Valmiki Ramayana 2.14.11 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 11

सत्यपाशः

Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise

Devanagari script

एवं प्रचोदितो राजा कैकेय्या निर्विशङ्कया।नाशकत्पाशमुन्मोक्तुं बलिरिन्द्रकृतं यथा।।।।

Transliteration

evaṃ pracodito rājā kaikeyyā nirviśaṅkayā | nāśakat pāśam unmoktuṃ balir indrākṛtaṃ yathā ||

Translation

یوں بے جھجک کیکئی کے اصرار سے مجبور ہو کر راجا اپنے وعدے کی رسی سے چھٹکارا نہ پا سکا—جیسے اندَر کے بنائے ہوئے پھندے میں بندھا بَلی۔

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• प्रचोदितः: urged/impelled
• प्रचोदितः: Karta (कर्ता—qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + चुद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्रेरित’ (qualifies राजा)

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कैकेय्या: by Kaikeyi
• कैकेय्या: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• निर्विशङ्कया: without hesitation/fear
• निर्विशङ्कया: Karana (करण—qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्विशङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies कैकेय्या)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध

• अशकत्: was able
• अशकत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पाशम्: noose/bond (pledge)
• पाशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उन्मोक्तुम्: to release
• उन्मोक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘मोक्तुं’

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इन्द्रकृतम्: made by Indra
• इन्द्रकृतम्: Karma (कर्म—qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: इन्द्रेण कृतम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies पाशम् understood)

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

Context

In this way urged by Kaikeyi without fear or hesitation, he (Dasaratha), like Bali unable to release himself from the noose cast by Indra (through Vamana), could not get out of the noose of promise.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Bali
• Indra

FAQs

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

Satya as binding force: once a promise is given, it becomes a moral bond; the verse also warns how dharma can be exploited when vows are extracted or used strategically.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha realizes he cannot escape the obligation created by his earlier boon to Kaikeyī.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s truthfulness and vow-keeping, portrayed as an unbreakable ‘noose’ even when personally devastating.