Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

प्रसीद देवि रामोमेत्वद्दत्तं राज्यमव्यम्।।।।लभतामसितापाङ्गे यशः परमवाप्नु हि।

Transliteration

prasīda devi! rāmo me tvad-dattaṃ rājyam avyayam | labhatām asitāpāṅge yaśaḥ param avāpnu hi ||

Translation

പ്രസീദിക്കണമേ ദേവി! നിനക്കാൽ ദത്തമായ എന്റെ അവ്യയരാജ്യം രാമന് ലഭിക്കട്ടെ; ഹേ അസിതാപാംഗേ, നീ നിശ്ചയമായും പരമയശസ്സു പ്രാപിക്കും.

Word by Word

• प्रसीद: be pleased
• प्रसीद: Sambodhana-prayoga (सम्बोधन-प्रयोग; addressed action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√सद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• देवि: O queen/lady
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; enclitic pronoun

• त्वत्-दत्तम्: given by you
• त्वत्-दत्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दत्त (कृदन्त; √दा धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'त्वया दत्तम्'); दत्त = भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; राज्यम् इति विशेषण

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अव्यम्: not to be taken away/unalterable
• अव्यम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय; qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; राज्यम् इति विशेषण

• लभताम्: let (him) obtain/receive
• लभताम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; implied: 'he')
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (labhatām)

• असित-अपाङ्गे: O dark-cornered-eyed one
• असित-अपाङ्गे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असित (प्रातिपदिक) + अपाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('असितः अपाङ्गः यस्याः सा'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• यशः: fame
• यशः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme/very great
• परम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; यशः इति विशेषण

• अवाप्नु: obtain
• अवाप्नु: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; addressed)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√आप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; (Vedic/epic imperative form)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/assurance

Context

O queen with beautiful, dark eyelashes, show pity on me. Let Rama receive this unbounded kingdom through you and you acquire fame.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• rājya (kingship)

FAQs

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

Daśaratha appeals to dharma through rightful succession and public honor: granting Rāma the kingdom preserves order and earns lasting renown, implying that righteous action naturally yields true fame.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha pleads with Kaikeyī to relent from her harsh demand and to allow Rāma to receive the kingdom.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s concern for righteous governance and reputation grounded in dharma, even while personally distressed.