Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 1

अष्टादशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

स ददर्शासने रामो निषण्णं पितरं शुभे।कैकेयीसहितं दीनं मुखेन परिशुष्यता।।।।

Transliteration

sa dadarśāsane rāmo niṣaṇṇaṃ pitaraṃ śubhe |

kaikeyīsahitaṃ dīnaṃ mukhena pariśuṣyatā ||

Translation

ณ ที่นั้น พระรามทอดพระเนตรเห็นพระบิดาประทับนั่งบนแท่นบรรทมอันเป็นมงคล มีพระนางไกเกยีประทับอยู่เคียงข้าง ส่วนพระราชาทรงหม่นหมองยิ่ง พระพักตร์ซีดเผือดแห้งผากด้วยความทุกข์

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आसने: on the seat/couch
• आसने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: कर्ता (Karta; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सः इत्यस्य विशेष्य/अप्पोजिशन्

• निषण्णम्: seated/reclining
• निषण्णम्: कर्म (Karma; with पितरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि+सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पितरम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; with आसने)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; आसने इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कैकेयीसहितम्: together with Kaikeyi
• कैकेयीसहितम्: कर्म (Karma; with पितरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कैकेयी + सहित (प्रातिपदिक; √सह्)
• Form: तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (instrumental tatpuruṣa): कैकेय्या सहितम्; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पितरम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दीनम्: wretched
• दीनम्: कर्म (Karma; with पितरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पितरम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मुखेन: with (his) face
• मुखेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• परिशुष्यता: drying/paling
• परिशुष्यता: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa; descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि+शुष् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle); तृतीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग/भावे; मुखेन सह ‘with a drying/pale (face)’

Context

Rama beheld his father reclined on an auspicious couch and by his side was seated Kaikeyi. He looked wretched with a pale face.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Dharma of attentive filial responsibility: the scene sets the moral tension where truth, vows, and duty within the family will soon be tested.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma enters and notices that Daśaratha, with Kaikeyī nearby, appears deeply distressed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s alertness and concern for his father, preparing the ground for his later commitment to satya and obedience.