Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.44: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 44

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

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

सागरस्समयं कृत्वा न वेलामतिवर्तते।समयं माऽनृतं कार्षीः पूर्ववृत्तमनुस्मरन्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.12.44

Transliteration

sāgaraḥ samayaṃ kṛtvā na velām ativartate |

samayaṃ mā anṛtaṃ kārṣīḥ pūrvavṛttam anusmaran || 2.12.44 ||

Translation

大海はひとたび約定を結べば、岸を越えては出ない。先王たちの行いを思い起こし、あなたの誓いを偽りにしてはなりません。

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Word by Word

• सः: that (you); such
• सः: कर्ता (Karta; with त्वम् in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• धर्मम्: dharma; righteousness
• धर्मम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु) (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष; कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): having abandoned

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राज्ये: in the kingdom
• राज्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभिषिच्य: having installed (as king)
• अभिषिच्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि + सिच् (धातु) (ल्यप्; कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): having anointed/installed

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• सह: with
• सह: सहयोग (Association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: साहचर्य-अव्यय (with)

• कौसल्यया: with Kausalya
• कौसल्यया: सहयोग (Association; with सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: काल-अव्ययवत् (adverb: always)

• रन्तुम्: to enjoy
• रन्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/Infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु) (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive): to enjoy/sport

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दुर्मते: O evil-minded one
• दुर्मते: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Having made the vow (to the gods), the ocean does not advance beyond the shore. Recollect the history of the earlier kings and do not make the vow false.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Ocean (Sāgara)

FAQs

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

Satya is aligned with cosmic order: even nature (the ocean’s boundary) models restraint and fidelity; a king must be at least as steady in keeping a pledge.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī uses an analogy and royal precedent to insist Daśaratha must not violate his promised boons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness (dhṛti) in honoring commitments—especially commitments publicly and solemnly made.