Valmiki Ramayana 2.11.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 4

कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना · Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons

Devanagari script

तामुवाच महातेजाः कैकेयीमीषदुत्स्मितः ।

कामी हस्तेन संगृह्य मूर्धजेषु शुचिस्मिताम् ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.11.4

Transliteration

tām uvāca mahātejāḥ kaikeyīm īṣad utsmitaḥ |

kāmī hastena saṅgṛhya mūrdhajeṣu śucismitām ||4||

Translation

Der König von großer Strahlkraft lächelte leicht; in seiner Regung nahm er Kaikeyī sanft am Haar und sprach zu ihr, deren Lächeln rein und leuchtend war.

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Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• कैकेयीम्: Kaikeyi
• कैकेयीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition to ताम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईषत्: slightly
• ईषत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: īṣat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अल्पता (adverb: slightly)

• उत्स्मितः: smiling
• उत्स्मितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-√स्मि (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कामी: lustful, desire-driven
• कामी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• हस्तेन: with (his) hand
• हस्तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• संगृह्य: having held/grasped
• संगृह्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाल (having done)

• मूर्धजेषु: in/on the hair (head-hairs)
• मूर्धजेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdha-ja (प्रातिपदिक; मूर्धन् + ज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• शुचिस्मिताम्: with a pure smile
• शुचिस्मिताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci-smita (प्रातिपदिक; शुचि + स्मित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of कैकेयीम्/ताम्)

Context

The mighty king steeped in passion gently held Kaikeyi's hair in his hands and with a clear, bright smile said:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

The verse sets up a dharmic tension: personal desire and indulgent intimacy can cloud discernment, becoming the precondition for later unethical outcomes.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kaikeyī asks for a promise, the narration describes Daśaratha’s affectionate, desire-tinged response as he prepares to speak.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

No virtue is directly praised; rather, the scene highlights vulnerability—how a ruler’s self-control can be tested by attachment and pleasure.