Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

त्वं कत्थसे महाराज सत्यवादी दृढव्रतः।मम चेमं वरं कस्माद्विधारयितुमिच्छसि।।।।

Transliteration

tvaṃ katthase mahārāja satyavādī dṛḍha-vrataḥ | mama cemaṃ varaṃ kasmād vidhārayitum icchasi ||

Translation

Ikaw, O dakilang hari, ay nagmamalaki na ikaw ay tapat sa katotohanan at matibay sa panata; bakit ngayon ibig mong iwasan ang pagbibigay sa akin ng biyayang ito?

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुषार्थे (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन

• कत्थसे: boast
• कत्थसे: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कत्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present, लट्-लकार), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: महान् राजा

• सत्यवादी: truth-speaking
• सत्यवादी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य-वाडिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: सत्यं वदति इति

• दृढव्रतः: steadfast in vow
• दृढव्रतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: दृढं व्रतं यस्य

• मम: my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction), अव्यय

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• वरम्: boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कस्मात्: why; for what reason
• कस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन; हेतौ (in sense of reason: why)

• विधारयितुम्: to avoid; to withhold
• विधारयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to hold back/avoid/withhold’

• इच्छसि: you wish
• इच्छसि: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

O great king! you used to boast that you always speak the truth and are steadfast in your vows. Why are you now seeking to avoid granting me this boon?

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• vara (boon)
• satya (truth)
• vrata (vow)

FAQs

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

Satya as dharma is invoked as binding: a vow publicly claimed must be honored, and moral identity is tested when fulfillment is painful.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī challenges Daśaratha, reminding him of his reputation for truth and insisting he grant her promised boon.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The ideal of satyavāditva (truth-speaking) and dṛḍha-vrata (steadfastness in vows), though used here as pressure.