Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.23 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 23

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

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

अत्यन्तसुकुमारस्य तस्य धर्मे धृतात्मनः।कथं रोचयसे वासमरण्ये भृशदारुणे।।।।

Transliteration

atyantasukumārasya tasya dharme dhṛtātmanaḥ | kathaṃ rocayase vāsam araṇye bhṛśadāruṇe ||

Translation

ผู้ซึ่งอ่อนละมุนยิ่งนัก และทรงมั่นคงในธรรม ไฉนท่านจึงปรารถนาให้ประทับอยู่ในป่าอันโหดร้ายยิ่งนัก

Word by Word

• अत्यन्तसुकुमारस्य: of the exceedingly delicate one
• अत्यन्तसुकुमारस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atyanta-sukumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; समास: अत्यन्त + सुकुमार (कर्मधारय)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• धर्मे: in virtue/dharma
• धर्मे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• धृतात्मनः: of the firm-minded one
• धृतात्मनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛtātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; बहुव्रीहि: धृतः आत्मा यस्य (one whose self is firm)

• कथम्: how/why
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय

• रोचयसे: you approve/like
• रोचयसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruc (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• वासम्: dwelling
• वासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• अरण्ये: in the forest
• अरण्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• भृशदारुणे: in the very dreadful (place)
• भृशदारुणे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛśa-dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समास: भृश + दारुण (कर्मधारय)

Context

Why do you want Rama who is so tender and a firm follower of dharma to dwell in the highly dreadful forest?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Forest (araṇya)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes protecting the deserving and not subjecting the virtuous to disproportionate hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha argues against the cruelty of exile by emphasizing Rāma’s gentleness and disciplined devotion to dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s self-mastery and steadfastness in virtue (dhṛtātman; dharme) are highlighted.