Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 25

सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्

Rama’s Defense of Truth and Dharma in Reply to Jabali

Devanagari script

स्थिरा मया प्रतिज्ञाता प्रतिज्ञा गुरुसन्निधौ।प्रहृष्यमाणा सा देवी कैकेयी चाभवत्तदा।।2.109.25।।

Transliteration

sthirā mayā pratijñātā pratijñā guru-sannidhau |

prahṛṣyamāṇā sā devī kaikeyī cābhavat tadā ||2.109.25||

Translation

ଗୁରୁସ୍ୱରୂପ ପିତାଙ୍କ ସନ୍ନିଧିରେ ମୁଁ ଦୃଢ଼ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା କରିଥିଲି; ସେତେବେଳେ ଦେବୀ କୈକେୟୀ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରହୃଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• स्थिरा: firm
• स्थिरा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रतिज्ञा इति विशेषयति

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• प्रतिज्ञाता: sworn
• प्रतिज्ञाता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘(was) vowed/sworn’

• प्रतिज्ञा: vow
• प्रतिज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratijñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गुरु-सन्निधौ: in the presence of the father/elder
• गुरु-सन्निधौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + sannidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गुरोः सन्निधिः)

• प्रहृष्यमाणा: rejoicing
• प्रहृष्यमाणा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√hṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle), आत्मनेपद-भाव; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘rejoicing/delighting’

• सा: that
• सा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Demonstrative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी इति विशेषयति

• देवी: queen/lady
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कैकेयी: Kaikeyi
• कैकेयी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Context

I had taken a firm vow in the presence of my father (about my stay in the forest). And then Devi Kaikeyi was immensely delighted.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha (guru/father)
• Kaikeyī
• Pratijñā (vow)

FAQs

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

A vow made in a solemn setting (before elders/authority) binds one’s conduct; dharma values steadfastness once a pledge is given.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma recalls the moment he affirmed the exile vow before Daśaratha, noting Kaikeyī’s satisfaction—underscoring the vow’s public and consequential nature.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness (dhṛti): unwavering commitment to what was promised.