कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना
Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons
तं मन्मथशरैर्विद्धमं कामवेगवशानुगम्।उवाच पृथिवीपालं कैकेयी दारुणं वचः।।।।
taṃ manmathaśarair viddhaṃ kāmavega-vaśānugam | uvāca pṛthivīpālaṃ kaikeyī dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ || 2.11.1 ||
Kepada penguasa bumi—seakan-akan tertikam panah Manmatha, dan hanyut di bawah gelora nafsu—Kaikeyi menuturkan kata-kata yang keras lagi mengerikan.
To the ruler of the earth (the king), struck by the darts of Kamadeva and overtaken by passion Kaikeyi spoke (these) dreadful words.
It warns that when desire overwhelms discernment, speech and action can turn cruel; dharma requires mastery over passion, especially for those in power.
Kaikeyī addresses Daśaratha at a moment when he is emotionally vulnerable, initiating the sequence that will lead to the demand for boons.
By contrast (through its absence), the verse highlights the needed virtue of self-control (indriya-nigraha) in both private and royal life.