Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 66

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

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

कैकेय्या क्लिश्यमानेन रामः प्रव्राजितो मया।।।।यदि सत्यं ब्रवीम्येतत्तदसत्यं भविष्यति।

Transliteration

kaikeyyā kliśyamānena rāmaḥ pravrājito mayā |

yadi satyaṃ bravīmy etat tad asatyaṃ bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

“因受凯凯伊的折磨，我亲手将罗摩放逐。”即便我说的是实情，也必被人当作虚言。

Word by Word

• कैकेय्या: by Kaikeyi
• कैकेय्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• क्लिश्यमानेन: by (one) being tormented
• क्लिश्यमानेन: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लिश् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/आत्मनेपदे शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘being afflicted/tortured’ (instrumental of attendant circumstance)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• प्रव्राजितः: was exiled
• प्रव्राजितः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + व्रज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘was exiled/sent away’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘by me’

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (object)

• ब्रवीमि: I speak/tell
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative ‘I say’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular ‘this’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (subject of bhaviṣyati)

• असत्यम्: untruth
• असत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (predicate)

• भविष्यति: will become
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्/साधारण-भविष्यत्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Future ‘will become’

Context

I have taken this decision in consultation with friends to install Rama. How can I see such a decision being reversed like a retreating army defeated by enemies? Kings from different quarters have already arrived and they will say, How did this ignorant descendant of the Ikshakus (Dasaratha) rule this kingdom for such a long time?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Satya can be socially powerless when dharma is violated: a king who acts against righteousness risks losing credibility so that even truthful speech is doubted.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha foresees that if Rāma is exiled under Kaikeyī’s pressure, his own explanation—though true—will not be believed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to truthfulness (satya) coupled with awareness of moral consequence: credibility depends on righteous conduct.