All the peoples of the world—Dravidas, Sindhus, Sauvīras, Saurāṣṭras, those from the southern lands, Vaṅgas, Aṅgas, Magadhas, Matsyas, and the prosperous Kāśis and Kosalas—possessed abundant wealth, grain, and herds of cattle. King Daśaratha, mindful of these riches and resources, turned to his queen Kaikeyī and said, “Kaikeyī, choose from these lands whatever your heart desires. Why do you trouble yourself, O 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 morning mist.” Thus addressed with such gentle affection, Kaikeyī, now comforted and resolved to speak her harsh request, began again to press her husband for what she truly desired. Now begins the eleventh chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa. Kaikeyī, her words like sharp arrows, spoke harshly to the king, who was pierced by the arrows of love and overcome by desire for her. “O lord,” she said, “no one has wronged or insulted me. But there is a wish in my heart, and I long for you to fulfill it. Swear to your promise, if you wish to grant it; then I will tell you what I truly desire.” The king, smiling slightly, took Kaikeyī by the hair as she sat on the ground and spoke to his beloved: “O proud one, do you not know 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 dearer to me than life itself—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 his words, Kaikeyī revealed her dreadful intent, like Death itself arriving. “Since you swear and grant me a boon in due order,” she said, “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 Rakṣasas 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.” Thus the queen, having embraced and praised the mighty-armed king, 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 her mere words, the king was brought under Kaikeyī’s control; like a deer caught in a snare, he moved toward his own destruction. She pressed her demand again, speaking 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. Having heard Kaikeyī’s cruel words, the great king fell into deep thought for a moment and was greatly tormented. “Is this a daydream of mine, or is my mind deluded? Or is it some affliction I have experienced, or a disturbance of my mind?” he wondered. Thinking thus, the king found no comfort at that time; regaining consciousness, tormented by Kaikeyī’s words, he was distressed and bewildered, like a deer seeing a tigress. He sat on the bare ground, breathing heavily. Like a serpent trapped in a circle, restrained by spells though full of deadly venom, the lord of men, in anger, uttered words of reproach. His mind overwhelmed by grief, he again fell into confusion; but after a long time, the king, deeply afflicted, regained his senses.