Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 22
कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना
Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons
वाङ्मात्रेण तदा राजा कैकेय्या स्ववशे कृतः।प्रचस्कन्द विनाशाय पाशं मृग इवात्मनः।।।।
vāṅmātreṇa tadā rājā kaikeyyā svavaśe kṛtaḥ | pracaskanda vināśāya pāśaṃ mṛga ivātmanaḥ ||
Noon, ang hari—na napasailalim ni Kaikeyī sa bisa ng mga salita lamang—ay sumugod tungo sa sariling kapahamakan, na gaya ng usang tumatalon sa silo ng sarili niyang buhay.
The king now came under the control of Kaikeyi by his own words like a deer that jumps into the trap for its own destruction.
FAQs
The verse warns that unexamined surrender to persuasive speech and emotional compulsion can lead to adharma-like outcomes; discernment is necessary to uphold dharma.
The narration comments on Daśaratha’s psychological capture by Kaikeyī’s words, foreshadowing disastrous consequences.
The absence of steadiness and discernment is highlighted; the ideal royal virtue implied is self-mastery (indriya-nigraha) in the face of pressure.