Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.39: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 39

द्वादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

यदि दत्त्वा वरौ राजन्पुनः प्रत्यनुतप्यसे ।

धार्मिकत्वं कथं वीर पृथिव्यां कथयिष्यसि ॥३९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.12.39

Transliteration

yadi dattvā varau rājan punaḥ pratyanutapyase |

dhārmikatvaṃ kathaṃ vīra pṛthivyāṃ kathayiṣyasi ||39||

Translation

Oh rey valiente, si después de conceder los dos dones ahora te arrepientes, ¿cómo podrás hablar en esta tierra de tu propia rectitud?

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Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Time marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (temporal: when)

• समेताः: assembled
• समेताः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + इ (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) विशेषणम्

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: कर्ता (Karta; with implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• त्वया: with you; by you
• त्वया: सहकर्ता/सहयोग (Association/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• राजर्षयः: royal sages
• राजर्षयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: सहयोग (Association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: साहचर्य-अव्यय (preposition-like: together with)

• कथयिष्यन्ति: they will say/tell
• कथयिष्यन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; णिच्)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• धर्मज्ञ: O knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञ: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्र: then; there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adverbial locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्ग-अव्यय (there/then)

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्न-सर्वनाम

• प्रतिवक्ष्यसि: you will answer
• प्रतिवक्ष्यसि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

O valiant king, if you repent like this after having given two boons, how will you talk about your righteousness on this earth?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• two boons

FAQs

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

A king’s dharma is inseparable from satya (truthfulness) and fidelity to promises; repentance after granting boons undermines moral authority.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī presses Daśaratha to uphold the boons he once promised, challenging his wavering and public claim to righteousness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The expected royal virtue is steadfastness in truth and vow-keeping (satya-vrata), even when painful.