Shloka 3
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
इति सञ्चिन्त्य तद्राजा नाध्यगच्छत्तदासुखम्।प्रतिलभ्य चिरात्संज्ञां कैकेयीवाक्यताडितः।।।।व्यथितो विक्लबश्चैव व्याघ्रीं दृष्ट्वा यथा मृगः।असंवृतायामासीनो जगत्यां दीर्घमुच्छवसन्।।।।मण्डले पन्नगो रुद्धो मन्त्रैरिव महाविषः।अहो धिगिति सामर्षो वाचमुक्त्वा नराधिपः।।।।मोहमापेदिवान्भूय श्शोकोपहतचेतनः।
iti sañcintya tad rājā nādhyagacchat tadā sukham | pratilabhya cirāt saṃjñāṃ kaikeyīvākya-tāḍitaḥ ||
vyathito viklabaś caiva vyāghrīṃ dṛṣṭvā yathā mṛgaḥ | asaṃvṛtāyām āsīno jagatyāṃ dīrgham ucchvasan ||
maṇḍale pannago ruddho mantrair iva mahāviṣaḥ | aho dhig iti sāmarṣo vācam uktvā narādhipaḥ ||
moham āpedivān bhūyaḥ śokopahata-cetanaḥ |
Setelah merenung demikian, raja tidak menemukan sebarang ketenteraman. Dipukul oleh kata-kata Kaikeyī, baginda hanya sedar semula setelah lama; lalu, dalam duka dan gementar seperti rusa melihat harimau betina, baginda duduk di tanah yang kosong, menghela nafas panjang. Seperti ular sangat berbisa yang terkurung dalam bulatan oleh mantera, penguasa manusia itu melafazkan dengan marah: “Aduh, celakalah, sungguh memalukan!” lalu sekali lagi tenggelam dalam kebingungan, fikirannya ditimpa kesedihan.
The King absorbed in such thoughts did not get solace. He was startled and distressed like a deer beholding a tigress. He had long lost the senses struck by the (ruthless) words of Kaikeyi. He sank down upon the bare floor heaving deep sighs like a venomous serpent lying confined in a circle. 'What a pity' said the king with indignation and with his senses overwhelmed by sorrow fell into a stupor again.
FAQs
The passage shows how adharma-driven demands can destabilize a ruler’s mind and the moral order of the household and kingdom.
After Kaikeyī’s demands, Daśaratha collapses emotionally—regaining consciousness briefly, then sinking again into grief and stupor.
Daśaratha’s deep attachment and moral shock are highlighted—his conscience recoils at injustice toward Rāma.