Valmiki Ramayana 2.19.12: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 12

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Devanagari script

सा हृष्टा तस्य तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा रामस्य कैकयी।प्रस्थानं श्रद्धधाना हि त्वरयामास राघवम्।।2.19.12।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.19.12

Transliteration

sā hṛṣṭā tasya tad vākyaṃ śrutvā rāmasya kaikayī |

prasthānaṃ śraddadhānā hi tvarayāmāsa rāghavam || 2.19.12 ||

Translation

रामस्य तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा कैकेयी हृष्टा। प्रस्थानं निश्चयेन श्रद्धधाना राघवं त्वरयामास॥

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Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हृष्टा: delighted
• हृष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘delighted’

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having heard’

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कैकयी: Kaikeyi
• कैकयी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikayī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रस्थानम्: departure
• प्रस्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रद्धधाना: believing; trusting
• श्रद्धधाना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धा + धा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present middle participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘having faith/believing’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/causal)

• त्वरयामास: hastened (him)
• त्वरयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्वर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) भावः ‘caused to hasten’

• राघवम्: Rama (Raghava)
• राघवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Kaikeyi, happy to hear the words of the son of the Raghus as she was convinced that his departure (to the forest) was certain, hastened him (to set out).

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts dharmic steadfastness (Rāma’s certainty) with ethically questionable urgency (Kaikeyī’s haste), highlighting how intent shapes moral quality even when actions appear 'procedural.'

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī, assured that Rāma will truly leave, presses him to depart quickly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s reliability (his word is trusted as certain), set against Kaikeyī’s determination to secure her goal.