Valmiki Ramayana 2.14.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 2

सत्यपाशः

Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise

Devanagari script

पापं कृत्वैव किमिदं मम संश्रुत्य संश्रवम्।शेषे क्षितितले सन्नः स्थित्यां स्थातुं त्वमर्हसि।।।।

Transliteration

pāpaṃ kṛtvaiva kim idaṃ mama saṃśrutya saṃśravam |

śeṣe kṣiti-tale sannaḥ sthityāṃ sthātuṃ tvam arhasi ||

Translation

Что это — словно ты совершила грех? Услышав мой ответ на дар, который ты обещала, почему ты лежишь, подавленная, на земле? Тебе подобает стоять твёрдо в своём царском достоинстве.

Word by Word

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of kṛtvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म; predicate question)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; interrogative

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म; 'this')
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मम: of me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• संश्रुत्य: having promised
• संश्रुत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्√श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• संश्रवम्: promise
• संश्रवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संश्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• शेषे: while lying
• शेषे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय (प्रातिपदिक; 'bed/lying')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; 'lying' sense in epic usage

• क्षिति-तले: on the ground-surface
• क्षिति-तले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'क्षितेः तलम्'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• सन्नः: dejected/sunk down
• सन्नः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृअन्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्न (कृदन्त; √सद् धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; त्वम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• स्थित्याम्: in (your) station
• स्थित्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी/द्वितीया (Loc/Acc) एकवचन; here as 'in (your) position/state' (locative sense)

• स्थातुम्: to stand/remain
• स्थातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन; purpose/complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अर्हसि: are fit/ought
• अर्हसि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

(Kaikeyi said) What is this? After hearing my response to the promised boon, why are you lying down on the floor dejected as if you had committed a sin? It behovesyou to maintain your status.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Kaikeyī appeals to satya as binding: a pledged boon must be upheld, and a king should not collapse from remorse once his word is invoked.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī confronts Daśaratha, questioning his despair and pressing him to act according to the promised boons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

From Kaikeyī’s framing, the emphasized trait is steadfastness to one’s declared word; however, her use of it is coercive within the episode.