Valmiki Ramayana 2.36.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 23

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Spoken by Siddhartha to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

स तासां वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रकृतीनां नराधिपः ।

तं तत्याजाहितं पुत्रं तेषां प्रियचिकीर्षया ॥२३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.36.23

Transliteration

sa tāsāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā prakṛtīnāṃ narādhipaḥ |

taṃ tatyājāhitaṃ putraṃ teṣāṃ priya-cikīrṣayā ||23||

Translation

പ്രജകളുടെ വചനം കേട്ട നരാധിപൻ, അവർക്കു പ്രിയം ചെയ്യുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു, ആ ഹിതമല്ലാത്ത പുത്രനെ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചു.

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Word by Word

• सः: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: कर्ता (Karta)

• तासाम्: of them
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)

• वचनम्: words
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), "having heard"
• Role: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)

• प्रकृतीनाम्: of the subjects
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)

• नराधिपः: king (lord of men)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नराणाम् अधिपः)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

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

• तत्याज: abandoned/banished
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: क्रिया (Kriyā)

• अहितम्: harmful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण
• Role: कर्म (Karma)

• पुत्रम्: son
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma)

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)

• प्रियचिकीर्षया: with the intention of pleasing
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय-चिकीर्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्म-तत्पुरुषः (प्रियं चिकीर्षा = "desire to do what is pleasing")
• Role: करण (Karaṇa)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• तं तत्याजाहितं → तम् तत्याज अहितम्

Context

That king (Sagara) heard the words of the citizens and with the intention of doing good to them, banished that malevolent son.

The teaching

When a close relative becomes a danger to society, dharma may require painful renunciation to protect the innocent and preserve trust in rule.

Duties in tension

• Putra-vātsalya (parental love)
• Praja-rakṣaṇa (protection of subjects)
• Daṇƽa-nti (punitive governance)

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / conflict-of-interest ethics

How it resolves

Tyāga/banishment for public welfare

For your practice

Encourages inner tyāga: relinquishing harmful attachments for the welfare of others; supports prāyaŜitta-bhāva (sobriety and responsibility).

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Grave, dutiful, relieving

Themes

• Rajadharma
• Dharma
• Justice
• Public good
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• King Sagara
• Subjects (prakṛtayaḥ)
• Asamañja

FAQs

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

Rajadharma prioritizes the safety and trust of the people over personal attachment. A ruler may need to renounce even a son if he is demonstrably harmful to the subjects.

What is the narrative situation?

The king responds to the citizens’ complaint by deciding to abandon/banish his son for the sake of public welfare.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Impartial justice and sacrifice in leadership—placing the realm’s welfare above private affection.