Valmiki Ramayana 2.38.11 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 11

अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः

Sita in Bark Garments; Public Outcry and Dasaratha’s Lament

Devanagari script

प्रतिज्ञातं मया तावत् त्वयोक्तं देवि शृण्वता।रामं यदभिषेकाय त्वमिहागतमब्रवीः।।।।

Transliteration

pratijñātaṃ mayā tāvat tvayoktaṃ devi śṛṇvatā | rāmaṃ yad abhiṣekāya tvam ihāgatam abravīḥ || 2.38.11 ||

Translation

ข้าแต่เทวีพระมเหสี ข้าพเจ้าได้ให้สัตย์ไว้เพียงเท่าที่ได้ยินจากถ้อยคำของพระนาง เมื่อพระรามเสด็จมาที่นี่เพื่อพิธีอภิเษก และพระนางตรัสเช่นนั้นแก่พระองค์

Word by Word

• प्रतिज्ञातम्: promised
• प्रतिज्ञातम्: क्रिया-विशेष (verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; PPP 'promised' (impersonal: 'it was promised')

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• तावत्: to that extent
• तावत्: क्रिया-विशेषण (adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/सीमावाचक-अव्यय (to that extent/so much)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: करण/कर्ता (agent of saying)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• उक्तम्: what was said
• उक्तम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; PPP 'said'

• देवि: O lady/queen
• देवि: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शृण्वता: while (I was) listening
• शृण्वता: क्रिया-विशेषण (circumstantial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; present active participle 'while hearing' (agreeing with implied 'mayā')

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• यत्: that which
• यत्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun linking clause

• अभिषेकाय: for consecration
• अभिषेकाय: सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन (purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; Dative singular (purpose)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• इह: here
• इह: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• आगतम्: having come
• आगतम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; PPP used as object-complement with 'abruvīḥ': 'having come'

• अब्रवीः: you said/spoke
• अब्रवीः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; 2nd sg past 'you said'

Context

I have heard you, O Devi! speaking to Rama when he came here in connection withthe coronation. I promised you to that extent only.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• abhiṣeka (coronation)

FAQs

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

Satya bound to speech: Daśaratha frames his obligation as limited to the exact scope of what was heard and promised, underscoring precision and accountability in vows.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha argues with Kaikeyī about the extent of his promise, recalling her earlier words spoken to Rāma at the time of coronation preparations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to one’s word, alongside a struggle to limit harm within the constraints of a vow.