Valmiki Ramayana 2.36.31: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 31

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा तु सिद्धार्थवचो राजा श्रान्ततरस्वनः।शोकोपहतया वाचा कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.36.31

Transliteration

śrutvā tu siddhārthavaco rājā śrāntatarasvanaḥ | śokopahatayā vācā kaikeyīm idam abravīt ||

Translation

Al oír las bienintencionadas palabras de Siddhārtha, el rey, con la voz cada vez más débil, habló a Kaikeyī con palabras quebradas por el dolor.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव-कृदन्त (gerund), ‘having heard’

• tu: but/then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• siddhārthavacaḥ: Siddhartha’s words
• siddhārthavacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhārtha-vacas (सिद्धार्थवचस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (siddhārtha + vacas)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (राजन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• śrāntatarasvanaḥ: with a very feeble voice
• śrāntatarasvanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrānta-tara-svana (श्रान्ततरस्वन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (śrānta-tara + svana) ‘with a more and more failing voice’

• śokopahatayā: stricken by grief
• śokopahatayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka-upahata (शोकोपहत प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (śoka + upahata) qualifying ‘vācā’

• vācā: with (his) speech/voice
• vācā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (वाच् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• kaikeyīm: Kaikeyi
• kaikeyīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (कैकेयी प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Having heard Siddhartha, the king, stricken with grief, said to Kaikeyi in a graduallyfeeble voice.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (king)
• Kaikeyī
• Siddhārtha (speaker referenced)

FAQs

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

The verse frames a dharma-crisis: a righteous king is emotionally crushed as truth and duty are contested, showing how adharma pressures even the virtuous.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing counsel, Daśaratha—overcome by sorrow—begins speaking directly to Kaikeyī.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s deep attachment and moral sensitivity; his grief signals the gravity of the ethical violation being pursued.