Shloka 18

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Devanagari script

रामोऽप्युत्थाप्य राजानं कैकेय्याभिप्रचोदितः।कशयेवाहतो वाजी वनं गन्तुं कृतत्वरः।।2.19.18।।

Transliteration

rāmo 'py utthāpya rājānaṃ kaikeyyābhipracoditaḥ |

kaśayevāhato vājī vanaṃ gantuṃ kṛtatvaraḥ || 2.19.18 ||

Translation

Rāma richtete den König auf und, von Kaikeyī angetrieben, eilte er in den Wald — wie ein Pferd, das die Peitsche treibt.

Word by Word

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक निपात (also)

• उत्थाप्य: having lifted/raised
• उत्थाप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive), णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) अर्थः ‘having raised’

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कैकेय्या: by Kaikeyi
• कैकेय्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभिप्रचोदितः: urged on
• अभिप्रचोदितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-प्र-चुद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘having been strongly urged’

• कशया: by a whip
• कशया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• आहतः: struck; flogged
• आहतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘struck’

• वाजी: a horse
• वाजी: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vājin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गन्तुम्: to go
• गन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to go’

• कृतत्वरः: having made haste; hasty
• कृतत्वरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + त्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कृता त्वरा येन (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः, रूपतः तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला)

Context

Rama lifted up the king and, urged by Kaikeyi, hastened to depart for the forest like a horse flogged by a whip.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha (king)
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma as swift compliance to a binding word is portrayed, while the simile critiques the harshness of coercion—duty is fulfilled, yet the method is morally abrasive.

What is the narrative situation?

After Daśaratha collapses, Rāma supports him and then, under Kaikeyī’s pressure, prepares to depart immediately.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s compassion (helping the king) and resolve (hastening to fulfill the command).