Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 13

राज्ञः शङ्का

प्रत्याख्यानम् (Daśaratha’s Objections to Sending Rāma) — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20

Devanagari script

कथं च प्रतिकर्तव्यं तेषां रामेण रक्षसाम्।।।।मामकैर्वा बलैर्ब्रह्मन्मया वा कूटयोधिनाम्।3

Transliteration

kathaṃ ca pratikartavyaṃ teṣāṃ rāmeṇa rakṣasām |

māmakair vā balair brahman mayā vā kūṭa-yodhinām ||1.20.13||

Translation

Bạch Bà-la-môn, việc đối trị và trừng phạt bọn rākṣasa—những kẻ chiến đấu gian trá ấy—nên do Rāma thực hiện, hay do quân lực của trẫm, hay chính trẫm đích thân?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रतिकर्तव्यम्: should be retaliated / what is to be done in return
• प्रतिकर्तव्यम्: Vidheyabhāva (विधेय/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati√kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); विधेय-भाव (obligation: “should be done/retaliated”)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (plural)

• रामेण: by/with Rama
• रामेण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन

• रक्षसाम्: of the rākṣasas
• रक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective usage), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• मामकैः: with my (own)
• मामकैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘बलैः’ इति विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (agreeing with balaiḥ)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• बलैः: with forces
• बलैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अस्मद्-सर्वनाम; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• कूटयोधिनाम्: of the treacherous warriors
• कूटयोधिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + yodhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): कूटेन योधिनः = ‘deceitful fighters’

Context

O brahman, how to rebuff those deceitful warriors either through Rama or through my army or through me?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Kṣātra-dharma must be exercised with discernment: Daśaratha asks what proportionate and proper response is justified against deceitful aggressors.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha seeks a practical plan—whether Rāma alone should act, or the king/army should intervene—to counter the rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A ruler’s sense of accountability: Daśaratha includes himself and his army rather than shifting all burden onto Rāma.