Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 12: Kaikeyī Reaffirms her Demands
Text 2.12.24
रोचयस्यभिरामस्य रामस्य शुभलोचने।
तव शुश्रूषमाणस्य किमर्थं विप्रवासनम्॥
rocayasy abhirāmasya rāmasya śubha-locane
tava śuśrūṣamāṇasya kim arthaṁ vipravāsanam
rocayasi = does please you; abhirāmasya = He is pleasing to all; rāmasya = Rāma’s; śubha-locane = O beautiful-eyed lady; tava = you; śuśrūṣamāṇasya = and He serves; kim artham = why; vipravāsanam = exile.
O beautiful-eyed lady, why does Rāma’s exile please you? He is pleasing to all and He serves you.
Rāma didn’t deserve to be banished, at least out of the consideration that He engaged in menial service [to Kaikeyī].
Daśaratha proves this in the next verse.