Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.67 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 67

द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

किं मां वक्ष्यति कौशल्या राघवे वनमास्थिते।।।।किं चैनां प्रतिवक्ष्यामि कृत्वा विप्रियमीदृशम्।

Transliteration

kiṃ māṃ vakṣyati kauśalyā rāghave vanam āsthite?

kiṃ caināṃ prativakṣyāmi kṛtvā vipriyam īdṛśam?

Translation

اگر راگھو جنگل میں جا بسے تو کوشلیا مجھے کیا کہے گی؟ اور ایسا سخت ظلم کر کے میں اسے کیا جواب دے سکوں گا؟

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; interrogative ‘what’ (here: what?)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular ‘me/about me’

• वक्ष्यति: will say
• वक्ष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Future ‘will say’

• कौशल्या: Kausalya
• कौशल्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• राघवे: when Rama
• राघवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular ‘when/with regard to Rama’

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• आस्थिते: having gone/entered
• आस्थिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative absolute with राघवे: ‘when Rama has gone/entered’

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; interrogative

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एनाम्: to her
• एनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular ‘her’

• प्रतिवक्ष्यामि: will reply
• प्रतिवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; Future ‘I will reply’

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप (gerund); ‘having done’

• विप्रियम्: an unpleasant act
• विप्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular ‘an unpleasant thing’

• ईदृशम्: such
• ईदृशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with विप्रियम्

Context

If Rama takes refuge in the forest, what will Kausalya say to me? Having committed such an unpleasant act, what reply can I give her?

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Rāghava (Rāma)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds accountability in dharma: a king and husband must answer to those harmed by his decisions. Daśaratha recognizes that causing Rāma’s exile violates familial and royal responsibility, and that wrongdoing demands moral reckoning.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, bound by Kaikeyī’s demanded boons, foresees Rāma being sent to the forest and laments the inevitable confrontation with Kauśalyā, Rāma’s mother.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Conscience and moral sensitivity: Daśaratha’s inner anguish shows an awareness of right and wrong and the shame of failing those who deserve protection.