Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 24

सत्यपाशः

Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise

Devanagari script

धर्मबन्धेन बध्दोऽस्मि नष्टा च मम चेतना।ज्येष्ठं पुत्रं प्रियं रामं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि धार्मिकम्।।।।

Transliteration

dharma-bandhena baddho ’smi naṣṭā ca mama cetanā |

jyeṣṭhaṃ putraṃ priyaṃ rāmaṃ draṣṭum icchāmi dhārmikam ||

Translation

ഞാൻ ധർമ്മബന്ധനത്തിൽ ബന്ധിതനാണ്; എന്റെ ബോധം തകർന്നിരിക്കുന്നു. ധാർമ്മികനായ എന്റെ പ്രിയ ജ്യേഷ്ഠപുത്രൻ ശ്രീരാമനെ കാണാൻ ഞാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• धर्मबन्धेन: by the bond of dharma
• धर्मबन्धेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः: धर्मस्य बन्धः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• बद्धः: bound
• बद्धः: Pradhana-visheshana (प्रधान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नष्टा: is destroyed/lost
• नष्टा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP) used predicatively; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (agreeing with चेतना)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• चेतना: consciousness/mind
• चेतना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठम्: eldest
• ज्येष्ठम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying पुत्रम्/रामम्)

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समानाधिकरणम् with रामम्

• प्रियम्: beloved
• प्रियम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying पुत्रम्/रामम्)

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

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive)

• इच्छामि: I wish
• इच्छामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धार्मिकम्: righteous
• धार्मिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying रामम्)

Context

I am bound by bond of righteousness. My intellect is destroyed. I wish to see my beloved, virtuous firstborn, Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• dharma (as principle)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as a binding force—Daśaratha feels compelled by righteousness and truthfulness, even when it breaks him emotionally.

What is the narrative situation?

Under Kaikeyī’s demands, Daśaratha confesses his moral bondage and asks to see Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truth-bound integrity: Daśaratha’s sense of obligation to dharma (and his word) overrides personal desire and peace.