Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 22

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

अतिप्रवृत्ते दुर्मेधे कैकेयि कुलपांसनि।वञ्चयित्वा च राजानं न प्रमाणेऽवतिष्ठसे।।2.37.22।।

Transliteration

atipravṛtte durmedhe kaikeyi kulapāṃsani | vañcayitvā ca rājānaṃ na pramāṇe 'vatiṣṭhase || 2.37.22 ||

Translation

You have gone beyond all bounds, O Kaikeyi of wicked understanding, a blot upon your lineage. Having deceived the king, you do not stand within the measure of righteousness.

Word by Word

• अतिप्रवृत्ते: O excessively overstepping (woman)
• अतिप्रवृत्ते: सम्बोधन
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + प्रवृत्त (प्रातिपदिक; प्रवृत्त from प्र√वृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (अतिशयेन प्रवृत्ता)

• दुर्मेधे: O evil-minded one
• दुर्मेधे: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् + मेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (दुष्टा मेधा यस्याः)

• कैकेयि: O Kaikeyi
• कैकेयि: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (वैदिक/काव्य-रूप ‘कैकेयि’)

• कुलपांसनि: O disgrace of the family
• कुलपांसनि: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल + पांसनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कुलस्य पांसनिः = कुलस्य मलम्/कलङ्कः)

• वञ्चयित्वा: having deceived
• वञ्चयित्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वञ्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund), अव्यय; ‘having deceived’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: कर्म (object of वञ्चयित्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• प्रमाणे: in the proper standard
• प्रमाणे: अधिकरण (locative: in the standard)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘standard/authority (of dharma)’

• अवतिष्ठसे: you stand/abide
• अवतिष्ठसे: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

.You are exceeding all limits of decency O Kaikeyi! your motive is evil. You are a disgrace to the race! You have deceived the king and your behaviour does not conform to the standards (of righteousness).

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyi
• Dasharatha
• Dharma

FAQs

What dharmic standard is implied by the word 'pramāṇa' in this verse?

Here pramāṇa means the accepted norm or measure of righteous conduct—acting truthfully and justly without deceit, especially toward elders and the king.

Why is deceiving the king treated as a grave ethical fault in this context?

In the Ramayana’s dharma framework, the king embodies social order and pledged truth; deceiving him violates satya (truthfulness) and undermines rightful governance and familial duty.