Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 10

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

Spoken by King DaśarathaSetting: AyodhyaPlaces named: Daṇḍaka (Daṇḍakāraṇya)Impending departure toward Daṇḍakāraṇya

Devanagari script

कथमिन्दीवरश्यामं दीर्घबाहुं महाबलम् ।

अभिराममहं रामं प्रेषयिष्यामि दण्डकान् ॥१०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.10

Transliteration

kathamindīvaraśyāmaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ mahābalam |

abhirāmamahaṃ rāmaṃ preṣayiṣyāmi daṇḍakān ||10||

Translation

どうして私は、青蓮のごとき肌をもち、長い腕と大いなる力を備え、その在りよう自体が麗しいラーマを、ダンダカの森へ遣わすことができようか。

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Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: Prashna (प्रश्न)

• इन्दीवरश्यामम्: dark like a blue lotus
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्दीवर-श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: इन्दीवरवत् श्यामः (blue-lotus-dark)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier of rāmaṃ)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• दीर्घबाहुम्: long-armed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ-बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: दीर्घौ बाहू यस्य
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• महाबलम्: mighty
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: महत् बलं यस्य
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• अभिरामम्: charming
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier)

• अहम्: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• रामम्: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• प्रेषयिष्यामि: shall send
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-इष् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative/dispatch sense
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)

• दण्डकान्: to the Dandaka (forest)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; देशवाचक (name of region/forest)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Goal)

Sandhi Notes

• कथमिन्दीवरश्यामम् = कथम् + इन्दीवरश्यामम् (m + i)
• अभिराममहं = अभिरामम् + अहम् (m + a)

Context

Rama with a charming personality has a complexion like the blue lotus. He has long arms (with immense strength). How can I banish him to Dandaka forest?

The teaching

Virtue and beauty do not exempt one from dharma’s hard demands; love must learn to release.

Duties in tension

• Kaushalya’s duty to protect her son
• Rama’s duty to obey father/kingly command and uphold truth
• Royal duty vs personal affection

Ethical theme

Putra-vātsalya vs niyoga/ājñā-pālana (obedience to command)

How it resolves

Emotional protest without power to alter decree

Devotion and practice

Guṇa-smaraṇa (remembering Rama’s auspicious qualities) as a stabilizing practice amid grief.

Deity praised

Rama (as revered ideal hero)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Tender admiration, dread, protectiveness

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Parental love
• Injustice
• Exile

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• Daṇḍaka (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is tied to fitness and fairness: it is ethically painful to punish or exile one who is exemplary and undeserving of hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha pleads internally/verbally, describing Rāma’s virtues and questioning how he could possibly carry out the exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s ideal princely excellence—strength, beauty, and noble presence—supporting his role as dharmic heir.