ञा)
- पितृधर्मः/पुत्रप्रेम (रामाभिषेक-इच्छा)
- पतिधर्म-सम्बन्धः vs न्याय-पालन
- Ethical theme
- Dharma-saṅkaṭa / satya-vrata
- How it resolves
- Tragic adherence to pledged word (pratijñā-pālana) leading to personal collapse
For your practice
वाक्-संयमः, प्रतिज्ञा-गौरवबोधः, शोक-समये धैर्य-उपासना।
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)
- Mood
- Stricken, anxious, searing
Themes
- Dharma
- Itihasa
- Royal-duty
- Moral-crisis
- Suffering
शोक-तापः मनोवृत्ति-परिणामः; आसक्ति-बंधनात् दुःखोत्पत्तिः—विवेकाभावे तापः।
बृहदारण्यक ‘शोकस्य पारं तरति आत्मविद्या’—here the king is submerged in śoka prior to any liberating insight.
अयोध्याकाण्डे कैकेयी-वरदान-प्रसङ्गः (2.10-2.14); महाभारते शान्तनु-प्रतिज्ञा/भीष्म-प्रसङ्गः—वचन-बंधनजन्य शोक; रामचरितमानस कैकेयी-दुरुक्ति श्रवण पर दशरथ-व्यथा
धर्मशास्त्रीय ‘सत्यवचन’/‘प्रतिज्ञा-पालन’ परम्परा
2.12.2-आदि (दशरथस्य शोक-विस्तारः)
अनुष्टुप्
Grieving
मन्द्र-करुण
FAQs
Dharma is tested in moments of shock: the king’s inner turmoil foreshadows the conflict between personal affection and the obligation to uphold pledged truth and royal righteousness.
Immediately after Kaikeyī speaks her harsh demand, Daśaratha is overwhelmed with grief and distress.
Not a virtue but a human vulnerability: Daśaratha’s deep attachment and the painful weight of responsibility.
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