Shloka 36

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम्

The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave-Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse

Devanagari script

न चैतन्मे प्रियं पुत्र शपे सत्येन राघव।छन्नया चलितस्त्वस्मि स्त्रिया छन्नाग्निकल्पया।।।।

Transliteration

na caitad me priyaṃ putra śape satyena rāghava |

channayā calitas tv asmi striyā channāgnikalpayā ||

Translation

ഇത് എനിക്ക് പ്രിയമല്ല, മകനേ—ഹേ രാഘവാ, സത്യത്തെ സാക്ഷിയായി ഞാൻ ശപഥം ചെയ്യുന്നു. ചാരത്തിനടിയിൽ മറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്ന അഗ്നിപോലെ, മറഞ്ഞ ഉദ്ദേശമുള്ള ഒരു സ്ത്രീ എന്നെ വഞ്ചിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction/particle

• etan: this
• etan: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, neuter, nominative (प्रथमा) singular; subject of implied 'asti'

• me: to me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, dative (चतुर्थी) singular (enclitic)

• priyam: pleasing
• priyam: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, nominative (प्रथमा) singular; predicate adjective of etan

• putra: O son
• putra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, vocative (सम्बोधन) singular

• śape: I swear
• śape: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śap (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष) singular, ātmanepada

• satyena: by truth
• satyena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, instrumental (तृतीया) singular; oath formula 'by truth'

• rāghava: O Raghava
• rāghava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, vocative (सम्बोधन) singular

• channayā: by a hidden (one)
• channayā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: channa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, instrumental (तृतीया) singular; qualifying striyā

• calitaḥ: deceived / led astray
• calitaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cal (धातु) > calita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), masculine nominative singular; predicate with asmi

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष) singular, parasmaipada

• striyā: by a woman
• striyā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, instrumental (तृतीया) singular

• channāgni-kalpayā: by (a woman) like hidden fire
• channāgni-kalpayā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: channa-agni-kalpa (प्रातिपदिक; channa + agni + kalpa)
• Form: Feminine, instrumental (तृतीया) singular; bahuvrīhi compound qualifying striyā: 'one whose nature is like concealed fire'

Context

I swear by truth, O my beloved son, that your departure to the forest is in no way a pleasure to me. With a hidden motive, this woman who is like fire concealed by ashes has duped me.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Kaikeyī (implied as 'woman')

FAQs

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

Satya (truth) is invoked as the highest witness: even in suffering and manipulation, the moral order depends on truthfulness and accountability to one’s word.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha tells Rāma that the exile is not his desire; he claims he was trapped by Kaikeyī’s concealed scheme, swearing by truth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s commitment to truth as a moral anchor, even while confessing weakness and deception.