Valmiki Ramayana 2.14.61: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 61

सत्यपाशः

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

Devanagari script

यदा वक्तुं स्वयं दैन्यान्न शशाक महीपतिः।।।।तदा सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रज्ञा कैकेयी प्रत्युवाच ह।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.14.61

Transliteration

yadā vaktuṃ svayaṃ dainyān na śaśāka mahīpatiḥ | tadā sumantraṃ mantrajñā kaikeyī pratyuvāca ha ||

Translation

Als der Herr der Erde in seinem Elend nicht vermochte, selbst zu sprechen, da erwiderte Kaikeyī, kundig im Rat, dem Sumantra.

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Word by Word

• yadā: when
• yadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa-dyotaka (काल-अधिकरण द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, relative temporal adverb (कालवाचक)

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana/Anukūla (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Tumun (तुमुन्) infinitive (तुमन्त): "to speak"

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, reflexive adverb (स्वार्थक)

• dainyāt: from wretchedness/due to misery
• dainyāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; causal ablative (हेतौ पञ्चमी)

• na: not
• na: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• śaśāka: was able
• śaśāka: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; "was able"

• mahīpatiḥ: the king
• mahīpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: mahyāḥ patiḥ; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, temporal adverb

• sumantram: Sumantra
• sumantram: Karma (कर्म) (addressee/object of pratyuvāca)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• mantrajñā: knower of counsel
• mantrajñā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantrajñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: mantraṃ jānāti; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; adjective to kaikeyī

• kaikeyī: Kaikeyi
• kaikeyī: Karta (कर्ता) (of pratyuvāca)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati + √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ha: indeed (narrative)
• ha: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, narrative particle (स्म/ह इति), indicates report/tradition

Context

When the king himself in that wretched state was not able to speak to Sumantra, crafty Kaikeyi said to him in reply:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

The verse warns how power can shift when rightful authority is incapacitated; dharma requires vigilance so that counsel and speech serve truth rather than manipulation.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, overcome by grief, cannot respond; Kaikeyī steps in and speaks to Sumantra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kaikeyī’s strategic agency (mantrajñā) is emphasized—presented as skill in counsel, though the broader episode frames it with moral ambiguity.