Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 18

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

Spoken by DasharathaSetting: Ayodhyā (royal inner apartments)

Devanagari script

अथवा गम्यतां शीघ्रं नाहमिच्छामि निर्घृणाम् ॥१८॥

नृशंसां कैकयीं द्रष्टुं यत्कृते व्यसनं महत् ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.18

Transliteration

athavā gamyatāṃ śīghraṃ nāham icchāmi nirghṛṇām ||18||

nṛśaṃsāṃ kaikayīṃ draṣṭuṃ yatkṛte vyasanaṃ mahat |

Translation

அல்லது இது விரைவில் முடிவடையட்டும்—இந்தப் பெரும் பேரிடர் ஏற்பட்டதற்குக் காரணமான அந்தக் கருணையற்ற, கொடிய கைகேயியை நான் காண விரும்பவில்லை।

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Word by Word

• athavā: or else
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: Alternative particle (विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय)
• Role: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (विकल्प)

• gamyatām: let it be gone; let (someone) go
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Imperative passive (लोट्, कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• śīghram: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (शीघ्र-क्रियाविशेषणवत्)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Role: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• icchāmi: desire
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• nirghṛṇām: merciless
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirghṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with kaikayīm
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• nṛśaṃsām: cruel
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛśaṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with kaikayīm
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• kaikayīm: Kaikeyi
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• draṣṭum: to see
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)

• yat-kṛte: for whose sake
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम) + kṛta (कृ धातु, क्त)
• Form: Ablatival relative compound used adverbially: ‘for whose sake’ (यस्य कृते)
• Role: Hetu (हेतु)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• vyasanam: calamity; misfortune
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyasana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• mahat: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (महत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with vyasanam
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• nāhamicchāmi = na + aham + icchāmi
• yatkṛte is lexicalized (yasya kṛte)

Context

'Or, pass off quickly. I do not want to see this merciless, malicious Kaikeyi who is thecause of this great misfortune'.

The teaching

When adharma is perceived within intimate bonds, the righteous may recoil; yet duty still demands measured action rather than mere rejection.

Duties in tension

• Rāja-dharma (upholding truth/boons and succession order)
• GƵhastha-dharma (marital harmony and respect)
• PitƵ-dharma (protecting Rāma)

Ethical theme

Conflict of duties / governance ethics

For your practice

Cultivates vairāgya toward manipulative speech and steadiness amid grief; prompts reflection on anger as a secondary wave within sorrow.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Raudra (fury)

Mood

Bitter grief, revulsion, helpless anger

Themes

• Ethics
• Condemnation of adharma
• Grief
• Moral revulsion
• Family conflict

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Adharma is marked by lack of compassion (dayā). The king’s revulsion underscores that cruelty and manipulation within family and kingship are morally ruinous.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, unable to bear the sight of Kaikeyī, wishes time would hurry on so he need not face her, whom he blames for the catastrophe.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral sensitivity—Daśaratha’s distress is not only personal loss but a reaction to perceived cruelty and injustice.