Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 24

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Spoken by Rama to SumantraSetting: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

यद्यदाज्ञापयेत्किञ्चित्स महात्मा महीपतिः ।

कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं कार्यं तदविकाङ्क्षया ॥२४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.24

Transliteration

yad yad ājñāpayet kiñcit sa mahātmā mahīpatiḥ |

kaikeyyāḥ priyakāmārthaṃ kāryaṃ tad avikāṅkṣayā ||24||

Translation

കൈകേയിയുടെ പ്രിയം സാധിപ്പാൻ മഹാത്മാവായ ഭൂപതി എന്തെങ്കിലും അല്പമായാലും ആജ്ഞാപിച്ചാൽ, അതു മടിയില്ലാതെ ഉടൻ നിർവഹിക്കണം.

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Word by Word

• yat yat: whatever
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun used distributively; Neuter, Accusative, Singular repeated (यद् यद्) = 'whatever' (यत्किञ्चित्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ājñāpayet: should आदेश/command
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• kiñcit: anything
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiñcit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indefinite pronoun; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; 'anything, even a little'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• saḥ: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• mahātmā: the great-souled one
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet of the king
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• mahīpatiḥ: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) 'lord of the earth'; Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• kaikeyyāḥ: of Kaikeyī
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• priya-kāma-artham: for (her) desired pleasure; to please her
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; purpose sense (प्रयोजन) = 'for the sake of fulfilling (her) dear desire'
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• kāryam: (it) must be done
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ धातु + यत्)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (कृत्य/यत्), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; here predicate: 'is to be done'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• tat: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; refers to the commanded act
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• avikāṅkṣayā: without hesitation
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vi-kāṅkṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial instrument: 'without hesitation/without expecting (anything else)'
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

Sandhi Notes

• yadyadājñāpayet = yat yat + ājñāpayet
• kiñcitsa = kiñcit + saḥ
• priyakāmārthaṃ = priya-kāma-artham
• tadavikāṅkṣayā = tat + avikāṅkṣayā

Context

To make Kaikeyi happy, do whatever little the great king Dasaratha orders you to do.

The teaching

Dharma is upheld by steady obedience to rightful command, even when it serves another’s desire and brings personal loss.

Duties in tension

• Filial duty to obey father
• Personal welfare/royal entitlement as heir
• Justice vs appeasing Kaikeyī’s desire

Ethical theme

Rājadharma & pitṛdharma

How it resolves

Dharma-priority (pitṛ-vākya and rājājñā upheld)

For your practice

Practice of śaraṇāgati to dharma: training the mind to act without hesitation when duty is clear.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Resolute, self-effacing, obedient

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Rajadharma
• Obedience
• Ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Dharma here is loyal service to the rightful king’s command, performed without inner resistance, even when the command is connected to pleasing another (Kaikeyī).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma is instructing Sumantra on how to respond to Daśaratha’s wishes as Rāma departs under the exile order.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadiness in obedience and respect for royal authority (vinaya and satya-niṣṭhā) is emphasized.