Shloka 19

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Devanagari script

तदप्रियमनार्याया वचनं दारुणोदयम्।श्रुत्वा गतव्यथो रामः कैकेयीं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.19.19।।

Transliteration

tad apriyam anāryāyā vacanaṃ dāruṇodayam |

śrutvā gatavyatho rāmaḥ kaikeyīṃ vākyam abravīt || 2.19.19 ||

Translation

അനാര്യയായ ആ സ്ത്രീയുടെ അപ്രിയവും ഭയാനകഫലോദയമുള്ളതുമായ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ട്, വ്യഥയറ്റ രാമൻ കൈകേയിയോട് ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു:

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• apriyam: unpleasant
• apriyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying vacanam

• anāryāyāḥ: of the ignoble woman
• anāryāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: an-āryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vacanam: words; statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dāruṇa-udayam: of dreadful consequence
• dāruṇa-udayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-सम्भव: 'dreadful (as) consequence/origin' qualifying vacanam

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable; prior action

• gata-vyathaḥ: free from distress
• gata-vyathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √gam) + vyathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहि-सम्भव/तत्पुरुष: 'whose pain has gone' qualifying rāmaḥ

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kaikeyīm: to Kaikeyi
• kaikeyīm: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vākyam: speech; words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular

Context

Rama listened to the dreadful, cruel words of the ignoble woman but, without feeling any sorrow, said to Kaikeyi, these words:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Dharma as equanimity and truth-anchored conduct: even when confronted with morally charged, harmful speech, Rāma remains unperturbed and responds without loss of righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration reiterates Kaikeyī’s harsh demand and frames Rāma’s calm readiness to reply, emphasizing the gravity of consequences.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vairāgya-like detachment and steadiness (gatavyatha): Rāma’s freedom from personal agitation while facing injustice.