‘Tell me, dear mother, the cause of my father’s distress, that endeavour may be made to remove it.’ ‘Listen, Rama,’ she replied, ‘the only reason is this: the king is very fond of you.

He had promised me two boons of my choice, and I have asked for what I want, but he is stricken with grief on hearing my requests and cannot get rid of a scruple on your account.

On the one hand is his love for his son; on the other, his promise; he is thus in a strait. Obey his command, if you can, and rid him of his dire distress.’

Composedly Kaikeyi sat and spoke these stinging words, which Callousness itself was sore distressed to hear. From the bow of her tongue she shot forth the shafts of her speech against the king who was like some yielding target, -

-as though Obduracy, incarnate as a bold warrior, were practicing archery. She sat there like the very incarnation of heartlessness and told Raghunatha the whole story.

Rama, the sun of the Solar race, the natural fountain of every joy, smiled to himself and replied in guileless words, so sweet and agreeable that they seemed the very jewels of speech:

‘Listen, my mother; blessed is the son who loves to obey his parents’ commands; a son who thus contents his father and mother is rare in all the world, mother.