Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.19 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजा कैकेयीं संयताञ्जलिः।।।।प्रसादयामास पुनः कैकेयीं चेदमब्रवीत्।

Transliteration

evam uktvā tato rājā kaikayīṃ saṃyatāñjaliḥ |

prasādayāmāsa punaḥ kaikayīṃ cedam abravīt |

Translation

ครั้นตรัสดังนี้แล้ว พระราชาทรงประนมพระหัตถ์ด้วยความสำรวม พยายามปลอบประโลมไกเกยีอีกครั้ง และตรัสถ้อยคำนี้แก่เธอ

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Ablatival/temporal adverb (ततः)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (राजन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kaikayīm: Kaikeyi
• kaikayīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃyata-añjaliḥ: with folded hands
• saṃyata-añjaliḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyata (यम् धातु, क्त) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘with restrained/folded hands’

• prasādayāmāsa: appeased; sought to please
• prasādayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + sad (सद् धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative: ‘caused to be pleased’

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय)

• kaikayīm: Kaikeyi
• kaikayīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• idam: this (speech)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• abravīt: said; spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

Context

Having said this, the king spoke again with folded hands to Kaikeyi in order to appease her:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Even amid anger, one may attempt conciliation to prevent greater harm; the verse shows a ruler trying to manage conflict through restraint rather than escalation.

What is the narrative situation?

After condemning Kaikeyī, Daśaratha shifts to pleading, approaching her with folded hands to soften her stance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control (saṃyama): despite humiliation and grief, Daśaratha attempts a measured, peace-seeking response.