Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 23

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

Spoken by Dasharatha to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhyā (palace, Kaikeyī+c s chamber)

Devanagari script

मम रामस्य लोकस्य गुरूणां भरतस्य च ॥२३॥

प्रियमेतद्गुरुश्रोणि कुरु चारुमुखेक्षणे

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.23

Transliteration

mama rāmasya lokasya gurūṇāṃ bharatasya ca ||23||

priyam etad guruśroṇi kuru cārumukhīkṣaṇe

Translation

गुरुश्रोणि चारुमुखेक्षणे, मम रामस्य लोकस्य गुरूणां भरतस्य च प्रियमेतत् कर्म कुरु॥

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Word by Word

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

• रामस्य: of Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• लोकस्य: of the people/world
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• गुरूणाम्: of the elders/preceptors
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• भरतस्य: of Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; coordinator)

• प्रियम्: pleasing/dear
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; एतत् इति विशेषण/विधेय
• Role: Karma (कर्म; object-complement)

• एतत्: this (act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• गुरु-श्रोणि: O heavy-hipped one
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रोणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• कुरु: do
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; addressed)

• चारु-मुख-ईक्षणे: O one with charming face and eyes
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-कर्मधारय (descriptive); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• प्रियमेतत् → प्रियम् एतत्
• एतद्गुरुश्रोणि → एतत् गुरुश्रोणि
• चारुमुखेक्षणे → चारु-मुख-ईक्षणे (compound in vocative)

Context

O lady with heavy hips, charming eyes and a beautiful face, do this favour to me, to Rama, to the world, to all the preceptors and to Bharata too.

The teaching

Dharma is tested by whether one can act for loka-hita beyond personal gain; elders and public welfare are invoked as standards.

Duties in tension

• Queen+c s personal agenda vs welfare of kingdom
• King+c s pledged boons vs counsel of elders and public stability

Ethical theme

Loka-dharma / nīti

How it resolves

Reasoned appeal to common good (unsuccessful here)

For your practice

Practice of widening intention from self-interest to collective welfare; supports seva-bhāva and ethical discernment.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Persuasive, earnest, public-minded

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Lokasangraha
• Ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• Bharata
• gurū (elders/teachers)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as loka-hita (public good): the right decision is what benefits the kingdom, honors elders, and preserves harmony among heirs.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha argues that letting Rāma take the throne is beneficial not only personally but socially and institutionally.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A king’s duty to consider the welfare of all stakeholders—people, teachers, and family—rather than private desire.