Valmiki Ramayana 2.14.10 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 10

सत्यपाशः

Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise

Devanagari script

समयं च ममार्येमं यदि त्वं न करिष्यसि।अग्रतस्ते परित्यक्ता परित्यक्ष्यामि जीवितम्।।।।

Transliteration

samayaṃ ca mamāryemam yadi tvaṃ na kariṣyasi | agratas te parityaktā parityakṣyāmi jīvitam ||

Translation

O Edler, wenn du diese meine Abmachung nicht erfüllst, dann—vor deinen eigenen Augen verlassen—werde ich in deiner Gegenwart mein Leben aufgeben.

Word by Word

• समयम्: agreement/pledge
• समयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• आर्य: O noble one
• आर्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (कर्म—qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (qualifies समयम्)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional)

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

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation)

• करिष्यसि: you will do/fulfil
• करिष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अग्रतः: in front/presence
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), स्थानवाचक

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic

• परित्यक्ता: abandoned
• परित्यक्ता: Karta (कर्ता—predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि-भावे (as predicate of ‘I’)

• परित्यक्ष्यामि: I will abandon
• परित्यक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

O noble one, if you do not fulfil the agreement, it will mean I have been abandoned by you. (Therefore) I will give up my life in your presence.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

It tests satya (truth to one’s word) versus coercion: a vow is invoked, but the method is moral pressure and threat, raising questions about righteous use of promises.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī threatens suicide if Daśaratha does not honor the boons/compact, intensifying the crisis.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s commitment to truth is indirectly emphasized, because Kaikeyī weaponizes his vow-keeping nature.