Valmiki Ramayana 2.66.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 3

अयोध्यायां शोकविलापः

Lamentation in Ayodhya after Daśaratha’s death

Devanagari script

सकामा भव कैकेयि भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यमकण्टकम्।त्यक्त्वा राजानमेकाग्रा नृशंसे दुष्टचारिणि।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.66.3

Transliteration

sakāmā bhava kaikeyi bhuṅkṣva rājyam akaṇṭakam |

tyaktvā rājānam ekāgrā nṛśaṃse duṣṭacāriṇi ||

Translation

Sois donc comblée, ô Kaikeyī ; jouis d’un royaume sans entrave. D’un esprit obstiné tu as rejeté le roi—ô cruelle, ô femme aux mœurs mauvaises !

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Word by Word

• kausalyā: Kausalya
• kausalyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kausalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bāṣpa-pūrṇa-akṣī: with eyes full of tears
• bāṣpa-pūrṇa-akṣī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa + pūrṇa + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि: 'whose eyes are full of tears'); Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; qualifying 'kausalyā'

• vividhām: in various ways
• vividhām: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adverbial use with implied 'vācām/śabdam' = 'in various ways'

• śoka-karśitā: emaciated by grief
• śoka-karśitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka + karśita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष sense: śokena karśitā); Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; qualifying 'kausalyā'

• upagṛhya: having embraced
• upagṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√grah (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal; 'having clasped/embraced'

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• rājñaḥ: of the king
• rājñaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• kaikeyīm: Kaikeyi
• kaikeyīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• prati-abhāṣata: spoke to, addressed
• prati-abhāṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्; imperfect/past), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

O cruel one! O perverse wretch, O Kaikeyi, your wishes have been fulfilled. You have forsaken the king, that was your only objective. (Now) enjoy the kingdom alone without any obstacles on your way.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Kingdom of Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

It condemns ruthless ambition that violates spousal and royal dharma; the verse frames such success as morally tainted, gained through abandonment and cruelty rather than truth and righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

In the immediate fallout of Kaikeyī’s boons and Daśaratha’s ruin, a queen (likely Kausalyā) confronts Kaikeyī with bitter irony and accusation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage in speaking against perceived injustice is emphasized—denouncing wrongdoing even within the royal household.