Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 16
कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना
Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons
सत्यसन्धो महातेजाः धर्मज्ञः सुसमाहितः।वरं मम ददात्येष तन्मे श्रृण्वन्तु दैवताः।।।।
satyasandho mahātejā dharmajñaḥ susamāhitaḥ | varaṃ mama dadāty eṣa tan me śṛṇvantu daivatāḥ || 2.11.16 ||
ಸತ್ಯಸಂಧನಾಗಿ, ಮಹಾತೇಜಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿ, ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞನಾಗಿ, ಸುಸಂಯಮಿತನಾಗಿ—ಈ ಪುರುಷನು ನನಗೆ ವರವನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತಾನೆ; ನನ್ನ ನಿಮಿತ್ತ ದೇವತೆಗಳು ಇದನ್ನು ಕೇಳಲಿ.
King Dasaratha who is true to his vows, heroic and knows the ways of righteousness is granting me boons with a well-composed mind. Let all the gods stand witness to this (declared Kaikeyi).
FAQs
A king’s dharmic identity—truthfulness and knowledge of righteousness—creates binding moral expectations; satya becomes the foundation of legitimate authority.
Kaikeyī publicly frames Daśaratha as a paragon of satya and dharma, thereby tightening the moral net around his promise before stating her demand.
Satya-sandhatā (steadfast truthfulness) and composure—qualities expected of an ideal ruler.