Valmiki Ramayana · Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 7
धर्मावादी शठो भर्ता श्लक्ष्णवादी च दारुणः। शुद्धभावे न जानीषे तेनैव मतिसन्धिता
dharmāvādī śaṭho bhartā ślakṣṇavādī ca dāruṇaḥ| śuddhabhāve na jānīṣe tenaiva matisandhitā
Your husband speaks morals publicly but in private he is deceitful. He speaks gently but acts cruelly. Because of your innocent nature you are beguiled by him. You do not understand this.
— M.N. Dutt (1891)
Commentary
'Your husband speaks morals publicly but acts cruelly in private.' Manthara attacks Dasharatha's character, poisoning Kaikeyi's trust in the man she loves. The accusation is false, but it lands because it plays on a wife's secret fear: do I truly know my husband?
कपटमधुर