Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.107: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 107

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

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

विनाशकामामहिताममित्रामावासयं मृत्युमिवात्मनस्त्वाम्।चिरं बताङ्केन धृतासि सर्पी महाविषा तेन हतोऽस्मि मोहात्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.12.107

Transliteration

vināśakāmām ahitām amitrām āvāsayaṃ mṛtyum ivātmanaḥ tvām |

ciraṃ batāṅkena dhṛtāsi sarpī mahāviṣā tena hato ’smi mohāt ||

Translation

โอ้เจ้า ผู้ปรารถนาความพินาศของเรา—ผู้เป็นภัยดุจศัตรู—เรากลับรับเจ้าไว้ราวกับรับความตายของตนเอง. อนิจจา! เนิ่นนานเรากอดไว้บนตักดุจงูเพศเมียพิษร้ายยิ่ง และด้วยความหลงนั้นเราจึงพินาศ

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Word by Word

• विनाशकामाम्: wishing destruction
• विनाशकामाम्: कर्म (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनाश + काम (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; (विनाशस्य कामा इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) — feminine accusative singular

• अहिताम्: harmful; wishing harm
• अहिताम्: कर्म (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — feminine accusative singular

• अमित्राम्: an enemy (as one)
• अमित्राम्: कर्म (उपमान/विशेष्यभावः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — feminine accusative singular

• आवासयम्: I sheltered / kept (you)
• आवासयम्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वस् (धातुः) [णिच्]
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (अनद्यतनभूतकालः), उत्तम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; णिजन्त-रूपम् — imperfect, 1st person singular, causative: “I caused to dwell / sheltered”

• मृत्युम्: death
• मृत्युम्: कर्म (उपमानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — masculine accusative singular

• इव: like; as
• इव: सम्बन्ध (उपमा-सूचकः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्ययम्)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम् (particle of comparison) — indeclinable

• आत्मनः: of myself
• आत्मनः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — masculine genitive singular

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — accusative singular (2nd person pronoun)

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: अधिकरण (कालाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्ययम्)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of time) — indeclinable

• बत: alas; indeed
• बत: सम्बन्ध (भावसूचकः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बत (अव्ययम्)
• Form: निपातः (exclamatory particle) — indeclinable

• अङ्केन: on/with the lap
• अङ्केन: करण
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्क (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — masculine instrumental singular

• धृता: carried/held
• धृता: कर्म (कर्मणि-प्रयोगे कर्तृस्थानीया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातुः) → धृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययः), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — past passive participle, feminine nominative singular

• असि: you are
• असि: क्रिया (सहायकक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातुः)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमानकालः), मध्यम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् — present, 2nd person singular: “you are”

• सर्पी: female snake
• सर्पी: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पी (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — feminine nominative singular

• महाविषा: highly venomous
• महाविषा: कर्ता (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + विष (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; (महद् विषं यस्याः/यस्या इति) — feminine nominative singular

• तेन: therefore; by that
• तेन: हेतु/करण (कारणार्थे तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — instrumental singular: “therefore/by that”

• हतः: ruined/struck down
• हतः: कर्ता (अहं-सम्बन्धी विधेयः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातुः) → हत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययः), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — past passive participle, masculine nominative singular

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: क्रिया (सहायकक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातुः)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमानकालः), उत्तम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् — present, 1st person singular: “I am”

• मोहात्: from delusion; due to delusion
• मोहात्: हेतु (पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — masculine ablative singular (cause/source)

Context

With Rama and Lakshmana withdrawn from me, my kinsmen killed, let Bharata along with you rule the city and the kingdom causing delight to my enemies.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

It warns against misplaced trust and the ethical catastrophe of betrayal within protected relationships (śaraṇāgata-saṃrakṣaṇa versus treachery).

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha condemns Kaikeyī’s demand as lethal betrayal, likening her to death and a venomous serpent he mistakenly nurtured.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s earlier protective, shelter-giving nature is implied—contrasted with Kaikeyī’s perceived treachery.