Shloka 23

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

स सत्यवचनाद्राजा धर्मपाशेन संयत: ।विवासयामास सुतं रामं दशरथ: प्रियम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sa satyavacanād rājā dharmapāśena saṃyataḥ | vivāsayāmāsa sutaṃ rāmaṃ daśarathaḥ priyam ||

Translation

Si Haring Daśaratha, tapat sa kanyang salita at napipigil ng tali ng dharma, ay ipinatapon sa pagkatapon ang minamahal niyang anak na si Rāma.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular)

• सत्य-वचनात्: because of (his) truthful word
• सत्य-वचनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: सत्यं वचनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान-हेतु), एकवचन

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धर्म-पाशेन: by the bond of duty
• धर्म-पाशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: धर्मस्य पाशः; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• संयतः: restrained
• संयतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + यम् (धातु) → संयत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of राजा)

• विवासयामास: sent into exile
• विवासयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + वस् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘caused to dwell away’

• सुतम्: son
• सुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• दशरथः: Dasaratha
• दशरथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• प्रियम्: beloved
• प्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of सुतम्/रामम्)

Context

Thereafter, having seen the preparations for installation of Rama, queen Kaikeyi who had been promised earlier with boons by Dasaratha demanded of him the exile of Rama and enthronement of Bharata.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Satya (truth)

FAQs

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

Satya as dharma: a ruler is bound to keep his pledged word, even when it brings personal suffering and public upheaval.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kaikeyī’s demand, Daśaratha—bound by his promise—orders Rāma’s exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s adherence to truth and duty (even as it becomes a painful constraint).