Shloka 14
अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः
Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent
वहन्तं किं तुदसि मां नियुज्य धुरि माऽहिते।अनार्ये कृत्यमारब्धं किं न पूर्वमुपारुधः।।।।
vahantaṃ kiṃ tudasi māṃ niyujya dhuri māhite | anārye kṛtyam ārabdhaṃ kiṃ na pūrvam upārudhaḥ || 2.36.14 ||
Wahai perempuan jahat, setelah engkau memasang aku pada kuk beban di hadapan, mengapa engkau masih menikamku ketika aku menariknya? Wahai yang tidak mulia—jika perbuatan ini telah dimulakan, mengapa tidak engkau halang aku sejak awal?
O brutal Kaikeyi, you fastened me to the yoke and when I am drawing forward, why do you beat me? O vile woman! why did you not prevent me in the beginning itself?
FAQs
It critiques manipulation after commitment: once a person is bound by satya (a vow), exploiting that bond is ethically blameworthy.
Daśaratha laments that Kaikeyī allowed him to proceed with plans and only later weaponized his promise to force a painful outcome.
Daśaratha’s adherence to pledged truth is implicit; despite anger, he views himself as bound to ‘pull the yoke’ of his word.