Valmiki Ramayana 2.14.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 1

सत्यपाशः

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

Devanagari script

पुत्रशोकार्दितं पापा विसंज्ञं पतितं भुवि।विवेष्टमानमुद्वीक्ष्य सैक्ष्वाकमिदमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

putraśokārditaṃ pāpā visaṃjñaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi | viveṣṭamānam udvīkṣya saikṣvākaṃ idam abravīt ||

Translation

Melihat raja keturunan Ikṣvāku rebah di bumi, tidak sedarkan diri, menggeliat disiksa dukacita kerana puteranya, wanita berdosa itu pun berkata demikian.

Word by Word

• पुत्र-शोक-अर्दितम्: tormented by grief for (his) son
• पुत्र-शोक-अर्दितम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्दित (कृदन्त; √अर्द् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (instrumental sense: 'पुत्रशोकेन अर्दितम्'); क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ऐक्ष्वाकम् इति विशेषण

• पापा: the sinful woman
• पापा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• विसंज्ञम्: unconscious
• विसंज्ञम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विसंज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ऐक्ष्वाकम् इति विशेषण

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त; √पत् धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ऐक्ष्वाकम् इति विशेषण

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• विवेष्टमानम्: writhing
• विवेष्टमानम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मान्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि√वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: शानच् (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ऐक्ष्वाकम् इति विशेषण

• उद्वीक्ष्य: having looked at
• उद्वीक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• स-ऐक्ष्वाकम्: that Ikshvaku-descendant (king)
• स-ऐक्ष्वाकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐक्ष्वाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; 'स' = तद्-प्रातिपदिक (m. acc. sg.) used as determiner

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; said)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

The evil woman (Kaikeyi) said to the king of the Ikshvaku race who lay unconscious on the floor writhing and tormented with grief on account of his son.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Ikṣvāku lineage

FAQs

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

Dharma highlights compassion toward the suffering; the verse frames Kaikeyī’s lack of empathy as adharma against a grieving husband and king.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha collapses from sorrow upon hearing the demands; Kaikeyī, unmoved, prepares to press him further.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast: the absence of compassion in Kaikeyī is foregrounded, serving as a moral warning.