Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.71: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 71

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

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

विप्रकारं च रामस्य सम्प्रयाणं वनस्य च ॥७१॥

सुमित्रा प्रेक्ष्य वै भीता कथं मे विश्वसिष्यति ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.12.71

Transliteration

viprakāraṃ ca rāmasya samprayāṇaṃ vanasya ca ||71||

sumitrā prekṣya vai bhītā kathaṃ me viśvasiṣyati |

Translation

Da Sumitrā die Kränkung Rāmas und seinen Aufbruch in den Wald sieht—wie sollte sie, von Furcht ergriffen, mir je wieder vertrauen?

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Word by Word

• कृपणम्: pitiably
• कृपणम्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adverbial accusative ‘pitiably’ / or predicate to implied state

• बत: alas
• बत: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बत (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय/शोकसूचक निपात (alas)

• वैदेही: Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रोष्यति: will hear
• श्रोष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Future ‘will hear’

• द्वयम्: two things
• द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular ‘a pair/two things’

• अप्रियम्: unpleasant
• अप्रियम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with द्वयम्

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• पञ्चत्वम्: death
• पञ्चत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular ‘death’ (lit. state of five elements)

• आपन्नम्: having met/attained
• आपन्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + पद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with (माम् understood as ‘me having reached death’)

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• वनम्: the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आश्रितम्: having taken refuge in
• आश्रितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with रामम् ‘having taken refuge’

Context

In seeing the insult meted out to Rama and his journey to the forest, how will frightened Sumitra have confidence in me?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sumitrā
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance and family life requires maintaining trust through just action. When a ruler wrongs the virtuous, even close relations lose faith in his moral authority.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha anticipates the reaction of Sumitrā (mother of Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna) upon witnessing Rāma’s humiliation and exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The value of trustworthiness (viśvāsa-yogyatā) in a king: Daśaratha fears he will no longer appear reliable or righteous to his own household.