Valmiki Ramayana 2.14.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 4

सत्यपाशः

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

Devanagari script

संश्रुत्य शैब्यश्श्येनाय स्वां तनुं जगतीपतिः।प्रदाय पक्षिणे राज न्जगाम गतिमुत्तमाम्।।।।

Transliteration

saṁśrutya śaibyaḥ śyenāya svāṁ tanuṁ jagatīpatiḥ |

pradāya pakṣiṇe rājan jagāma gatim uttamām || 2.14.4 ||

Translation

O König, Śaibya, der Herr der Erde, hielt sein Versprechen, gab dem Falken seinen eigenen Leib hin und erlangte so den höchsten Zustand.

Word by Word

• संश्रुत्य: having promised
• संश्रुत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्√श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• शैब्यः: Saibya
• शैब्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैब्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• श्येनाय: to the hawk
• श्येनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्येन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• स्वाम्: his own
• स्वाम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तनुम् इति विशेषण

• तनुम्: body
• तनुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• जगती-पतिः: lord of the earth
• जगती-पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगती (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'जगत्याः पतिः'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• प्रदाय: having given
• प्रदाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• पक्षिणे: to the bird
• पक्षिणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन; श्येनस्य विशेषण

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• जगाम: went/attained
• जगाम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• उत्तमाम्: highest
• उत्तमाम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; गतिम् इति विशेषण

Context

Here are the pots filled with water from river Ganga and golden vessels with water from the seas. And throne made of udumbara wood for the installation ceremony. All kinds of seeds, perfumes, different kinds of precious stones, honey, curd, ghee, puffed grains, kusha grass (special grass used in rituals), flowers, milk, eight beautiful girls, an intoxicated elephant, a dignified chariot drawn by four horses, a sword, an elegant bow, a palanquin accompanied by bearers, an umbrella resembling the full Moon, two white fans made of Yak's tails, a golden vessel, a palecoloured humped bull, wearing golden gerland, a lion having four strong and large teeth, a mighty horse of the best breed, a throne, tiger skin, fire kindled with faggots, all kinds of musical instruments, courtesans, welldecorated women, preceptors, brahmins, cows, sacred animals and birds, eminent citizens and villagers, groups of merchants all speaking pleasant words and kings -- all are here for Rama's coronation.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Śaibya

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) and fidelity to one’s vow: the exemplar teaches that keeping one’s promise—even at great personal cost—is a supreme form of dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

In counsel to the king, an illustrative story is cited: King Śaibya fulfills his pledged word by offering his own body to a hawk.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity (satya-niṣṭhā)—steadfast commitment to one’s word, treated as spiritually elevating and kingly.