Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 10

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Devanagari script

कथमिन्दीवरश्यामं दीर्घबाहुं महाबलम्।अभिराममहं रामं प्रेषयिष्यामि दण्डकान्।।।।

Transliteration

katham indīvaraśyāmaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ mahābalam, abhirāmam ahaṃ rāmaṃ preṣayiṣyāmi daṇḍakān.

Translation

ଇନ୍ଦୀବର ପରି ଶ୍ୟାମବର୍ଣ୍ଣ, ଦୀର୍ଘବାହୁ, ମହାବଳୀ ଓ ମନୋହର ମୋର ରାମଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ଦଣ୍ଡକାରଣ୍ୟକୁ କିପରି ପଠାଇବି?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय

• इन्दीवरश्यामम्: dark like a blue lotus
• इन्दीवरश्यामम्: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier of rāmaṃ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्दीवर-श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: इन्दीवरवत् श्यामः (blue-lotus-dark)

• दीर्घबाहुम्: long-armed
• दीर्घबाहुम्: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ-बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: दीर्घौ बाहू यस्य

• महाबलम्: mighty
• महाबलम्: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: महत् बलं यस्य

• अभिरामम्: charming
• अभिरामम्: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रेषयिष्यामि: shall send
• प्रेषयिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-इष् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative/dispatch sense

• दण्डकान्: to the Dandaka (forest)
• दण्डकान्: Karma (कर्म/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; देशवाचक (name of region/forest)

Context

The maharaja lying on the floor resembled (king) Yayati fallen from heaven after his merits (earned earlier) were exhausted. He neither deserved nor was accustomed to such (humiliating) treatment. Fearless Kaikeyi ,the incarnate of misfortune having accomplished her purpose, displyaing feigned fear, urged the king again (without inhibition), about the boons:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• Daṇḍaka (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is tied to fitness and fairness: it is ethically painful to punish or exile one who is exemplary and undeserving of hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha pleads internally/verbally, describing Rāma’s virtues and questioning how he could possibly carry out the exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s ideal princely excellence—strength, beauty, and noble presence—supporting his role as dharmic heir.