Valmiki Ramayana 2.11.17 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 17

कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना

Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons

Devanagari script

इति देवी महेष्वासं परिगृह्याभिशस्य च।ततः परमुवाचेदं वरदं काममोहितम्।।।।

Transliteration

iti devī maheṣvāsaṃ parigṛhyābhiśasya ca | tataḥ param uvācedaṃ varadaṃ kāmamohitam || 2.11.17 ||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ദേവിയായ രാജ്ഞി മഹാധനുർധരനെ ആലിംഗനം ചെയ്ത് പ്രശംസിച്ചു; പിന്നെ കാമമോഹത്തിൽ മയങ്ങിയ വരദാതാവിനോട് ഈ വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-निर्देश (quotative particle)

• देवी: the queen
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महेष्वासम्: the great archer
• महेष्वासम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of parigṛhya/abhiśasya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-iṣvāsa (प्रातिपदिक; महा + इष्वास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिगृह्य: having embraced/seized
• परिगृह्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकाल

• अभिशस्य: having praised/flattered
• अभिशस्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√शंस् (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकाल

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रम (then/thereafter)

• परम्: next, thereafter
• परम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: param (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्ययवत्; अनन्तरम् (afterwards/next)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• इदम्: this (speech)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of uvāca)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वरदम्: boon-giver
• वरदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara-da (प्रातिपदिक; वर + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of महेष्वासम्)

• काममोहितम्: deluded by desire
• काममोहितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma-mohita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; काम + मोहित)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

Clasping the great archer, the infatuated king, conferer of boons and flattering him (to the top of her bent), the queen said:

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The verse cautions that when desire clouds judgment, one becomes vulnerable to flattery and coercion; dharma requires clarity (viveka) and steadiness.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration depicts Kaikeyī using physical closeness and praise to influence Daśaratha immediately before presenting her request.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment and composure—especially for a ruler—so that decisions remain aligned with dharma rather than driven by moha (delusion).