Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 21: Rāma Consoles Kausalyā and Lakṣmaṇa
Text 2.21.15
बलमेष किमाश्रित्य हेतुं वा पुरुषर्षभ।
दातुमिच्छति कैकेय्यै राज्यं स्थितमिदं तव॥
balam eṣa kim āśritya hetuṁ vā puruṣa-rṣabha
dātum icchati kaikeyyai rājyaṁ sthitam idaṁ tava
balam = strength; eṣaḥ = he; kim = what; āśritya = on; hetum = reason; vā = or; puruṣa-rṣabha = O prince; dātum = to give; icchati = does desire; kaikeyyai = to Kaikeyī; rājyam = kingdom; sthitam = meant; idaṁ = this; tava = for You.
O prince, on what strength or reason does he desire to give this kingdom meant for You to Kaikeyī?
“Strength” here refers to the strength due to governance.