Srimad Valmiki Ramayana

AYODHYA KANDASARGA: 35SHLOKA: 24
Srimad Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - Sarga 35

प्रियया च तथोक्तः सन् केकयः पृथीवीपतिः ।
तस्मै तम् वरदायार्थम् कथयामास तत्त्वतः ॥ ॥२-३५-२४॥

Priyayā ca tathoktaḥ san kekayaḥ pṛthīvīpatiḥ । Tasmai tam varadāyārtham kathayāmāsa tattvataḥ ॥ ॥2-35-24॥

Translation

Being addressed thus by his beloved wife, the Lord of the Earth, King Kekaya, went and related the entire matter truthfully to the one who had granted him the boon.

हिंदी अनुवाद

अपनी प्रिय पत्नी द्वारा ऐसा कहे जाने पर, पृथ्वीपति केकयराज ने उस वरदाता (साधु/ऋषि) से जाकर वह सारा वृत्तांत यथार्थ रूप में कह सुनाया।


English Commentary

Unlike Dasharatha, who feels bound immediately by his promise, King Kekaya sought counsel. He returned to the source of his power (the boon-giver) to explain the dilemma posed by his wife's ultimatum. The use of the word priyaya (by the beloved) is ironic here; it underscores the betrayal. The person who should have been his source of comfort became the source of his distress. Sumantra narrates this to show that even the previous King found himself trapped by a wife's unreasonable demands, but he sought a way out.

हिंदी टीका

राजा केकय (अश्वपति) ने आवेश में आकर आत्महत्या नहीं की, न ही तुरंत रहस्य बताया। उन्होंने विवेक का प्रयोग किया और उस ऋषि/देवता के पास वापस गए जिन्होंने उन्हें वह वरदान दिया था। यह दर्शाता है कि धर्म-संकट के समय ज्ञानी जनों का परामर्श लेना आवश्यक है। सुमंत्र यहाँ राजा की विवशता दिखा रहे हैं—कि कैसे एक 'प्रिय' पत्नी (प्रियया) अपने ही पति के लिए संकट बन गई। यह दशरथ की स्थिति के समानांतर है, जो अपनी प्रिय कैकेयी के कारण संकट में हैं।