Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.74: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 74

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

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

न हि राममहं दृष्ट्वा प्रवसन्तं महावने ॥७४॥

चिरं जीवितुमाशंसे रुदन्तीं चापि मैथिलीम् ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.12.74

Transliteration

na hi rāmamahaṃ dṛṣṭvā pravasantaṃ mahāvane ||74||

ciraṃ jīvitumāśaṃse rudantīṃ cāpi maithilīm |

Translation

മഹാവനത്തിൽ ദൂരവാസം ചെയ്യുന്ന രാമനെയും കരയുന്ന മൈഥിലിയെയും കണ്ടാൽ, ഞാൻ ദീർഘകാലം ജീവിക്കുമെന്ന പ്രതീക്ഷയില്ല.

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Word by Word

• सा: she/you (that woman)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• नूनम्: certainly
• नूनम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (certainly)

• विधवा: widowed
• विधवा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective to सा

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• सपुत्रा: together with (your) son
• सपुत्रा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘having a son/with your son’ (qualifies सा)

• कारयिष्यसि: you will rule/administer
• कारयिष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु, causative)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) + लृट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Future ‘you will cause to be done / rule (administer)’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• प्रव्राजिते: (when) exiled
• प्रव्राजिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + व्रज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative absolute with रामे: ‘when Rama has been exiled’

• रामे: Rama (being)
• रामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular (in locative absolute)

• देवि: O lady/queen
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• जीवितुम्: to live
• जीवितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive; ‘to live’

• उत्सहे: I can/dare
• उत्सहे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्सह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present ‘I am able/dare’ (negated by na)

Context

With Rama living in the wilderness and Sita crying, I do not hope to survive for long, indeed.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Maithilī (Sītā)
• great forest (mahāvana)

FAQs

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

The verse shows how adharma fractures the moral heart of a household and ruler: when the righteous are made to suffer, the elder who should protect them experiences self-consuming remorse.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, overwhelmed, declares that witnessing Rāma’s forest life and Sītā’s tears will shorten his own life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Paternal devotion and moral responsibility: Daśaratha’s identity as protector collapses under the pain of failing Rāma and Sītā.