Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 3

अष्टादशः सर्गः

Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration

Devanagari script

रामेत्युक्त्वा तु वचनं बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः।शशाक नृपतिर्दीनो नेक्षितुं नाभिभाषितुम्।।।।

Transliteration

rāmeti uktvā tu vacanaṃ bāṣpa-paryākulekṣaṇaḥ |

śaśāka nṛpatir dīno nekṣituṃ nābhibhāṣitum ||2.18.3||

Translation

王はただ「ラーマ」と一言発したのみで、涙に曇る眼差しのまま悲嘆に沈み、彼を見つめることも、これ以上語ることもできなかった。

Word by Word

• राम: O Rama
• राम: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th), एकवचन; इति-उक्तौ

• इति: thus
• इति: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having uttered
• उक्त्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having said’

• तु: but
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-निपात (concessive/contrast particle)

• वचनम्: a word
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma; of उक्त्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः: whose eyes were clouded with tears
• बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः: कर्ता (Karta; descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाष्प + पर्याकुल + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: बाष्पेण पर्याकुले ईक्षणे यस्य सः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नृपतिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• शशाक: was able
• शशाक: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; न-निषेधेन सह ‘could not’

• नृपतिः: the king
• नृपतिः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दीनः: wretched
• दीनः: कर्ता (Karta; descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नृपतिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• ईक्षितुम्: to look
• ईक्षितुम्: कर्म/उद्देश्य (Karma/Purpose complement of शक्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to look’

• न: nor/not
• न: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• अभिभाषितुम्: to speak
• अभिभाषितुम्: कर्म/उद्देश्य (Karma/Purpose complement of शक्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+भाष् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to speak to/address’

Context

Alas, what a pity, O queen, it does not behove you to speak to me such words. I can jump into fire. Since he is my father, preceptor and wellwisher, I shall consume deadly poison or even get drowned in the sea if he so commands.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the human cost that often accompanies dharma-bound decisions: the king’s inability to speak reflects the moral and emotional weight of actions tied to promises and royal duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, overwhelmed by tears, can only utter “Rāma” and then becomes incapable of speaking or even looking at him due to grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s sincerity and emotional truthfulness are emphasized—his tears show the depth of paternal love and the torment created by conflicting obligations.