Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 22

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

यया पुत्रश्च भर्ता च त्यक्तावैश्वर्यकारणात्।कं सा परिहरेदन्यं कैकेयी कुलपांसनी।।2.48.22।।

Transliteration

yayā putraś ca bhartā ca tyaktāv aiśvarya-kāraṇāt |

kaṁ sā parihared anyaṁ kaikeyī kula-pāṁsanī || 2.48.22 ||

Translation

She who, for the sake of power and splendor, cast aside both son and husband—what other person would that Kaikeyī, the disgrace of the lineage, ever spare?

Word by Word

• yayā: by whom
• yayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Conjunction

• bhartā: husband
• bhartā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Conjunction

• tyaktau: (were) abandoned
• tyaktau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; past passive participle from tyaj/त्यज्)
• Form: Kṛdanta (PPP/क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana (Dual/द्विवचन); predicate for putraḥ and bhartā

• aiśvarya-kāraṇāt: for the sake of power/wealth
• aiśvarya-kāraṇāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa = aiśvaryasya kāraṇam; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Pañcamī (Ablative/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana

• kam: whom
• kam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun, Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• pariharet: would spare / avoid
• pariharet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-liṅ/विधिलिङ्), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• anyam: another
• anyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; Viśeṣaṇa of kam

• kaikeyī: Kaikeyi
• kaikeyī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; apposition to sā

• kula-pāṃsanī: disgrace of the lineage
• kula-pāṃsanī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṃsanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa = kulasya pāṃsanī (disgrace/dust of the family); Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

Can Kaikeyi, who has brought disgrace to the race by abandoning her husband and son for the sake of wealth, spare others?

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Rāma (implied as 'son')
• Daśaratha (implied as 'husband')

FAQs

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

Dharma includes loyalty to family obligations; betrayal of the closest bonds (husband and son) for power is presented as a sign of ethical unreliability toward all.

What is the narrative situation?

In public grief and anger after Rāma’s exile, the citizens denounce Kaikeyī’s actions as socially and morally dangerous.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, fidelity and protection within family and kingdom—values the citizens feel Kaikeyī has violated.