Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 22

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ · चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Spoken by Lakshmana to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhya palace assembly/inner chamberPlaces named: Ayodhya (implied)

Devanagari script

अतिप्रवृत्ते दुर्मेधे कैकेयि कुलपांसनि ।

वञ्चयित्वा च राजानं न प्रमाणेऽवतिष्ठसे ॥२२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.37.22

Transliteration

atipravṛtte durmedhe kaikeyi kulapāṃsani |

vañcayitvā ca rājānaṃ na pramāṇe 'vatiṣṭhase ||22||

Translation

कैकेयी, तुमने बहुत ज़्यादा कर दिया। तुम्हारी समझ में कुछ गड़बड़ है। तुमने अपने घर का नाम भी ख़राब किया। तुमने राजा को धोका दिया और धरम की बाउंड्री के बाहर निकल गई।

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Word by Word

• अतिप्रवृत्ते: O excessively overstepping (woman)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + प्रवृत्त (प्रातिपदिक; प्रवृत्त from प्र√वृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (अतिशयेन प्रवृत्ता)
• Role: सम्बोधन
• Compound: Avyayibhava

• दुर्मेधे: O evil-minded one
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् + मेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (दुष्टा मेधा यस्याः)
• Role: सम्बोधन
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• कैकेयि: O Kaikeyi
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (वैदिक/काव्य-रूप ‘कैकेयि’)
• Role: सम्बोधन

• कुलपांसनि: O disgrace of the family
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल + पांसनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कुलस्य पांसनिः = कुलस्य मलम्/कलङ्कः)
• Role: सम्बोधन
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• वञ्चयित्वा: having deceived
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वञ्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund), अव्यय; ‘having deceived’
• Role: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक
• Role: समुच्चय

• राजानम्: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (object of वञ्चयित्वा)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात
• Role: निषेध

• प्रमाणे: in the proper standard
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘standard/authority (of dharma)’
• Role: अधिकरण (locative: in the standard)

• अवतिष्ठसे: you stand/abide
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: क्रिया

Sandhi Notes

• प्रमाणेऽवतिष्ठसे = प्रमाणे अवतिष्ठसे

Context

.You are exceeding all limits of decency O Kaikeyi! your motive is evil. You are a disgrace to the race! You have deceived the king and your behaviour does not conform to the standards (of righteousness).

The teaching

Power gained by deceit violates pramāṇa (right measure) and stains one’s lineage; dharma demands truth and restraint.

Duties in tension

• Queenly duty to protect dynasty vs personal ambition
• Truthfulness within marriage vs manipulative exploitation of boons

Ethical theme

Satya/ānṛta; rāja-nīti; kula-dharma

How it resolves

Moral denunciation; reassertion of maryādā as standard

For your practice

A cautionary contemplation on kuṭila-buddhi (crooked intent) and the necessity of satya in vows and relationships.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury)

Mood

Scathing, righteous, incisive

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Maryada

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyi
• Dasharatha
• Dharma

FAQs

What dharmic standard is implied by the word 'pramāṇa' in this verse?

Here pramāṇa means the accepted norm or measure of righteous conduct—acting truthfully and justly without deceit, especially toward elders and the king.

Why is deceiving the king treated as a grave ethical fault in this context?

In the Ramayana’s dharma framework, the king embodies social order and pledged truth; deceiving him violates satya (truthfulness) and undermines rightful governance and familial duty.