Ramayana 2.288a

So on the ground with leaves o'erspread, He who should press a royal bed, Rama with Lakshman thus conversed, And many a pleasant tale rehearsed: "This night the king," he cried, "alas! In broken sleep will sadly pass. Kaikeyi now content should be, For mistress of her wish is she. So fiercely she for empire yearns, That when her Bharat home returns, She in her greed, may even bring Destruction on our lord the king. What can he do, in feeble eld, Reft of all aid and me expelled, His soul enslaved by love, a thrall Obedient to Kaikeyi's call? As thus I muse upon his woe And all his wisdoms overthrow, Love is, methinks, of greater might To stir the heart than gain and right. For who, in wisdom's lore untaught, Could by a beauty's prayer be bought To quit his own obedient son, Who loves him, as my sire has done! Bharat, Kaikeyi's child, alone Will, with his wife, enjoy the throne, And blissfully his rule maintain O'er happy Kosala's domain. To Bharat's single lot will fall The kingdom and the power and all, When fails the king from length of days, And Rama in the forest strays. Whoe'er, neglecting right and gain, Lets conquering love his soul enchain, To him, like Dasaratha's lot, Comes woe with feet that tarry not. Methinks at last the royal dame, Dear Lakshman, has secured her aim, To see at once her husband dead, Her son enthroned, and Rama fled. Ah me! I fear, lest borne away By frenzy of success, she slay Kausalya, through her wicked hate Of me, bereft, disconsolate; Or her who aye for me has striven Sumitra, to devotion given. Hence, Lakshman, to Ayodhya speed, Returning in the hour of need. With Sita I my steps will bend Where Dandak's mighty woods extend. No guardian has Kausalya now: O, be her friend and guardian thou. Strong hate may vile Kaikeyi lead To many a base unrighteous deed, Treading my mother 'neath her feet When Bharat holds the royal seat.