Shloka 12

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

कामार्तस्तु महातेजाः पिता दशरथस्स्वयम्।।3.47.12।।कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं तं रामं नाभ्यषेचयत्।

Transliteration

kāmārtas tu mahātejāḥ pitā daśarathaḥ svayam ||3.47.12|| kaikeyyāḥ priyakāmārthaṃ taṃ rāmaṃ nābhyaṣecayat |

Translation

എന്നാൽ മഹാതേജസ്സുള്ള പിതാവായ ദശരഥൻ—മോഹവശനായി—കൈകേയിയുടെ പ്രിയാഭിലാഷം നിറവേറ്റുവാൻ രാമനെ അഭിഷേകം ചെയ്തില്ല.

Word by Word

• कामार्तः: afflicted by desire
• कामार्तः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: कामेन आर्तः (afflicted by desire); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle)

• महातेजाः: greatly splendid
• महातेजाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पिता इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पिता: father
• पिता: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दशरथः: Daśaratha
• दशरथः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Reflexive emphatic: himself)

• कैकेय्याः: of Kaikeyī
• कैकेय्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• प्रियकामार्थम्: for (her) desired wish’s sake
• प्रियकामार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय + काम + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: प्रियस्य कामस्य अर्थः (for fulfilling her dear wish); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (as purpose)

• तम्: that
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• अभ्यषेचयत्: consecrated
• अभ्यषेचयत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + √सिच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense in epic usage ‘to consecrate’

Context

When my husband Rama approached his father for the consecration she said these unhesitating words:

Characters & Entities

• Dasaratha
• Rama
• Kaikeyi

FAQs

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

The tension between personal attachment and royal duty: even a great king can be diverted from dharmic action when overcome by emotional compulsion.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā recounts how Rāma’s coronation was withheld because Daśaratha, pressured by Kaikeyī’s wishes, did not proceed with the anointing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, the verse highlights Daśaratha’s human frailty (kāmārta), setting the stage for Rāma’s stronger commitment to dharma later.