सत्यपाशः
Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise
तद्गच्छ त्वरितं सूत राजपुत्रं यशस्विनम्।।।।राममानय भद्रं ते नात्र कार्या विचारणा।
tad gaccha tvaritaṃ sūta rājaputraṃ yaśasvinam | rāmam ānaya bhadraṃ te nātra kāryā vicāraṇā ||
Maka, wahai sais, pergilah segera dan bawalah putera raja yang termasyhur, Rama, ke mari; semoga sejahtera atasmu—dalam hal ini tiada ruang untuk ragu-ragu.
So, O Sumantra quickly fetch the gentle, illustrious prince Rama. Let there be no hesitation in this matter.
The verse foregrounds obedience within royal administration: a messenger must execute a command promptly and without wavering—an institutional form of duty (dharma) in governance, even when the command’s intent may later prove morally conflicted.
Kaikeyī dispatches Sumantra to fetch Rama immediately, insisting there be no delay.
Sumantra’s expected professionalism and prompt compliance as a royal charioteer and court functionary.