Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 13

अष्टादशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

शरीरो मानसो वापि कच्चिदेनं न बाधते।सन्तापोवाऽभितापो वा दुर्लभं हि सदा सुखम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.18.13

Transliteration

śarīro mānaso vāpi kaccid enaṃ na bādhate | santāpo vā 'bhitāpo vā durlabhaṃ hi sadā sukham ||

Translation

Plagt ihn etwa ein Leiden des Körpers oder ein Kummer des Geistes—eine Bedrängnis oder tiefe Qual? Denn dauerhaftes Glück ist wahrlich schwer zu finden.

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Word by Word

• शारीरः: bodily
• शारीरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (सन्तापः/अभितापः) इति विशेषणम्

• मानसः: mental
• मानसः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (सन्तापः/अभितापः) इति विशेषणम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also)

• कच्चित्: I hope (not)
• कच्चित्: Sambandha (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (I hope/Is it?)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; एनद्-आदेश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• बाधते: troubles/afflicts
• बाधते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बाध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सन्तापः: fever/affliction
• सन्तापः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• अभितापः: severe distress
• अभितापः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सुखम् इति विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always)

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

Context

Is he suffering from any physical ailment or mental agony? It is affliction of either the body or the mind. (For) perpetual happiness is indeed rare.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma calls for compassionate inquiry into another’s suffering—recognizing both bodily and mental pain as real and worthy of care.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma tries to diagnose the king’s condition, asking whether Daśaratha’s distress is physical or psychological.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) joined with practical wisdom: Rāma considers multiple causes of suffering.