Valmiki Ramayana 2.14.12 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 12

सत्यपाशः

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

Devanagari script

उद्भ्रान्तहृदयश्चापि विवर्णवदनोऽभवत्।स धुर्योवैपरिस्पन्दन्युगचक्रान्तरं यथा।।।।

Transliteration

udbhrāntahṛdayaś cāpi vivarṇavadano ’bhavat | sa dhuryo vaiparispandan yugacakrāntaraṃ yathā ||

Translation

Hatinya pun menjadi kacau berdebar, wajahnya pucat; bagaikan binatang penarik yang terpasang pada kuk, menggigil gelisah di antara kuk dan roda, demikianlah ia terguncang dan tidak teguh.

Word by Word

• उद्भ्रान्तहृदयः: with agitated heart
• उद्भ्रान्तहृदयः: Karta (कर्ता—qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्भ्रान्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: उद्भ्रान्तं हृदयं यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies सः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• विवर्णवदनः: pale-faced
• विवर्णवदनः: Karta (कर्ता—qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: विवर्णं वदनं यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धुर्यः: a draught animal
• धुर्यः: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धुर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (as in comparison)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic)

• परिस्पन्दन्: trembling/restlessly moving
• परिस्पन्दन्: Upamana (उपमान—qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + स्पन्द् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies धुर्यः)

• युगचक्रान्तरम्: the space between yoke and wheels
• युगचक्रान्तरम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative notion as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषसदृश: युगस्य चक्रयोः अन्तरम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान-स्थान (where it is stuck)

• यथा: like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय

Context

Like a bullock, restlessly moving between the wheels and the yoke, Dasaratha'sheart started beating wildly and his face turned pale.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma can impose painful inner conflict: the verse depicts the human cost of maintaining truth and duty under unbearable emotional strain.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha physically and mentally reels after being cornered by Kaikeyī’s demand tied to his promise.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance under moral pressure—Daśaratha remains bound to duty even as his body shows collapse.