Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.36: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 36
द्वादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
अञ्जलिं करोमि कैकेयि पादौ चापि स्पृशामि ते।शरणं भव रामस्य माऽधर्मो मामिह स्पृशेत्।।।।
añjaliṃ karomi kaikeyi pādau cāpi spṛśāmi te |
śaraṇaṃ bhava rāmasya mā ’dharmaḥ mām iha spṛśet ||
कैकेयी, मैं हाथ जोड़ता हूँ और तुम्हारे पाँव छूहता हूँ। राम की मदद करो। मेरा कोई बुरा काम नहीं होना चाहिए।
O Kaikeyi I bow to you with folded palms. I touch your feet, too. Be the saviour of Rama. Let no sin taint me here (in this life).
FAQs
Avoiding adharma is paramount; Daśaratha frames Kaikeyī’s choice as decisive for whether righteousness is preserved or violated.
In extreme desperation, Daśaratha humbles himself before Kaikeyī, pleading that she protect Rāma from the consequences of her demand.
Daśaratha’s reverence for dharma and fear of adharma, expressed through physical humility and supplication.
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