Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 14

अष्टादशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

कच्चिन्न किञ्चिद्भरते कुमारे प्रियदर्शने।शत्रुघ्ने वा महासत्त्वे मात्रूणां वा ममाशुभम्।।।।

Transliteration

kaccin na kiñcid bharate kumāre priyadarśane | śatrughne vā mahāsattve mātrūṇāṃ vā mamāśubham ||

Translation

I hope no misfortune has befallen the handsome prince Bharata, or mighty Śatrughna, or any of my mothers.

Word by Word

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

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

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म; implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; किम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थ (anything)

• भरते: in/with regard to Bharata
• भरते: Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/विषय), एकवचन; विषयार्थे (with regard to Bharata)

• कुमारे: the prince
• कुमारे: Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/विषय), एकवचन; भरते इति समानाधिकरणम्

• प्रियदर्शने: of pleasing appearance
• प्रियदर्शने: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय-दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (विषय), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (प्रियं दर्शनं यस्य) — विशेषणम् (कुमारस्य)

• शत्रुघ्ने: with regard to Shatrughna
• शत्रुघ्ने: Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (विषय), एकवचन

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

• महा-सत्त्वे: of great strength/valour
• महा-सत्त्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (विषय), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महत् सत्त्वं यस्य) — शत्रुघ्ने इति विशेषणम्

• मातॄणाम्: of the mothers
• मातॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

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

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

• अशुभम्: misfortune
• अशुभम्: Karma (कर्म; implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (misfortune)

Context

Has any misfortune befallen the handsome Bharata or the mighty Satrughna or any of my mothers?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī
• Bharata
• Śatrughna
• Mothers (Queens of Daśaratha)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes responsibility toward one’s whole household—siblings and mothers—expressed as active concern for their welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, unable to understand the king’s grief, asks if any calamity has occurred to Bharata, Śatrughna, or the queens.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bandhu-bhakti (devotion to family): Rāma’s immediate fear is for the safety of loved ones.