Shloka 22
अष्टादशः सर्गः
Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration
एष मह्यं वरं दत्त्वा पुरा मामभिपूज्य च।स पश्चात्तप्यते राजा यथाऽन्यः प्राकृतस्तथा।।।।
eṣa mahyaṃ varaṃ dattvā purā mām abhipūjya ca | sa paścāttapyate rājā yathā anyaḥ prākṛtas tathā ||
ഈ രാജാവ് മുമ്പ് എന്നെ ആദരിച്ചു പൂജിച്ച് ഒരു വരം നൽകിയിരുന്നു; ഇപ്പോൾ പിന്നീടത് ഓർത്ത് പശ്ചാത്തപിക്കുന്നു—ഏതൊരു സാധാരണ മനുഷ്യനെപ്പോലെ.
In the past the king had honoured me with (two) boons. Now like any other common man he is repenting (for the same).
FAQs
The verse points to the dharma of kingship: a king’s word should not become like an ordinary person’s wavering regret after granting boons.
Kaikeyī states that Daśaratha once granted her boons with honour, but now he regrets them, setting up her demand as a test of royal truth.
The virtue under scrutiny is satya and steadfastness in rulers; the failure implied is inconsistency after making a binding grant.