Shloka 16

कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना

Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons

Devanagari script

सत्यसन्धो महातेजाः धर्मज्ञः सुसमाहितः।वरं मम ददात्येष तन्मे श्रृण्वन्तु दैवताः।।।।

Transliteration

satyasandho mahātejā dharmajñaḥ susamāhitaḥ | varaṃ mama dadāty eṣa tan me śṛṇvantu daivatāḥ || 2.11.16 ||

Translation

സത്യത്തിൽ അചഞ്ചലനും മഹാതേജസ്സും ധർമ്മജ്ഞനും സ്വസംയമനുമായ ഈ പുരുഷൻ എനിക്ക് വരം നല്കുന്നു; എന്റെ നിമിത്തം ദേവതകൾ ഇതു കേൾക്കട്ടെ.

Word by Word

सत्यसन्धःtrue to his vow

महातेजाःmighty

धर्मज्ञःknower of dharma

सुसमाहितःwell-composed, well-collected

वरम्a boon

ममmy

ददातिgives

एषःthis (man)

तत्that (statement)

मेfor me

शृण्वन्तुlet (them) hear

दैवताःthe gods

Context

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).

Characters & Entities

Kaikeyī

Daśaratha

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

A king’s dharmic identity—truthfulness and knowledge of righteousness—creates binding moral expectations; satya becomes the foundation of legitimate authority.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī publicly frames Daśaratha as a paragon of satya and dharma, thereby tightening the moral net around his promise before stating her demand.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya-sandhatā (steadfast truthfulness) and composure—qualities expected of an ideal ruler.