Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 22

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

Spoken by Dasharatha to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhyā (royal inner apartments)

Devanagari script

प्रसीद देवि रामोमेत्वद्दत्तं राज्यमव्यम् ॥२२॥

लभतामसितापाङ्गे यशः परमवाप्नु हि ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.22

Transliteration

prasīda devi! rāmo me tvad-dattaṃ rājyam avyayam ||22||

labhatām asitāpāṅge yaśaḥ param avāpnu hi |

Translation

देवी, प्लीज़ खुश रहो। राजा ने कहा, यह राज्य मैं राम को दे रहा हूँ, तुम भी हाँ करो। तुम्हारी आँखें काली है, तुम्हारा नाम बहुत ऊँचेगा।

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Word by Word

• प्रसीद: be pleased
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√सद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद
• Role: Sambodhana-prayoga (सम्बोधन-प्रयोग; addressed action)

• देवि: O queen/lady
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• रामः: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• मे: my/of me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; enclitic pronoun
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)

• त्वत्-दत्तम्: given by you
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दत्त (कृदन्त; √दा धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'त्वया दत्तम्'); दत्त = भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; राज्यम् इति विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• अव्यम्: not to be taken away/unalterable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; राज्यम् इति विशेषण
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय; qualifier of object)

• लभताम्: let (him) obtain/receive
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (labhatām)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; implied: 'he')

• असित-अपाङ्गे: O dark-cornered-eyed one
• Type: Noun
• Root: असित (प्रातिपदिक) + अपाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('असितः अपाङ्गः यस्याः सा'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• यशः: fame
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• परम्: supreme/very great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; यशः इति विशेषण
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय; qualifier)

• अवाप्नु: obtain
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√आप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; (Vedic/epic imperative form)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; addressed)

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/assurance
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; discourse particle)

Sandhi Notes

• रामो मे → रामः मे (visarga sandhi)
• त्वद्दत्तं → त्वत्-दत्तम्
• राज्यमव्यं → राज्यम् अव्यम्
• लभतामसितापाङ्गे → लभताम् असितापाङ्गे
• परमवाप्नु → परम् अवाप्नु

Context

O queen with beautiful, dark eyelashes, show pity on me. Let Rama receive this unbounded kingdom through you and you acquire fame.

The teaching

When vows and justice collide, a ruler seeks a path that preserves dharma and public good, yet attachment and coercion can distort judgment.

Duties in tension

• King+c s promise/boons to Kaikeyī vs duty to install the rightful heir
• Paternal love for Rāma vs obligation to honor pledged word
• Public welfare (loka-hita) vs private palace intrigue

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / satya-vrata

How it resolves

Attempted conciliation (unsuccessful here)

For your practice

Contemplation on speech-ethics (satya) and the suffering born of attachment; useful for japa with reflection on equanimity amid loss.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Supplicatory, anxious, hope-tinged

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Rajadharma
• Ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• rājya (kingship)

FAQs

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

Daśaratha appeals to dharma through rightful succession and public honor: granting Rāma the kingdom preserves order and earns lasting renown, implying that righteous action naturally yields true fame.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha pleads with Kaikeyī to relent from her harsh demand and to allow Rāma to receive the kingdom.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s concern for righteous governance and reputation grounded in dharma, even while personally distressed.