Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 4

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

Setting: Ayodhyā palace (Kaikeyī’s apartments/inner chamber)

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु कैकेय्या राजा दशरथस्तदा ।

प्रत्युवाच ततः क्रुद्धो मुहूर्तं विह्वलन्निव ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.4

Transliteration

evam uktas tu kaikeyyā rājā daśarathas tadā |

pratyuvāca tataḥ kruddho muhūrtaṃ vihvalann iva ||4||

Translation

కైకేయి ఇలా పలికినప్పుడు రాజు దశరథుడు అప్పుడు కోపంతో, క్షణమాత్రం గందరగోళంగా తడబడినవాడిలా, ప్రత్యుత్తరం పలికాడు.

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Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb), अव्यय
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)

• उक्तः: addressed; spoken to
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘having been spoken to’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject: rājā)

• तु: but; then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; contrast/continuation
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)

• कैकेय्या: by Kaikeyi
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument: by Kaikeyi)

• राजा: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• दशरथः: Dasaratha
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)
• Role: Kāla (काल/Time)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)

• ततः: thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थे (thereafter/from that)
• Role: Kāla (काल/Sequence)

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; कालावधि-अर्थे (duration)
• Role: Kāla-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Duration)

• विह्वलन्: being bewildered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ह्वल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक (comparative particle)
• Role: Upamā (उपमा/Simile marker)

Sandhi Notes

• एवमुक्तस्तु = एवम् + उक्तः + तु
• दशरथस्तदा = दशरथः + तदा (visarga sandhi: ḥ + t → s t)

Context

Thus addressed by Kaikeyi, king Dasaratha flew into a temper for a while, and then as if in a state of delirium, replied:

The teaching

Even the powerful are vulnerable to inner upheaval; dharmic action requires steadiness, which can be shattered by attachment and anger.

Duties in tension

• Kingly restraint and measured speech
• Personal grief and paternal attachment
• Obligation to honor pledged boons

Ethical theme

Emotional regulation as prerequisite for righteous governance

For your practice

Practice of kṣamā (forbearance) and mindfulness before speech; observe how krodha destabilizes truth and duty.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Bewildered, seething, unsteady

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Emotional conflict

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The verse shows dharma under strain: even a righteous king can be shaken when forced to choose between vow-truth and paternal duty.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kaikeyī’s pointed reminder about truth and vows, Daśaratha reacts with anger and disorientation and begins to respond.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Human realism within dharma: a virtuous person may momentarily falter emotionally while still being bound to righteousness.