Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

मम रामस्य लोकस्य गुरूणां भरतस्य च।।।।प्रियमेतद्गुरुश्रोणि कुरु चारुमुखेक्षणे

Transliteration

mama rāmasya lokasya gurūṇāṃ bharatasya ca | priyam etad guruśroṇi kuru cārumukhīkṣaṇe ||

Translation

హే గురుశ్రోణి, హే చారుముఖేక్షణే రాణీ! నా కొరకు, రాముని కొరకు, ప్రజల కొరకు, గురువుల కొరకు మరియు భరతుని కొరకు కూడా—ఈ ప్రియకార్యాన్ని చేయుము.

Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.