Shloka 21

द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

ननु ते राघवस्तुल्यो भरतेन महात्मना।बहुशो हि सुबाले त्वं कथाः कथयसे मम।।।।

Transliteration

nanu te rāghavas tulyo bharatena mahātmanā | bahuśo hi subāle tvaṃ kathāḥ kathayase mama ||

Translation

Wahai yang masih naif, bukankah engkau telah berkali-kali menceritakan kepadaku bahawa Rāma itu sama kasihnya bagimu seperti Bharata yang berhati mulia?

Word by Word

ननुindeed?/surely (introducing a pointed remark)

तेyour / of you

राघवःRāghava (Rāma)

तुल्यःequal, comparable

भरतेनwith Bharata / to Bharata (as the equal)

महात्मनाhigh-souled, noble

बहुशःmany times, repeatedly

हिindeed, for

सुबालेO good/innocent child (O childish one)

त्वम्you

कथाःstories, accounts

कथयसेyou tell, you narrate

ममto me / of me

Context

O childish one, you used to tell me several times that Rama is as dear to you as the highsouled Bharata.

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Bharata

FAQs

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

Dharma here points to fairness and consistency in one’s declared affections—partiality that contradicts one’s own stated values is ethically suspect.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha confronts Kaikeyī after her harsh demands, reminding her of her earlier claim that she loved Rāma as much as Bharata.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha appeals to integrity (alignment of speech and intention), urging Kaikeyī to remain true to what she previously professed.