Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.37: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 37

अष्टादशः सर्गः

Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration

Devanagari script

सप्त सप्त च वर्षाणि दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः।अभिषेकमिमं त्यक्त्वा जटाजिनधरो वस।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.18.37

Transliteration

sapta sapta ca varṣāṇi daṇḍakāraṇyam āśritaḥ |

abhiṣekam imaṃ tyaktvā jaṭā-jina-dharo vasa ||2.18.37||

Translation

Renonce à cette consécration ; prends refuge dans la forêt de Daṇḍaka et vis-y sept ans et sept ans, les cheveux en nattes et vêtu d’une peau de cerf.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• अभिषिच्येत: should be consecrated
• अभिषिच्येत: Kriya (क्रिया/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + सिच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः—अभिषिच्येत (should be consecrated)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—अभिषेचनम् (which)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—अभिषेचनम्

• अभिषेचनम्: consecration
• अभिषेचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्वदर्थे: for your sake
• त्वदर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (युष्मद्-षष्ठी-आधारित) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (त्वस्य अर्थः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अर्थः—त्वन्निमित्ते (for your sake)

• विहितम्: arranged
• विहितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/कर्मणि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः—व्यवस्थितम्/कृतम् (arranged)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तेन: with that
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; निर्देश्यः—(अभिषेचनेन)

• सर्वेण: with all
• सर्वेण: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—तेन (with all of it)

• राघव: O Raghava
• राघव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Context

Forsake this consecration, wear matted locks and deerskin and take refuge in Dandaka forest for fourteen years.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• Daṇḍakāraṇya
• abhiṣeka (consecration)
• jaṭā (matted hair)
• ajina (deer-skin)

FAQs

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

Dharma expressed as renunciation for the sake of truth: abandoning power (abhiṣeka) and accepting ascetic hardship to uphold a pledged command.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī specifies the exile’s ascetic form: Rāma must relinquish coronation and live in Daṇḍaka with the marks of a forest-dweller for fourteen years.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue demanded and later exemplified by Rāma is tyāga (sacrifice) grounded in satya—placing duty above kingship and personal desire.