Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.59: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 59

द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

विरमैतेन भावेन त्वमेतेनानृतेन वा।।।।यदि भर्तुः प्रियं कार्यं लोकस्य भरतस्य च।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.12.59

Transliteration

viramaitena bhāvena tvam etenānṛtena vā |

yadi bhartuḥ priyaṃ kāryaṃ lokasya bharatasya ca ||

Translation

فكُفّي عن هذه النيّة—أو عن هذا المسلك الكاذب—إن كنتِ تريدين حقًّا ما فيه خيرٌ ورضى لزوجكِ، وللناس، ولبهاراتا أيضًا.

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Word by Word

• virama: refrain
• virama: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√ram (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/लोट्), Madhyama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada; "refrain/stop"

• etena: from this
• etena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napuṃ, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental: "with/from this"

• bhāvena: intention/attitude
• bhāvena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental: "with this intention/attitude"

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of virama

• etena: with this
• etena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napuṃ, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental; coordinated with anṛtena

• anṛtena: by falsehood
• anṛtena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental: "by falsehood"

• vā: or
• vā: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; alternative particle

• yadi: if
• yadi: Condition marker (शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conditional conjunction

• bhartuḥ: of (your) husband
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive: "of (your) husband"

• priyam: what is pleasing
• priyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of implied kartum/if you wish to do; "what is dear/pleasing"

• kāryam: should be done
• kāryam: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक; gerundive sense)
• Form: Kṛdanta: -ya (णीयत्/यत्) gerundive; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate: "is to be done" / "should be done"

• lokasya: of the people
• lokasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive dependent on priyaṃ (pleasing to the people/world)

• bharatasya: of Bharata
• bharatasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive dependent on priyaṃ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

Context

If you wish to do good to your husband, to the world and also to Bharata, refrain from this illusory thought.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Bharata

FAQs

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

True welfare (priya/hita) must align with dharma and satya; actions rooted in falsehood harm not only individuals but also the social order (loka) and even the intended beneficiary (Bharata).

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha urges Kaikeyī to abandon the plan for Bharata’s coronation and Rāma’s exile, warning of its harmful consequences.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment: Daśaratha appeals to the broader good (husband, people, Bharata) rather than narrow desire.