Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 13

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Devanagari script

कैकेय्यां मुक्तलज्जायां वदन्त्यामतिदारुणाम्।राजा दशरथो वाक्यमुवाचायतलोचनाम्।।।।

Transliteration

kaikeyyāṃ muktalajjāyāṃ vadantyām atidāruṇām | rājā daśaratho vākyam uvāca āyatalocanām || 2.36.13 ||

Translation

Habang si Kaikeyī—itinapon ang hiya—ay nagsasalita ng lubhang malulupit na salita, sumagot si Haring Daśaratha sa reyna na may malalaking mata.

Word by Word

• kaikeyyām: when Kaikeyi
• kaikeyyām: Kāla (काल) / Sati-saptamī (सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular; in locative absolute

• mukta-lajjāyām: (being) shameless
• mukta-lajjāyām: Kāla (काल) / Sati-saptamī (सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + lajjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular; qualifying kaikeyyām in locative absolute; 'having cast off shame'

• vadantyām: while speaking
• vadantyām: Kāla (काल) / Sati-saptamī (सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle/शतृ) Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular; with kaikeyyām (locative absolute)

• ati-dāruṇām: very cruel (words)
• ati-dāruṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; adjective of vākyam (understood) or of speech; 'very cruel'

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular

• daśarathaḥ: Dasaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; apposition to rājā

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• uvāca: said/spoke
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) perfect; Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person) Singular

• āyata-locanām: to the large-eyed woman
• āyata-locanām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyata (प्रातिपदिक) + locanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; object of uvāca (addressed person)

Context

King Dasaratha heard the terribly cruel and shameless words of that large-eyed Kaikeyi, and said:

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

It contrasts shameless, cruel speech with the expected moral restraint of royal household members—suggesting that adharma often begins with abandonment of modesty and compassion.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration marks a turning point: Kaikeyī’s harsh stance becomes explicit, prompting Daśaratha’s reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrastive framing, the verse underscores the value of lajja (moral shame/modesty) as a guardrail for ethical conduct.