Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 5

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Devanagari script

मृते मयि गते रामे वनं मनुजपुङ्गवे।हन्तानार्ये ममामित्रे सकामा सुखिनी भव।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.5

Transliteration

mṛte mayi gate rāme vanaṃ manuja-puṅgave | hantānārye mamāmitre sakāmā sukhinī bhava ||

Translation

When I am dead and Rāma—the best of men—has gone to the forest, alas, O ignoble one, my enemy: with your desire fulfilled, be happy then.

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Word by Word

• मृते: (when) dead
• मृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative circumstance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), एकवचन; ‘when (I am) dead’

• मयि: in me; when I
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), एकवचन

• गते: (when) gone
• गते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative circumstance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘when (Rama is) gone’

• रामे: when Rama
• रामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायां कर्म (object of implied ‘to go’)

• मनुजपुङ्गवे: (in) the foremost of men
• मनुजपुङ्गवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative apposition to rāme)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज-पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: मनुजानां पुङ्गवः (foremost of men)

• हन्ता: alas
• हन्ता: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन्ता (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय/शोक-निपात (exclamatory particle)

• अनार्ये: O ignoble woman
• अनार्ये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (ignoble)

• मम: my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अमित्रे: O enemy
• अमित्रे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सकामा: having (your) desire fulfilled
• सकामा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-सहित (with desire fulfilled)

• सुखिनी: happy
• सुखिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya (क्रिया/Imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Alas! O ignoble woman, my enemy, your desire would be fulfilled after Rama, the foremost among men is exiled and I am dead. You will be happy thereafter!

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

It exposes the ethical tragedy of misused rights: a boon and vow (meant to uphold honor) can be weaponized against dharma, bringing ruin rather than harmony.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, despairing, speaks bitterly to Kaikeyī, predicting his death and Rāma’s exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s stature as ‘foremost among men’ is affirmed even in crisis, implying his worthiness and dharmic excellence.