Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 18

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Devanagari script

अथवा गम्यतां शीघ्रं नाहमिच्छामि निर्घृणाम्।।।।नृशंसां कैकयीं द्रष्टुं यत्कृते व्यसनं महत्।

Transliteration

athavā gamyatāṃ śīghraṃ nāham icchāmi nirghṛṇām |

nṛśaṃsāṃ kaikayīṃ draṣṭuṃ yatkṛte vyasanaṃ mahat |

Translation

অথবা শীঘ্রই এ বিষয়টি শেষ হোক—যার কারণে এই মহাবিপর্যয় ঘটেছে, সেই নির্দয়, নিষ্ঠুর কৈকেয়ীকে আমি দেখতে চাই না।

Word by Word

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: Alternative particle (विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय)

• gamyatām: let it be gone; let (someone) go
• gamyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Imperative passive (लोट्, कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (शीघ्र-क्रियाविशेषणवत्)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• icchāmi: desire
• icchāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• nirghṛṇām: merciless
• nirghṛṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirghṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with kaikayīm

• nṛśaṃsām: cruel
• nṛśaṃsām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛśaṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with kaikayīm

• kaikayīm: Kaikeyi
• kaikayīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• draṣṭum: to see
• draṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• yat-kṛte: for whose sake
• yat-kṛte: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम) + kṛta (कृ धातु, क्त)
• Form: Ablatival relative compound used adverbially: ‘for whose sake’ (यस्य कृते)

• vyasanam: calamity; misfortune
• vyasanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyasana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahat: great
• mahat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (महत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with vyasanam

Context

'Or, pass off quickly. I do not want to see this merciless, malicious Kaikeyi who is thecause of this great misfortune'.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Adharma is marked by lack of compassion (dayā). The king’s revulsion underscores that cruelty and manipulation within family and kingship are morally ruinous.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, unable to bear the sight of Kaikeyī, wishes time would hurry on so he need not face her, whom he blames for the catastrophe.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral sensitivity—Daśaratha’s distress is not only personal loss but a reaction to perceived cruelty and injustice.