Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 76

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

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

सतीं त्वामहमत्यन्तं व्यवस्याम्यसतीं सतीम्।रूपिणीं विषसंयुक्तां पीत्वेव मदिरां नरः।।।।

Transliteration

satīṁ tvām aham atyantaṁ vyavasyāmy asatīṁ satīm | rūpiṇīṁ viṣasaṁyuktāṁ pītv eva madirāṁ naraḥ ||

Translation

正如有人因其美色而误饮掺毒之酒，以为甘美无害；我也曾深信你是贞洁之妇——然而事实上，纵有绝世容颜，你却并不贞洁。

Word by Word

• सतीम्: a chaste woman (as such)
• सतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; उपमेय-रूपेण (as the ‘chaste woman’ in comparison)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

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

• अत्यन्तम्: extremely
• अत्यन्तम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• व्यवस्यामि: I firmly believe / decide
• व्यवस्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अव + √सो (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—निश्चिनोमि/निश्चितं मन्ये (I determine/decide)

• असतीम्: an unchaste woman
• असतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेष्य-रूपेण (as ‘unchaste woman’)

• सतीम्: (as if) chaste
• सतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; उपमान-रूपेण (as ‘chaste’—in the phrase ‘asatīṃ satīm’)

• रूपिणीम्: beautiful / fair-formed
• रूपिणीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूपिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘त्वाम्’)

• विषसंयुक्ताम्: mixed with poison
• विषसंयुक्ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विषेण संयुक्ता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘त्वाम्’/‘रूपिणीम्’)

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having drunk)

• इव: like / as if
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• मदिराम्: wine
• मदिराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदिरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; उपमान-कर्ता (the ‘man’ in simile)

Context

Like people regarding wine mixed with poison as fine before drinking it, I had a firm belief that you were a chaste woman, but while you who look extremely beautiful you are actually not so.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Dharma here highlights discernment and truth in relationships: outward beauty or pleasing appearance must not be mistaken for inner virtue (satya and śīla).

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, shocked by Kaikeyī’s demands, rebukes her and laments that he misjudged her character.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is satya-based integrity in marital conduct; the verse condemns deceit that violates trust and righteous household life.