Shloka 3

कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना

Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons

Devanagari script

प्रतिज्ञां प्रतिजानीष्व यदि त्वं कर्तुमिच्छसि।अथ तद्व्याहरिष्यामि यदभिप्रार्थितं मया।।।।

Transliteration

pratijñāṁ pratijānīṣva yadi tvaṁ kartum icchasi | atha tad vyāhariṣyāmi yad abhiprārthitaṁ mayā ||

Translation

Wenn du wahrhaft meinen Wunsch erfüllen willst, so gib zuerst dein feierliches Versprechen; erst dann werde ich aussprechen, worum ich bitte.

Word by Word

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• mahātejāḥ: the mighty/splendid one
• mahātejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya 'great in splendor'

• kaikeyīm: Kaikeyī
• kaikeyīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; apposition to 'tām'

• īṣat: slightly
• īṣat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: īṣat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय), 'slightly'

• utsmitaḥ: smiling
• utsmitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ut-smita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'smiling'

• kāmī: passion-driven
• kāmī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'lustful/passionate'

• hastena: with (his) hand
• hastena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• saṅgṛhya: having held
• saṅgṛhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having held'

• mūrdhajeṣu: in her hair
• mūrdhajeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural; 'in/on the hair'

• śuci-smitām: smiling purely/brightly
• śuci-smitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci + smita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'kaikeyīm/tām'

Context

Let Bharata be prince-regent without any rivals. This is my great desire. I am asking for an already granted boon. Let me see Rama's departure to the forest today itself.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds the binding force of a pledged word (pratijñā). In dharma-ethics, a promise—especially by a king—creates moral obligation and accountability.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī is about to demand her boons; she first compels Daśaratha to commit himself to fulfil her wish before she reveals it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is satya (truth-keeping): the duty to stand by one’s pledged word once given.