O Kaikeyi, why do you trouble yourself so, fearful one? Rise, rise, O beautiful one! Tell me truly, what has brought you fear; I will dispel it for you, as the sun disperses the mist. Thus addressed by her husband, Kaikeyi, comforted and seeking the right moment to make her harsh request, began again to press King Dasharatha. Now listen to what followed, as told in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Ayodhyā section. Kaikeyi, gathering her resolve, spoke harsh words to the king, who was pierced by the arrows of love and overcome by desire. “O lord,” she began, “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 his beloved Kaikeyi, gently 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 Rama, that tiger among men. By that unconquered, foremost, high-souled Raghava—by Rama, 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 Rama; by him, O Kaikeyi, I swear to fulfill your word. By that Rama, whom I choose above myself, my sons, and all others, O Kaikeyi, I swear to fulfill your request. Good lady, consider this in your heart and grant me relief; reflect well, Kaikeyi, 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, Kaikeyi 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 Rakshasas 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, spoke further to the boon-giver, driven by her 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 these mere words, the king was bound under Kaikeyi's control; like a deer caught in a snare, he moved toward his own destruction. Kaikeyi pressed on, speaking again 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 listen to what followed, in the twelfth sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa. When the great king Dasharatha heard Kaikeyi’s cruel words, he 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; regaining consciousness, tormented by Kaikeyi’s words, he sat distressed and bewildered, like a deer seeing a tigress, 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. Enraged, burning with his own energy, he spoke to Kaikeyi: “Cruel one, of wicked conduct, destroyer of this family! What wrong has Rāma done to you, or what sin have I committed, O wicked one? Rāghava has always behaved towards you as towards his own mother.