Shloka 22
वाङ्मात्रेण तदा राजा कैकेय्या स्ववशे कृतः।प्रचस्कन्द विनाशाय पाशं मृग इवात्मनः।।।।
vāṅmātreṇa tadā rājā kaikeyyā svavaśe kṛtaḥ | pracaskanda vināśāya pāśaṃ mṛga ivātmanaḥ ||
Ketika itu raja, hanya dengan kata-kata, telah ditundukkan di bawah kuasa Kaikeyī; baginda meluru menuju kebinasaan dirinya sendiri, bagaikan rusa melompat ke dalam jerat.
The king now came under the control of Kaikeyi by his own words like a deer that jumps into the trap for its own destruction.
FAQs
The verse warns that unexamined surrender to persuasive speech and emotional compulsion can lead to adharma-like outcomes; discernment is necessary to uphold dharma.
The narration comments on Daśaratha’s psychological capture by Kaikeyī’s words, foreshadowing disastrous consequences.
The absence of steadiness and discernment is highlighted; the ideal royal virtue implied is self-mastery (indriya-nigraha) in the face of pressure.