Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

न नूनं मयि कैकयि किञ्चिदाशंससे गुणम्।यद्राजानमवोचस्त्वं ममेश्वरतरा सती।।2.19.24।।

Transliteration

na nūnaṃ mayi kaikayi kiñcid āśaṃsase guṇam | yad rājānam avocas tvaṃ mamaiśvaratarā satī ||2.19.24||

Translation

Gewiss, o Kaikeyī, du traust mir nicht einmal ein wenig Tugend zu; denn obwohl du größere Autorität über mich hast, hast du den König hierzu gedrängt.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• nūnam: surely
• nūnam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nūnam (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb of certainty (निश्चयार्थक)

• mayi: in me
• mayi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• kaikayi: O Kaikeyi
• kaikayi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• kiñcit: any; even a little
• kiñcit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiñcit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable quantifier

• āśaṃsase: you expect
• āśaṃsase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Ātmanepada, 2nd Person (मध्यम-पुरुष), Singular

• guṇam: virtue; merit
• guṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• yat: since; that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative particle used as conjunction (यत् = because/that)

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• avocaḥ: you spoke (to)
• avocaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person (मध्यम-पुरुष), Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mama: in my case; of me
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• īśvaratarā: more authoritative
• īśvaratarā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; comparative degree (तरप्) qualifying tvam

• satī: though being
• satī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √as)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; present participle (शतृ) used adjectivally: 'being/though being'

Context

Since in my case you have exercised more authority (than my father) and pleaded with the king, it follows, you, for sure, do not see any virtue in me, O Kaikeyi! (Or else, you should not have asked for Bharata's kingship).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha (rājā)

FAQs

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

Even when wronged, Rāma remains within the bounds of decorum, implying that dharma includes restraint and measured speech.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma addresses Kaikeyī’s role in compelling Daśaratha to grant Bharata the kingdom and exile Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control and dignity under injustice.