Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 10

अष्टादशः सर्गः

Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration

Devanagari script

स दीन इव शोकार्तो विषण्णवदनद्युतिः।कैकेयीमभिवाद्यैव रामो वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.18.10

Transliteration

sa dīna iva śokārto viṣaṇṇavadanadyutiḥ | kaikeyīm abhivādyaiva rāmo vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

Rāma, wie von Kummer niedergedrückt, das Antlitz vom Schmerz verdunkelt, grüßte zuerst Kaikeyī ehrerbietig und sprach dann.

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Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• दीनः: wretched
• दीनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रामः इति विशेषणम्

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (like/as)

• शोकार्तः: tormented by grief
• शोकार्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक-आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (शोकेन आर्तः)

• विषण्णवदनद्युतिः: whose face-lustre was dejected (sad-faced)
• विषण्णवदनद्युतिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण-वदन-द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विषण्णस्य वदनस्य द्युतिः यस्य) — अर्थतः बहुव्रीहिवत् विशेषणप्रयोगः

• कैकेयीम्: Kaikeyi
• कैकेयीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अभिवाद्य: having saluted
• अभिवाद्य: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√वद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having saluted

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (just/indeed)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• वचनम्: words/speech
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

With a sorrowful countenance Rama made salutation to Kaikeyi and said like a wretch tormented with grief:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Even in distress, Rāma maintains maryādā (proper conduct) by saluting Kaikeyī first—showing respect to elders and self-control as part of dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma approaches Kaikeyī after noticing King Daśaratha’s unusual silence and grief, and he begins to inquire about the cause.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s vinaya (humility) and restraint: grief does not make him abandon respectful behavior.