Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.92: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 92

द्वादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Spoken by Dasharatha to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhyā (palace/state)Places named: Ikṣvāku-kula (dynastic realm)

Devanagari script

मया रामेण च त्यक्तं शाश्वतं सत्कृतं गुणैः ॥९२॥

इक्ष्वाकुकुलमक्षोभ्यमाकुलं पालयिष्यसि ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.12.92

Transliteration

mayā rāmeṇa ca tyaktaṃ śāśvataṃ satkṛtaṃ guṇaiḥ ||92||

ikṣvākukulamakṣobhyam ākulaṃ pālayiṣyasi |

Translation

Będziesz rządzić rodem Ikszwaków, zawsze czczonym dla jego cnót; lecz opuszczony przeze mnie i przez Ramę, zostanie on wtrącony w zamęt i smutek.

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Word by Word

• मया: by me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचनम्; करण/कर्तृ-हेतौ (by me)
• Role: Karana (करण)

• रामेण: by Rāma
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनम्
• Role: Karana (करण)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• त्यक्तम्: abandoned
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyaj (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; 'इक्ष्वाकुकुलम्' इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• शाश्वतम्: everlasting / ancient
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; 'इक्ष्वाकुकुलम्' इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• सत्कृतम्: honoured
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛ (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: उपपद-समासवत् (सत्+कृत); PPP, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; 'इक्ष्वाकुकुलम्' इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• गुणैः: by virtues
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; साधन/हेतु (by virtues)
• Role: Karana (करण)

• इक्ष्वाकुकुलम्: the Ikṣvāku dynasty
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (इक्ष्वाकूणां कुलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अक्षोभ्यम्: unshakable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + kṣobhya (प्रातिपदिक; √kṣubh)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक-विशेषणम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; 'इक्ष्वाकुकुलम्' इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• आकुलम्: distressed / agitated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; 'इक्ष्वाकुकुलम्' इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• पालयिष्यसि: you will rule/protect
• Type: Verb
• Root: pāl (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनम्
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• इक्ष्वाकुकुलम् + अक्षोभ्यम् + आकुलम् → इक्ष्वाकुकुलमक्षोभ्यमाकुलम्।

Context

You will rule undisturbed the Ikshvaku race honoured for its divine virtues. Now abandoned by me and Rama it will be afflicted with grief.

The teaching

A dynasty+cṣ strength is its dharma and virtue; remove the righteous pillar and even the 'unshakable' becomes turbulent.

Duties in tension

• Personal ambition (for Bharata+cṣ accession) vs stability of rājya and lineage dharma
• Keeping boons vs preserving the 'unshakable' moral order of the dynasty

Ethical theme

Rājadharma (state stability and succession ethics)

How it resolves

Warning/prophecy of social consequence

For your practice

Reflection on leadership as stewardship; cultivate dharmic decision-making that protects collective well-being.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Raudra (fury)

Mood

Bleak, prophetic, disillusioned

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Kingship
• Dynastic ethics
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• Ikṣvāku dynasty

FAQs

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

Dharma of governance: a ruler’s legitimacy rests on virtue and stability; removing the righteous heir fractures social order and harms the dynasty’s moral standing.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha warns Kaikeyī that even if she attains control, the kingdom and dynasty will be distressed without him and Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s role as the stabilizing dharmic center of the dynasty—his absence is portrayed as societal upheaval.