# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 11 — Daśaratha’s pleas fail to move Kaikeyī *Kaikeyī insists that Daśaratha honour his promise, his night-long appeals fail to change her demands* Portion: Mantharā and Kaikeyī’s two boons · Verses: 15 · Ref format: 2.11. ## Sequence - Kaikeyī insists on the boons and challenges Daśaratha's reputation for keeping his word (11.1–3) - he protests that Rāma's departure will kill him and sees disgrace whichever way he turns (11.4–6) - night falls while he is still lamenting (11.7–9) - he first begs the night not to end, then wishes it would pass so that he need no longer look at Kaikeyī → with folded hands, he appeals to her compassion (11.10–13) - she remains unmoved and continues to demand the exile → he loses consciousness again (11.14–15). ## Verses **2.11.1** atadarhaṃ mahārājaṃ śayānam atathocitam yayātim iva puṇyānte devalokāt paricyutam She looked upon the great king, who did not deserve this, lying in a manner unbefitting him, like Yayāti fallen from the world of the gods at the exhaustion of his merit. **2.11.2** anartharūpā siddhārthā abhītā bhayadarśinī punar ākārayām āsa tam eva varam aṅganā That woman, ruin embodied, her purpose accomplished, unafraid though a sight to inspire fear, once more called for that very boon. **2.11.3** tvaṃ katthase mahārāja satyavādī dṛḍhavrataḥ mama cemaṃ varaṃ kasmād vidhārayitum icchasi You boast, O great king, that you speak the truth and are firm in your vows; why then do you wish to withhold this boon from me? **2.11.4** evam uktas tu kaikeyyā rājā daśarathas tadā pratyuvāca tataḥ kruddho muhūrtaṃ vihvalann iva Thus addressed by Kaikeyī, King Daśaratha then, enraged, after being for a moment as if reeling, replied: **2.11.5** mṛte mayi gate rāme vanaṃ manujapuṃgave hantānārye mamāmitre rāmaḥ pravrājito vanam When I am dead and Rāma, that bull among men, has gone to the forest — alas, O ignoble one, my enemy! — (then) Rāma will have been banished to the forest. **2.11.6** yadi satyaṃ bravīmy etat tad asatyaṃ bhaviṣyati akīrtir atulā loke dhruvaṃ paribhavaś ca me If I do speak this as truth, it will (yet) turn to falsehood; and surely there will be for me measureless infamy in the world, and disgrace. **2.11.7** tathā vilapatas tasya paribhramitacetasaḥ astam abhyagamat sūryo rajanī cābhyavartata As he lamented thus, his mind whirling, the sun went to its setting and night came on. **2.11.8** sa triyāmā tathārtasya candramaṇḍalamaṇḍitā rājño vilapamānasya na vyabhāsata śarvarī That night of three watches, adorned with the disc of the moon, did not shine for the king so afflicted, as he lamented. **2.11.9** tathaivoṣṇaṃ viniḥśvasya vṛddho daśaratho nṛpaḥ vilalāpārtavad duḥkhaṃ gaganāsaktalocanaḥ Sighing hot breaths likewise, the aged King Daśaratha, his eyes fixed on the sky, lamented his sorrow like one in anguish. **2.11.10** na prabhātaṃ tvayecchāmi mayāyaṃ racito 'ñjaliḥ atha vā gamyatāṃ śīghraṃ nāham icchāmi nirghṛṇām nṛśaṃsāṃ kaikeyīṃ draṣṭuṃ yatkṛte vyasanaṃ mahat O night, I do not wish you to bring on the dawn; this reverent gesture I make to you (to hold it back); or rather, pass quickly! I do not wish to look upon the pitiless, cruel Kaikeyī, on whose account this great calamity has come. **2.11.11** evam uktvā tato rājā kaikeyīṃ saṃyatāñjaliḥ prasādayām āsa punaḥ kaikeyīṃ cedam abravīt Having spoken thus, the king then, with hands joined in supplication, sought to appease Kaikeyī, and said this to her once more: **2.11.12** sādhuvṛttasya dīnasya tvadgatasya gatāyuṣaḥ prasādaḥ kriyatāṃ devi bhadre rājño viśeṣataḥ Grant your favour, O queen, O gracious lady, and above all to the king — a man of virtuous conduct, wretched, devoted to you, his life ebbing away. **2.11.13** śūnyena khalu suśroṇi mayedaṃ samudāhṛtam kuru sādhu prasādaṃ me bāle sahṛdayā hy asi Surely, O fair-hipped one, it was by a witless man that this was said; grant me your gracious favour, O girl, for you are kind-hearted. **2.11.14** viśuddhabhāvasya hi duṣṭabhāvā tāmrekṣaṇasyāśrukalasya rājñaḥ śrutvā vicitraṃ karuṇaṃ vilāpaṃ bhartur nṛśaṃsā na cakāra vākyam But the evil-natured woman, hearing the strange and piteous lament of the pure-hearted king — his eyes red, his voice choked with tears — cruel as she was, did not heed her husband's plea. **2.11.15** tataḥ sa rājā punar eva mūrchitaḥ priyām atuṣṭāṃ pratikūlabhāṣiṇīm samīkṣya putrasya vivāsanaṃ prati kṣitau visaṃjño nipapāta duḥkhitaḥ Then the king, swooning once again, having looked upon his beloved — unappeased and speaking against him about his son's banishment — fell senseless to the ground, stricken with grief.