Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.24 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 24

अष्टादशः सर्गः

Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration

Devanagari script

धर्ममूलमिदं राम विदितं च सतामपि।तत्सत्यं न त्यजेद्राजा कुपितस्त्वत्कृते यथा।।।।

Transliteration

dharmamūlam idaṃ rāma viditaṃ ca satām api | tat satyaṃ na tyajed rājā kupitas tvat-kṛte yathā ||

Translation

Wahai Rāma, inilah akar dharma, yang diketahui juga oleh orang-orang mulia: raja tidak boleh meninggalkan kebenaran itu—walau baginda murka kerana dirimu sekalipun.

Word by Word

• dharmamūlam: the basis of righteousness
• dharmamūlam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: dharma + mūla (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘root/basis of dharma’); neuter nominative/accusative singular; predicate of ‘idam’

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied ‘asti’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, neuter, nominative singular

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

• viditam: known
• viditam: Vidhi (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vid (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), neuter nominative/accusative singular; predicate adjective of ‘idam’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• satām: of the virtuous
• satām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, genitive plural (षष्ठी बहुवचन)

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya/Avadhāraṇa (समुच्चय/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), inclusive/emphatic

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, neuter, accusative singular; qualifies ‘satyaṃ’

• satyam: truth / promise
• satyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, accusative singular; object of ‘tyajet’

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• tyajet: should abandon
• tyajet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person singular, parasmaipada

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• kupitaḥ: angry
• kupitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kupita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular; qualifies ‘rājā’

• tvatkṛte: because of you
• tvatkṛte: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tvat + kṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: tvat + kṛte (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/avyayībhāva-like usage), indeclinable meaning ‘for your sake/on your account’

• yathā: as
• yathā: Upamā/Prakāra (उपमा/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle

Context

O Rama, this (truth) is the basis of righteousness. The virtuous also know this. The king being angry (with me), should not abandon the truth for your sake.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• Daśaratha (king)
• sat (the virtuous)

FAQs

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

Satya is presented as dharma’s foundation: royal dharma requires that a king’s pledged truth not be set aside due to personal attachment.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī frames her demand as a dharmic necessity: Daśaratha must keep his word even if it harms Rāma’s immediate interests.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue emphasized is satya (truth-keeping) as a public, kingly obligation—placed above private affection.