Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.7: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 7

द्वादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

नृशंसे दुष्टचारित्रे कुलस्यास्य विनाशिनि ॥७॥

किं कृतं तव रामेण पापं पापे मयापि वा ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.12.7

Transliteration

nṛśaṃse duṣṭacāritre kulasyāsya vināśini ||7||

kiṃ kṛtaṃ tava rāmeṇa pāpaṃ pāpe mayāpi vā |

Translation

O Grausame, von bösem Wandel, Verderberin dieses Geschlechts! Welches Unrecht hat dir Rāma getan, oder welches Unrecht habe ich dir getan, du sündhafte Frau?

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Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-हेतु (by me)

• आत्म-विनाश-अर्थम्: for (my) self-destruction
• आत्म-विनाश-अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (accusative of purpose: 'for self-destruction')

• भवनम्: house
• भवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (house)

• स्वम्: my own
• स्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (one's own)

• प्रवेशिता: were brought in
• प्रवेशिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: प्र-विश् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (you were brought/introduced)

• अविज्ञानात्: out of ignorance
• अविज्ञानात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause: 'from ignorance')

• नृप-सुता: king's daughter
• नृप-सुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि (apposition: 'king's daughter')

• व्याली: a female serpent
• व्याली: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (female serpent)

• तीक्ष्ण-विषा: with deadly venom
• तीक्ष्ण-विषा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (sharp/terrible-venomed)

• यथा: like
• यथा: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (like)

Context

O woman of cruel and sinful nature, you are bent on destroying this family. What harm has been done to you by Rama or by me?

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse asserts that punishment or harm must be grounded in actual fault. To target the innocent (Rāma) is adharma, and it also endangers the stability of the dynasty and kingdom.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, shocked by Kaikeyī’s insistence on exile and coronation for Bharata, lashes out, questioning what grievance she could have against Rāma or himself.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s protective instinct toward righteousness and his family line—though expressed through harsh reproach—highlights his recognition of Rāma’s innocence.