Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 7
कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना
Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons
यं मुहूर्तमपश्यंस्तु न जीवेयमहं ध्रुवम्।तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम्।।।।
yaṁ muhūrtam apaśyaṁs tu na jīveyam ahaṁ dhruvam | tena rāmeṇa kaikeyi śape te vacanakriyām ||
यं मुहूर्तमपश्यंस्तु न जीवेयमहं ध्रुवम्। तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम्॥
The mighty king steeped in passion gently held Kaikeyi's hair in his hands and with a clear, bright smile said:
FAQs
Satya is intensified into a solemn oath: the king binds himself to fulfilment. Yet the verse also shows how attachment can push a person into irreversible commitments.
Daśaratha expresses his dependence on Rāma and uses Rāma’s name to guarantee Kaikeyī’s demand even before hearing it.
Daśaratha’s truth-commitment is emphasized—though it is portrayed as emotionally driven and thus precarious.