Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.30 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 30

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

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

सत्यं दानं तपस्त्यागो मित्रता शौचमार्जवम्।विद्या च गुरुशुश्रूषा ध्रुवाण्येतानि राघवे।।।।

Transliteration

satyaṃ dānaṃ tapas tyāgo mitratā śaucam ārjavam |

vidyā ca guruśuśrūṣā dhruvāṇy etāni rāghave ||

Translation

సత్యం, దానం, తపస్సు, త్యాగం, మైత్రీ, శౌచం, ఆర్జవం; అలాగే విద్య మరియు గురువుల పట్ల భక్తితో శుశ్రూష—ఈ గుణములు రఘుకులశ్రేష్ఠుడైన శ్రీరామునందు ధృఢంగా స్థిరమై ఉన్నాయి।

Word by Word

• satyam: truth
• satyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (sg.)

• dānam: charity
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (sg.)

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (sg.)

• tyāgaḥ: renunciation
• tyāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tyāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (sg.)

• mitratā: friendliness
• mitratā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitratā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (sg.)

• śaucam: purity
• śaucam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (sg.)

• ārjavam: uprightness
• ārjavam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārjava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (sg.)

• vidyā: learning
• vidyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (sg.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• guru-śuśrūṣā: service to elders/teachers
• guru-śuśrūṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (sg.); tatpuruṣa: 'gurūṇāṃ śuśrūṣā'

• dhruvāṇi: firm, fixed
• dhruvāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Bahuvacana (pl.); predicate adjective

• etāni: these
• etāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Bahuvacana (pl.)

• rāghave: in/with regard to Raghava (Rama)
• rāghave: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/अधिकरण), Ekavacana (sg.)

Context

Truth, munificence, asceticism, renunciation, purity, uprightness, learning and service to his superiors all those (virtues) are firmly planted in this descendant of the Raghus.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Raghu (Rāghava lineage)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as a stable constellation of virtues—especially satya (truth), śauca (purity), and ārjava (uprightness)—that define Rāma’s character and rightful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha pleads with Kaikeyī, defending Rāma’s impeccable virtues while trying to avert the harm that her demands would cause.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s unwavering moral steadiness: his virtues are described as “dhruvāṇi” (firmly fixed), highlighting reliability in dharma.