Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.77 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 77

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

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

अनृतैर्बहु मां सान्त्वै स्सान्त्वयन्ती स्म भाषसे।गीतशब्देन संरुध्य लुब्धो मृगमिवावधीः।।।।

Transliteration

anṛtair bahu māṁ sāntvaiḥ sāntvayantī sma bhāṣase | gītaśabdena saṁrudhya lubdho mṛgam ivāvadhīḥ ||

Translation

ด้วยถ้อยคำปลอบประโลมมากมายแต่กลับเป็นเท็จ พระนางเคยกล่าวเพื่อให้ข้าพเจ้าสงบ; แล้ว—ดุจนายพรานล่อกวางด้วยเสียงเพลงแล้วสังหาร—พระนางก็ได้ทำลายข้าพเจ้าลง

Word by Word

• अनृतैः: with untruths
• अनृतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; साधनम् (by means of untruths)

• बहु: much / greatly
• बहु: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial use); परिमाणवाचक (greatly/much)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• सान्त्वैः: with soothing words
• सान्त्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; साधनम् (with consoling/pleasing words)

• सान्त्वयन्ती: consoling (you)
• सान्त्वयन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सान्त्व्/सान्त्वय् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (while consoling)

• स्म: indeed / used to
• स्म: Kriya-nipata (क्रिया-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: भूतार्थ-सूचक-अव्यय; लट्/लङ्-समर्थक (used to/indeed)

• भाषसे: you speak
• भाषसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• गीतशब्देन: with the sound of song
• गीतशब्देन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गीतस्य शब्दः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; साधनम्

• संरुध्य: having trapped
• संरुध्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having trapped/blocked)

• लुब्धः: a hunter
• लुब्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लुब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-कर्ता (hunter)

• मृगम्: a deer
• मृगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय

• अवधीः: you killed
• अवधीः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Perfective past), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

You used to console me with so many words pleasing but untrue and you killed me like a hunter getting the deer trapped and slaughtered through the melody of music.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

It condemns anṛta (falsehood) disguised as kindness: speech that appears gentle but is untrue violates satya and harms dharmic trust.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha accuses Kaikeyī of having long manipulated him with pleasing words, culminating in demands that devastate him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya in vāṇī (truthful speech) is emphasized by contrast; the verse shows how unethical persuasion can destroy relationships.