Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 13: Kaikeyī Rejects Daśaratha’s Sorrowful Plea
Text 2.13.6
स्वर्गेऽपि खलु रामस्य कुशलं दैवतैरहम्।
प्रत्यादेशादभिहितं धारयिष्ये कथं बत॥
svarge ’pi khalu rāmasya kuśalaṁ daivatair aham
pratyādeśād abhihitaṁ dhārayiṣye kathaṁ bata
svarge = in Svarga; api khalu = even; rāmasya = Rāma’s; kuśalam = concerning welfare; daivataiḥ = of the devas; aham = I; pratyādeśāt abhihitam = the critical remarks; dhārayiṣye = can tolerate; katham = how; bata = alas.
Alas, even in Svarga, how can I tolerate the critical remarks of the devas concerning Rāma’s welfare?
Daśaratha asked Kaikeyī, “When the devas tell me in Svarga, ‘How could you reject your auspicious son for the sake of your foolish wife?’ how can I sustain myself?” In other words, Daśaratha was convinced that he will be unhappy both in this life and the next.
Anticipating that Kaikeyī would ask him, “Why can’t you just say that you banished Rāma to fulfill your promise [to me]?” Daśaratha spoke the next verse.