Shloka 45
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
स त्वं धर्मं परित्यज्य रामं राज्येऽभिषिच्य च।सह कौसल्यया नित्यं रन्तुमिच्छसि दुर्मते।।।।
sa tvaṃ dharmaṃ parityajya rāmaṃ rājyebhiṣicya ca |
saha kausalyayā nityaṃ rantum icchasi durmate || 2.12.45 ||
ఓ దుర్మతీ! నీవు ధర్మాన్ని విడిచిపెట్టి, రాముడికి పట్టాభిషేకం చేసి, కౌసల్యతో నిత్యం సుఖించాలని కోరుకుంటున్నావు.
O wickedminded one, deserting righteousness and installing Rama in the kingdom,you want to enjoy life with Kausalya everafter?
FAQs
It frames dharma as impartial governance: Kaikeyī alleges that desire and favoritism would replace righteous, balanced kingship—an ethical warning against partiality in rule.
Kaikeyī attacks Daśaratha’s motives, claiming he wants Rāma crowned so he can indulge in happiness with Kausalyā.
Impartiality (samatā) is implied as the virtue at stake; the verse highlights how accusations of bias threaten royal legitimacy.