Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 28

कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना

Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons

Devanagari script

भरतो भजतामद्य यौवराज्यमकण्टकम्।।2.11.27।।एष मे परमः कामो दत्तमेव वरं वृणे।अद्य चैव हि पश्येयं प्रयान्तं राघवं वनम्।।2.11.28।।

Transliteration

bharato bhajatām adya yauvarājyam akaṇṭakam || 2.11.27 || eṣa me paramaḥ kāmo dattam eva varaṁ vṛṇe | adya caiva hi paśyeyaṁ prayāntaṁ rāghavaṁ vanam || 2.11.28 ||

Translation

Let Bharata assume the prince-regency today, unopposed. This is my supreme desire; I demand the boon already promised. And today itself, let me witness Rāghava leaving for the forest.

Word by Word

• saḥ: you/that one
• saḥ: Sambodhana-prayukta (addressed 'you'; syntactically subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

• rājarājaḥ: king of kings
• rājarājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष; genitive sense 'king of kings'); Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

• bhava: be
• bhava: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• satya-saṅgaraḥ: true to your vow
• satya-saṅgaraḥ: Kriyā-pūraka (predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय; 'truth-vowed/true in pledge'); Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; predicate adjective with saḥ

• kulam: lineage
• kulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• śīlam: conduct/character
• śīlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (emphasis)

• rakṣa: protect
• rakṣa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rakṣ (रक्ष् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative), 2nd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• janma: birth/status
• janma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• paratra-vāse: in the other world/state
• paratra-vāse: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paratra (अव्यय) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव; 'in the hereafter'); Masculine, Locative (7), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• vadanti: say
• vadanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (वद् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), 3rd person, Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; qualifies (implicit) phalam/guṇam

• tapodhanāḥ: ascetics/sages
• tapodhanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि; 'those whose wealth is austerity'); Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural

• satya-vacaḥ: truthful speech
• satya-vacaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय; 'truth-speech'); Neuter, Nominative (1), Singular (vacah form)

• hitam: beneficial
• hitam: Kriyā-pūraka (predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक; √dhā/√hi? lexical 'beneficial')
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1), Singular; predicate adjective with satya-vacaḥ

• nṛṇām: for men/of men
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6), Plural

Context

O Kaikeyi! I wish the best among men Rama well.Even at the expense of my life or the lives of the rest of my sons I swear in his name I shall fulfil your wish.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Bharata
• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Satya as a binding royal ethic is invoked as leverage: the morality of truth-keeping is used to compel an act that disrupts familial and political righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

This verse repeats/formally marks Kaikeyī’s demand in the transmitted text tradition, reinforcing the immediacy: Bharata’s installation and Rāma’s exile today.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The expected royal virtue is steadfastness to one’s word; the verse highlights how vows can become instruments of coercion when detached from compassion and justice.