Valmiki Ramayana 2.14.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 5

सत्यपाशः

Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise

Devanagari script

तथा ह्यलर्कस्तेजस्वी ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे।याचमाने स्वके नेत्रे उद्धृत्याविमना ददौ।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.14.5

Transliteration

tathā hy alarkas tejasvī brāhmaṇe vedapārage |

yācamāne svake netre uddhṛtya avimanā dadau ||

Translation

Así también el resplandeciente rey Alarka, cuando un brahmán versado en los Vedas se lo pidió, se arrancó sus propios ojos y los entregó, sin vacilar.

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Word by Word

• तथा: thus/in the same way
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अलर्कः: Alarka
• अलर्कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• तेजस्वी: lustrous
• तेजस्वी: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृअन्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; अलर्कः इति विशेषण

• ब्राह्मणे: when/while the brahmin (was)
• ब्राह्मणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी/चतुर्थी (Loc/Dative), एकवचन; here with participle yācamāne: सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• वेद-पारगे: versed in the Vedas
• वेद-पारगे: Adhikarana-anvaya (अधिकरणान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('वेदस्य पारगः'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ब्राह्मणे इति विशेषण (locative absolute)

• याचमाने: while requesting
• याचमाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √याच् (धातु)
• Form: शानच् (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; (ब्राह्मणे) सह सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute)

• स्वके: his own
• स्वके: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन; नेत्रे इति विशेषण

• नेत्रे: two eyes
• नेत्रे: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन

• उद्धृत्य: having plucked out
• उद्धृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्√हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• अविमनाः: without hesitation/untroubled
• अविमनाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृअन्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; अलर्कः इति विशेषण

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

In the same way the lustrous king Alarka, on being solicited by a brahmin who was an adept in the Vedas, plucked his own eyes and gave them to him without hesitation.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Daśaratha
• Alarka
• brahmin (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is extreme generosity and truthfulness in giving: a ruler upholds his word and the duty of dāna even at great personal cost.

What is the narrative situation?

Within Sumantra’s praise/awakening sequence, he cites an exemplum (Alarka) to elevate Daśaratha toward noble, selfless conduct.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-sacrifice and unwavering commitment to charitable duty (dāna-dharma).