Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 42
अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः
Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile
अत्यन्तनिगृहीतास्मि भर्तुर्नित्यमतन्त्रिता।परिवारेण कैकेय्या स्समा वाप्यथवाऽवरा।।।।
atyantanigṛhītāsmi bhartur nityam atantritā | parivāreṇa kaikeyyāḥ samā vāpy athavā ’varā ||
Aku benar-benar terbelenggu, sentiasa tanpa kebebasan di bawah suamiku. Dalam lingkungan Kaikeyī, aku diperlakukan sama—bahkan lebih rendah—daripada para dayang-dayangnya.
Treating me as an equal or inferior to the attendants of Kaikeyi and making mealways dependent, my husband has greatly suppressed me.
FAQs
It critiques adharmic governance within the household: when power aligns with favoritism, rightful dignity is violated, and dependence becomes a tool of suppression.
Kausalyā describes her diminished status at court due to Kaikeyī’s ascendancy and Daśaratha’s yielding to that influence.
Kausalyā’s truth-telling (satya in speech) is emphasized—she names the injustice plainly rather than disguising it.