Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 69
द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse
Ayodhya Kanda 12
यदा यदा हि कौशल्या दासीवच्च सखीव च।।2.12.68।।भार्यावद्भगिनीवच्च मातृवच्चोपतिष्ठति। सततं प्रियकामा मे प्रियपुत्रा प्रियंवदा।।2.12.69।।न मया सत्कृता देवी सत्कारार्हा कृते तव।
nṛśaṃse duṣṭa-cāritre kulasyāsya vināśini,
kiṃ kṛtaṃ tava rāmeṇa pāpaṃ pāpe mayāpi vā?
你这残忍之人，行径邪恶，毁灭此族者——罗摩对你犯了什么罪？或我又对你犯了什么罪，你这罪孽深重的女人？
Sweetspoken Kausalya who always cherishes my welfare. who has given me my beloved son, who has served me like an attendant, a friend, a wife, a sister and a mother deserved courteous treatment from me, but because of you, she never received due attention from me.
FAQs
The verse asserts that punishment or harm must be grounded in actual fault. To target the innocent (Rāma) is adharma, and it also endangers the stability of the dynasty and kingdom.
Daśaratha, shocked by Kaikeyī’s insistence on exile and coronation for Bharata, lashes out, questioning what grievance she could have against Rāma or himself.
Daśaratha’s protective instinct toward righteousness and his family line—though expressed through harsh reproach—highlights his recognition of Rāma’s innocence.