Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 2

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

Setting: Ayodhyā palace (royal chambers)Places named: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

स पितुश्चरणौ पूर्वमभिवाद्य विनीतवत् ।

ततो ववन्दे चरणौ कैकेय्या स्सुसमाहितः ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.18.2

Transliteration

sa pituś caraṇau pūrvam abhivādya vinītavat |

tato vavande caraṇau kaikeyyāḥ susamāhitaḥ ||2||

Translation

In Demut und mit gefasstem Geist verneigte er sich zuerst ehrerbietig zu den Füßen seines Vaters; dann grüßte er die Füße Kaikeyīs.

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Word by Word

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

• पितुः: of (his) father
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)

• चरणौ: two feet
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma)

• पूर्वम्: first
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: first)
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)

• अभिवाद्य: having paid respects
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+वद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having saluted’
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)

• विनीतवत्: humbly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विनीतवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial): ‘like one who is humble’
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक-अव्यय (thereafter)
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)

• ववन्दे: saluted
• Type: Verb
• Root: वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: क्रिया (Kriyā)

• चरणौ: two feet
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma)

• कैकेय्याः: of Kaikeyi
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)

• सुसमाहितः: well-composed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु+समाहित (प्रातिपदिक; सम्+आ+धा धातु)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सु-समाहितः ‘well-composed’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्ता (Karta; predicate adjective)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• पितुश्चरणौ = पितुः + चरणौ

Context

With all humility and wellcomposed mind, he made reverential salutation first at his father's feet and thereafter at Kaikeyi's.

The teaching

Vinaya and a collected mind are the foundation of righteous conduct; honoring father and queen maintains social and moral order.

Ethical theme

Etiquette as dharma (ācāra)

Devotion and practice

Daily practice of humility—pāda-vandana/namaskāra as a discipline to soften ego and stabilize mind.

Deity praised

Elders as worthy of reverence (pitṛ-mātṛ-bhāva)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Composed, dutiful, courteous

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Ethics
• Itihasa
• Filial duty
• Respect to elders

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha (father/king)
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as maryādā—proper conduct through reverence to parents and elders. Rāma’s composure and humility show that righteousness begins with disciplined respect.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma enters and formally greets his father first, then Kaikeyī, establishing the respectful setting before the difficult demand is disclosed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) and saṃyama (self-control): Rāma remains composed and dutiful in his external and inner posture.