Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 101

द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

कस्यैतद्धारुणं वाक्यमेवंविधमचिन्तितम्।।।।रामस्यारण्यगमनं भरतस्याभिषेचनम्।

Transliteration

kasyaitad dhāruṇaṃ vākyam evaṃvidham acintitam | rāmasyāraṇya-gamanaṃ bharatasyābhiṣecanam ||

Translation

这是谁说出的残酷之言、这般不可思议的计谋：让罗摩入林，而为婆罗多行王位灌顶？

Word by Word

• धिक्: shame!
• धिक्: Bhava (भाव/Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धिक् (अव्यय)
• Form: निन्दार्थक-अव्यय (interjection of censure)

• अस्तु: let there be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• योषितः: women
• योषितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Vedic/epic usage; ‘women’)

• नाम: indeed/so-called
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: ‘indeed/so-called’)

• शठाः: deceitful
• शठाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण योषिताम् (gender by sense)

• स्वार्थपराः: self-seeking
• स्वार्थपराः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वार्थ-पर (प्रातिपदिक; स्वार्थ + पर)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘devoted to self-interest’); पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• ब्रवीमि: I say
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karma (कर्म/Object; of ‘say’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण स्त्रियः

• भरतस्य: of Bharata
• भरतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• एव: only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis: only/just)

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Whose are these dreadful words, this inconceivable plan of Rama's exilement and Bharata's enthronement?

Characters & Entities

• Dasaratha
• Kaikeyi
• Rama
• Bharata
• araṇya (forest)
• abhiṣeka (royal consecration)

FAQs

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

Dharma rejects adharmic manipulation: the verse frames the plan as ‘unthinkable,’ implying it violates natural justice and rightful succession grounded in merit and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha reacts in disbelief to the proposal that Rama be exiled and Bharata enthroned.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s sense of moral order and legitimacy in kingship, even amid emotional collapse.