Valmiki Ramayana 2.42.21: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 21

द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः · दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः

Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments

Devanagari script

सकामा भव कैकेयि विधवा राज्यमावस ।

न हि तं पुरुषव्याघ्रं विना जीवितुमुत्सहे ॥२१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.42.21

Transliteration

sakāmā bhava kaikeyi vidhavā rājyam āvasa |

na hi taṃ puruṣavyāghraṃ vinā jīvitum utsahe ||21||

Translation

“ไกเกยีเอ๋ย ขอให้ความปรารถนาของเจ้าสำเร็จเถิด—จงครองราชย์ดุจหญิงหม้าย เพราะหากปราศจากพระราม ผู้เป็นพยัคฆ์แห่งบุรุษ ข้าย่อมไม่อาจทนมีชีวิตอยู่ได้”

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Word by Word

• सकामा: with desires fulfilled
• सकामा: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन-प्रयोगः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (addressed to Kaikeyi)

• भव: be
• भव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्

• कैकेयि: O Kaikeyi
• कैकेयि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम्

• विधवा: a widow
• विधवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विधेय-भावः (as a widow)

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• आवस: dwell/inhabit
• आवस: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-वास् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः, परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• न: not
• न: Modifier (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negation)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Modifier (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (emphatic particle)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• पुरुषव्याघ्रम्: tiger among men
• पुरुषव्याघ्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष-व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषाणां व्याघ्रः = tiger among men)

• विना: without
• विना: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक/वियोगार्थक-अव्ययम्; द्वितीयासह (with accusative)

• जीवितुम्: to live
• जीवितुम्: Prayojana/Anukriya (प्रयोजन/अनुक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive (भावे), ‘to live’

• उत्सहे: I am able/dare
• उत्सहे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-सह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम्; न-निषेधेन ‘I do not dare’

Context

O Kaikeyi, your desire is fulfilled. Rule the kingdom as a widow. Without Rama, the best of men, I don't desire to live.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the destructive ethical cost of desire-driven choices: when personal craving overrides dharma (right order and compassion), it fractures family and polity, leading to suffering for all.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kaikeyī’s demands lead to Rāma’s exile, Daśaratha, overwhelmed, speaks bitterly to Kaikeyī, declaring he cannot live without Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s excellence is implied through the epithet “puruṣavyāghra” (best among men), while Daśaratha’s deep paternal attachment and emotional honesty are foregrounded.