Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 1

द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

ततश्शृत्वा महाराजः कैकेय्या दारुणं वचः।चिन्तामभिसमापेदे मुहूर्तं प्रतताप च।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śrutvā mahārājaḥ kaikeyyā dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ | cintām abhisamāpede muhūrtaṃ pratatāpa ca ||

Translation

પછી કૈકેયીના દારુણ વચનો સાંભળી મહારાજ દશરથ ચિંતાગ્રસ્ત શોકમાં પડી ગયા; અને થોડા સમય સુધી તીવ્ર વ્યથાથી દગ્ધ સમાન તપ્યા.

Word by Word

• kim: what?
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun (प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular; used adverbially in question

• nu: indeed (question particle)
• nu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative particle (प्रश्नार्थक निपात)

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive (6), Singular (enclitic)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/conditional particle (शर्तबोधक)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• svapnaḥ: a dream
• svapnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

• citta-mohaḥ: mental delusion
• citta-mohaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citta (प्रातिपदिक) + moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष; 'delusion of mind'); Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

• api: also/even
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (सम्भावना/समुच्चय)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle

• mama: of me
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive (6), Singular

• anubhūta-upasargaḥ: an experienced foreboding/affliction
• anubhūta-upasargaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anubhūta (√bhū + kta; प्रातिपदिक) + upasarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय; 'experienced omen/affliction'); Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle

• manasaḥ: of the mind
• manasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6), Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle

• api: also
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• upadravaḥ: disturbance/malady
• upadravaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upadrava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

Context

After hearing the dreadful words of Kaikeyi, the maharaja (Dasaratha), engulfed in grief, was extremely distressed for a moment.

Characters & Entities

• Dasaratha
• Kaikeyi

FAQs

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

Dharma is tested in moments of shock: the king’s inner turmoil foreshadows the conflict between personal affection and the obligation to uphold pledged truth and royal righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Immediately after Kaikeyī speaks her harsh demand, Daśaratha is overwhelmed with grief and distress.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but a human vulnerability: Daśaratha’s deep attachment and the painful weight of responsibility.