Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 7

सत्यपाशः

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

Devanagari script

सत्यमेकपदं ब्रह्म सत्ये धर्मः प्रतिष्टितः।सत्यमेवाक्षया वेदा सत्येनैवाप्यते स्परम्।।।।

Transliteration

satyam ekapadaṃ brahma satye dharmaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ | satyam evākṣayā vedā satyenaivāpyate param ||

Translation

La Vérité, en un seul mot, est Brahman ; sur la vérité le dharma demeure solidement établi. La vérité elle-même est le Veda impérissable, et par la vérité seule on atteint l’état suprême.

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एकपदम्: single-worded/one term
• एकपदम्: Karta (कर्ता—qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषसदृश (determinative): एकं पदं यस्य/एकं पदम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सत्ये: in/on truth
• सत्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative basis)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• धर्मः: dharma/righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठितः: is established
• प्रतिष्ठितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate—nominal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्थापित/निविष्ट’

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अक्षयाः: imperishable
• अक्षयाः: Karta (कर्ता—qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of वेदाः)

• वेदाः: Vedas
• वेदाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सत्येन: by truth
• सत्येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एव: alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• आप्यते: is attained
• आप्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• परम्: the supreme (state)
• परम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Context

Truth is Brahman in one word. Righteousness is firmly established in truth. Truth is the imperishable Vedas. The supreme state can be attained by means of truth.

Characters & Entities

• Satya (Truth)
• Brahman
• Dharma
• Vedas
• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) is presented as the foundation of dharma itself; righteousness is stable only when grounded in truth, and spiritual attainment is linked to unwavering truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī invokes an exalted doctrine of truth to bind Daśaratha morally, preparing to demand fulfillment of the boons he once granted.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The ideal of satyavrata—steadfast commitment to truth—expected especially of a king whose word must be reliable.