Valmiki Ramayana 2.11.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 22

कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना · Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons

Devanagari script

वाङ्मात्रेण तदा राजा कैकेय्या स्ववशे कृतः ।

प्रचस्कन्द विनाशाय पाशं मृग इवात्मनः ॥२२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.11.22

Transliteration

vāṅmātreṇa tadā rājā kaikeyyā svavaśe kṛtaḥ |

pracaskanda vināśāya pāśaṃ mṛga ivātmanaḥ ||22||

Translation

Da geriet der König, durch bloße Worte unter Kaikeyīs Gewalt gebracht, in den Sturz in sein eigenes Verderben — wie ein Hirsch, der in die Schlinge springt.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• वाक्-मात्रेण: by mere words
• वाक्-मात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; साधन/करण-भावः (instrumental: 'by/with mere words')

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कैकेय्या: by Kaikeyi
• कैकेय्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्तृ-हेतुभावः (agent/instrument: 'by Kaikeyi')

• स्व-वशे: under (her) control
• स्व-वशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: 'under control/in subjection')

• कृतः: was made/placed
• कृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (made/placed)

• प्रचस्कन्द: leapt into
• प्रचस्कन्द: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्कन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्गः प्र-

• विनाशाय: for destruction
• विनाशाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान (dative of purpose: 'for destruction')

• पाशम्: a snare/trap
• पाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• मृगः: a deer
• मृगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• इव: like/as
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• आत्मनः: of himself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive: 'of himself/for his own')

Context

The king now came under the control of Kaikeyi by his own words like a deer that jumps into the trap for its own destruction.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

The verse warns that unexamined surrender to persuasive speech and emotional compulsion can lead to adharma-like outcomes; discernment is necessary to uphold dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration comments on Daśaratha’s psychological capture by Kaikeyī’s words, foreshadowing disastrous consequences.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The absence of steadiness and discernment is highlighted; the ideal royal virtue implied is self-mastery (indriya-nigraha) in the face of pressure.