# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 12 — Daśaratha summons Rāma *Kaikeyī insists on the promise, Daśaratha repudiates her & Bharata, Sumantra leaves unaware of the exile* Portion: Mantharā and Kaikeyī’s two boons · Verses: 24 · Ref format: 2.12. ## Sequence - Kaikeyī tells Daśaratha that truth is the highest duty and that he must honor his promise (12.1–3) - she cites rulers who sacrificed their bodies or eyesight to keep their commitments and threatens to die if he refuses (12.4–7) - unable to escape the promise, Daśaratha renounces both her and her son (12.8–11) - she answers that he should summon Rāma and carry out the arrangement (12.12–14) - Daśaratha says that, bound by duty and overwhelmed, he longs to see his eldest son (12.15–16) - Kaikeyī directs Sumantra to fetch Rāma → Sumantra sees the King's distress but does not understand its cause; he leaves believing the summons concerns the abhiṣeka (12.17–24). ## Verses **2.12.1** putraśokārditaṃ pāpā visaṃjñaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi viveṣṭamānam udīkṣya saikṣvākam idam abravīt Gazing at the Ikṣvāku king—tormented by grief for his son, senseless, fallen to the ground and writhing—the wicked woman said this: **2.12.2** pāpaṃ kṛtveva kim idaṃ mama saṃśrutya saṃśravam śeṣe kṣititale sannaḥ sthityāṃ sthātuṃ tvam arhasi “What is this—as though you had done some evil deed? Having pledged me your promise, you lie sunk upon the ground; you ought rather to stand firm in your commitment. **2.12.3** āhuḥ satyaṃ hi paramaṃ dharmaṃ dharmavido janāḥ satyam āśritya hi mayā tvaṃ ca dharmaṃ pracoditaḥ For those who know dharma declare truth to be the highest dharma; and it was by taking my stand on truth that I urged you to your duty. **2.12.4** saṃśrutya śaibyaḥ śyenāya svāṃ tanuṃ jagatīpatiḥ pradāya pakṣiṇo rājañ jagāma gatim uttamām Having made his promise to the hawk, King Śaibya, lord of the earth, gave over his own body to the bird, O king, and attained the highest state. **2.12.5** tatha hy alarkas tejasvī brāhmaṇe vedapārage yācamāne svake netre uddhṛtyāvimanā dadau So too the splendid Alarka, when a brahmin who had mastered the Vedas begged of him, plucked out his own eyes and gave them, undismayed. **2.12.6** saritāṃ tu patiḥ svalpāṃ maryādāṃ satyam anvitaḥ satyānurodhāt samaye velāṃ khāṃ nātivartate And the ocean, lord of the rivers, endowed with truth, out of regard for truth does not at the appointed time overpass its slender bound, the shore-line. **2.12.7** samayaṃ ca mamāryemaṃ yadi tvaṃ na kariṣyasi agratas te parityaktā parityakṣyāmi jīvitam And if you will not keep this compact of mine, O noble one, then, cast off by you, before your very eyes I shall give up my life. **2.12.8** evaṃ pracodito rājā kaikeyyā nirviśaṅkayā nāśakat pāśam unmoktuṃ balir indrakṛtaṃ yathā Thus urged on by the unhesitating Kaikeyī, the king could no more loose the noose than Bali could loose the bond made by Indra. **2.12.9** udbhrāntahṛdayaś cāpi vivarṇavanado 'bhavat sa dhuryo vai parispandan yugacakrāntaraṃ yathā His heart grew distracted and his face turned pale; he was like a yoke-ox trembling between the yoke and the wheel. **2.12.10** vihvalābhyāṃ ca netrābhyām apaśyann iva bhūmipaḥ kṛcchrād dhairyeṇa saṃstabhya kaikeyīm idam abravīt With his two eyes reeling, the lord of the earth, as though he could not see, steadying himself with difficulty by his fortitude, said this to Kaikeyī: **2.12.11** yas te mantrakṛtaḥ pāṇir agnau pāpe mayā dhṛtaḥ taṃ tyajāmi svajaṃ caiva tava putraṃ saha tvayā That hand of yours which, with sacred formulas, I clasped in the presence of the fire—that, O wicked one, I renounce, and your son born of me as well, together with you. **2.12.12** tataḥ pāpasamācārā kaikeyī pārthivaṃ punaḥ uvāca paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ vākyajñā roṣamūrchitā Then Kaikeyī, of wicked conduct, skilled in words and stupefied with rage, spoke to the king once more this harsh speech: **2.12.13** kim idaṃ bhāṣase rājan vākyaṃ gararujopamam ānāyayitum akliṣṭaṃ putraṃ rāmam ihārhasi “Why do you speak this word, O king, like the torment of poison? You ought to have the untroubled Rāma, your son, brought here. **2.12.14** sthāpya rājye mama sutaṃ kṛtvā rāmaṃ vanecaram niḥsapatnāṃ ca māṃ kṛtvā kṛtakṛtyo bhaviṣyasi Having set my son upon the throne, having made Rāma a forest-dweller, and having made me free of rivals, you will have accomplished your purpose.” **2.12.15** sa nunna iva tīkṣeṇa pratodena hayottamaḥ rājā pradocito 'bhīkṣṇaṃ kaikeyīm idam abravīt Like an excellent horse goaded by a sharp whip, the king, spurred on again and again, said this to Kaikeyī: **2.12.16** dharmabandhena baddho 'smi naṣṭā ca mama cetanā jyeṣṭhaṃ putraṃ priyaṃ rāmaṃ draṣṭum icchāmi dhārmikam “I am bound by the bond of dharma and my senses are gone; I wish to see my dear, righteous, eldest son Rāma.” **2.12.17** iti rājño vacaḥ śrutvā kaikeyī tadanantaram svayam evābravīt sūtaṃ gaccha tvaṃ rāmam ānaya Hearing the king's words thus, Kaikeyī thereupon said herself to the charioteer: “Go, bring Rāma.” **2.12.18** tataḥ sa rājā taṃ sūtaṃ sannaharṣaḥ sutaṃ prati śokāraktekṣaṇaḥ śrīmān udvīkṣyovāca dhārmikaḥ Then that king, his joy sunken with regard to his son, glorious and righteous, his eyes reddened with grief, looked up and said to the charioteer: **2.12.19** sumantraḥ karuṇaṃ śrutvā dṛṣṭvā dīnaṃ ca pārthivam pragṛhītāñjaliḥ kiṃ cit tasmād deśād apākraman Sumantra, hearing the piteous words and seeing the king dejected, with joined palms drew back a little from that place. **2.12.20** yadā vaktuṃ svayaṃ dainyān na śaśāka mahīpatiḥ tadā sumantraṃ mantrajñā kaikeyī pratyuvāca ha When the lord of the earth himself, out of his misery, was unable to speak, then the counsel-wise Kaikeyī answered Sumantra: **2.12.21** sumantra rāmaṃ drakṣyāmi śīghram ānaya sundaram sa manyamānaḥ kalyāṇaṃ hṛdayena nananda ca “Sumantra, I shall see Rāma; bring the handsome one quickly.” And he, supposing it to be something auspicious, rejoiced in his heart. **2.12.22** sumantraś cintayām āsa tvaritaṃ coditas tayā vyaktaṃ rāmo 'bhiṣekārtham ihāyāsyati dharmavit Sumantra, hurriedly urged on by her, reflected: “Clearly the righteous Rāma will come here for his consecration.” **2.12.23** iti sūto matiṃ kṛtvā harṣeṇa mahatā punaḥ nirjagāma mahātejā rāghavasya didṛkṣayā So the charioteer, having made up his mind, again with great joy, the mighty one set out with a desire to see the Rāghava. **2.12.24** tataḥ purastāt sahasā vinirgato mahīpatīn dvāragatān vilokayan dadarśa paurān vividhān mahādhanān upasthitān dvāram upetya viṣṭhitān Then, having suddenly come forth in front, gazing at the kings who stood at the gate, he saw the many wealthy townsfolk who had approached and, having come up to the gate, were waiting there.