King Daśaratha, deeply concerned by the sorrowful state of his beloved queen Kaikeyī, tried to comfort her with gentle words. “Who today has gained great joy, or who has suffered great harm?” he asked, his voice tender. “Do not grieve, do not torment yourself, O lady. Who that is not to be slain should be slain, or who that is to be slain should be released? Who that is poor should become wealthy, or who that is rich should become destitute? Both I and all that is mine are under your command; I am not able to refuse any wish of yours. Speak what is in your heart, even at the cost of my own life. Knowing my strength, you should not doubt me. I will fulfill your desire, I swear to you by my merit; as long as the wheel of time turns, so long is this earth mine. “The Dravidas, Sindhus, Sauvīras, Saurāṣṭras, peoples of the southern lands, Vaṅgas, Aṅgas, Magadhas, Matsyas, the prosperous Kāśis and Kosalas—all these lands are filled with abundant wealth, grain, and cattle. Therefore, Kaikeyī, choose from them whatever your mind desires. Why do you trouble yourself, fearful one? Rise, rise, O beautiful one! Tell me truly, Kaikeyī, what has brought you fear; I will dispel it for you, as the sun disperses the mist.” Thus addressed and comforted, Kaikeyī, wishing to speak her harsh request, began again to press her husband. Now begins the eleventh chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Ayodhyā section. With her heart hardened, Kaikeyī spoke harsh words to the king, who was pierced by the arrows of love and overcome by desire. “O lord, I have not been wronged or insulted by anyone; but there is a certain wish in my heart, and I desire that you fulfill it. Swear to your promise, if you wish to grant it; then I will tell you what I truly desire.” The king, with a slight smile, spoke to Kaikeyī, his beloved, taking her by the hair as she sat on the ground. “O proud one, you do not realize that there is no one dearer to me than Rāma, that tiger among men. By that unconquered, foremost, high-souled Rāghava—by Rāma, who is worthy of life—I swear to you, speak whatever is in your heart. I surely could not live even for a moment without seeing Rāma; by him, O Kaikeyī, I swear to fulfill your word. By that Rāma, whom I choose above myself, my sons, and all others, O Kaikeyī, I swear to fulfill your request. Good lady, consider this in your heart and grant me relief; reflect well, Kaikeyī, and tell me what you think is right. Seeing your own strength, you should not hesitate; I will fulfill your wish, I swear to you by my own merit.” Delighted by these words, Kaikeyī revealed her dreadful intent, like Death itself arriving. “Since you swear and grant me a boon in due order, let the thirty-three gods, with Indra at their head, hear this. Let the moon and sun, the sky, the planets, night and day, the directions, the world, this earth, the Gandharvas, and all the Rākṣasas bear witness. Let the night-wandering beings, spirits, household gods in the homes, and all other beings know what you have spoken. This one, steadfast in truth, of great splendor, knower of righteousness, truthful in speech and pure, grants me a boon—let all the gods hear.” Having embraced and praised the mighty-armed king, the queen then spoke further to the boon-giver, her heart overcome by desire. “Remember, O king, what happened before in that battle between gods and demons, when an enemy endangered your life. There, O lord, I protected you, keeping watch and striving; for that, you granted me two boons. Those two boons, O lord, which you gave, I now seek to claim from you, O protector of the earth, O descendant of Raghu. If you do not grant me the boon you promised in righteousness, today, dishonored by you, I will give up my life.” By mere words, the king was brought under Kaikeyī’s control, like a deer caught in a snare, moving toward his own destruction. She spoke further to the king, who was overcome by desire and infatuation: “O lord, you had granted me two boons, and at that time you promised to give them, O king. Now I will declare those two boons to you today; listen to my words: the preparations for Rāghava’s consecration have been made. With that very consecration, let Bharata be anointed for me; this is the second boon, O lord, which you joyfully granted me. At that time, in the battle between gods and demons, you promised; now that time has come: let Rāma dwell in the Daṇḍaka forest for nine and five years. Let Rāma, steadfast and wearing bark and deerskin, become an ascetic; let Bharata today rule the kingdom without obstacle. This is my highest desire; I choose the boon you granted. And today, let me see Rāghava departing for the forest. “Be a king of kings, true to your promise; protect your lineage, character, and birth. For in the next world, the sages say, truthfulness is the highest good for men.” Now begins the twelfth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa. Then, having heard Kaikeyī’s cruel words, the great king fell into deep thought for a moment and was greatly tormented.