Valmiki Ramayana 2.10.26: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 26

क्रोधागारप्रवेशः — Entry into the Chamber of Wrath

Kaikeyī’s Protest

Devanagari script

करेणुमिव दिग्धेन विद्धां मृगयुना वने।महागज इवारण्ये स्नेहात्परिममर्श ताम्।।।।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.10.26

Transliteration

kareṇum iva digdhena viddhāṃ mṛgayunā vane |

mahāgaja ivāraṇye snehāt parimamarśa tām ||

Translation

Wie ein mächtiger Elefant im Wald zärtlich die von einem Jäger mit vergiftetem Pfeil verwundete Elefantenkuh berührt und beruhigt, so streichelte er sie aus Zuneigung sanft.

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Word by Word

• करेणुम्: a she-elephant
• करेणुम्: उपमान (Upamāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय; particle of comparison

• दिग्धेन: smeared/poisoned
• दिग्धेन: करण (Karaṇa; instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; दिह्/दिग्ध)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त; PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental Singular; विशेषणम् (qualifying)

• विद्धाम्: pierced, struck
• विद्धाम्: कर्मणि-विशेषण (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यध् (धातु) > विद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त; PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; PPP, Feminine, Accusative, Singular; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'ताम्')

• मृगयुना: by the hunter
• मृगयुना: कर्ता (Karta expressed instrumentally; agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगयु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• वने: in the forest
• वने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• महागजः: a great elephant
• महागजः: कर्ता (Karta; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महागज (प्रातिपदिक: महा + गज)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• अरण्ये: in the wilderness/forest
• अरण्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• स्नेहात्: out of affection
• स्नेहात्: हेतु (Hetu; cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Ablative, Singular; हेतौ (cause)

• परिममर्श: caressed, touched all over
• परिममर्श: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-मृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परस्मैपद; perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect, 3rd person singular

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Context

Like a mighty she-elephant caressing her cow wounded with a poisoned arrow in the forest, he caressed her lovingly.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Forest (vana/araṇya)

FAQs

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

Compassion (dayā) is a dharmic impulse, but the epic context suggests compassion must be balanced with discernment and commitment to truth, especially when decisions affect the wider realm.

What is the narrative situation?

Seeing Kaikeyī apparently distressed, Daśaratha responds with physical reassurance and affection, trying to calm her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s tenderness and protective care—an affectionate nature that will soon be tested by Kaikeyī’s demands.