Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 5

सत्यपाशः

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

Devanagari script

तथा ह्यलर्कस्तेजस्वी ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे।याचमाने स्वके नेत्रे उद्धृत्याविमना ददौ।।।।

Transliteration

tathā hy alarkas tejasvī brāhmaṇe vedapārage |

yācamāne svake netre uddhṛtya avimanā dadau ||

Translation

Ainsi le roi Alarka, rayonnant de splendeur, lorsqu’un brahmane versé dans les Veda les lui demanda, s’arracha ses propres yeux et les donna, sans hésitation.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus/in the same way
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अलर्कः: Alarka
• अलर्कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• तेजस्वी: lustrous
• तेजस्वी: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृअन्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; अलर्कः इति विशेषण

• ब्राह्मणे: when/while the brahmin (was)
• ब्राह्मणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी/चतुर्थी (Loc/Dative), एकवचन; here with participle yācamāne: सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• वेद-पारगे: versed in the Vedas
• वेद-पारगे: Adhikarana-anvaya (अधिकरणान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('वेदस्य पारगः'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ब्राह्मणे इति विशेषण (locative absolute)

• याचमाने: while requesting
• याचमाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √याच् (धातु)
• Form: शानच् (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; (ब्राह्मणे) सह सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute)

• स्वके: his own
• स्वके: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन; नेत्रे इति विशेषण

• नेत्रे: two eyes
• नेत्रे: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन

• उद्धृत्य: having plucked out
• उद्धृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्√हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• अविमनाः: without hesitation/untroubled
• अविमनाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृअन्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; अलर्कः इति विशेषण

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

In the same way the lustrous king Alarka, on being solicited by a brahmin who was an adept in the Vedas, plucked his own eyes and gave them to him without hesitation.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Daśaratha
• Alarka
• brahmin (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is extreme generosity and truthfulness in giving: a ruler upholds his word and the duty of dāna even at great personal cost.

What is the narrative situation?

Within Sumantra’s praise/awakening sequence, he cites an exemplum (Alarka) to elevate Daśaratha toward noble, selfless conduct.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-sacrifice and unwavering commitment to charitable duty (dāna-dharma).