Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 7

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

सा हि देवी महाराजं कैकेयी राज्यकारणात्।अपि न च्यावयेत्प्राणान् दृष्ट्वा भरतमागतम्।।।।

Transliteration

sā hi devī mahārājaṃ kaikeyī rājyakāraṇāt | api na cyāvayet prāṇān dṛṣṭvā bharatam āgatam ||

Translation

Pues esa reina Kaikeyī—por causa del reino—podría incluso no abstenerse de poner en peligro la vida del gran rey, al ver a Bharata de regreso.

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• hi: for/indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (reason/emphasis)

• devī: queen
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to 'sā/kaikeyī'

• mahārājam: the great king
• mahārājam: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'cyāvayet')
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• kaikeyī: Kaikeyi
• kaikeyī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• rājya-kāraṇāt: for the sake of the kingdom
• rājya-kāraṇāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th), Singular; cause

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (even/also)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• cyāvayet: would deprive/remove
• cyāvayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cyu (धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; causative sense ‘would cause to fall/deprive’

• prāṇān: life-breaths, life
• prāṇān: Karma (कर्म) (secondary object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having seen’

• bharatam: Bharata
• bharatam: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'dṛṣṭvā')
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• āgatam: arrived
• āgatam: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) + āgata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta-participle, Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'bharatam'

Context

After the arrival of Bharata, I hope queen Kaikeyi does not deprive the king of his life for the sake of the kingdom?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha (mahārāja)
• Bharata
• kingdom (rājya)

FAQs

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

Dharma warns against sacrificing human life for power; when rājya becomes the supreme goal, ethical boundaries can collapse.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma voices apprehension that Kaikeyī’s ambition for Bharata’s kingship could lead to further harm against Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective concern and moral vigilance—Rāma remains truthful about danger without indulging in hatred.