Kaikeyi Demands That the King Choose Promise or Grief
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 35
Doha 35 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha lies limp like a wish fulfilling tree uprooted by an elephant. His throat is dry, his mouth without words, and his breath struggles like a fish abandoned by water.
Kaikeyi answers with harsher speech. Why did he say ask if he would not give? Can generosity and miserliness, honour and disgrace, laughter and swollen cheeks remain together?
She commands him to abandon either his word or his lament. To one truly pledged, body, wife, sons, home, wealth, and earth should be grass. The principle is severe and recognizable, but compassion has been removed from its application. Truth becomes a demand that refuses to see the life it cuts.
Kaikeyi holds the king against the edge of his promise and calls every beloved thing a blade of grass.
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ब्याकुल राउ सिथिल सब गाता। करिनि कलपतरु मनहुँ निपाता।। कंठु सूख मुख आव न बानी। जनु पाठीनु दीन बिनु पानी।। पुनि कह कटु कठोर कैकेई। मनहुँ घाय महुँ माहुर देई।। जौं अंतहुँ अस करतबु रहेऊ। मागु मागु तुम्ह केहिं बल कहेऊ।। दुइ कि होइ एक समय भुआला। हँसब ठठाइ फुलाउब गाला।। दानि कहाउब अरु कृपनाई। होइ कि खेम कुसल रौताई।। छाड़हु बचनु कि धीरजु धरहू। जनि अबला जिमि करुना करहू।। तनु तिय तनय धामु धनु धरनी। सत्यसंध कहुँ तृन सम बरनी।।
The king was overcome with anguish, every limb grown limp, like a wish-fulfilling tree struck down by a she-elephant. His throat went dry and no words would come from his mouth, like a fish left gasping without water. Then Kaikeyi spoke again, bitter and harsh, as though rubbing poison into an open wound. 'If this was your intention all along, then on what strength did you say "Ask! Ask!"? Can two things happen at once, O king: laughing out loud and puffing up the cheeks? Can one be called generous and yet act the miser? Can kingship hold both honour and ruin together? Either give up your word or hold firm with patience. Do not weep and wail like a helpless woman. Body, wife, sons, home, wealth, and the very earth: for one who is true to his word, all these are no more than blades of grass.'