When one acts without foresight, one has to repent for the consequences of the indiscriminate action. This was the case with King Dasharatha. In the war between the gods and the demons, he fought on the side of the Devas, taking Queen Kaikeyi, the daughter of the king of Kashmir with him. She was well versed in the art of warfare. It was Kaikeyi who taught the strategy of war and the art of archery to Rama. While Dasharatha was engaged in the battle, one of the wheels of his chariot was about to come off as the linchpin of the axle had come out. Kaikeyi saved the situation by using her finger as a pin to hold the wheel in position.

After the end of the battle, Dasharatha noticed that Kaikeyi’s hand was bleeding profusely. Seeing her plight and realising her courage and sense of sacrifice, Dasharatha told her, ‘Kaikeyi, you can ask from me two boons.’ He did not specify what type of boon she should ask of him or when. He promised these boons without any thought of the consequences. Kaikeyi asked for these boons later, at a time which was advantageous to her but disastrously mortal for him! (SSS Vol.17, p. 122)