Shloka 15

अष्टादशः सर्गः

Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration

Devanagari script

अतोषयन्महाराजमकुर्वन्वा पितुर्वचः।मुहूर्तमपि नेच्छेयं जीवितुं कुपिते नृपे।।।।

Transliteration

atoṣayan mahārājam akurvan vā pitur vacaḥ | muhūrtam api neccheyaṃ jīvituṃ kupite nṛpe ||

Translation

నేను ఎప్పుడైనా మహారాజైన నా తండ్రిని అసంతుష్టుడిని చేశానా, లేదా తండ్రి ఆజ్ఞను పాటించలేదా, దాంతో రాజు కోపించాడయితే, నేను క్షణమాత్రమైనా జీవించదలచుకోను।

Word by Word

अतोषयन्(I) displeasing

महाराजम्the great king

अकुर्वन्not doing (disobeying)

वाor

पितुःof (my) father

वचःcommand/word

मुहूर्तम्a moment

अपिeven

नnot

इच्छेयम्would wish

जीवितुम्to live

कुपितेwhen (he is) angry

नृपेwhen the king (is)

Context

If I have (ever) displeased the maharaja, my father or disobeyed his command which has angered him, I do not wish to live for a moment৷৷

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Kaikeyī

Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Pitṛ-śuśrūṣā (devotion/obedience to one’s father) is treated as central dharma; Rāma values alignment with his father’s will over his own life.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma expresses anguish that he may have angered Daśaratha by disobedience, and declares he cannot bear living under his father’s displeasure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tyāga (self-sacrifice) and niṣṭhā (steadfastness) in duty.