Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 24

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Devanagari script

विशुद्धभावस्य सुदुष्टभावा ताम्रेक्षणस्याश्रुकलस्य राज्ञः ।

श्रुत्वा विचित्रं करुणं विलापं भर्तुर्नृशंसा न चकार वाक्यम् ॥२४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.24

Transliteration

viśuddha-bhāvasya suduṣṭa-bhāvā tāmrīkṣaṇasyāśru-kalasya rājñaḥ |

śrutvā vicitraṃ karuṇaṃ vilāpaṃ bhartur nṛśaṃsā na cakāra vākyam ||24||

Translation

Als sie das vielfältige, erbarmungsvolle Klagen ihres Gemahls hörte — des reinherzigen Königs, dessen Augen gerötet und von Tränen erfüllt waren —, da fügte sich jene hartherzige Frau mit böser Gesinnung nicht seinen Worten.

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Word by Word

• विशुद्ध-भावस्य: of (one) of pure disposition
• विशुद्ध-भावस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: 'विशुद्धः भावः'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• सुदुष्ट-भावा: the wicked-minded woman
• सुदुष्ट-भावा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('सुदुष्टः भावः यस्याः सा'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• ताम्र-ईक्षणस्य: of the red-eyed (one)
• ताम्र-ईक्षणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अश्रु-कलस्य: of (one) filled with tears
• अश्रु-कलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('अश्रुभिः कलः/कलितः'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participle)

• विचित्रम्: varied/strange
• विचित्रम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विलापम् इति विशेषण

• करुणम्: piteous
• करुणम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विलापम् इति विशेषण

• विलापम्: lamentation
• विलापम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विलाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• भर्तुः: of (her) husband
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• नृशंसा: heartless/cruel
• नृशंसा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृअन्वय; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृशंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; सुदुष्टभावा इत्यस्य विशेषण

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• चकार: did/made
• चकार: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वाक्यम्: (his) word/command
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Context

The king with a clean heart, whose eyes had been rendered red with weeping wailed piteously. Even after hearing it, that malicious woman full of wicked thoughts did not act upon his word.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Dharma is contrasted with adharma through compassion: refusing a righteous plea despite evident suffering is portrayed as moral hardness.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha weeps and pleads; Kaikeyī remains unmoved and does not accept his request.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s sincerity and emotional truthfulness versus Kaikeyī’s lack of compassion.