Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 19

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Setting: Ayodhyā (Kaikeyī’s apartments/inner palace)

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजा कैकेयीं संयताञ्जलिः ॥१९॥

प्रसादयामास पुनः कैकेयीं चेदमब्रवीत् ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.19

Transliteration

evam uktvā tato rājā kaikayīṃ saṃyatāñjaliḥ ||19||

prasādayāmāsa punaḥ kaikayīṃ cedam abravīt |

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞ ശേഷം രാജാവ് നിയന്ത്രിതമായി കൈകൂപ്പി വീണ്ടും കൈകേയിയെ പ്രസാദിപ്പിക്കാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചു; പിന്നെ അവളോടു ഈ വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞു.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• uktvā: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• tataḥ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Ablatival/temporal adverb (ततः)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• rājā: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (राजन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• kaikayīm: Kaikeyi
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• saṃyata-añjaliḥ: with folded hands
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyata (यम् धातु, क्त) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘with restrained/folded hands’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• prasādayāmāsa: appeased; sought to please
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + sad (सद् धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative: ‘caused to be pleased’
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• punaḥ: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• kaikayīm: Kaikeyi
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• idam: this (speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• abravīt: said; spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• evamuktvā = evam + uktvā
• cēdamabravīt = ca + idam + abravīt

Context

Having said this, the king spoke again with folded hands to Kaikeyi in order to appease her:

The teaching

Even the powerful must sometimes seek peace through humility; yet humility cannot undo a binding promise once invoked.

Duties in tension

• Keeping boons promised (satya)
• Protecting heir and kingdom’s welfare
• Maintaining royal dignity vs necessity of conciliation

Ethical theme

Truth-keeping vs welfare

For your practice

Models añjali as inner surrender; invites contemplation on humility without self-deception.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Supplicatory, anxious, broken dignity

Themes

• Itihasa
• Royal humility
• Dharma vs desire
• Supplication
• Narrative transition

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Even amid anger, one may attempt conciliation to prevent greater harm; the verse shows a ruler trying to manage conflict through restraint rather than escalation.

What is the narrative situation?

After condemning Kaikeyī, Daśaratha shifts to pleading, approaching her with folded hands to soften her stance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control (saṃyama): despite humiliation and grief, Daśaratha attempts a measured, peace-seeking response.