Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 38

सत्यपाशः

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

Devanagari script

इमे गङ्गोदकघटा स्सागरेभ्यश्च काञ्चनाः।।2.14.34।।औदुम्बरं भद्रपीठमभिषेकार्थमागतम्।सर्वबीजानि गन्धाश्च रत्नानि विविधानि च।।2.14.35।।क्षौद्रं दधि घृतं लाजा दर्भास्सुमनसः पयः। अष्टौ च कन्या रुचिरा मत्तश्च वरवारणः।।2.14.36।।चतुरश्वो रथश्श्रीमान्निस्त्रिंशो धनुरुत्तमम्। वाहनं नरसंयुक्तं छत्रं च शशिसन्निभम्।।2.14.37।।श्वेते च वालव्यजने भृङ्गारुश्च हिरण्मयः। हेमदामपिनध्दश्च ककुद्मान्पाण्डुरो वृषः।।2.14.38।।केसरी च चतुर्दंष्ट्रो हरिश्रेष्ठो महाबलः। सिंहासनं व्याघ्रतनु स्समिद्धश्च हुताशनः।।2.14.39।।सर्ववादित्रसङ्घाश्च वेश्याश्चालङ्कृता स्स्त्रयः। आचार्या ब्राह्मणा गावः पुण्याश्च मृगपक्षिणः।।2.14.40।।पौरजानपदश्रेष्ठा नैगमाश्च गणै स्सह। एते चान्ये च बहवो नीयमानाः प्रियंवदाः।।2.14.41।।अभिषेकाय रामस्य सह तिष्ठन्ति पार्थिवैः।

Transliteration

śvete ca vālavyajane bhṛṅgāruś ca hiraṇmayaḥ |

hemadāma-pinaddhaś ca kakudmān pāṇḍuro vṛṣaḥ || 2.14.38 ||

Translation

രണ്ട് വെളുത്ത വാലവ്യജനങ്ങൾ (ചാമരങ്ങൾ) ഉണ്ട്, സ്വർണ്ണഭൃംഗാരു (തളിക്കൽപാത്രം)യും; കൂടാതെ സ്വർണ്ണമാല അണിഞ്ഞ പാണ്ഡുരവർണ്ണമുള്ള കൂമ്പുള്ള വൃഷഭവും കൊണ്ടുവന്നിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विरोध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle ‘but/however’)

• पूर्वोदितम्: who had arrived earlier
• पूर्वोदितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + उदित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; उदित = भूतकृदन्त (क्त) from उद्+इ ‘risen/come forth’; ‘who had come earlier’

• वृद्धम्: aged
• वृद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• द्वारस्थाः: doorkeepers
• द्वारस्थाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• राजसम्मतम्: approved by the king
• राजसम्मतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजन् + सम्मत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्मत = भूतकृदन्त (क्त) from सम्+मन् ‘approved/liked’

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• शेकुः: were able
• शेकुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद; ‘were able’

• अभिसंरोद्धुम्: to detain
• अभिसंरोद्धुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + सम् + रुध् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (Infinitive), ‘to restrain/detain’

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• प्रियचिकीर्षवः: wishing to please (him)
• प्रियचिकीर्षवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय + चिकीर्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; चिकीर्षु = desiderative agent-noun (उणादि/कृदन्त) from कृ (धातु) with desiderative sense ‘wishing to do’; ‘wishing to do what is dear (to the king)’

Context

Here are the pots filled with water from river Ganga and golden vessels with water from the seas. And throne made of udumbara wood for the installation ceremony. All kinds of seeds, perfumes, different kinds of precious stones, honey, curd, ghee, puffed grains, kusha grass (special grass used in rituals), flowers, milk, eight beautiful girls, an intoxicated elephant, a dignified chariot drawn by four horses, a sword, an elegant bow, a palanquin accompanied by bearers, an umbrella resembling the full Moon, two white fans made of Yak's tails, a golden vessel, a palecoloured humped bull, wearing golden gerland, a lion having four strong and large teeth, a mighty horse of the best breed, a throne, tiger skin, fire kindled with faggots, all kinds of musical instruments, courtesans, welldecorated women, preceptors, brahmins, cows, sacred animals and birds, eminent citizens and villagers, groups of merchants all speaking pleasant words and kings -- all are here for Rama's coronation.

Characters & Entities

• Gold (hiraṇya/hemadāma)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed through auspicious, sanctifying symbols: the rite integrates purity, honor, and public legitimacy, reminding that sovereignty must be ritually and ethically grounded.

What is the narrative situation?

Additional ceremonial objects and auspicious animals are listed as being assembled for the coronation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for sacred order—care is taken to include ritually meaningful items, not merely luxurious ones.