Valmiki Ramayana 2.19.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 1

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Devanagari script

तदप्रियममित्रघ्नो वचनं मरणोपमम्।श्रुत्वा न विव्यथे रामः कैकेयीं चेदमब्रवीत्।।2.19.1।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.19.1

Transliteration

tad apriyam amitraghno vacanaṃ maraṇopamam |

śrutvā na vivyathe rāmaḥ kaikeyīṃ cedam abravīt || 2.19.1 ||

Translation

死にも等しく痛ましいその不快な言葉を聞いても、敵を討つラーマは少しも揺らがず、かえってカイケーイーにこう告げた。

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Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; demonstrative qualifying वचनम्

• अप्रियम्: unpleasant
• अप्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; adjective qualifying वचनम्

• अमित्रघ्नः: slayer of enemies
• अमित्रघ्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amitra + ghná (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound ‘enemy-slayer’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; epithet of रामः

• वचनम्: speech; words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• मरणोपमम्: death-like
• मरणोपमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maraṇa + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound ‘like death’; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; adjective qualifying वचनम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having heard’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative particle

• विव्यथे: was pained
• विव्यथे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-vyath (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (Aorist), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• कैकेयीम्: to Kaikeyi
• कैकेयीम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; object of अब्रवीत्

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (लुङ्/Imperfect-Aorist usage), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana

Context

The destroyer of enemies (Rama) did not feel distressed to hear these words painful like death. To Kaikeyi he said:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Steadfast self-mastery in the face of suffering: Rāma does not collapse under harsh speech, modeling dharmic composure and commitment to right conduct rather than reactive anger.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī has delivered a demand that is grievous to hear; the narration emphasizes that Rāma remains unshaken and is about to respond to her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣānti and dhairya (forbearance and courage): Rāma’s inner stability when confronted with words 'like death.'