Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.27-28: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shlokas 27-28

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

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Spoken by Dasharatha to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

परिवादोऽपवादो वा राघवे नोपपद्यते ॥२७॥

सान्त्वयन्सर्वभूतानि राम श्शुद्धेन चेतसा ।

गृह्णाति मनुजव्याघ्र प्रियैर्विषयवासिनः ॥२८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.12.27-28

Transliteration

parivādo'pavādo vā rāghave nopapadyate ||27||

sāntvayansarvabhūtāni rāma śśuddhena cetasā |

gṛhṇāti manujavyāghra priyairviṣayavāsinaḥ ||28||

Translation

राम ने सबसे प्यार से बात की। साफ दिल से सबको समझाया। लोग जो चाहते थे वही किया। इसलिए कोई बुरा नहीं बोलता। कोई बदनाम नहीं करता।

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Word by Word

• parivādaḥ: blame, slander
• Type: Noun
• Root: parivāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/कर्ता), Ekavacana (sg.)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• apavādaḥ: reproach, accusation
• Type: Noun
• Root: apavāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/कर्ता), Ekavacana (sg.)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• vā: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta (disjunctive particle/विकल्प)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• rāghave: in/with regard to Raghava (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/अधिकरण), Ekavacana (sg.)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-nipāta (negation particle/निषेध)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• upapadyate: is fitting/applies
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + √pad (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present/वर्तमान), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (sg.), Ātmanepada; 'to befit, to apply'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• parivādo 'pavādo = parivādaḥ + apavādaḥ (visarga → ' before vowel)
• nopapadyate = na + upapadyate

Context

The best among men, Rama has won the trust of the inhabitants of the country by securing their affection with a pure heart and by doing acts dear to them. Therefore, neither a word of blame nor reproach applies to this scion of the Raghu dynasty (Rama).

The teaching

True leadership wins hearts through purity and selfless service

Ethical theme

Raja-dharma

Devotion and practice

Model of ideal conduct and leadership

Deity praised

Rama

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Virtuous, beloved, blameless

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Kingly Virtues
• Public Trust
• Itihasa
• Praise

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Raghu dynasty

FAQs

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

The verse exemplifies the Dharma of righteous leadership through selfless service. Rama's conduct demonstrates that a true leader wins the trust and affection of his people not through force or fear, but through genuine care, pure intentions, and actions that benefit the welfare of all beings.

What is the narrative situation?

King Dasaratha is pleading with Kaikeyi to reconsider her demand for Rama's exile. He is defending Rama's impeccable character, arguing that Rama is so virtuous and beloved by the people that no blame or reproach can justly be applied to him. Dasaratha is attempting to make Kaikeyi see reason and the injustice of her request.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes the virtue of śuddha cetas (pure heart) and priya karma (pleasing actions). Rama's character is presented as the ideal combination of inner purity and outer conduct that naturally inspires love and trust among all people, making him beyond reproach.