Valmiki Ramayana 2.11.16 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 16

कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना

Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons

Devanagari script

सत्यसन्धो महातेजाः धर्मज्ञः सुसमाहितः।वरं मम ददात्येष तन्मे श्रृण्वन्तु दैवताः।।।।

Transliteration

satyasandho mahātejā dharmajñaḥ susamāhitaḥ | varaṃ mama dadāty eṣa tan me śṛṇvantu daivatāḥ || 2.11.16 ||

Translation

Er ist der Wahrheit treu, von großer Strahlkraft, kundig im Dharma und in sich gefestigt; dieser Mann gewährt mir eine Gunst. Mögen die Götter dies um meinetwillen hören.

Word by Word

• सत्यसन्धः: true to his vow
• सत्यसन्धः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya-sandha (प्रातिपदिक; सत्य + सन्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• महातेजाः: mighty
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-tejas (प्रातिपदिक; महा + तेजस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• धर्मज्ञः: knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma-jña (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + ज्ञ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुसमाहितः: well-composed, well-collected
• सुसमाहितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-sam-āhita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; सु + समाहित)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एषः: this (man)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: that (statement)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of śṛṇvantu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• मे: for me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• शृण्वन्तु: let (them) hear
• शृण्वन्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दैवताः: the gods
• दैवताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; of śṛṇvantu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daivatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Context

King Dasaratha who is true to his vows, heroic and knows the ways of righteousness is granting me boons with a well-composed mind. Let all the gods stand witness to this (declared Kaikeyi).

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

A king’s dharmic identity—truthfulness and knowledge of righteousness—creates binding moral expectations; satya becomes the foundation of legitimate authority.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī publicly frames Daśaratha as a paragon of satya and dharma, thereby tightening the moral net around his promise before stating her demand.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya-sandhatā (steadfast truthfulness) and composure—qualities expected of an ideal ruler.