Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.24 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 24

द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

रोचयस्यभिरामस्य रामस्य शुभलोचने।तव शुश्रूषमाणस्य किमर्थं विप्रवासनम्।।।।

Transliteration

rocayasy abhirāmasya rāmasya śubhalocane | tava śuśrūṣamāṇasya kimarthaṃ vipravāsanam ||

Translation

హే శుభలోచనే! నీ సేవలో నిత్యం నిమగ్నుడైన ఆ మనోహర రాముని బహిష్కరణను నీవెందుకు కోరుతున్నావు?

Word by Word

• रोचयसि: you desire/approve
• रोचयसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruc (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अभिरामस्य: of the charming one
• अभिरामस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhirāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

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

• शुभलोचने: O beautiful-eyed one
• शुभलोचने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha-locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समास: शुभ + लोचन (कर्मधारय)

• तव: of you/for you
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• शुश्रूषमाणस्य: of (him) who is eager to serve
• शुश्रूषमाणस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuśrūṣ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ-प्रत्यय), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘serving/desiring to serve’

• किमर्थम्: for what reason/why
• किमर्थम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim-artha (अव्ययीभाव-समास)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय; अव्ययीभाव: किम् + अर्थम्

• विप्रवासनम्: banishment/exile
• विप्रवासनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipravāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समास: विप्र + वासन (तत्पुरुष)

Context

O woman with attractive eyes, why do you want Rama who is so charming and serving you to be exiled to a distant place?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Exile (vipravāsa)

FAQs

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

Dharma condemns ingratitude: harming one who serves faithfully violates moral reciprocity and household ethics.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha appeals to Kaikeyī’s conscience, pointing out that Rāma has been attentive and dutiful toward her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s service-mindedness and filial/household devotion (śuśrūṣā) are emphasized.