जानासि हि यथा सौम्य न मातृषु ममान्तरम्। भूतपूर्वं विशेषो वा तस्या मयि सुतेऽपि वा॥ सोऽभिषेकनिवृत्त्यथैः प्रवासाथैश्च दुर्वचैः। उग्रैर्वाक्यैरहं तस्या नान्यद् दैवात् समर्थये॥
jānāsi hi yathā saumya na mātṛṣu mamāntaram| bhūtapūrvaṃ viśeṣo vā tasyā mayi sute'pi vā|| so'bhiṣekanivṛttyathaiḥ pravāsāthaiśca durvacaiḥ| ugrairvākyairahaṃ tasyā nānyad daivāt samarthaye||
English Meaning
Do you know, Oh gentle Laksmana, that I have never made any distinction in my mind between my mothers, nor did Kaikeyi make any such thing before between me and her son; consequently it is destiny only that has made her press for the prevention of my installation and for my exile with harsh and cruel words, or else why should she, a daughter of a king and possessed of an excellent temper and high accomplishments, speak painful words to me in the presence of her husband like to an ordinary woman.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)