Valmiki Ramayana 2.19.20 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 20

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Devanagari script

नाहमर्थपरो देवि लोकमावस्तुमुत्सहे।विद्धिमामृषिभिस्तुल्यं केवलं धर्ममास्थितम्।।2.19.20।।

Transliteration

nāham arthaparo devi lokam āvastum utsahe | viddhi mām ṛṣibhis tulyaṃ kevalaṃ dharmam āsthitam ||2.19.20||

Translation

ข้าแต่เทวี เรามิได้มุ่งอยู่ในโลกนี้เพื่อทรัพย์สิน จงทราบเถิดว่าเราดุจฤๅษีทั้งหลาย ผู้ตั้งมั่นอยู่แต่ในธรรมเท่านั้น

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine/Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• artha-paraḥ: intent on gain
• artha-paraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'devoted to wealth/advantage' qualifying aham

• devi: O lady
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• lokam: the world (life in the world)
• lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āvastum: to dwell
• āvastum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-vas (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), indeclinable; purpose

• utsahe: I am able/venture
• utsahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-sah (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Ātmanepada, 1st Person (उत्तम-पुरुष), Singular

• viddhi: know
• viddhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative/लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person (मध्यम-पुरुष), Singular

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ṛṣibhiḥ: with sages
• ṛṣibhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• tulyam: equal
• tulyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; predicative adjective to mām (understood: mām ... tulyam)

• kevalam: only
• kevalam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial use (क्रियाविशेषण)

• dharmam: dharma; righteousness
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āsthitam: having adhered to
• āsthitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agreeing with mām (understood) / predicative: 'one who has resorted to'

Context

O Devi, I have no desire to live in this world for the sake of wealth. Know me as one with the sages who are devoted only to righteousness.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī
• ṛṣis (sages)
• dharma
• artha (wealth)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld as the primary aim of life, surpassing artha (wealth) and worldly advantage.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma responds to Kaikeyī’s demands by clarifying that he is not motivated by power or wealth and will accept exile as dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Detachment from material gain and unwavering commitment to righteous conduct.