Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.6 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

स्वर्गेऽपि खलु रामस्य कुशलं दैवतैरहम्।प्रत्यादेशादभिहितं धारयिष्ये कथं बत।।।।

Transliteration

svarge 'pi khalu rāmasya kuśalaṃ daivatair aham | pratyādeśād abhihitaṃ dhārayiṣye kathaṃ bata ||

Translation

Selbst im Himmel, wenn die Götter mich nach Rāmas Wohlergehen fragen, wie soll ich das aufrechterhalten, was ich in Verleugnung und Zurückweisung gesprochen habe? Ach, welch Unheil!

Word by Word

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; ‘also/even’

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; emphasis/indeed

• रामस्य: of Rama; regarding Rama
• रामस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन

• कुशलम्: welfare
• कुशलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दैवतैः: by the gods
• दैवतैः: Karana (करण/Instrument/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रत्यादेशात्: from repudiation; due to refusal
• प्रत्यादेशात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-आदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन; कारणार्थे (as cause/ground)

• अभिहितम्: declared
• अभिहितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘spoken/declared’ (agreeing with कुशलम्)

• धारयिष्ये: shall I bear/maintain
• धारयिष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future, लृट्-लकार), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• बत: alas; indeed
• बत: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बत (अव्यय)
• Form: शोक/विस्मय-निपात (exclamatory particle)

Context

Even in heaven when the gods enquire about the welfare of Rama how will I convince them about his banishment repudiating the fact? What a catastrophe!

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• svarga (heaven)
• daivata (gods)

FAQs

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

Satya is shown as accountability before higher witnesses: the king fears moral scrutiny even beyond life, revealing truth as a cosmic, not merely social, obligation.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha imagines the afterlife and the gods questioning him about Rāma, and he dreads having to justify the exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A tender conscience: Daśaratha’s inner commitment to truth and moral reputation before divine judgment.