Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.107: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 107
द्वादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
विनाशकामामहिताममित्रामावासयं मृत्युमिवात्मनस्त्वाम् ।
चिरं बताङ्केन धृतासि सर्पी महाविषा तेन हतोऽस्मि मोहात् ॥१०७॥
vināśakāmām ahitām amitrām āvāsayaṃ mṛtyum ivātmanaḥ tvām |
ciraṃ batāṅkena dhṛtāsi sarpī mahāviṣā tena hato ’smi mohāt ||107||
तुम मेरे दुश्मन हो, तुम चाहते हो कि मैं बर्बाद हो जाऊं। मैं तुम्हे अपने पास रखा, जैसे कोई मौत को पास रखे। बहुत दिनों तक मैंने तुम्हे गोदी में लिया, तुम तो ज़हरीली साँप हो। और इस भूल से मैं बर्बाद हो गया।
Alas I carried all along on my lap a highly poisonous female snake I gave you shelter while you were like death .This delusion is the cause of my ruin.You were my enemy. You wished me harm. You wished my destruction.
FAQs
It warns against misplaced trust and the ethical catastrophe of betrayal within protected relationships (śaraṇāgata-saṃrakṣaṇa versus treachery).
Daśaratha condemns Kaikeyī’s demand as lethal betrayal, likening her to death and a venomous serpent he mistakenly nurtured.
Daśaratha’s earlier protective, shelter-giving nature is implied—contrasted with Kaikeyī’s perceived treachery.
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