Valmiki Ramayana 2.34.36: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 36

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम् · The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave

Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse

Spoken by Dasharatha to RamaSetting: Ayodhyā palace (inner chambers)Places named: AyodhyāCrisis point: revelation of deception before exile execution

Devanagari script

न चैतन्मे प्रियं पुत्र शपे सत्येन राघव ।

छन्नया चलितस्त्वस्मि स्त्रिया छन्नाग्निकल्पया ॥३६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.34.36

Transliteration

na caitad me priyaṃ putra śape satyena rāghava |

channayā calitas tv asmi striyā channāgnikalpayā ||36||

Translation

यह मुझे पसंद नहीं आता बेटा, मैं सच्चाई की कसम खाता हूँ। एक औरत ने मुझे धोखा दिया है, उसने अपना असली चेहरा छुपा रखा था। जैसे राख के नीचे आग छुपी होती है, वैसे ही वो थी।

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Word by Word

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation
• Role: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction/particle
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• etan: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, neuter, nominative (प्रथमा) singular; subject of implied 'asti'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• me: to me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, dative (चतुर्थी) singular (enclitic)
• Role: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)

• priyam: pleasing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, nominative (प्रथमा) singular; predicate adjective of etan
• Role: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)

• putra: O son
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, vocative (सम्बोधन) singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• śape: I swear
• Type: Verb
• Root: śap (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष) singular, ātmanepada
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• satyena: by truth
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, instrumental (तृतीया) singular; oath formula 'by truth'
• Role: Karana (करण/Instrument)

• rāghava: O Raghava
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, vocative (सम्बोधन) singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• channayā: by a hidden (one)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: channa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, instrumental (तृतीया) singular; qualifying striyā
• Role: Karana (करण/Instrument)

• calitaḥ: deceived / led astray
• Type: Verb
• Root: cal (धातु) > calita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), masculine nominative singular; predicate with asmi
• Role: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)

• tu: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)

• asmi: I am
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष) singular, parasmaipada
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• striyā: by a woman
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, instrumental (तृतीया) singular
• Role: Karana (करण/Instrument)

• channāgni-kalpayā: by (a woman) like hidden fire
• Type: Adjective
• Root: channa-agni-kalpa (प्रातिपदिक; channa + agni + kalpa)
• Form: Feminine, instrumental (तृतीया) singular; bahuvrīhi compound qualifying striyā: 'one whose nature is like concealed fire'
• Role: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

Sandhi Notes

• caitanmē → ca etan me
• चलितस्त्वस्मि → calitaḥ tu asmi
• छन्नाग्निकल्पया → channāgni-kalpayā

Context

I swear by truth, O my beloved son, that your departure to the forest is in no way a pleasure to me. With a hidden motive, this woman who is like fire concealed by ashes has duped me.

The teaching

Deceit concealed by pleasant appearance can burn like hidden fire; truth must be held even when one is trapped by prior commitments.

Duties in tension

• Daśaratha+c s duty to keep his boon-promise vs. duty to act justly and protect Rāma
• Marital obligation vs. moral discernment against deceit

Ethical theme

Dharma-saṃkaṭa / satya-vrata under duress

How it resolves

Tragic binding to promise despite recognizing deception

For your practice

Meditation on vigilance against concealed motives; commitment to satya even amid emotional upheaval.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Raudra (fury)

Mood

Betrayed, burning, desperate

Themes

• Satya
• Dharma
• Deception
• Royal-oath
• Tragedy

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Kaikeyī (implied as 'woman')

FAQs

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

Satya (truth) is invoked as the highest witness: even in suffering and manipulation, the moral order depends on truthfulness and accountability to one’s word.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha tells Rāma that the exile is not his desire; he claims he was trapped by Kaikeyī’s concealed scheme, swearing by truth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s commitment to truth as a moral anchor, even while confessing weakness and deception.