Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 20

सत्यपाशः

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

Devanagari script

ततः पापसमाचारा कैकेयी पार्थिवं पुनः।उवाच परुषं वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञा रोषमूर्छिता।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ pāpa-samācārā kaikeyī pārthivaṃ punaḥ |

uvāca paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ vākyajñā roṣa-mūrchitā ||

Translation

Alors Kaikeyī—aux actes coupables, habile en paroles et comme étourdie de colère—s’adressa de nouveau au roi avec des mots durs.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

• पापसमाचारा: of sinful conduct
• पापसमाचारा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप-समाचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying कैकेयी); कर्मधारयः: पापः समाचारः यस्याः

• कैकेयी: Kaikeyi
• कैकेयी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पार्थिवम्: to the king
• पार्थिवम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (again)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying वाक्यम्)

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वाक्यज्ञा: skilled in speech
• वाक्यज्ञा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying कैकेयी); समासः: वाक्यं जानाति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• रोषमूर्छिता: faint/senseless with anger
• रोषमूर्छिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोष-मूर्छित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP) from मूर्छ्; विशेषणम्; समासः: रोषेण मूर्छिता (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

Context

Thereafter, Kaikeyi of sinful conduct and skilful in the use of words, rendered senseless by wrath, again addressing the king in harsh words said:

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The verse cautions that anger and manipulative eloquence can drive adharma—speech becomes ethically charged when used to harm and coerce.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes Kaikeyī’s emotional state and her renewed verbal assault on Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through negative description), the implied virtue is self-control in speech; Kaikeyī is shown lacking restraint due to wrath.