Valmiki Ramayana 2.11.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 10

कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना

Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons

Devanagari script

बलमात्मनि जानन्ती न मां शङ्कितुमर्हसि।करिष्यामि तव प्रीतिं सुकृतेनापि ते शपे।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.11.10

Transliteration

balam ātmani jānantī na māṃ śaṅkitum arhasi | kariṣyāmi tava prītiṃ sukṛtenāpi te śape || 2.11.10 ||

Translation

Da du die Macht kennst, die du über mich hast, sollst du nicht an mir zweifeln. Ich schwöre bei meinem eigenen Verdienst: Ich werde tun, was dir Freude bereitet.

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Word by Word

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; object of जानन्ती (knowing power)

• आत्मनि: in yourself
• आत्मनि: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative ‘in yourself’

• जानन्ती: knowing
• जानन्ती: कर्ता (कृदन्त-कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; present active participle ‘knowing’ (addressing Kaikeyi)

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

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; accusative ‘me’

• शङ्कितुम्: to doubt
• शङ्कितुम्: प्रयोजन (तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शङ्क् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive) ‘to doubt’

• अर्हसि: you ought
• अर्हसि: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘you ought/it behoves you’ (with negation)

• करिष्यामि: I shall do
• करिष्यामि: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; future 1st sg ‘I shall do’

• तव: your
• तव: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; genitive ‘your’

• प्रीतिम्: pleasure/satisfaction
• प्रीतिम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; object of करिष्यामि

• सुकृतेन: by merit
• सुकृतेन: करण
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by/with merit’

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात ‘even/also’

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; dative ‘to you’

• शपे: I swear
• शपे: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

You know fully the authority you wield over me. Therefore, it does not behove you to doubt me. I swear on my acquired merits that I shall do whatever pleases you.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

The binding force of a pledged word: truthfulness (satya) and reliability in relationships and kingship are treated as sacred obligations.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha reassures Kaikeyī that he will fulfill her desire, setting the stage for her to articulate the boons she intends to claim.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truthfulness) and commitment—Daśaratha presents himself as one whose word can be trusted.