Kaikeyi Reveals Boons to Rama

Rama, paragon of duty, faces a shocking demand from Queen Kaikeyi. His father King Dasharatha, bound by past promises, watches in anguish as Rama's fate unfolds. 

Rama's Arrival and Observation (Shlokas 2.18.1 - 2.18.4)

Rama entered the royal chamber and saw his father, King Dasharatha, reclining on an ornate couch. Queen Kaikeyi sat beside the king, who appeared distressed, his face pale with anguish. Rama, ever respectful, first bowed to his father's feet and then to Kaikeyi's.

Upon seeing Rama, Dasharatha could only utter his son's name. The king's eyes filled with tears, rendering him unable to look at Rama or speak further. Rama, noticing his father's unprecedented and alarming appearance, felt a surge of fear, as if he had inadvertently stepped on a serpent.

Rama's Concern and Kaikeyi's Response (Shlokas 2.18.5 - 2.18.13)

Rama observed his father's troubling state:

• The king's senses seemed dulled

• His body was emaciated by sorrow and suffering

• His mind appeared agitated and troubled

• He was breathing heavily

To Rama, his father resembled:

• A turbulent ocean with crashing waves

• The sun during an eclipse

• An ascetic who had uttered a falsehood

Rama, devoted to his father's well-being, pondered:

1. "Why isn't Father reciprocating my greeting?"

2. "Why does he seem displeased when he usually rejoices at seeing me?"

3. "Have I unknowingly committed any offense?"

Rama questioned Kaikeyi directly:

• "Have I offended my father without realizing it?"

• "Why is he angry with me?"

• "Is he suffering from any physical ailment or mental agony?"

• "Has any misfortune befallen my brothers Bharata and Shatrughna, or any of my mothers?"

Kaikeyi's Revelation (Shlokas 2.18.14 - 2.18.20)

Kaikeyi, speaking without shame, revealed:

1. "The king is not angry, nor has misfortune befallen him."

2. "Dasharatha has something weighing on his mind but fears telling you."

3. "In the past, the king granted me two boons."

4. "Dasharatha now regrets his promise, like a common man might."

5. "The king wishes to retract his word but knows it goes against dharma (righteous duty)."

Kaikeyi told Rama, "If you agree to fulfill the king's word, I will reveal everything. Dasharatha himself won't speak of it."

Kaikeyi's Explanation and Rama's Vow (Shlokas 2.18.21 - 2.18.30)

Kaikeyi continued her revelation to Rama:

1. King Dasharatha had granted her two boons in the past, honoring her service.

2. Now, the king regretted his promise, like a man attempting to build a dam after the water had drained.

3. She emphasized that keeping one's word was the foundation of dharma (righteous duty).

Rama, steadfast in truth and rectitude, responded:

"O Queen, it is unbecoming for you to speak to me in this manner. On my father's command:

• I would leap into fire

• I would consume deadly poison

• I would plunge myself into the ocean

Tell me the king's desire, and I vow to fulfill it. Rama never speaks twice on a matter."

Kaikeyi Reveals Her Demands (Shlokas 2.18.31 - 2.18.38)

Kaikeyi, described as ignoble, then uttered these cruel words to the truthful Rama:

"Long ago, in a great war between gods and demons, I protected your wounded father. He granted me two boons, which I now claim:

1. Bharata's consecration as king

2. Your immediate exile to Dandaka forest for fourteen years

O best among men, if you wish to uphold your father's promise, heed my words:

• Renounce your claim to the throne

• Don matted locks and deerskin

• Dwell in Dandaka forest for fourteen years

Let Bharata rule the kingdom of Kosala (the region surrounding Ayodhya) from its capital, Ayodhya, a land abundant in:

• Various precious gems

• Horses, chariots, and elephants"

The King's Anguish and Rama's Resolve (Shlokas 2.18.39 - 2.18.41)

Kaikeyi explained Dasharatha's current state: "Overwhelmed with compassion for you, the king's face is contorted with tears. He cannot bear to look upon you."

She implored Rama: "O joy of the Raghu race, fulfill the king's promise. Preserve his honor with your great truthfulness."

As Kaikeyi spoke these harsh words, Rama remained unshaken. However, the dignified King Dasharatha was deeply pained, afflicted by the calamity befalling his beloved son.

This concludes the eighteenth chapter (sarga) of Ayodhyakanda, the second book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.