Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.28 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 28

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

तत श्शून्यां गतजनां वसुधां पादपै स्सह।त्वमेका शाधि दुर्वृत्ता प्रजानामहिते स्थिता।।2.37.28।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śūnyāṃ gatajanāṃ vasudhāṃ pādapaiḥ saha | tvam ekā śādhi durvṛttā prajānām ahite sthitā ||

Translation

Con tu conducta perversa, empeñada en dañar al pueblo, tú sola gobernarás esta tierra: vacía, desierta de sus gentes, y habitada sólo por árboles.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla-sambandha (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (thereafter/from that)

• śūnyām: empty
• śūnyām: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana; qualifies vasudhām

• gata-janām: deserted by people
• gata-janām: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of vasudhām)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त from gam धातु) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana; samāsa: gata (gone) + jana (people) = 'whose people have gone'

• vasudhām: the earth
• vasudhām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana

• pādapaiḥ: with trees
• pādapaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Bahuvacana

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha-bodhaka (Association marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (with)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana (Singular)

• ekā: alone
• ekā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of tvam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; agrees with tvam (addressed feminine)

• śādhi: rule; govern
• śādhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śās (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• durvṛttā: of wicked conduct
• durvṛttā: Sambodhana/Viśeṣaṇa (addressing/qualifying 'you')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: dur (bad) + vṛtta (conduct)

• prajānām: of the subjects
• prajānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (of the people)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Bahuvacana

• ahite: in (their) harm
• ahite: Nimitta/Prayojana (निमित्त/Goal-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī (Locative), Ekavacana; used adverbially: 'in harm/for harm'

• sthitā: standing; intent
• sthitā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of tvam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle, Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; agrees with tvam

Context

Intent upon doing harm to the people with your vile behaviour, you alone rule this kingdom full of trees and deserted by men.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyi
• Ayodhya
• Subjects

FAQs

Why does the speaker command Kaikeyi to rule over 'trees'?

Dasharatha predicts that if Rama is exiled, all the citizens of Ayodhya will follow him out of love, leaving the kingdom empty of humans. Thus, Kaikeyi would be left ruling only the vegetation and an empty land.

What is the significance of the word 'durvṛttā' in this context?

The term 'durvṛttā' means 'one of vile conduct' or 'wicked behavior.' It highlights the speaker's condemnation of Kaikeyi's actions as being contrary to Dharma and harmful to the welfare of the state.