Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 16

सत्यपाशः

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

Devanagari script

रामाभिषेकसंभारैस्तदर्थमुपकल्पितैः।रामः कारयितव्यो मे मृतस्य सलिलक्रियाम्।।।।

Transliteration

rāmābhiṣekasaṃbhārais tadartham upakalpitaiḥ | rāmaḥ kārayitavyo me mṛtasya salilakriyām ||

Translation

Avec les mêmes apprêts rassemblés pour la consécration de Rāma, Rāma devra accomplir pour moi—quand je serai mort—le rite funèbre de l’offrande d’eau.

Word by Word

• रामाभिषेकसंभारैः: by the preparations for Rama's consecration
• रामाभिषेकसंभारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम-अभिषेक-सम्भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः: रामस्य अभिषेकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + अभिषेकस्य सम्भाराः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तदर्थम्: for that purpose
• तदर्थम्: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययम् (adverbial): तस्य अर्थम् = for that purpose

• उपकल्पितैः: arranged/prepared
• उपकल्पितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying रामाभिषेकसंभारैः)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• कारयितव्यः: should be made to perform / should be caused to do
• कारयितव्यः: Vidhi/Anuyoga (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/gerundive; causative sense ‘to be caused to be done’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic pronoun

• मृतस्य: of the dead (person)
• मृतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सलिलक्रियाम्: the water-offering funeral rite
• सलिलक्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल-क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः: सलिलेन क्रिया (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

Context

With the materials already collected for the consecration of Rama he will perform my funeral rite of offering water to the dead.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Filial and ritual dharma: a son’s duty includes final rites for the father; the verse tragically contrasts coronation (public dharma) with funeral duty (family dharma).

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha foresees that the preparations meant to crown Rāma will instead serve the occasion of his own death rites, reflecting utter despair.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s implied commitment to duty—he will perform the father’s rites regardless of the injustice done to him.