Ram Asks Kaikeyi for the Remedy to His Father's Pain
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 40
Doha 40 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha's lips are dry and his body burns like a serpent deprived of its jewel. Kaikeyi sits nearby blazing with anger, while Death seems to count each passing moment.
Ram has never witnessed such grief. Steadying his compassionate heart, he asks Mother what has caused the pain and how it may be removed.
Kaikeyi explains that Dasharatha loves him beyond measure, promised her two boons, and broke beneath the requests she chose. She frames the king's suffering as tenderness unable to honour its own word, placing upon Ram the task of curing his father through obedience.
Before he hears the command, Ram's first desire is to become the remedy for his father's anguish.
Read the passage from the Manas
सूखहिं अधर जरइ सबु अंगू। मनहुँ दीन मनिहीन भुअंगू।। सरुष समीप दीखि कैकेई। मानहुँ मीचु घरी गनि लेई।। करुनामय मृदु राम सुभाऊ। प्रथम दीख दुखु सुना न काऊ।। तदपि धीर धरि समउ बिचारी। पूँछी मधुर बचन महतारी।। मोहि कहु मातु तात दुख कारन। करिअ जतन जेहिं होइ निवारन।। सुनहु राम सबु कारन एहू। राजहि तुम पर बहुत सनेहू।। देन कहेन्हि मोहि दुइ बरदाना। मागेउँ जो कछु मोहि सोहाना। सो सुनि भयउ भूप उर सोचू। छाड़ि न सकहिं तुम्हार सँकोचू।।
His lips are parched, his whole body burns, like a wretched serpent bereft of its gem. Seeing Kaikeyi nearby, ablaze with anger, it is as though Death itself is counting off the moments. Rama's nature is all compassion and tenderness. Never before has he witnessed such sorrow, never heard of any cause for it. Yet steadying himself, reading the gravity of the hour, he asks his mother in the sweetest of words. "Tell me, Mother, what has caused Father such pain. Let us find the remedy and remove it." Kaikeyi speaks: "Listen, Rama, this is the whole matter. The king loves you beyond measure. He promised me two boons, and I asked for what delighted my heart. Hearing my request, the king was stricken with grief. He cannot set aside his tenderness for you."