Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 23

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

कैकेय्या न वयं राज्ये भृतका निवसेमहि।जीवन्त्या जातु जीवन्त्यः पुत्रैरपि शपामहे।।2.48.23।।

Transliteration

kaikeyyā na vayaṁ rājye bhṛtakā nivasemahi |

jīvantyā jātu jīvantyaḥ putrair api śapāmahe || 2.48.23 ||

Translation

କୈକେୟୀ ଯେପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଜୀବିତ, ସେପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଆମେ—ଆମେ ଜୀବିତ ଥିବାବେଳେ—ଏହି ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ଭୃତ୍ୟଭାବେ ବସିବୁ ନାହିଁ; ପୁତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କ ନାମରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶପଥ କରୁଛୁ।

Word by Word

• kaikeyyā: by/under Kaikeyi
• kaikeyyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Negation

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• rājye: in the kingdom
• rājye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• bhṛtakāḥ: hired servants
• bhṛtakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛtaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; predicate noun for vayam

• nivasema: we live
• nivasema: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + vas (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Uttama puruṣa, Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Emphatic particle (in some recensions; if absent ignore)

• jīvantyāḥ: while (she) is living
• jīvantyāḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīvantī (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; present participle from jīv/जीव्)
• Form: Kṛdanta (Śatṛ/शतृ), Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; refers to Kaikeyī: 'while she is alive'

• jātu: ever / at any time
• jātu: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: jātu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Emphatic negation-time particle (कदाचनार्थक)

• jīvantyaḥ: living (women)
• jīvantyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīvantī (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kṛdanta (Śatṛ), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; predicate for implied 'we (women)'

• putraiḥ: by (our) sons
• putraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Particle (अपि = also/even)

• śapāmahe: we swear
• śapāmahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śap (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Uttama puruṣa, Bahuvacana, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Context

We swear on our sons that as long as Kaikeyi lives, or we live, we will never stay in her kingdom as servants.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Kingdom (rājya)

FAQs

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

Satya expressed as a binding oath: the citizens frame moral protest as a truth-commitment, refusing complicity in what they view as adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Amid despair and anger, the citizens vow not to remain in Ayodhya under Kaikeyī’s dominance, even if it costs them stability.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral steadfastness and integrity—willingness to bear hardship rather than accept unethical rule.