Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 8

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Devanagari script

अपुत्रेण मया पुत्रश्श्रमेण महता महान् ।

रामो लब्धो महाबाहु स्सकथं त्यज्यते मया ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.8

Transliteration

aputreṇa mayā putraḥ śrameṇa mahatā mahān |

rāmo labdho mahābāhuḥ sa kathaṃ tyajyate mayā ||8||

Translation

Jab mera koi beta nahi tha, maine bahut mehnat ki. Phir mujhe Rama mila, jo bahut taakatwala hai. Main usko kaise chhod sakta hoon?

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Word by Word

• अपुत्रेण: by (me) sonless
• अपुत्रेण: Karana (करण/Instrumental circumstance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ: ‘sonless’ (qualifying mayā)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• पुत्रः: as a son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

• श्रमेण: with effort
• श्रमेण: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• महता: great
• महता: Karana (करण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; श्रमेण इति विशेषण (qualifies śrameṇa)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रामः इति विशेषण

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लब्धः: obtained
• लब्धः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘obtained’

• महाबाहुः: mighty-armed
• महाबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: महान्तौ बाहू यस्य

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय

• त्यज्यते: can be abandoned
• त्यज्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is abandoned’

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृ-करण (agent in passive)

Context

When I was issueless, I obtained mighty and valiant Rama with great effort as a son. How can I banish him?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The dharma of parental responsibility and gratitude: a father must not treat a hard-won child as disposable, especially when the child is virtuous and rightful.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, trapped by Kaikeyī’s boons, laments the very idea of giving up Rāma, whom he obtained after long austerities and effort.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s deep attachment and sense of obligation toward his son, rooted in memory of hardship and the sanctity of fatherhood.