Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 24

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

यद्यदाज्ञापयेत्किञ्चित्स महात्मा महीपतिः।कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं कार्यं तदविकाङ्क्षया।।2.52.24।।

Transliteration

yad yad ājñāpayet kiñcit sa mahātmā mahīpatiḥ | kaikeyyāḥ priyakāmārthaṃ kāryaṃ tad avikāṅkṣayā || 2.52.24 ||

Translation

かの偉大なる王がたとえ些細なことを命じようとも、カイケーイーを喜ばせるため、ためらわずにそれを成し遂げよ。

Word by Word

• yat yat: whatever
• yat yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun used distributively; Neuter, Accusative, Singular repeated (यद् यद्) = 'whatever' (यत्किञ्चित्)

• ājñāpayet: should आदेश/command
• ājñāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• kiñcit: anything
• kiñcit: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiñcit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indefinite pronoun; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; 'anything, even a little'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahātmā: the great-souled one
• mahātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet of the king

• mahīpatiḥ: the king
• mahīpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) 'lord of the earth'; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• kaikeyyāḥ: of Kaikeyī
• kaikeyyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• priya-kāma-artham: for (her) desired pleasure; to please her
• priya-kāma-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; purpose sense (प्रयोजन) = 'for the sake of fulfilling (her) dear desire'

• kāryam: (it) must be done
• kāryam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ धातु + यत्)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (कृत्य/यत्), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; here predicate: 'is to be done'

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; refers to the commanded act

• avikāṅkṣayā: without hesitation
• avikāṅkṣayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vi-kāṅkṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial instrument: 'without hesitation/without expecting (anything else)'

Context

To make Kaikeyi happy, do whatever little the great king Dasaratha orders you to do.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Dharma here is loyal service to the rightful king’s command, performed without inner resistance, even when the command is connected to pleasing another (Kaikeyī).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma is instructing Sumantra on how to respond to Daśaratha’s wishes as Rāma departs under the exile order.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadiness in obedience and respect for royal authority (vinaya and satya-niṣṭhā) is emphasized.