Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.12: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 12

अष्टादशः सर्गः

Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration

Devanagari script

अप्रसन्नमनाः किन्नु सदा मां प्रति वत्सलः।विवर्णवदनो दीनो न हि मामभिभाषते।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.18.12

Transliteration

aprasannamanāḥ kinnu sadā māṃ prati vatsalaḥ | vivarṇavadano dīno na hi mām abhibhāṣate ||

Translation

هو الذي كان دائمًا عطوفًا عليّ، فلماذا صار قلبه اليوم غير راضٍ؟ ولماذا شحب وجهه وانكسر، ولماذا لا يكلّمني؟

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Word by Word

• अप्रसन्नमनाः: with displeased mind
• अप्रसन्नमनाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रसन्न-मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (अप्रसन्नं मनः यस्य) — अर्थतः बहुव्रीहिवत् विशेषणप्रयोगः

• किम्: why
• किम्: Sambandha (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय

• नु: indeed (question)
• नु: Sambandha (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition: towards)

• वत्सलः: affectionate
• वत्सलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पिता/नृपतिः) इति विशेषणम्

• विवर्णवदनः: pale-faced
• विवर्णवदनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवर्ण-वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (विवर्णं वदनं यस्य) — अर्थतः बहुव्रीहिवत्

• दीनः: dejected
• दीनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पिता/नृपतिः) इति विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/कारणार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/for)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अभिभाषते: speaks to
• अभिभाषते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Father has always been affectionate to me but today why is he in a dejected mood? Why does his countenance look pale and wretched? Why does he not speak to me?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma includes attentive care for family: noticing a parent’s suffering and seeking its cause, rather than ignoring it.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma observes Daśaratha’s abnormal pallor and silence and asks Kaikeyī why the king, usually affectionate, is now withdrawn.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sensitivity and filial devotion: Rāma is alert to emotional and physical signs of distress in his father.