Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 19

क्रोधागारप्रवेशः — Entry into the Chamber of Wrath

Kaikeyī’s Protest

Devanagari script

ततो गृहगतो राजा कैकेयीं पर्यपृच्छत।।।।यथा पूर्वमविज्ञाय स्वार्थलिप्सुमपण्डिताम्।

Transliteration

tato gṛhagato rājā kaikeyīṃ paryapṛcchata |

yathā pūrvam avijñāya svārthalipsum apaṇḍitām ||

Translation

ततो गृहगतो राजा कैकेयीं पर्यपृच्छत्; यथा पूर्वम्, अविज्ञाय स्वार्थलिप्सुमपण्डिताम्।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa/kāla-avyaya (then/thereafter)

• gṛha-gataḥ: having gone to the apartment
• gṛha-gataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (प्रातिपदिक; from √gam)
• Form: Kṛdanta: PPP (क्त) used adjectivally; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; samāsa: tatpuruṣa = 'gone to the house/apartment'

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kaikeyīm: Kaikeyi
• kaikeyīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• paryapṛcchata: enquired about
• paryapṛcchata: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√prach (प्रच्छ् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्/Imperfect), Ātmanepada; Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• yathā: as (usual)
• yathā: Prakāra (प्रकार/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upamā/vidhi-avyaya (as/according as)

• pūrvam: as before
• pūrvam: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; kāla-avyaya (formerly/as before)

• avijñāya: not realizing
• avijñāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-vi-√jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) = 'without knowing/realizing'

• sva-artha-lipsum: seeking her own advantage
• sva-artha-lipsum: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + lipsu (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative adj. from √labh)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; samāsa: tatpuruṣa = 'desiring her own interest' (lipsu = 'desirous of obtaining')

• apaṇḍitām: foolish/unwise
• apaṇḍitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-paṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies 'kaikeyīm'

Context

Having entered her apartment, the king, unaware of that foolish Kaikeyi's selfish design enquired her whereabouts as usual.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

It contrasts dharma-guided relationships with svārtha (self-seeking). When self-interest overrides truth and duty, trust within the family order collapses.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha enters Kaikeyī’s quarters and asks for her, not yet knowing she is staging a ‘wrath’ scene to compel boons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s innocence and good faith; the verse also points to Kaikeyī’s lapse into imprudence and selfish intent.