Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.109: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 109
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
नृशंसवृत्ते व्यसनप्रहारिणि प्रसह्य वाक्यं यदिहाद्य भाषसे।न नाम ते केन मुखात्पतन्त्यधो विशीर्यमाणा दशना स्सहस्रधा।।।।
nṛśaṃsavṛtte vyasanaprahāriṇi prasahya vākyaṃ yad ihādya bhāṣase |
na nāma te kena mukhāt patanty adho viśīryamāṇā daśanā sahasradhā ||
Wahai wanita yang berperangai kejam, yang menyerang ketika orang dalam kesusahan—mengapa gigi di mulutmu tidak gugur, hancur menjadi seribu keping, ketika engkau menuturkan kata-kata sedemikian rupa?
I shall give up Kausalya or Sumitra or all my wealth or even my own life but I cannot leave Rama who is devoted to his father.
FAQs
It condemns cruelty and opportunistic aggression during another’s suffering, implying that speech (vāk) must be governed by dharma, especially in family and royal duty.
Daśaratha, overwhelmed by grief, rebukes Kaikeyī for her merciless words and timing—attacking him when he is most vulnerable.
The implied virtue is compassion in speech; the verse highlights its absence as a moral failing.
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