Shloka 8

पितृमरणश्रवणं जलक्रिया च

Hearing of Daśaratha’s death and the libation rites at Mandākinī

Devanagari script

किं करिष्याम्ययोध्यायां ताते दिष्टां गतिं गते।कस्तां राजवराध्दीनामयोध्यां पालयिष्यति।।।।

Transliteration

kiṁ kariṣyāmy ayodhyāyāṁ tāte diṣṭāṁ gatiṁ gate |

kas tāṁ rājavarād hīnām ayodhyāṁ pālayiṣyati || 2.102.8 ||

Translation

Was soll ich in Ayodhyā tun, o Vater, da du den dir bestimmten Gang des Schicksals gegangen bist? Wer wird jenes Ayodhyā schützen, beraubt des besten der Könige?

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; used adverbially 'what?'

• करिष्यामि: shall I do
• करिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अयोध्यायाम्: in Ayodhya
• अयोध्यायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन

• ताते: O father
• ताते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन

• दिष्टाम्: ordained
• दिष्टाम्: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिष्ट (दिश् धातु + क्त, PPP)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; adjective to गतिम्: 'ordained'

• गतिम्: course/destination
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• गते: when you have gone
• गते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; locative absolute with implied 'त्वयि': 'when (you) have gone'

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• राजवरात्: from the best king
• राजवरात्: Apadana (अपादान/ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: राज्ञां वरः; ablative: 'from the best of kings'

• हीनाम्: deprived
• हीनाम्: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; adjective to अयोध्याम्: 'deprived (of)'

• अयोध्याम्: Ayodhya
• अयोध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• पालयिष्यति: will rule/protect
• पालयिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

What shall I do in Ayodhya now that my father has followed the path ordained by the gods? Who will rule that Ayodhya deprived of that best of kings?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā
• Bharata

FAQs

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

Rajadharma (duty of governance): Rāma’s grief immediately turns to the ethical concern of who will protect the kingdom and uphold order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, learning of Daśaratha’s passing, worries about Ayodhyā’s leadership and protection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Public-minded responsibility—placing the welfare of the kingdom alongside personal sorrow.