The Agony of Dasharatha (Ramayana Series 21)

As soon as Kaikeyi uttered her harsh and heart-piercing words, King Dasharatha was shattered. He stood frozen in grief and disbelief, unable to comprehend what he had just heard. “Is this a dream? Am I awake? Or is this a cruel memory from another life?” he wondered, his heart heavy with sorrow and confusion.

Sitting helplessly on the bare floor, Dasharatha looked like a serpent bound by a spell. With tears welling in his eyes and his breath trembling, he cried out, “Alas! What is the use of my kingdom now?” Overwhelmed by grief, he fainted. When he regained consciousness, his heart burned with both sorrow and fury. His eyes blazed as he looked at Kaikeyi and cried out, “O cruel-hearted one! O destroyer of our race! What wrong has Rama done to you? What sin have I committed?”

He continued, “Rama has served you with the same devotion he shows to his own mother Kausalya. To him, you both are equal. Yet you choose to destroy him? I now see you for what you are—a venomous serpent I have nurtured in my own home.”

With pain and trembling voice, the king pleaded, “All the people of this kingdom sing praises of Rama’s virtues. Tell me, what fault do you find in him? I can abandon the throne, my riches, even my own life—but I can never abandon Rama!”

Falling at Kaikeyi’s feet, he begged, “O Queen! Give up this sinful wish. I beseech you with folded hands. Be merciful to Rama—protect him, instead of destroying him!”

But Kaikeyi’s heart had turned to stone. Her voice was cold and cutting: “O King! You once granted me two boons. Now that it is time to fulfill them, you cannot turn back. If you break your word, your honor will perish—not just yours, but that of your entire dynasty. Remember the ocean god who promised the gods never to cross his bounds—and even today, he keeps his word. So too must you keep yours!”

Her words, sharp as thunderbolts, pierced the king’s heart. Kaikeyi declared, “I cannot bear to see Kausalya as the Queen Mother, bathing in royal glory while I stand aside. Send Rama to the forest and crown Bharata as king—this alone can bring me peace. I swear on my life and my love for my son Bharata—nothing else will satisfy me.”

Dasharatha was crushed. His body trembled, his voice faltered. The king who once ruled with wisdom and strength now found himself powerless against fate. The weight of Kaikeyi’s demand crushed his spirit.

Uttering “Ha Rama!” in unbearable agony, the noble king collapsed, senseless—like a great tree struck down by a storm.

🌸 Dheemahi Connect | Every Sunday | Ramayana Series

Explore the timeless tales of Ayodhya Kanda—where dharma, emotion, and destiny intertwine.