Valmiki Ramayana 2.11.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 1

कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना

Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons

Devanagari script

तं मन्मथशरैर्विद्धमं कामवेगवशानुगम्।उवाच पृथिवीपालं कैकेयी दारुणं वचः।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ manmathaśarair viddhaṃ kāmavega-vaśānugam | uvāca pṛthivīpālaṃ kaikeyī dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ || 2.11.1 ||

Translation

Zu dem Herrscher der Erde—gleichsam von Manmathas Pfeilen getroffen und vom Ansturm der Begierde fortgerissen—sprach Kaikeyī harte und schreckliche Worte.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), 1st Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• viprakṛtā: wronged/offended
• viprakṛtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-pra-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• deva: O king/lord
• deva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• kenacit: by anyone
• kenacit: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; indefinite 'by anyone'

• na: nor/not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• avamānitā: insulted/disregarded
• avamānitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-man (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• abhiprāyaḥ: intention/request
• abhiprāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhiprāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (निपात), adversative 'but'

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive, Singular (enclitic)

• kaścit: some/certain
• kaścit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; indefinite adjective qualifying 'abhiprāyaḥ'

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of 'icchāmi'

• icchāmi: I desire
• icchāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), 1st Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Instrumental, Singular

• kṛtam: done/fulfilled
• kṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agreeing with implied 'kāryam'/'tat' (thing to be done)

Context

To the ruler of the earth (the king), struck by the darts of Kamadeva and overtaken by passion Kaikeyi spoke (these) dreadful words.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Manmatha (Kāma)

FAQs

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

It warns that when desire overwhelms discernment, speech and action can turn cruel; dharma requires mastery over passion, especially for those in power.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī addresses Daśaratha at a moment when he is emotionally vulnerable, initiating the sequence that will lead to the demand for boons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through its absence), the verse highlights the needed virtue of self-control (indriya-nigraha) in both private and royal life.