Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 48

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

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

एकाहमपि पश्येयं यद्यहं राममातरम्।अञ्जलिं प्रतिगृह्णन्तीं श्रेयो ननु मृतिर्मम।।।।

Transliteration

ekāham api paśyeyaṃ yady ahaṃ rāmamātaram |

añjaliṃ pratigṛhṇantīṃ śreyo nanu mṛtir mama || 2.12.48 ||

Translation

ຖ້າຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຕ້ອງເຫັນແມ່ຂອງພະຣາມ ໄດ້ຮັບການເຄົາລົບນົບໄຫວ້ພຽງແຕ່ມື້ດຽວ, ຄວາມຕາຍຍ່ອມດີກວ່າສຳລັບຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ.

Word by Word

• eka: one
• eka: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; here with aham (elliptic: 'for one (day)')

• aham: I
• aham: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (also/even)

• paśyeyam: I might see
• paśyeyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś/paś (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/संभावना), परस्मैपदम्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (if)

• aham: I
• aham: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rāma-mātaram: Rama's mother
• rāma-mātaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'Rama's mother'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• añjalim: folded hands/salutation
• añjalim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pratigṛhṇantīm: receiving (accepting)
• pratigṛhṇantīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-grah (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत्)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; rāma-mātaram qualifies: 'receiving'

• śreyaḥ: better/preferable
• śreyaḥ: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate nominal

• nanu: indeed
• nanu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nanu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (assertive/confirmatory particle: 'indeed/surely')

• mṛtiḥ: death
• mṛtiḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

Context

If I were to see Rama's mother receiving homage from everybody even for a day, I shall prefer my death.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Kausalyā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It shows how adharma can arise from envy and status-obsession: personal resentment is used to override just succession and to manipulate a ruler’s duty-bound choices.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī declares she cannot bear Kausalyā’s elevation (through Rāma’s coronation) and frames death as preferable.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the virtue implied is equanimity (samatva); the verse highlights its absence and the destructive ethical consequences of jealousy.