Dasharatha Opens the Cage of His Own Binding Promise
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 28
Doha 28 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha laughs, remembering Kaikeyi's playful anger and the gifts she never claimed. Ask for two or four boons, he says, and do not accuse him even in jest.
He invokes the law of Raghu's house: life may depart, but a given word never fails. Falsehood is the greatest sin, while truth is the root of every beautiful deed proclaimed by scripture.
Above all, he has sworn upon Ram, the limit of virtue and love. Kaikeyi's position is now fortified, and she laughs as though opening a cage of evil birds. The king's highest principles become the bars that prevent his escape.
Dasharatha seals every exit with truth, lineage, and Ram's name, never seeing what the opened cage will release.
Read the passage from the Manas
जानेउँ मरमु राउ हँसि कहई। तुम्हहि कोहाब परम प्रिय अहई।। थाति राखि न मागिहु काऊ। बिसरि गयउ मोहि भोर सुभाऊ।। झूठेहुँ हमहि दोषु जनि देहू। दुइ कै चारि मागि मकु लेहू।। रघुकुल रीति सदा चलि आई। प्रान जाहुँ बरु बचनु न जाई।। नहिं असत्य सम पातक पुंजा। गिरि सम होहिं कि कोटिक गुंजा।। सत्यमूल सब सुकृत सुहाए। बेद पुरान बिदित मनु गाए।। तेहि पर राम सपथ करि आई। सुकृत सनेह अवधि रघुराई।। बात दृढ़ाइ कुमति हँसि बोली। कुमत कुबिहग कुलह जनु खोली।।
The king laughed and said, 'I know your secret. Being cross is your dearest pastime.' You kept the gift in trust and never claimed it. I had forgotten your innocent, simple nature. Do not blame me, even in jest. Ask for two or four boons and take them freely. This has ever been the way of Raghu's line: let life depart, but let the given word never fail. There is no heap of sin equal to falsehood. Can a crore of gunja seeds ever match a mountain? Truth is the root of every beautiful good deed. The Vedas, the Puranas, and Manu have all proclaimed this. Moreover, I have sworn upon Rama's name. Raghuraja is the very limit of virtue and love. Her position now fortified, the wicked-minded queen laughed and spoke, as though she had flung open the cage of evil birds.