Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 20

कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना

Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons

Devanagari script

तौ तु दत्तौ वरौ देव निक्षेपौ मृगयाम्यहम्।तथैव पृथिवीपाल सकाशे सत्यसङ्गर।।।।

Transliteration

tau tu dattau varau deva nikṣepau mṛgayāmy aham | tathaiva pṛthivīpāla sakāśe satyasaṅgara ||

Translation

大王，护持大地者，坚守真实誓约者——我今来求取你所赐的那两项恩愿，先前寄存于你处，待时而取。

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• दत्तौ: given
• दत्तौ: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दा (धातु) + क्त
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; वरौ विशेषण

• वरौ: two boons
• वरौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• देव: O king
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• निक्षेपौ: as deposits (kept in reserve)
• निक्षेपौ: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nikṣepa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; उपपद-भाव (as deposits)

• मृगयामि: I seek
• मृगयामि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मृगय् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in that manner)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• पृथिवीपाल: O protector of the earth
• पृथिवीपाल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī-pāla (प्रातिपदिक; पृथिवी + पाल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सकाशे: in your presence / with you
• सकाशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सन्निधौ (in presence/with)

• सत्यसङ्गर: O truthful in promise
• सत्यसङ्गर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya-saṅgara (प्रातिपदिक; सत्य + सङ्गर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Context

O protector of the earth, O king, honest in keeping promises, I (now) seek those two boons which were reserved as deposits.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• two boons

FAQs

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

Truthfulness as a royal virtue is explicitly invoked: promises are treated like entrusted deposits, and dharma requires their honoring when claimed.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī formally demands the two boons previously granted, characterizing them as held in trust by Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s virtue is named directly: satyasaṅgara—unyielding commitment to truth and pledged word.