Valmiki Ramayana 2.42.21 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 21
द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः — दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः
Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments
सकामा भव कैकेयि विधवा राज्यमावस।न हि तं पुरुषव्याघ्रं विना जीवितुमुत्सहे।।।।
sakāmā bhava kaikeyi vidhavā rājyam āvasa |
na hi taṃ puruṣavyāghraṃ vinā jīvitum utsahe ||
కైకేయీ, నీ కోరిక తీరుగాక—విధవగా రాజ్యాన్ని పాలించు; ఎందుకంటే ఆ పురుషవ్యాఘ్రమైన రాముని లేక నేను జీవించుటకు ధైర్యం చేయలేను।
O Kaikeyi, your desire is fulfilled. Rule the kingdom as a widow. Without Rama, the best of men, I don't desire to live.
FAQs
The verse highlights the destructive ethical cost of desire-driven choices: when personal craving overrides dharma (right order and compassion), it fractures family and polity, leading to suffering for all.
After Kaikeyī’s demands lead to Rāma’s exile, Daśaratha, overwhelmed, speaks bitterly to Kaikeyī, declaring he cannot live without Rāma.
Rāma’s excellence is implied through the epithet “puruṣavyāghra” (best among men), while Daśaratha’s deep paternal attachment and emotional honesty are foregrounded.
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