Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 6

कैकेयीवरप्रार्थना

Kaikeyi Demands the Two Boons

Devanagari script

तेनाजय्येन मुख्येन राघवेण महात्मना।शपे ते जीवनार्हेण ब्रूहि यन्मनसेच्छासि।।।।

Transliteration

tenājayyenamukhyena rāghaveṇa mahātmanā | śape te jīvanārheṇa brūhi yan manas ecchasi ||

Translation

我以那位不可战胜、至高无上、伟大之魂、当享长寿的罗伽婆向你起誓：说吧，你心中所愿为何？

Word by Word

• तेन: by that
• तेन: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular ‘by that’

• अजय्येन: by the invincible
• अजय्येन: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजय्य (प्रातिपदिक; न-जय्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular; qualifies राघवेण

• मुख्येन: by the foremost
• मुख्येन: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• राघवेण: by Raghava (Rama)
• राघवेण: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• महात्मना: by the great-souled
• महात्मना: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा यस्य) used adjectivally; instrumental singular

• शपे: I swear
• शपे: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; present 1st sg ‘I swear’

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4/सम्प्रदान) एकवचन (enclitic); dative singular ‘to you’

• जीवनार्हेण: by one worthy to live
• जीवनार्हेण: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीवन-अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक; जीवन + अर्ह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जीवनस्य अर्हः) ‘worthy of life’; instrumental singular

• ब्रूहि: tell
• ब्रूहि: क्रिया (आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; imperative 2nd sg

• यत्: what
• यत्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; relative pronoun ‘what/which’ (object of ब्रूहि)

• मनसा: in (your) mind
• मनसा: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular ‘in/with mind’

• इच्छसि: you wish
• इच्छसि: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; present 2nd sg

Context

If you are inclined to accomplish my desire, then promise me that you will fulfil them. Thereafter I shall reveal it to you.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāghava (Rāma)

FAQs

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

The sanctity of an oath: Daśaratha invokes Rāma as the moral witness, making truthfulness (satya) and vow-keeping (pratijñā) a binding dharmic act.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, eager to satisfy Kaikeyī, swears by Rāma and asks her to state her wish.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s invincibility and greatness of soul are emphasized as the highest standard by which the king seals his promise.