Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 2

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Devanagari script

अतदर्हं महाराजं शयानमतथोचितम्।ययातिमिव पुण्यान्ते देवलोकात्परिच्युतम्।।2.13.1।।अनर्थरूपा सिद्धार्था ह्यभीता भयदर्शिनी।पुनराकारयामास तमेव वरमङ्गना।।2.13.2।।

Transliteration

atadarhaṃ mahārājaṃ śayānam atathocitam |

yayātim iva puṇyānte devalokāt paricyutam || 2.13.1 ||

anartharūpā siddhārthā hy abhītā bhayadarśinī |

punar ākārayāmāsa tam eva varam aṅganā || 2.13.2 ||

Translation

Le grand roi, étendu là, indigne d’un tel traitement et peu accoutumé à pareille offense, ressemblait à Yayāti tombé du séjour des dieux lorsque son mérite fut épuisé. Cette femme, figure même du malheur, son dessein accompli, sans crainte mais feignant l’effroi, le pressa de nouveau au sujet de ces mêmes faveurs promises.

Word by Word

• अनर्थरूपा: having the form of misfortune; misfortune-incarnate
• अनर्थरूपा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्थ-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive tatpuruṣa): अनर्थस्य रूपम्

• सिद्धार्था: with her purpose fulfilled
• सिद्धार्था: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: सिद्धः अर्थः यस्याः (purpose accomplished)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/indeed

• अभीता: fearless
• अभीता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-भीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकार-प्रत्ययार्थ (negation): not afraid

• भयदर्शिनी: displaying fear; making fear appear
• भयदर्शिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय-दर्शिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: भयम् दर्शयति इति (one who shows fear)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb), अव्यय

• आकारयामास: urged; made (him) ask
• आकारयामास: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-कारय् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect, लिट्-लकार), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense (णिच्-अर्थ): caused to be asked/urged

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• एव: only; indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; restriction/emphasis

• वरम्: boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• अङ्गना: the woman
• अङ्गना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन

Context

The maharaja lying on the floor resembled (king) Yayati fallen from heaven after his merits (earned earlier) were exhausted. He neither deserved nor was accustomed to such (humiliating) treatment. Fearless Kaikeyi ,the incarnate of misfortune having accomplished her purpose, displyaing feigned fear, urged the king again (without inhibition), about the boons:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Yayāti
• Devaloka (heaven)

FAQs

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

Manipulation and feigned emotion used to secure selfish ends is adharma; it degrades both the victim (through humiliation) and the perpetrator (through moral corruption).

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes Daśaratha’s humiliating collapse and Kaikeyī’s relentless insistence that he fulfill the promised boons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast and implication: Daśaratha’s dignity as a righteous king is highlighted by his undeserved humiliation; Kaikeyī’s lack of compassion is foregrounded.