Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 1
अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse
अतदर्हं महाराजं शयानमतथोचितम्।ययातिमिव पुण्यान्ते देवलोकात्परिच्युतम्।।।।अनर्थरूपा सिद्धार्था ह्यभीता भयदर्शिनी।पुनराकारयामास तमेव वरमङ्गना।।।।
atadarhaṃ mahārājaṃ śayānam atathocitam, yayātim iva puṇyānte devalokāt paricyutam. anartharūpā siddhārthā hy abhītā bhayadarśinī, punar ākārayāmāsa tam eva varam aṅganā.
Maharaja itu terbaring tak berdaya, tidak layak diperlakukan demikian dan tak terbiasa—laksana Yayāti yang jatuh dari devaloka ketika pahala kebajikannya habis. Perempuan itu, jelmaan malapetaka, tujuannya telah tercapai, tanpa takut namun berpura-pura gentar, kembali mendesaknya tentang anugerah yang sama.
How will my son for whom the cooks with kundalas in their ears used to proudly prepare enough food and beverages subsist on astringent, pungent, bitter wild fruits and roots?
FAQs
Dharma condemns coercion and manipulation: exploiting another’s vulnerability to enforce a promise violates righteous conduct even if it appears ‘lawful’ by words.
After Daśaratha collapses in misery, Kaikeyī reiterates her demands, and the narration likens the king’s fall to Yayāti’s fall from heaven.
By contrast, Daśaratha’s dignity and worthiness are emphasized (he is ‘not fit’ for humiliation), highlighting the ethical ugliness of Kaikeyī’s pressure.
Ask anything about this verse
A free Google sign-in 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 audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.