Dasharatha Stakes the World upon Kaikeyi's Smile
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 26
Doha 26 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha asks who has harmed her. He can raise a pauper to kingship, banish a king, or destroy even immortal enemies. Son, life, relatives, subjects, and royal power are all placed beneath Kaikeyi's command.
His mind, he says, is a chakora devoted to the moon of her face. If any deceit lives in his words, may Ram's oath fall upon him a hundred times.
Then he asks her to smile, choose any desire, restore her ornaments, and cast off the dreadful appearance. Love offers limitless power and seals it with the one name that cannot be false. The trap closes precisely because Dasharatha's devotion to Ram is absolute.
To recover one smile, Dasharatha places kingdom, life, and Ram's sacred name into Kaikeyi's hands.
Read the passage from the Manas
अनहित तोर प्रिया केइँ कीन्हा। केहि दुइ सिर केहि जमु चह लीन्हा।। कहु केहि रंकहि करौ नरेसू। कहु केहि नृपहि निकासौं देसू।। सकउँ तोर अरि अमरउ मारी। काह कीट बपुरे नर नारी।। जानसि मोर सुभाउ बरोरू। मनु तव आनन चंद चकोरू।। प्रिया प्रान सुत सरबसु मोरें। परिजन प्रजा सकल बस तोरें।। जौं कछु कहौ कपटु करि तोही। भामिनि राम सपथ सत मोही।। बिहसि मागु मनभावति बाता। भूषन सजहि मनोहर गाता।। घरी कुघरी समुझि जियँ देखू। बेगि प्रिया परिहरहि कुबेषू।।
"Who has done you harm, my beloved? Which enemy has two heads? Whom does Death wish to carry away? Tell me, which pauper shall I make a king? Tell me, which king shall I banish from his land? I can slay even your immortal foes. What then are mere mortal men and women, poor creatures? You know my nature well, O beautiful one. My mind is a chakora bird devoted to the moon of your face. My beloved, my life, my son, my all are yours. Relatives, subjects, everyone is under your command. If I speak even a word of deceit to you, O radiant lady, may Rama's oath fall upon me a hundredfold. Smile, and ask for whatever your heart desires. Adorn your lovely body again with ornaments. Consider carefully whether this is an auspicious hour or not. Quickly, my beloved, cast off this dreadful appearance."