Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 14

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma-based persuasion of Kausalyā

Devanagari script

बलमेष किमाश्रित्य हेतुं वापुरुषर्षभ।दातुमिच्छति कैकेय्यै राज्यं स्थितमिदं तव।।2.21.14।।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.14

Transliteration

balam eṣa kim āśritya hetuṃ vā puruṣarṣabha |

dātum icchati kaikeyyai rājyaṃ sthitam idaṃ tava ||2.21.14||

Translation

Hỡi bậc trượng phu tối thượng, nương vào sức mạnh nào—hay dựa vào lý do gì—mà nhà vua lại muốn trao cho Kaikeyī vương quốc vốn thuộc về quyền chính đáng của ngài?

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Word by Word

• balam: power/strength
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular)

• eṣaḥ: this man/he
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; sarvanāma (pronoun)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; interrogative pronoun

• āśritya: having resorted to
• āśritya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (क्त्वान्त) absolutive/gerund; ‘having resorted to’

• hetum: reason/cause
• hetum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय) conjunction ‘or’

• puruṣarṣabha: O best of men
• puruṣarṣabha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana vibhakti (vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa ‘men’s bull’

• dātum: to give
• dātum: Prayojana/Anukriyā (प्रयोजन/अनुक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Tumunanta (तुमुनन्त) infinitive; ‘to give’

• icchati: wishes/desires
• icchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• kaikeyyai: to Kaikeyi
• kaikeyyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Caturthī vibhakti (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• sthitam: established/standing (as yours)
• sthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √sthā धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past passive participle; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with rājyam

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun; agrees with rājyam

• tava: your
• tava: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; pronoun

Context

What authority, O Rama, chastiser of foes, this king has to bestow the kingdom upon Bharata by entering into undesirable hostility towards you and me?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha (the king)
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

It questions legitimacy and rightful succession: dharma in kingship requires decisions grounded in justice and established right, not arbitrary transfer under improper influence.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa challenges the rationale behind Daśaratha’s decision to redirect the kingdom’s succession under Kaikeyī’s demand.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage to question authority and defend what is perceived as rightful order—paired with intense protectiveness toward Rāma.