Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.47: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 47
द्वादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
अहं हि विषमद्यैव पीत्वा बहु तवाग्रतः ।
पश्यतस्ते मरिष्यामि रामो यद्यभिषिच्यते ॥४७॥
ahaṃ hi viṣam adyaiva pītvā bahu tavāgrataḥ |
paśyatas te mariṣyāmi rāmo yady abhiṣicyate ||47||
अगर राम को राज्य मिला तो मैं आज ही मर जाऊंगी। मैं तुम्हारे सामने ज़हर पी लूंगी। तुम देखते रहना।
If Rama is coronated I will die while as you are watching right in your presence today itself by drinking excessive poison.
FAQs
The verse illustrates adharma as coercion: moral decisions are distorted when forced by threats; it contrasts sharply with satya as a free, principled commitment.
Kaikeyī escalates her demand by threatening suicide if Daśaratha proceeds with Rāma’s coronation.
Daśaratha’s vulnerability is highlighted: compassion and fear of sin (causing a queen’s death) become pressure points against dharmic judgment.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.